JPS61184134A - Clutch control device in automobile - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make is possible to effect an engine brake during descent on a slope, by providing a judging means which issues a signal when the vehicle speed increases during disengagement of a clutch, so that the clutch is engaged with the engaging timing of the clutch corresponding to the increasing speed. CONSTITUTION:There is provided a control circuit 8 which receives signals (a, b) from a vehicle speed sensor 6 for detecting the vehicle speed from the rotational speed of the output shaft of a speed change gear 2 coupled to an engine 1 through the intermediary of a clutch 3, and from an accelerator sensor 7 for detecting the depression and release of an accelerator pedal 4. Further the control circuit 8 is provided therein with a judging means 10 which delivers, to an actuator 9, a signal (c) for disengaging the clutch 3 if the accelerator pedal 4 is not depressed when the vehicle speed is lower than a predetermined value. Further, a judging means 11 is provided, which delivers, to the actuator 9, a signal (c) for engaging the clutch 3 if the vehicle speed increases even if the accelerator pedal 4 is not depressed while the clutch 3 is left to be disengaged.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a clutch control device for an automobile that automatically operates a clutch.

(Prior art) Clutch control devices, which have been put into practical use in recent years, automatically disengage the clutch when the driver performs a gear shift operation while the vehicle is running, and also release the accelerator after the gear shift is completed. This type of clutch control device reconnects the clutch when the pedal is depressed, but in order to prevent the engine from stalling when the vehicle is stopped,
The clutch is also automatically disengaged when the vehicle speed drops below a predetermined speed without the accelerator pedal being depressed.

However, with such automatic latch control, the engine brake will not operate because the clutch is disengaged when the vehicle is dismounted at a predetermined vehicle speed or lower. As a result, the automobile will run downhill due to inertia, giving the driver a sense of anxiety, or requiring heavy use of the brakes.

By the way, regarding this type of clutch control, there is an invention disclosed in, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 59-103062. However, in this invention, the clutch is connected when the engine speed rises to a set value in a state where the clutch is disengaged. Therefore, even with this invention, a situation occurs in which the engine brake does not operate when dismounting. .

(Object of the Invention) The present invention solves the above-mentioned difficulties with the conventional clutch control device, and is designed to connect the clutch when the vehicle speed gradually increases even if the vehicle speed is below a predetermined speed when exiting the vehicle. Enable engine braking. The purpose of this is to eliminate the sense of uneasiness that is caused to the driver when the vehicle is dismounted while the engine brake is applied and the vehicle does not move, and also to prevent the negative effects of having to use the brake frequently. In particular, in the present invention, when the vehicle speed increases and the clutch is connected, the engagement timing is set according to the rate of increase in vehicle speed, thereby optimizing the operating range of the engine brake when exiting the vehicle. The purpose is to prevent shocks caused by sudden latch connections.

(Structure of the Invention) In order to achieve the above object, the clutch control device for an automobile according to the present invention is characterized by having the following structure.

That is, as shown in FIG. 1, a clutch 3 is interposed between an engine 1 and a transmission 2 to connect and disconnect power, and the output of the engine 1 is changed by opening and opening a throttle valve 5 linked to an accelerator pedal 4. In a configuration in which the accelerator pedal is controlled, for example, a vehicle speed signal a and an accelerator signal are output from a vehicle speed sensor 6 that detects the vehicle speed from the rotation of the output shaft of the transmission 2, and an accelerator sensor 7 that detects whether the accelerator pedal 4 is depressed or not. The control circuit 8 is provided with a control circuit 8 to which each of the following is input. This control circuit 8 includes an actuator 9 which receives the vehicle speed signal a and the accelerator signal and disengages the clutch 3 when the vehicle speed is below a predetermined speed and the accelerator pedal 4 is not depressed.
Clutch disengagement determination means 10 outputs a signal O to the clutch disengagement determination means 10, and when an increase in vehicle speed is detected based on the vehicle speed signal a while the clutch 3 is disengaged by the signal C from the determination means 10, the accelerator pedal 4 is depressed. Clutch connection determination means 11 is provided which outputs a signal C to the actuator 9 so that the clutch 3 is connected even if the clutch 3 is connected.

Particularly, this clutch connection determining means 11 outputs a signal C so that the clutch 3 is connected at a timing corresponding to the rate of increase in vehicle speed. This clutch engagement timing is, for example, the vehicle speed at which the clutch is engaged, or the slow speed at which the clutch 3 is engaged; for the former, the faster the vehicle speed increases, the lower the vehicle speed is engaged; The setting is such that the faster the vehicle speed increases, the faster the clutch 3 is connected.

