JPS6010914Y2 - automatic clutch device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an automatic clutch device for automatically connecting and disengaging a clutch in conjunction with a shift operation of a transmission in a vehicle equipped with a clutch and a transmission, such as an automobile.

For example, in automobiles, a clutch is disposed between the engine and the transmission, and the clutch is released once when the transmission is shifted, that is, when the shift lever is shifted. is operated manually, and the clutch is operated by stepping on the clutch pedal.

However, such a configuration has the drawback that the driver has to perform manual operation and foot operation simultaneously and in conjunction with each other, making the operation cumbersome and tiring.

The present invention has been developed in view of the above-mentioned drawbacks, and its purpose is to provide an electric circuit for controlling energization and disconnection of an electromagnetic device that connects and releases a clutch in conjunction with the shift operation of the shift lever. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an automatic clutch device that facilitates driving operation and greatly reduces driver fatigue.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.

FIG. 1 shows a shift pattern of a shift lever of a transmission (not shown), and the shift lever is swingably installed upright in a transmission case so as to be located, for example, to the left of a driver's seat.

That is, 1st gear, 3rd gear, and parking P are on the forward direction side of the car.
Each position is provided at a predetermined interval in the left and right direction of the car, and 2nd, 4th, and reverse R positions are provided on the reverse side of the car, and 1st, 2nd, and 3rd positions are provided on the reverse side of the car. The positions of 4th speed, parking P, and reverse R are opposed in the longitudinal direction, and a neutral N position is provided between 3rd speed and 4th speed.

Then, the selection operation is performed by swinging the shift lever from neutral N to the left or right, i.e., in the directions of arrows V and W. After the selection operation, push the shift lever forward, that is, in the direction of arrow X, or pull it backward, that is, in the direction of arrow Y. It is configured to be shifted to an arbitrary position depending on the operation, and is not particularly different from the shift operation in a conventionally known transmission.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 1 denotes a shift switch having switches A and B provided on the shift lever. Although not shown in detail, a shift knob rotatable in the front and back direction is provided at the upper end of the shift lever, and the shift switch 1 has switches A and B provided on the shift lever. The presence or absence of a shift operation and the direction of the shift are detected based on the presence or absence of rotation of the shift knob and the direction of the rotation force.

That is, during a non-shift operation in which the shift knob is not rotated either forward or backward with respect to the shift lever, which is a so-called neutral state, both switches A and B are off, and the shift knob is pushed forward and rotated toward the shift lever. On the other hand, only switch A is turned on when the shift knob is rotated forward, and only switch B is turned on when the shift knob is pulled rearward and rotated backward with respect to the shift lever.

Further, 2 is a stroke switch, which is provided with four fixed contact pieces 3 to 6 and a movable contact piece 7 that slides on these fixed contact pieces 3 to 6.

When the shift lever is rotated in the direction of arrow X, the movable contact piece 7 is slid in the direction of arrow R according to the amount of rotation, and when the shift lever is rotated in the direction of arrow Y, it is slid in the direction of arrow R according to the amount of rotation. It is designed to be slid in the S direction.

Further, the fixed contact piece 3 is configured to come into contact with the movable contact piece 3 over the entire range of movement of the movable contact piece 7, and the fixed contact piece 4 moves the shift lever from neutral (N, Nu, N2) in the pushing direction. When the barrel rotates in the direction of arrow X and shifts to 1st gear, 3rd gear, or parking P, it contacts the movable contact piece 7 in the range of 80% to 100% of the shift stroke, and is fixed. The contact piece 5 rotates the shift lever from neutral (N, Ns, N2) in the direction of arrow Y, which is the pulling direction, and shifts from 80% to 100 of the shift stroke when shifting to 2nd gear, 4th gear, or reverse R. The fixed contact piece 6 contacts the movable contact piece 7 within a range of movement in which the movable contact piece 7 does not come into contact with either the fixed contact piece 4 or 5. It is provided at a position sandwiched between the fixed contact pieces 4 and 5 so as to

The fixed contact pieces 3, 4 and the movable contact piece 7 constitute a switch D, the fixed contact pieces 3, 5 and the movable contact piece 7 constitute a switch C, and the fixed contact pieces 3, 6 and the movable contact piece 7 constitute a switch D. A switch E is configured.

