JPH0657502B2 - Automatic clutch controller - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an automatic clutch control device that uses a friction clutch and program-controls its contact pressure. In particular, the present invention relates to an automatic clutch control device capable of creep driving in which a vehicle runs at a very low speed.

[Conventional technology]

Various types of devices are known as an automatic clutch device and an automatic transmission for automatically connecting and disconnecting an automobile clutch and converting a combination of transmission gears by program control.

Generally, in an automatic vehicle using a fluid automatic transmission, even when the vehicle is stopped, the engine joint torque is always transmitted in a small amount, and the vehicle may travel at a very low speed unless the brake is applied. Therefore, it is possible to reversely utilize the low speed traveling due to the slight transmission of the engine torque to enable the creep operation at the time of entering the garage or the like.

However, a mechanical automatic transmission and automatic clutch device in which program control is performed by a control circuit including a microprocessor by using a conventional manually operated transmission and clutch are used. Since it is controlled by an electronic circuit via the mechanism, there is no slip like a manually operated clutch and fuel consumption is improved, but creep operation using slip of the clutch cannot be performed unlike the hydraulic automatic transmission.

Therefore, an automatic clutch control device has been proposed which is provided with a creep operation setting switch, and when the creep operation setting switch is "on", the contact pressure of the clutch is appropriately adjusted to a half-clutch state to enable the creep operation ( Prior application by the same applicant).

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

However, in such an automatic clutch control device equipped with a creep operation setting switch, if the friction operation clutch is in a half-clutch state, it will take a long time until the creep operation setting switch is turned off by some operation. Has a problem that the clutch may burn.

The present invention solves such a problem, and in a vehicle equipped with an automatic clutch device capable of performing a creep operation using a creep operation setting switch, automatically disengages the clutch after a predetermined time has elapsed. It is an object of the present invention to provide an automatic clutch control device for canceling the creep operation setting by means of the above.

[Means for solving problems]

The first aspect of the present invention is directed to a program control circuit that receives information on the engine rotation speed and information on the gear position of the automatic transmission as an input, and outputs output information for controlling the connection state of the clutch, and output information of this control circuit. And a means for mechanically controlling the clutch in accordance with the above, and a creep operation setting switch connected to the control circuit in a position where a driver can operate the control circuit, wherein the creep operation setting switch is set to "ON". Occasionally, in an automatic creep control device including a control means for setting a creep operation in which the clutch continues to slip and meet, a means for setting the creep operation time is provided at a position operated by the driver,
The control circuit includes means for automatically canceling the creep operation setting when the time set by the setting means elapses after the creep operation setting switch is turned on. To do.

The set time is preferably between 1 and 30 seconds.

A second invention is characterized in that, in addition to the configuration of the first invention, a means for displaying an alarm on a driver's seat is provided over a period set for creep operation.

The alert is preferably an audible alert.

[Action]

There is a creep operation setting switch in the driver's seat, and if the driver turns it on, even if the accelerator pedal is not pressed,
The vehicle can be driven at a very low speed. The present invention can automatically cancel the creep operation setting when the creep operation has passed a predetermined time specified by the driver. That is, the half clutch state does not continue for a long time, and the friction clutch does not burn.

Further, since the driver can know when the creep operation is set by the alarm display means, when the creep operation setting is canceled, the driver can easily recognize it.

〔Example〕

 Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, an engine 1, an automatic clutch device 2, and an automatic transmission 3 have known configurations. With the output of the sensor 4 that detects the rotation speed of the engine 1 and the output of the gear position detection sensor 5 of the automatic transmission 3 as input information, the program control circuit configured by the input / output control device 6 and the microprocessor 7 is A signal for connecting / disconnecting the clutch device 2 is sent to the solenoid valve 8, and the actuator 9 is operated to drive and control the connection / disconnection of the clutch. The mechanism for driving the shift gears of the automatic transmission 3 is omitted in the drawing.

The feature of the present invention is to provide a creep operation setting switch 10 and means 11 for setting the creep operation time,
When the creep operation setting switch 10 is "on", the microprocessor 7 controls the solenoid valve 8 and the actuator 9 so as to continue the half-clutch state in which the clutch of the automatic clutch device 2 is engaged while slipping to perform the creep operation. Although the setting is performed, when the predetermined time set by the means 11 has elapsed, the microprocessor 7 resets the creep operation setting switch 10 and controls so as to cancel the creep operation setting.

The means 11 for setting the creep operation time controls the reset time of the creep operation setting switch 10 by changing the voltage value using a variable resistor and reading it by the microprocessor 7 via the input / output control device 6. This is the configuration. Alternatively, the combination can be performed by using a short-circuit pin.

When the creep operation setting is automatically released, the creep operation setting can be performed again by turning on the creep operation setting switch 10 again.

Further, in conjunction with the “ON / OFF” of the creep operation setting switch 10, the light emitting diode 12 is caused to emit light and the buzzer 13 is sounded.

〔The invention's effect〕

According to the present invention, the creep operation setting is automatically canceled when a predetermined time of the creep operation set by the driver has elapsed, so that the half-clutch state in which the clutch slips during the cleaf operation and continues to meet for a long time There is nothing to do. Therefore, the friction clutch is not burned, and the vehicle equipped with the mechanical automatic transmission and the automatic clutch device can freely perform the creep operation similarly to the vehicle equipped with the fluid automatic transmission. is there.

Further, since the driver can know when the creep operation is set by the alarm display means, when the creep operation setting is released, the driver can easily recognize it and the operability is improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

The figure is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention. 1 ... Engine, 2 ... Automatic clutch device, 3 ... Automatic transmission, 4 ... Sensor, 5 ... Gear position detection sensor, 6 ... Input / output control device, 7 ... Microprocessor, 8 ... Solenoid valve, 9 ...
Actuator, 10 ... Creep operation setting switch, 11 ...
Means for setting the creep operation time, 12 ... Light emitting diode, 13 ... Buzzer.

Claims (4)

[Claims] Claims: 1. A program control circuit, which receives information on the rotational speed of an engine and information on a gear position of an automatic transmission and sends output information for controlling the connection state of the clutch, and a clutch according to the output information of the control circuit. In the automatic clutch control device provided with a means for mechanically controlling, the control circuit includes a creep operation control mode in which the clutch is engaged while slipping to move forward or backward at a low speed, and the position can be operated by the driver. A creep operation setting switch connected to the control circuit and means for setting a creep operation time, and the control circuit includes means for setting the creep operation setting switch after the creep operation setting switch is turned on. The automatic clutch is characterized by including means for automatically canceling the creep operation setting when the time set by Pitch control device. 2. The automatic clutch control device according to claim 1, wherein the set time is between 1 and 30 seconds. 3. A program control circuit, which receives information on the engine speed and information on the gear position of the automatic transmission and sends out output information for controlling the connection state of the clutch, and the clutch according to the output information from the control circuit. In the automatic clutch control device having means for mechanically controlling, the control circuit includes a creep operation control mode in which the clutch is engaged while slipping to move forward or backward at a very low speed, and the position can be operated by the driver. A creep operation setting switch connected to the control circuit and means for setting a creep operation time, and the control circuit includes means for setting the creep operation setting switch after the creep operation setting switch is turned on. Set to creep operation, including means to automatically cancel the creep operation setting when the time set by Over and which period, the automatic clutch control device characterized by comprising means for displaying a warning to the driver's seat. 4. The automatic clutch control device according to claim (3), wherein the alarm is an audible alarm.