JPH024253Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a device for preventing the clutch from being partially engaged when a vehicle is unnecessarily resting its foot on the clutch pedal while waiting at a traffic light.

With the pedal-type clutch devices normally used in ordinary cars, drivers sometimes get tired and leave their foot carelessly on the clutch pedal while waiting at a traffic light, or when the driver is parked. I put my foot on it. This type of half-clutch operation by a driver is performed surprisingly frequently, and as a result, the clutch disk wears out more quickly, which can lead to clutch failure. This trend has become a general trend among drivers.

Therefore, the purpose of the present invention is to determine whether the driver's foot is placed on the clutch pedal while waiting at a traffic light, whether the foot is necessary or not, and if it is not necessary, the clutch pedal is placed on the clutch pedal. The operation transmission device is automatically cut off to prevent the clutch from operating when the foot is placed on the foot, thereby preventing premature wear and failure of the clutch.

In this invention, the decision as to whether or not the foot rest on the clutch pedal is transmitted to the clutch is made by detecting various information, and the judgment circuit determines when each piece of information reaches a certain level, and the foot rest is transmitted to the clutch. It is configured not to transmit.

First, we will explain the conditions under which it is unnecessary to operate the clutch pedal in a half-clutch state.

(A) When the car's key switch is off, the car's electrical and mechanical systems are stopped, so there is no need to operate the clutch.

(B) The accelerator pedal is in the open state.

(C) The transmission must be in the neutral position when waiting at a traffic light.

(D) The engine speed is below a certain value, for example, the engine is idling.

(E) When the vehicle speed is below a certain speed, for example when the vehicle is stopped.

As mentioned above, even if you half-clutch the clutch while waiting at a traffic signal, there are cases (A) to (E) where the operation is unnecessary.
If all conditions (B) to (E) are satisfied, for example, even if the driver unconsciously operates the clutch half-way, there is no need to transmit the operation to the clutch.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a judgment circuit that automatically judges the various conditions mentioned above, and operates a half-clutch prevention device to disable the clutch in accordance with the judgment of the judgment circuit.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an example of a clutch mechanism to which the present invention is applied. In FIG. 1, 1 indicates a clutch pedal, 2
is a clutch master cylinder, 3 is an oil reservoir, 4 is a hydraulic line, 5 is an operating cylinder, and 6 is a clutch outer lever. Since the hydraulic circuit 4 for operating the clutch outer lever 6 is directly connected to the clutch master cylinder 2 of the clutch pedal 1, the clutch may be slightly engaged even when the foot is put on the pedal unnecessarily as described above.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a half-clutch prevention device showing one embodiment of the present invention, in which 7 is a clutch pedal, 8 is a clutch, and an electromagnetic line 10 is provided between the clutch pedal 7 and the clutch 8. A clutch transmission 9 including a valve 12 is provided. This clutch transmission device 9 also includes a judgment circuit G.
is provided. The key switch A is connected between the power supply 11 and the judgment circuit G, and is turned on by the key switch of the automobile. The accelerator switch B has a built-in timer and is linked to the accelerator operation, turning on when the accelerator pedal is pressed and turning off after a delay time when the accelerator pedal is released. C indicates a transmission switch, which is turned on when the transmission is in the neutral position. D is an engine rotation sensor, and the judgment circuit G sends a signal to the judgment circuit G to disable the clutch transmission device 9 when the engine rotation speed is less than a set rotation speed (for example, 600 rpm). E is a vehicle speed sensor that detects a constant vehicle speed (for example, 5 to 10 km/h)
h) In the following cases, a signal is sent to the judgment circuit G to disable the clutch transmission device 9. The pedal force sensor F is the clutch operation mechanism (clutch pedal in the case shown)
It detects the clutch operation, amplifies the signal, and supplies it to the judgment circuit G. Therefore, in the half-clutch prevention device of this embodiment, key switch A is turned on (engine starts),
In a state where the pedal force sensor F is sending a signal to the judgment circuit G due to the driver's half-clutch operation, one or more of the signals from the accelerator switch B, transmission switch C, engine rotation sensor D, and vehicle speed sensor E is detected. When the signal is sent to the determination circuit G, the determination circuit G determines that the driver's half-clutch operation is a necessary operation, and sends a clutch operation signal to the clutch transmission device 9.

Next, a specific circuit implementing the present invention will be explained with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 3, elements given the same reference numerals as in FIGS. 1 and 2 have the same configuration.
The clutch transmission device 9 includes a solenoid valve 12 installed in a hydraulic line 10, which is connected to a power supply 1 by a line 14 via a solenoid switch 13.
Connected to 1. Further, a relay coil 13a of the electromagnetic switch 13 is connected to the power source 11 via a line 15 via a key switch A, and the other end of this relay coil 13a is connected via a line 15a to the collector of a transistor _Tr6 . Note that the emitter of transistor Tr ₆ is grounded.
Therefore, in the electromagnetic switch 13, when both the key switch A and the transistor _Tr6 having a switching function are turned on, a current flows through the relay coil 13a, and the electromagnetic switch 13 is turned on.

Next, the pedal force sensor F will be explained. Sensor F is provided on the depression surface of the clutch pedal 7 and is composed of, for example, a piezoelectric effect element, and this sensor F generates a voltage when a depression force is applied. And this sensor F
The anode of is connected to an operational amplifier 18 by a line 17, and the output signal from the operational amplifier 18 is connected to a variable resistor.
Transistor Tr ₆ by line 20 via Rb ₃
applied to the base side of the Note that the resistance R ₆ and the resistance
R ₇ is for determining the amplification factor of the amplifier 18, respectively. Further, the operational amplifier 18 is a resistor.
R ₅ , connected to power supply 11 via line 20 . Furthermore, one power supply terminal of the operational amplifier 18 is grounded. A line 21 is branched from a line 20 on the output side of the operational amplifier 18, and this line 21 is connected to a transistor that performs a switching function.
Connected to the collector of Tr ₅ . The emitter of this transistor Tr ₅ is grounded, and as will be described later, voltage is applied to the base of the transistor Tr ₅ in the normal state (electromagnetic valve "open") when not waiting for a signal, so the transistor Tr ₅ is turned on. Therefore, as long as voltage is applied to the base of transistor Tr ₅ , the signal current output from pedal force sensor F is grounded through the collector and emitter of transistor Tr ₅ , and the signal current output from transistor Tr 6 is grounded through the collector and emitter of transistor Tr ₅ . No current flows through the base. However, if the base voltage of transistor Tr ₅ is not applied, transistor Tr ₅ is turned off, and the signal current from pedal force sensor F is transferred to the transistor Tr 5.
Flow flows into the base of Tr ₆ and turns on transistor Tr ₆ . When the transistor Tr ₆ is turned on in this way, the relay coil 13a is energized and the solenoid valve 1
2 is closed and the clutch 7 is inoperative.

Next, the accelerator switch B will be explained. Accelerator switch B is turned on when the driver depresses the accelerator pedal, and is turned off when the driver releases the accelerator pedal. Then capacitor C ₃ and resistor R ₁ are connected in parallel to form a timer circuit, and resistor
Since a line 22 in series with R ₁ is provided between the power supply 11 and the base of the aforementioned transistor Tr ₅ , while the driver depresses the accelerator pedal, the line 22 is energized and the base of the transistor Tr ₅ is connected. Supply set current. At this time, clutch 7 does not become inoperative.

Capacitor _C3 enables the clutch to operate when the vehicle starts moving, and allows the clutch to operate while the transmission is shifted from neutral to low gear by momentarily depressing the accelerator pedal at the time of starting. In other words, even if the accelerator pedal is released, Tr ₅ is maintained in the on state for a certain period of time determined by C ₃ and R ₁ .

Transmission switch C is configured to be on in neutral and is connected to power supply 11 via line 23 in series with resistor _R2 . resistance
_R2 is connected to the base of the transistor _Tr1 , the collector of which is connected to the power supply ₁₁ via the resistor _R3 , and the emitter is grounded. Further, a diode _D1 and a line 24 are connected in a forward biased state between the collector of the transistor _Tr1 and the base of the transistor _Tr5 .
Therefore, in a normal state, the current from the power supply 11 passes through the resistor _R3 and the diode _D1 , and the set voltage is applied to the base of the transistor _Tr5 .
However, when transmission switch C is turned on and a set voltage is applied to the base of transistor _Tr1 , transistor _Tr1 is turned on and the current passing through resistor _R3 is grounded through transistor _Tr1 . Therefore, there is no voltage applied to the base of the transistor Tr ₅ , and conversely, when the transmission switch C is turned off, the transistor Tr ₁ is also turned off, and finally all the current through the resistor R ₃ passes through the diode D ₁ and flows through the transistor. It will be applied to the base of Tr ₅ .
Therefore, the clutch 7 does not operate in the neutral position. The engine rotation sensor D includes, for example, a magnet 25 that is rotated in conjunction with an engine rotation speed meter, and a coil 26 that receives the magnetic force of the magnet 25. The rotational speed signal from this coil 26 is rectified by a rectifier circuit consisting of a bridge circuit 27 consisting of four diodes and a capacitor _C1 . This rectified rotational speed signal is passed through variable resistor Rb ₁ , and when the rotational speed exceeds a certain level, that is, a certain voltage, a predetermined voltage is generated and a transistor is activated.
Applied to the emitter of Tr ₂ . Transistor Tr ₂
Since the negative voltage side from the bridge circuit is connected to the base of Rb1, a potential difference is generated that reduces the voltage drop due to the resistance value of variable resistor _Rb1 . Therefore, the potential difference in the transistor Tr ₂ is large when the rotation speed is higher than the set rotation speed, and as a result, it is turned on and a signal from the engine rotation sensor D causes the base of the transistor Tr ₄ (described later) to be grounded via the transistor Tr ₂ .
Therefore, when the engine speed is below the set speed, transistor Tr ₂ is turned off and the transistor
Since Tr ₄ is off, clutch 7 is inoperative below the set rotation speed.

