System for Controlling Motor Vehicle Driving Force

This invention relates to a system for controlling the driving force of a motor vehicle, such as an automobile. More particularly, the invention relates to a system for maintaining motor vehicle driving force by controlling the speed of revolution of a driving wheel to minimize slipping. The system is applicable to automobiles, tractors, motorized bicycles and the like.

The prior art applicable to the present invention includes a driving force control of the type disclosed by Japanese Patent Application (OPI) No. 146755/83. In that application, a driving wheel is controlled by setting its speed of revolution at a value close to a reference speed by comparing the speed of revolution of the driving wheel to the preferred reference speed, and applying braking force when the above comparison reaches a predetermined state.

With respect to this prior art, however, the speed of the driving wheel sometimes may not appear to converge close to the reference speed, because it often is difficult to detect whether the speed of the driving wheel has deviated from the reference speed. If the acceleration of the driving wheel also is measured as a further reference, the problem is overcome. However, the response of the system may be delayed, because of the time required for this additional multiplication and division, i.e., calculation of the acceleration and output of control instructions based thereon.

The present invention is intended to solve the above problem of slow response and it is therefore an object of the invention to provide a method and system for controlling driving force which is simple to construct, but excellent in response speed.

To achieve the foregoing objects and advantages, the system of the present invention comprises means for detecting the speed and acceleration of the drive wheel; brake means including a fluid therein for exerting brake pressure on the drive wheel; pedal means for manual operation of the brake means; and control means for deactivating the pedal means when the acceleration exceeds a predetermined initial acceleration value or the speed of the drive wheel exceeds a predetermined first threshold value.

Preferably, the control means also includes gap closing means for automatically supplying the fluid to the brake means for a fixed time period when the acceleration exceeds the initial acceleration value. It is also preferred that the control means include hold means for automatically increasing the brake pressure of the brake means when the speed of the drive wheel is accelerating, and exceeds the first threshold value.

The control means also may include decay means for automatically decreasing brake pressure of the brake means when the speed of the drive wheel is less than the first threshold value. Preferably, the control means includes means for automatically deactivating the hold means and the decay means when the speed of the drive wheel is greater than the first threshold value and less than a second predetermined threshold value.

The control means also may include coast means for automatically decreasing brake pressure when the speed of the drive wheel is decreasing and exceeds the second threshold value, and release means for automatically releasing the pressure of the brake means when the speed is less than the first threshold value for more than a predetermined time period. Threshold setting means may be provided for setting the first and second threshold values, the second threshold value being greater than the first threshold value. Preferably, the threshold setting means includes a rotary sensor.

The system for controlling brake pressure on a drive wheel of a motor vehicle may also comprise means for detecting the rate of acceleration of the drive wheel; brake means for exerting brake pressure on the drive wheel; and control means responsive to the detecting means for automatically increasing the brake pressure existed by the brake means for a predetermined time during acceleration of the vehicle when the rate of acceleration exceeds a predetermined value.

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in, and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate an embodiment of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

Of the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a control system embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of the control system;

FIG. 3 is a control characteristic diagram; and

FIG. 4 is a control flowchart.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings, an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of the driving force control system of the invention applied to an automobile. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the system. Braking force derived from a brake B acts on driving wheels 1, 1 and driven wheels 2, 2 and the illustrated brake B is such that hydraulic oil in a master cylinder 6 is supplied to brake cylinders each corresponding to the rotors 3 of the wheels 1, 2 through a proportioning valve PV and gate valves GV. These valves are conventionally used when a brake pedal 5 is actuated, or brake pistons press brake shoes against rotors 3 as hydraulic oil in a pump 7 is supplied through the operation of hold valves HV and decay valves DV, described below.

