Data processing: vehicles – navigation – and relative location – Vehicle control – guidance – operation – or indication – Indication or control of braking – acceleration – or deceleration
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-05
2001-03-27
Cuchlinski, Jr., William A. (Department: 3661)
Data processing: vehicles, navigation, and relative location
Vehicle control, guidance, operation, or indication
Indication or control of braking, acceleration, or deceleration
C701S070000, C701S072000, C180S197000, C180S233000, C180S248000, C203S100000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06208929
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a torque distribution apparatus for a 4 wheel driven vehicle equipped with a braking force controlling means for applying a braking force to an appropriate wheel to up-grade vehicle stability at cornering.
Recently developed and put into practical use are braking force controllers applying a braking force to an appropriate wheel to up-grade vehicle stability at cornering referring to influence of forces applied to a vehicle while cornering.
For example, the Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 70561/1990 disclosed a brake control device carrying out controls according to yaw rate, i.e., angular velocity of yawing which is rotary motion around plumb axis passing through a gravity center of a vehicle. In this technology, aimed yaw rate and real yaw rate of the vehicle are compared to determine vehicle dynamic characteristics as under steering or over steering against aimed yaw rate. And then a corrective braking force is applied to an inner wheel when judged as under steering or to an outer wheel when judged as over steering so that real yaw rate becomes equal to aimed yaw rate. Thus the vehicle running stability is up-graded.
Beside the above, disclosed for 4 wheel driven vehicles are various kinds of driving torque distribution devices, which can control torque distribution between front and rear wheels by appropriately controlling differential of front and rear wheel rotations in order to up-grade vehicle running stability.
Well known as a torque distribution device mentioned above is a limited slip center differential to be installed on a full time 4 wheel driven vehicle, wherein slippage of torque distribution clutch (transfer clutch) is controlled.
When the brake control device applies a braking force selectively to a wheel for up-grading vehicle stability in a 4 wheel driven vehicle equipped with the limited slip center differential, so strong engagement of the torque distribution clutch brings difficulty in precise application of the braking force as calculated. The reason is that each wheel can not rotate freely due to the strong engagement of the clutch that creates nearly mechanical connection of respective wheels.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a torque distribution control apparatus for a 4 wheel driven vehicle equipped with a brake control device, which can carry out braking force controlling properly and effectively enough in a 4 wheel drive mechanism for up-grading vehicle stability at cornering.
In order to achieve the above object, the torque distribution apparatus for 4 wheel driven vehicle according to claim
1
of the present invention is to control distribution of driving torque to front and rear wheels of a 4 wheel driven vehicle equipped with a braking force controlling means for controlling a selective application of a braking force to a wheel for controlling vehicle movement by calculations based on vehicle dynamic conditions, the torque distribution control apparatus being characterized in reducing driving torque to either front or rear wheels at the application of the braking force to the wheel by the braking force controlling means.
The vehicle equipped with the torque distribution apparatus for 4 wheel driven vehicle according to claim
1
controls the selective application of the braking force to the wheel for controlling vehicle movement by calculations based on vehicle dynamic conditions. And the torque distribution control apparatus controls driving torque distribution by reducing delivered torque to either front or rear wheels so that the braking force can be applied as calculated at the operation of the braking force controlling means.
The torque distribution apparatus for 4 wheel driven vehicle according to claim
2
of the present invention is to control distribution of driving torque to front and rear wheels of a 4 wheel driven vehicle equipped with a braking force controlling means for controlling a selective application of a braking force to a wheel for controlling vehicle movement by calculations based on vehicle dynamic conditions, the torque distribution control apparatus being characterized in controlling torque distribution to front and rear wheels in an aimed distribution ratio equal to weight distribution of the vehicle at the application of the braking force to the wheel by the braking force controlling means.
The vehicle equipped with the torque distribution apparatus for 4 wheel driven vehicle according to claim
2
controls the selective application of the braking force to the wheel for controlling vehicle movement by calculations based on vehicle dynamic conditions. And the torque distribution control apparatus controls torque distribution to front and rear wheels in an aimed distribution ratio equal to weight distribution of the vehicle at the application of the braking force to the wheel by the braking force controlling means. Namely, limiting of slippage in a limited slip center differential is controlled for the 4 wheel driven vehicle to play in full traction performance and driving stability so that up-grading of vehicle stability and performance of 4 wheel drive are kept in optimum conditions.
A torque distribution control apparatus for 4 wheel driven vehicle according to claim
3
is to control distribution of driving torque to front and rear wheels of a 4 wheel driven vehicle equipped with a braking force controlling means for controlling a selective application of a braking force to a wheel for controlling vehicle movement by calculations based on vehicle dynamic conditions, the torque distribution control apparatus being characterized in modifying at least one of torque transmissions to front and rear wheels according to turning characteristic change as a result of the application of the braking force to the wheel by the braking force controlling means.
The vehicle equipped with the torque distribution apparatus for 4 wheel driven vehicle according to claim
3
controls the selective application of the braking force to the wheel for controlling vehicle movement by calculations based on vehicle dynamic conditions. And the torque distribution control apparatus modifies at least one of torque transmissions to front and rear wheels according to turning characteristic change as a result of the application of the braking force to the wheel by the braking force controlling means. Namely, the turning characteristic change can be done effectively by the braking force controlling means.
The torque distribution control apparatus for 4 wheel driven vehicle according to claim
4
is the torque distribution control apparatus for 4 wheel driven vehicle according to claim
3
, being characterized in modifying torque transmission to the rear wheels toward increasing at changing turning characteristics to those favorable to turn as a result of the application of the braking force to the wheel by the braking force controlling means. Namely, the turning characteristic change to those favorable to turn can be done effectively by the braking force controlling means.
The torque distribution control apparatus for 4 wheel driven vehicle according to claim
5
is the torque distribution control apparatus for 4 wheel driven vehicle according to claim
4
, being characterized in increasing torque distribution ratio to the rear wheels to a predetermined value at changing turning characteristics to those favorable to turn as a result of the application of the braking force to the wheel by the braking force controlling means. Namely, the turning characteristic change to those favorable to turn can be done effectively by the braking force controlling means.
The torque distribution control apparatus for 4 wheel driven vehicle according to claim
6
is the torque distribution control apparatus for 4 wheel driven vehicle according to claim
4
, being characterized in modifying torque transmission to the rear wheels toward increasing according to deflection of real yaw rate and aimed yaw rate at changing turning characteristics to those favorable to turn as a result of the applica
Hiwatashi Yutaka
Matsuno Koji
Beaulieu Yonel
Cuchlinski Jr. William A.
Farber Martin A.
Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
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