The same applies to the next vehicle speed sensor E, for example, the magnet 2 that is rotated in conjunction with the speedometer.
8 and the coil 2 that receives the magnetic force of the magnet 28.
9. The rotational speed signal from this coil 29 is rectified by a rectifier circuit consisting of a bridge circuit 30 consisting of four diodes and a capacitor _C2 . This rectified speed signal is connected to a variable resistance
When the speed exceeds a certain level due to Rb ₂ , a predetermined voltage is applied to the emitter of transistor Tr ₃ . The potential difference between the base and emitter of this transistor Tr ₃ is determined by the variable resistor Rb ₂ , so the transistor Tr 3
Tr ₃ is turned on when the speed is higher than the set speed and turned off when the speed is lower than the set speed.

The emitter of the transistor Tr ₂ and the emitter of the transistor Tr ₃ are both connected to the base of the transistor Tr ₄ , and the emitter of the transistor Tr ₄ is connected to the power supply 11 via a resistor R ₄ .
Its collector is connected to the base of transistor _Tr5 . This transistor Tr ₄ is turned on when at least one of the transistor Tr ₂ and the transistor Tr ₃ is turned on. and transistor
When Tr ₄ is off, the transistor Tr ₅ is also turned off since no base current is applied, which eventually turns on the transistor Tr ₆ . Therefore, when the vehicle speed is below a certain speed, the clutch is inactive. As can be seen from the above explanation, voltages are applied to the base of the transistor Tr ₅ from three places: the accelerator switch B, the transmission switch C, and the transistor Tr ₄ , and when this voltage is not applied, the transistor Tr ₅ is turned off, and the clutch 7 becomes inoperable. When operating, the key switch is on and the clutch pedal is in a half-clutch operation (the pedal force sensor F is outputting a signal), the accelerator pedal is not depressed, the vehicle is in neutral, and the vehicle speed is below a certain value. If either one of the following conditions is not satisfied: and that the engine speed is below a certain value,
A base voltage is applied to the transistor Tr ₅ constituting the judgment circuit G, and the transistor Tr ₅ is turned on. Therefore, the transistor Tr ₆ is turned off and the electromagnetic switch 13 is turned off, so that the hydraulic line 1 is turned off.
0 is not cut off and the clutch can be operated. Therefore, when the above conditions (B) to (E) are satisfied, the clutch is inoperative.

As described above, according to the present invention, the determination circuit includes signals from the accelerator switch, which is turned on when the accelerator pedal is depressed, the transmission switch, which is turned on when the transmission is in the neutral position, the engine rotation sensor, and the vehicle speed sensor. When the judgment circuit is in operation, at least one of the following four signals is input: the off signal of the accelerator switch, the on signal of the transmission switch, the signal indicating that the engine rotation speed is below the set speed, and the signal indicating that the vehicle speed is below the set speed. The solenoid valve is configured to open when one signal is missing, allowing the driver to operate the half-clutch, and deactivate when all of these conditions are satisfied. Even if I put my foot on the clutch pedal, the clutch will not operate. Since the clutch is actuated only when starting the vehicle, it is possible to prevent the driver from unintentionally driving the vehicle with the clutch in the partially engaged state.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional clutch petal actuating device, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram showing a specific example of the present invention. 9...Clutch transmission device, 10...Hydraulic line, 11...Power source, 12...Solenoid valve, 13...
...Electromagnetic switch, 13a...Relay coil, 18
...Operation amplifier, 25...Magnet, 26...
Coil, 27... Bridge circuit, 28... Magnet, 29... Coil, 30... Bridge circuit,
A...key switch, B...accelerator switch,
C...Transmission switch, D...Engine rotation sensor, E...Vehicle speed sensor, F...Pedal force sensor, G...
...judgment circuit.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] An electromagnetic valve that cuts off the transmission of hydraulic pressure and a judgment circuit that opens and closes the electromagnetic valve are installed in a hydraulic line configured to transmit the operation of the automobile's clutch pedal to the clutch using hydraulic pressure. It is connected to input signals from the clutch pedal depression force sensor, the accelerator switch that is turned on when the accelerator pedal is depressed, the transmission switch that is turned on when the transmission is in the neutral position, the engine rotation sensor, and the vehicle speed sensor. , and the judgment circuit uses at least one signal out of four signals: an accelerator switch ON signal, a transmission switch OFF signal, a signal indicating that the engine rotation speed is below the set speed, and a signal indicating that the vehicle speed is above the set speed. 1. A half-clutch prevention device characterized in that the solenoid valve is opened when the four signals mentioned above are not received, and the solenoid valve is closed when the four signals mentioned above are not received.