The proportioning valve PV in that case functions so that the percentage of hydraulic oil supplied to each of the brake cylinders 4 of wheels, 1, 2 may be changed. Opening or closing of the gate valve GV supplies hydraulic oil in the master cylinder 6 to the brake cylinder 4 or stops supplying the oil. Similarly, opening or closing of the hold valve HV controls the supply of hydraulic oil in the pump 7. Operation of the decay valve DV controls the discharge of hydraulic oil in the brake cylinder 4.

An example of the control means of the invention will subsequently be described. A rotary sensor S.sub.1 for detecting the number of revolutions of each driving wheel and a speed calculating means 10 comprise a speed detecting means 11 for calculating the speed of revolution VD of the driving wheel 1.

A first threshold value V.sub.1 representing a preferred speed of revolution for controlling the speed of revolution of each driving wheel 1, and a second threshold value V.sub.2 representing a speed higher than the former are set. To do this, the speed of revolution VT of each driven wheel 2 is detected by a speed calculating means 14 provided in a microcomputer 9. The speed VT is based on the number of revolutions of the driven wheel detected by a rotary sensor S.sub.2. As shown in FIG. 3, the first threshold value V.sub.1 and the second threshold value V.sub.2 are calculated and set by adding a speed .DELTA.V.sub.1 and another speed .DELTA.V.sub.2 to the speed of revolution VT by a first threshold setting means 15 and a second threshold setting means 16, which are provided in the microcomputer 9. The rotary sensor S.sub.2, the speed calculating means 14 and the first and second threshold value setting means 15, 16 comprise threshold value setting means 13.

A control means 17 provided in the microcomputer 9 examines the relation of the speed of revolution VD of the driving wheel 1 to the first and second threshold values V.sub.1, V.sub.2, and determines whether the speed is increasing. Control means 17 issues instructions as to the switching of the gate valve GV, the hold valve HV and the decay valve DV.

Thus, changes in the speed of revolution VD of the driving wheel 1, the switching of the gate valve GV, the hold valve HV and the decay valve DV, and increases and decreases in the brake pressure within the brake cylinder 4 are shown in the upper, middle and lower portions of FIG. 3, respectively. FIG. 4 shows instructions given by the control means 17.

When a motor vehicle starts moving, control is commenced (Step 1) and, while the gate valves GV are kept open, the hold valves HV and the decay valves DV are shut (Step 2), so that the brake may be actuated by the brake pedal 5. Subsequently, during time t.sub.0 only until the speed of revolution VD reaches the first threshold value V.sub.1, the initial acceleration .alpha. of the driving wheel 1 is calculated by an initial acceleration calculating means 18. When the initial acceleration exceeds a value .alpha..sub.1 of initial acceleration set by an initial acceleration setting means 19 (Step 3) or the speed of revolution VD exceeds the first threshold value V.sub.1 (Step 4), the gate valves GV is shut (Step 5) to nullify the operation of the brake pedal 5.

It is satisfactory to allow the control to be commenced at a time when the speed of revolution VD exceeds the first threshold value V.sub.1. However, when the accelerator pedal is abruptly stepped on while the vehicle is running on a road surface offering an extra-low friction coefficient, acceleration should be examined even within the range of VD.ltoreq.V.sub.1 for causing the control to be commenced earlier. When .alpha..gtoreq..alpha..sub.1, the above situation applies. The hold valves HV are then opened for a fixed period of time, .DELTA.t seconds, (Step 6) so as to presupply a small amount of hydraulic oil to the brake cylinders 4.