8 is a battery, 9 is an ignition switch, 10 is a solenoid valve which is an electromagnetic device, and this solenoid valve 10 is for operating a clutch by a driving source such as hydraulic pressure or a vacuum source.
When 0 is energized, the clutch is released, and when energized, the clutch is connected.

11 is a diode as a first semiconductor switching element, and 12 is a diode as a second semiconductor switching element.

And these batteries 8, ignition switch 9
, solenoid valve 10, shift switch 1, stroke switch 2, and diodes 11 and 12 are connected as shown in the circuit diagram shown in FIG.

That is, as will become clearer when referring to the block diagram shown in FIG. 3, a series circuit of switches A and C is connected in parallel with a series circuit of switches B and D, The valves 10 are connected in series, and one end of the switch E is connected to the common connection point of the switches C and D, and the cathodes of diodes 11 and 12 are connected to the other end of the switch E.
the anode of is connected to the common connection point of switches C and A,
In this configuration, the anode of the diode 12 is connected to the common connection point of the switches B and D.

Next, the operation of this embodiment configured as above will be explained.

When the shift lever is in neutral N, the ignition switch 9 is turned on and the engine is running, and the shift knob is not touched, the shift switch 1 and stroke switch 2 are in the state shown in FIG. It is showing.

That is, switch E is on, but switches A through are all off, so the solenoid valve 10 is de-energized and the clutch is connected.

When shifting to 1st gear from the state where the shift lever is positioned in neutral N, rotate the shift lever in the direction of arrow ■ according to the shift pattern shown in Figure 1, and once position it in N□. After that, the shift switch 1 is pressed in the direction of arrow X, and switch A of the shift switch 1 is turned on in accordance with this pressing operation.

Therefore, the diode 11 is activated at the same time as the shift lever is pressed.
conducts, the solenoid valve 10 is immediately energized via the series circuit of switch E1 diode 11 and switch A, and the clutch is opened.

Then, when the shift lever is rotated by pushing in the direction of arrow When the shift stroke exceeds 80%, the movable contact piece 7 separates from the fixed contact piece 6 and comes into contact with the fixed contact piece 4, that is, the switch E is turned off and the switch D is turned on instead.

Therefore, at the same time as the switch E is turned off, the solenoid valve 10 is de-energized and the clutch is reconnected.

By the way, when shifting the shift lever from neutral N to any one of 1st to 4th gears, a synchronizer consisting of a synchronizer ring inside the transmission acts during the shift stroke, causing the gears to mesh with each other just before they engage. These actions take place during clutch disengagement, and at the point at which the clutch is re-engaged (after completing 80% of the shift stroke) as described above. The configuration is such that the meshing of the gears substantially ends at the time point ).

On the other hand, when you finish shifting the shift lever to 1st gear and let go of the shift knob, switch A of shift switch 1 is turned off, only switch D is turned on, and all other switches are turned off. Therefore, the solenoid valve 10 continues to be kept de-energized and the clutch remains connected.

Next, when the shift lever is pulled in the direction of arrow Y via the shift knob in order to shift from 1st to 2nd gear, switch B of shift switch 1 is moved along with the pulling operation.
is turned on.

Therefore, at the same time as the shift lever is pulled, the solenoid valve 10 is
is immediately energized and the clutch is released.

When the shift lever is rotated by pulling it in the direction of arrow Y, the stroke switch 2
Since the movable contact piece 7 of is slid in the direction of arrow S, if it exceeds 20% of the stroke from l speed to neutral N□,
The movable contact piece 7 is separated from the fixed contact piece 4 and comes into contact with the fixed contact piece 6, turning off the switch D and turning on the switch E instead.

Therefore, at the same time that switch D is turned off, diode 1
2 becomes conductive, the solenoid valve 10 continues to be energized via the switch E1 diode 12 and the switch B, and the clutch assumes a released state.

Then, when the shift lever is pulled further and exceeds 80% of the shift stroke from neutral N1 to 2nd speed, the movable contact piece 7 separates from the fixed contact piece 6 and comes into contact with the fixed contact piece 5. Switch E is turned off and switch C is turned on in its place.

Therefore, at the same time as the switch E is turned off, the solenoid valve 10 is cut off and the clutch is reconnected.

Here, the gear shift from the first speed to the second speed is performed while the clutch is released.

On the other hand, when the shift to second gear is completed and the shift knob is released, switch B is turned off, only switch C is turned on, and all other switches are turned off, so the solenoid valve 10 continues to be disconnected. the clutch remains connected.

Next, to shift from 2nd gear to 3rd gear, push the shift lever in the direction of arrow X via the shift knob, but in the same way as shifting to 1st gear by pushing the shift knob in the direction of arrow X. Switch A of shift switch 1 is turned on, solenoid valve 10 is energized via switch A and switch C, and the clutch is released.

Then, in conjunction with the operation of the shift lever in the direction of arrow X, the movable contact piece 7 of the stroke switch 2 is slid, and power is then turned on and off to the solenoid valve 10 in the same manner as in the case of shifting to the first speed described above. is controlled by the clutch connection,
Liberation is accomplished.

Also, when shifting from 3rd gear to 4th gear and parking P
and when shifting to reverse R, etc., when the shift lever is pushed in the direction of arrow X or pulled in the direction of arrow Y, the clutch is connected and released in conjunction with the shift operation in the same manner as described above. It will be done.

FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of the present invention, in which switch F is turned on when the shift lever is swung from neutral N to neutral N2 and selected. It is connected in series with switch E and in parallel with the series circuit of diode 11 and switch A.

That is, for example, when the shift lever is selected to neutral N2 in order to shift to reverse R, the solenoid valve 10 is passed through switches E and F to release the clutch, so after the selection operation, shift the shift lever in the direction of arrow Y. Switches A and B when shifting the bass
Even if the clutch is not turned on, the clutch is reliably released and gears can be shifted without any noise.

By the way, in normal transmissions, in order to prevent erroneous operation, the operation from neutral N to N2 is performed against a relatively strong return spring, so for example, after operating from neutral N2, pull the gear in the direction of arrow Y. At times, the shift knob often becomes distorted due to the return force of the return spring described above, and switch B does not turn on.
If switch F is not provided, there is a problem that gear noise may occur due to shifting with switches A and B both off and the clutch still connected.

However, by adopting the configuration as shown in FIG. 4, it is possible to completely prevent gear noise when switches A and B of the shift switch 1 do not operate normally.

As is clear from the above explanation, the present invention is based on the shift lever.
Switches A and B that are selectively turned on by pushing and pulling the
A first semiconductor switching element conducts when the switches A and E are on, and a second semiconductor switching element conducts when the switches E and B are on. 2 semiconductor switching elements are provided, and these switches A to E and the first and second semiconductor switching elements are provided.
By working with the semiconductor switching element of
The gear change operation is performed only by the shift operation of the clutch pedal, making driving operations easier and reducing driver fatigue to a large extent. The electromagnetic device is de-energized when the clutch is in the connected state, and is energized only when the clutch is released, which remains in that state for a short period of time during operation. An automatic clutch that does not have the risk of overheating and causing a fire, does not require a large and large-capacity electromagnetic device, can be small and lightweight, and has a simple configuration with a minimum number of switches. equipment can be provided.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 to 3 show an embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a shift pattern of a transmission, FIG. 2 is an electric circuit diagram, FIG. 3 is a block diagram, and FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a shift pattern of a transmission. This figure is a view corresponding to FIG. 3 showing another embodiment of the present invention. In the drawing, 1 is a shift switch, 2 is a stroke switch, A to E are switches, F is a switch, 10 is a solenoid valve (electromagnetic device), 11.12 is a diode (first
and a second semiconductor switching element).

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] Switch A that turns on only when the shift lever is pressed
a switch B that is turned on only when the shift lever is pulled; a switch C that is turned on when the shift lever is moved a predetermined distance in a different direction from the neutral position; A switch D that is turned on when the shift lever is moved for a long time, a switch E that is turned on when the shift lever is moved to a position other than the one where switches C and D are turned on, and an electromagnetic device that releases the clutch when energized and connects when the power is cut off. , a series circuit of the switches B and D is connected in parallel to a series circuit of the switches A and C, and these switch groups A to A and the electromagnetic device are connected in series, so that a series state is created with the switches A and B. A switch E is connected in series with the electromagnetic device, and a first semiconductor switching element is interposed between switches E and A, which conducts when both are on, and between switches E and 8, when both are on, 1. An automatic clutch device comprising: an electric circuit interposed with a second semiconductor switching element that becomes conductive when .