(Effects of the Invention) According to the above configuration, in the clutch control device that automatically disengages the clutch when the accelerator pedal is not depressed and the vehicle speed is below a predetermined speed, the vehicle speed increases due to inertia when exiting the vehicle. In this case, the clutch will be connected even if the vehicle speed is below the predetermined speed. As a result, the engine brake is activated, which eliminates the feeling of anxiety when the vehicle is dismounting, and eliminates the need to use the brake frequently.

In particular, the clutch connection timing when dismounting is set according to the rate of increase in vehicle speed, so when suddenly dismounting, the engine brake is activated from a relatively low speed, or the clutch is engaged quickly and the engine brake is activated. There is no delay, so the engine brake can be operated effectively and reliably in case of sudden descent. In addition, when descending slowly, the engine brake is activated when the vehicle speed increases to a relatively high speed, or the clutch is loosely connected, thereby preventing unnecessary engine braking and preventing unnecessary engine braking. The shock will be reduced.

(Example) Examples of the present invention will be described below. The configuration of this embodiment is similar to the configuration shown in FIG. 1, which has already been explained, so the specific operation of the control circuit 8 will be explained here in accordance with the flowchart shown in FIG.

The flowchart in Figure 2 shows the operation during deceleration (when the accelerator pedal 4 is not depressed).
An accelerator signal b indicating that the accelerator pedal 4 is not depressed is input from the accelerator sensor 7 to the clutch disengagement determining means 10 of the control circuit 8. Then, in step S1, the determining means 10 determines whether the vehicle speed V is equal to or lower than a predetermined vehicle speed VoH at which the clutch 3 should be disengaged, based on the vehicle speed signal a from the vehicle speed sensor 6, and when V<Voff, step At S2, a signal C is output to the actuator 9 to disengage the clutch 3.

As a result, the actuator 9 is actuated to disengage the clutch 3, thereby preventing the engine from stalling due to the vehicle speed decreasing beyond a certain limit while the clutch is engaged, such as when the vehicle is stopped. Then, in step S3, it is determined whether or not the brake is operating based on a signal from a brake sensor (not shown), and while the brake is operating, the control to disengage the clutch 3 in step S2 continues. executed.

On the other hand, when the clutch 3 is disengaged, the brake is not operating, and the signal indicating that the accelerator pedal 4 is depressed is not input to the control circuit 8, that is, the vehicle is coasting. If so, steps S4 to S5 are executed, and the clutch connection determining means 11 calculates the rate of increase in vehicle speed 9, and determines whether 9>0, that is, whether the vehicle speed is increasing. When driving on a flat road (
or when running on a pitch) and the vehicle speed has not increased, step S4. Ss is repeated.

However, when the vehicle speed increases due to inertia (Q>O) when dismounting, the clutch connection determination means 11
executes steps S5 to S6 and S7, and determines the vehicle speed v at which the clutch 3 should be connected according to the increase rate Q of the vehicle speed.
on and the connecting operation speed V of the clutch 3 is set. In this case, the clutch engagement vehicle speed yon is set to be lower and the clutch engagement operation speed V is set to be faster as the vehicle speed increase rate 9 is greater. Then, in step S8, the vehicle speed ■ is changed to the clutch connection vehicle speed V set in step S6 above.
When the clutch is turned on, a signal C is output to the seventh clutch unit 9 to connect the clutch 3 at the clutch connecting operation speed V set in step S1. As a result, when the vehicle speed increases due to dismounting during coasting, the clutch 3 is connected and the engine brake is activated, and especially when dismounting suddenly, the vehicle speed is relatively low.
In addition, by quickly connecting the clutch 3, the engine brake operates without any timing delay as the vehicle speed increases, and safe dismounting driving is ensured. In addition, when the vehicle descends slowly, the clutch 3 is connected at a relatively high speed and slowly, thereby preventing unnecessary engine braking and reducing the shock caused when the engine brake is activated. Note that when the accelerator pedal 4 is depressed while the clutch 3 is disengaged, the control circuit 8 executes steps S4 to S8 to immediately connect the clutch 3 and shift to acceleration operation. Become.

In the above embodiment, both the clutch connection vehicle speed ON and the clutch connection operation speed V are set in accordance with the vehicle speed increase rate 9, but only one of them is set in accordance with the vehicle speed increase rate. Variable control may also be used.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of an embodiment of the present invention. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Engine, 3... Clutch, 4... Accelerator pedal, 8... Control circuit, 10... Clutch disconnection determination means, 11... Clutch connection determination means.

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) A clutch control device that disengages the clutch when the accelerator pedal is not depressed and the vehicle speed is below a predetermined vehicle speed, and when the vehicle speed increases while the clutch is disengaged, the clutch is connected in accordance with the increasing speed. A clutch control device for an automobile, comprising a clutch connection determining means for setting a timing and outputting a signal to connect the clutch at the timing.