Then the brake cylinders are slightly moved to nullify any gap between the brake shoe and the rotor 3 and allow the braking force to be applied quickly when the vehicle is abruptly accelerated on the slippery road surface. The difference between the speed of revolution VD at the preceding point of time and that at the present point of time is detected and used to determine whether the speed of revolution VD is increasing after the period of commencement of the control has passed (Step 7). The hold valves HV are opened when the speed of revolution VD exceeds the first threshold value V.sub.1 (ta, tb . . . td of FIG. 3), provided that the speed of revolution is increasing, and the decay valves DV are shut (Steps 8, 9). This supplies the hydraulic oil in the pump 7 to the brake cylinders 4 so as to increase the brake pressure. When the speed of revolution VD is lower than the first threshold value V.sub.1 while the speed is increasing (te, tf of FIG. 3), the hold valves HV are shut and the decay valves DV are opened (Step 10). Thus, the hydraulic oil within the brake cylinders 4 is discharged to reduce the brake pressure. When the speed of revolution VD does not exceed the first threshold value V.sub.1 while the speed is not increasing (tg, th of FIG. 3), the brake pressure is reduced as in the cases of Steps 11, 10. When the speed of revolution VD exceeds the first threshold value V.sub.1, but does not exceed the second threshold value V.sub.2 (ti, tj, tk), both the hold valves HV and the decay valves DV are shut (Steps 12, 13). Thus, the hydraulic oil within the brake cylinders 4 is maintained. When the speed of revolution VD exceeds the second threshold value V.sub.2 while the speed is decreasing (tl, tm, tn), the hold valves HV are shut and the decay valves DV are opened (Steps 12, 10). Thus, the brake pressure is reduced. The above control operation is repeated and the speed of revolution VD of the driving wheels 1 gradually reaches a fixed value close to the first threshold value V.sub.1 (tp of FIG. 3). When the speed of revolution VD does not exceed the first threshold value V.sub.1 within t.sub.1 seconds after the hold valves HV are opened (tx of FIG. 3), the high pressure oil in the brake cylinders is discharged by opening of the decay valves DV for a short period of time t.sub.2 from the point of time tx. In this case, however, pins inside the master cylinder 6 should be prevented from being damaged by the high pressure oil in the brake cylinders 4 while the oil flows back to the master cylinder to completely release the brake. Then the gate valves GV are opened (Steps 14, 15, 16, 17) to terminate the control and each driving wheel 1 is maintained in the state where its speed of revolution VD does not exceed the first threshold value V.sub.1, but with minimized slipping.

In case the brake pedal 5 is stepped on during the control operation, the decay valves DV are opened for only t.sub.2 seconds to discharge the high pressure oil within the brake cylinders totally. Since the oil does not flow back to the master cylinder, the gate valves GV may be opened so that the control of the brake by the brake pedal 5 can be restored.

The above-described embodiment is applicable to a single driving wheel 1 or a plurality of them. A rotary sensor of a generator type may be used as the speed detecting means 11, and the brake B may be actuated by either air or hydraulic oil. The first and second threshold values V.sub.1, V.sub.2 may be set by adding not only fixed speeds V.sub.1, V.sub.2, but also variable speeds representing the speed of revolution of the driven wheels. Furthermore, it may also be acceptable to set some values without regard to the speed of the driven wheels 2.

In FIG. 2, a throttle, a pressure switch and an accumulator are designated by numerals 20, 21, and 22, respectively.

In the system for controlling motor vehicle driving force thus constructed according to the present invention, first threshold value V.sub.1 as the desirable speed of revolution of the driving wheel 1, and second threshold value V.sub.2 which is slightly higher than V.sub.1, are determined. By examining the relation of the speed of the driving wheel 1 to those threshold values, and by verifying whether the speed thereof is increasing, deviations from the first threshold V.sub.1 value maybe detected. Thus, the speed of the vehicle can be maintained at a desired level, and system reliability also may be greatly improved. Since the determination is made based only on the speed, poor response characteristics due to extremely prolonged calculation time inherent in determining acceleration can be avoided. Excessive slipping when the vehicle is initially moved and during its subsequent travel can also be prevented, so that greater driving force results.

In reference to FIG. 3, it is possible to increase, decrease or maintain the brake pressure as set forth above by determining whether the speed of revolution VD of the driving wheel 1 is increasing or decreasing when the speed thereof is changing with relation to the high peak values a, b, c . . .

Various modifications and variations could be made in the invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention.