JPH04244408A - Car height adjusting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a car height adjusting device eliminating oil pumps and air tanks. CONSTITUTION:Each wheel 6(12) is fitted to a driven shaft 15, which is arranged eccentrically with drive shafts 5(11), and the driven shaft 15 and drive shafts 5(11) are interconnected by gear units 16. These gear units 16 are covered by a casing 17, which is swingable to the drive shafts 5(11), and a movable pin 26 is provided between the casing 17 and a hub 20 to lock the casing 17. When the lock of this easing 17 is released and braking is applied to the driven shaft 15, the casing 17 swings around the axes of the drive shafts 5(11) for varying car height.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vehicle height adjustment device for an automobile.

0002

[Prior Art] Vehicle height adjustment devices for automobiles include one that uses hydraulic pressure to adjust the vehicle height, or one that uses air to adjust the vehicle height, as shown in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 63-130418. Are known.

0003

[Problem to be Solved by the Invention] Therefore, in conventional systems, components such as an oil pump that generates hydraulic pressure, piping that guides this hydraulic pressure to the actuator, or an air tank that accumulates air pressure are considered essential. was. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle height adjustment device for an automobile that does not require these members.

0004

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention focuses on the engine of an automobile, and uses the driving force of this engine to adjust the vehicle height. Specifically, a drive shaft linked to the engine output shaft and extending in the vehicle width direction, a driven shaft arranged parallel to the axis of the drive shaft and linked to each wheel, and the driven shaft and the drive shaft. a power transmission mechanism that connects the shaft, a casing that is movable around the axis of the drive shaft and that covers the power transmission mechanism, and a casing that controls the rocking of the casing in at least two positions and is connected to the vehicle body. The structure includes a lock member fixed to the side member and a brake that applies a braking force to the rotation of the driven shaft.

[0005]

[Operation] In the above configuration, when adjusting the vehicle height, the lock member unlocks the casing to allow the casing to swing, and then the brake suppresses the rotation of the driven shaft. The rotational force of the drive shaft is converted into a force for rocking the casing. The rocking of the casing causes the driven shaft to rock around the axis of the drive shaft, thereby raising and lowering the vehicle height.

[0006]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Examples of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In FIG. 2, 1 is an engine, and the output of this engine 1 is transmitted to an automatic transmission 2, and this automatic transmission 2
A first drive shaft 3 extending rearward from the rear end, a differential gear 4 provided at the rear end of the first drive shaft 3, and a second drive shaft 5 extending from the differential gear 4 in both left and right directions.
is transmitted to each rear wheel 6 via.

Further, a first gear 7 is fixed to the first drive shaft 3 at an intermediate portion thereof in the longitudinal direction. This third drive shaft 9 is fixed to the rear end of the third drive shaft 9.
A fourth gear extending from the front differential gear 10 provided at the front end of the drive shaft 9 toward both the left and right sides.
The output of the engine 1 is transmitted to the front wheels 12 via a drive shaft 11 .

That is, the vehicle in this embodiment is a so-called four-wheel drive vehicle in which both the front wheels 12 and the rear wheels 6 are driven.Of course, each wheel 6, 12 is equipped with a disc brake 13 as a braking device. is installed.

Between each wheel 6, 12 and the second drive shaft 5 or fourth drive shaft 11, there is a driven shaft 15 to which each wheel 6, 12 and a brake 13 are attached, and this driven shaft. 15 and the second drive shaft 5 or the fourth drive shaft, and a casing 17 covering the gear unit 16 are generally provided, and these elements 15, 16, 17, etc. A vehicle height adjustment mechanism 18 is configured.

To explain the vehicle height adjustment mechanism 18 in detail, reference numeral 20 shown in FIG. 1 is a hub provided at the outer end of the second or fourth drive shaft 5, 11. , a damper 21 and a lower arm 22 as a suspension unit are connected.

[0011] The driven shaft 15 is arranged parallel to the axis of the drive shaft 5 or 11 (eccentric arrangement), and is a first shaft constituting the gear unit 16.
A gear 16a is fixed to the outer end of the drive shaft 5 or 11, a second gear 16b is fixed to the inner end of the driven shaft 15, and these gears 16a and 16b are always in mesh.

The casing 17 is connected to the bearing 2 with respect to the drive shaft 5 (11) and the shaft 25.
A hydraulic movable pin 26 is provided in the casing 17 so as to face the hub 20 . This movable pin 26 constitutes a locking mechanism 2 that restricts the swinging of the casing 17, and the movable pin 26 is installed on the axis of the driven shaft 15. A recess 15a for receiving the movable pin 26 is provided.

The hub 20 is also provided with two parts on the locus of movement of the movable pin 26 when the casing 17 swings about the axis of the drive shaft 5 (11).
Two recesses 28 (only one recess is shown in the figure) are provided. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 13a indicates a disc plate of a disc brake, and the caliper is not shown in this figure.

In the above configuration, when the movable pin 26 is moved rightward in FIG. 1 by hydraulic pressure supplied from the pipe 26a and inserted into the recess 28 of the hub 20, the casing 17 is integrated with the hub 20. It turns out. Therefore, the rotational force transmitted from the drive shaft 5 or 11 to the driven shaft 15 via the gear unit 16 is transmitted to the wheels 6 (12), and the rotation of the wheels 6 (12) causes the vehicle to travel.

On the other hand, the movable pin 26 receives hydraulic pressure from the pipe 26b and moves to the left in FIG.
When the casing 17 leaves the recess 28 and enters the recess 15a of the driven shaft 15, the casing 17 becomes swingable about the axis of the drive shaft 5 (11). Under this condition, when the brake 13 is engaged and a braking force is applied to the rotation of the driven shaft 15, the second gear 16b rotates around the first gear 16a, and the casing 17 swings accordingly. It will move. This rocking of the casing 17 is accompanied by a change in vehicle height as shown in FIG.

The hub 20 is provided with two stoppers 29 and 30 that define the swing range of the casing 17, and the casing 17 is locked at the position where these stoppers 29 and 30 abut against the casing 17. It is supposed to be done. Therefore, the stopper 29 shown in FIG.
At the position where it collides with the vehicle height, the vehicle height is locked in a low state (Lo
position), and at the position where it collides with the stopper 30, the vehicle is locked in a high state (Hi position).

In FIG. 4, reference numeral 40 denotes a control unit composed of a microcomputer, and signals from switches or sensors 41 to 47 are input to this control unit 40.

The switch 41 is a vehicle height selection switch that can be changed manually. Above sensor 4
Reference numeral 2 detects the released state of an accelerator pedal (not shown). The sensor 43 detects depression of the brake pedal 50. The sensor 44 detects an ON operation (brake engagement operation) of the parking brake lever 51. The sensors 45 and 46 are proximity switches, and these proximity switches 45 and 46 detect Hi and Lo of the vehicle height. The sensor 47 detects vehicle speed.

The sensor 40 is an electromagnetic switching valve 26c that switches the hydraulic pressure supply path to the movable pin 26 (hydraulic pressure supply path to the pipes 26a and 26b) in response to various information from these switches or sensors 41 to 47. A control signal is output to. Further, a control signal is output to the engine control unit 48.

An example of control associated with vehicle height adjustment will be specifically explained based on the flowchart shown in FIG. First, in step S1 (hereinafter the step number is indicated by the symbol "S"), after confirming that the vehicle speed is zero, that is, the vehicle is in a stopped state, proceeding to S2, the foot brake pedal 5 is pressed.
0 is in the released state. If YES, the process proceeds to S3, where it is confirmed that the parking brake is turned on, and then the process proceeds to S4.

In this S4, it is determined whether the shift lever of the automatic transmission is in the D range or not, that is, whether the output of the engine 1 is in the first
If the answer is YES, the process proceeds to S5, where it is determined whether or not the engine is in an idling state. If the determination is YES in S5, it is assumed that the vehicle height will be changed slowly even if the vehicle height is changed.
Proceeding to step 6, the current vehicle height is read. Then, in the next S7, it is determined whether the current vehicle height is the Lo vehicle height. If YES, the process proceeds to S8. If the manual switch 41 has been changed (from Lo to Hi), first, in S9. After unlocking the casing 17 (movement of the movable pin 26 to the left in FIG. 1), S10,
In S11, control is performed to increase the engine output by a predetermined amount until the vehicle height reaches Hi vehicle height, and in S11, the vehicle height reaches Hi vehicle height.
When the vehicle height is reached, proceed to S12, lock the casing 17 (move the movable pin 26 to the right), and then proceed to S13.
The engine output increase control is canceled.

[0022] When the determination in S7 is NO, that is, when the vehicle is in the Hi vehicle height state, the vehicle height is lowered through the steps from S14 onwards, with engine output increase control as in S9 to S12. Control takes place. The reason why the engine output is increased even when lowering the vehicle height is to lower the vehicle height slowly while suppressing the fall of the vehicle's own weight.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it can also be applied to two-wheel drive vehicles. That is, for example, the third
A clutch may be provided on the drive shaft 9, and the clutch may be turned on when adjusting the vehicle height, but turned off when the vehicle is running.

[0024]

[Effects of the Invention] As is clear from the above explanation, according to the present invention, the vehicle height can be adjusted by diverting the output of the engine, so there is no need to provide a separate oil pump or piping as in the conventional case. It is advantageous in terms of cost.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a partial cross-sectional view showing an enlarged main part.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a power train of a vehicle to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an overall system diagram of the example.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of control associated with vehicle height adjustment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Engine 5 (11) Drive shaft 6 (12) Wheel 13 Brake 15 Driven shaft 16 Power transmission mechanism (gear unit) 17 Casing 18 Vehicle height adjustment mechanism 20 Hub 24 (25) Bearing 26 Hydraulic movable pin 28 Recess

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A drive shaft linked to an engine output shaft and extending in the vehicle width direction, a driven shaft arranged parallel to the axis of the drive shaft and linked to each wheel, the driven shaft and the drive shaft. a power transmission mechanism that connects the shaft, a casing that is movable around the axis of the drive shaft and that covers the power transmission mechanism, and a casing that controls the rocking of the casing in at least two positions and is connected to the vehicle body. A vehicle height adjustment device for an automobile, comprising: a locking member fixed to a side member; and a brake applying braking force to rotation of the driven shaft.