# US 10,871,195 B2 · Control device for torque distributor

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 10,871,195 B2
- Document ID: US10871195B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/468,500
- Filed: 2017-12-04
- Published: 2019-10-03
- Granted: 2020-12-22
- Earliest claimed: 2016-12-13
- Assignees: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Masaru Komatsubara
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10871195B2

## CPC

- F16D 48/02: Control by fluid pressure
- B60K 17/348: having differential means for driving one set of wheels, e.g. the front, at one speed and the other set, e.g. the rear, at a different speed (B60K17/346 takes precedence)
- B60K 17/35: including arrangements for suppressing or influencing the power transfer, e.g. viscous clutches
- B60K 23/08: for changing number of driven wheels {, for switching from driving one axle to driving two or more axles (B60K17/3515 takes precedence)}
- B60K 23/0808: {for varying torque distribution between driven axles, e.g. by transfer clutch}
- B60K 5/04: with the engine main axis, e.g. crankshaft axis, transversely to the longitudinal centre line of the vehicle
- B60K 2023/0833: {for adding torque to the rear wheels}
- B60K 2023/0866: {with hydraulic means only}
- B60W 10/119: including control of all-wheel-driveline means, e.g. transfer gears or clutches for dividing torque between front and rear axle (B60W10/14 takes precedence)
- B60W 10/14: Central differentials for dividing torque between front and rear axles
- B60W 30/02: Control of vehicle driving stability
- B60W 2510/0241: Clutch slip, i.e. difference between input and output speeds
- B60W 2520/263: Slip values between front and rear axle
- B60W 2710/027: Clutch torque
- B60Y 2400/424: Friction clutches
- F16D 2500/10431: 4WD Clutch dividing power between the front and the rear axle
- F16D 2500/3027: Torque
- F16D 2500/30415: Speed of the input shaft
- F16D 2500/30426: Speed of the output shaft
- F16D: COUPLINGS FOR TRANSMITTING ROTATION; CLUTCHES; BRAKES
- B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES
- B60W: CONJOINT CONTROL OF VEHICLE SUB-UNITS OF DIFFERENT TYPE OR DIFFERENT FUNCTION; CONTROL SYSTEMS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR HYBRID VEHICLES; ROAD VEHICLE DRIVE CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR PURPOSES NOT RELATED TO THE CONTROL OF A PARTICULAR SUB-UNIT
- B60Y: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO ASPECTS CROSS-CUTTING VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY

## Abstract

A control device for a torque distributor provided with a control means acquiring a demand value of a torque distributed to second driving wheels (W3, W4) using a torque distributor (10) and outputs a command value (TR) of torque corresponding to the demand value of torque. When a variation per unit time (ND) of a differential rotation speed (NS) between a drive source (3) side and a second driving wheel side with respect to the torque distributor in a torque transmission path (20) is a predetermined first threshold (ND1) or more, the control means (60) performs a torque command value limit control controlling the torque command value to a predetermined limit value (TR1) or less. This can secure the running stability necessary for the vehicle by distributing an appropriate torque to the second driving wheels using the torque distributor, while enabling proper protection of components including the torque distributor.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A control device for a torque distributor, the control device comprising:
a torque transmission path transmitting a torque of power from a power source of a vehicle to first driving wheels and second driving wheels;
the torque distributor disposed between the power source and the second driving wheels in the torque transmission path;
a control means acquiring a demand value of a torque distributed to the second driving wheels using the torque distributor and outputs a command value of a torque corresponding to the demand value of the torque;
a vehicle behavior stabilizer performing control to stabilize a behavior of the vehicle; and
a switching operation section switching between operation and non-operation of the vehicle behavior stabilizer on the basis of an operation by a vehicle occupant,
wherein the control means performs a torque command value limit control limiting the command value of the torque to smaller than or equivalent to a predetermined limit value when a variation of a differential rotation speed between a power source side and a second driving wheel side with respect to the torque distributor in the torque transmission path is greater than or equivalent to a first threshold, and
wherein when the non-operation of the vehicle behavior stabilizer is selected by operating the switching operation section, the first threshold is a lower value compared to when the operation of the vehicle behavior stabilizer is selected.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The control device for the torque distributor according to claim 1, the control device comprising a wheel speed acquisition means acquiring a wheel speed of the second driving wheels,
wherein the control means performs the torque command value limit control when the wheel speed of the second driving wheels acquired by the wheel speed acquisition means is smaller than or equivalent to a second threshold.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The control device for the torque distributor according to claim 1, wherein the variation of the differential rotation speed is a derivative value of the differential rotation speed.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The control device for the torque distributor according to claim 2, wherein the variation of the differential rotation speed is a derivative value of the differential rotation speed.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The control device for the torque distributor according to claim 1, wherein the torque distributor includes a hydraulic drive-type multidisc friction-type connecting and disconnecting means.

### Claim 6 (depends on 2)

The control device for the torque distributor according to claim 2, wherein the torque distributor includes a hydraulic drive-type multidisc friction-type connecting and disconnecting means.

### Claim 7 (depends on 3)

The control device for the torque distributor according to claim 3, wherein the torque distributor includes a hydraulic drive-type multidisc friction-type connecting and disconnecting means.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The control device for the torque distributor according to claim 1, wherein when the non-operation of the vehicle behavior stabilizer is selected by operating the switching operation section, the predetermined limit value of the command value of the torque is a lower value compared to when the operation of the vehicle behavior stabilizer is selected.

### Claim 9 (depends on 2)

The control device for the torque distributor according to claim 2, wherein when the non-operation of the vehicle behavior stabilizer is selected by operating the switching operation section, the predetermined limit value of the command value of the torque is a lower value compared to when the operation of the vehicle behavior stabilizer is selected.

### Claim 10 (depends on 3)

The control device for the torque distributor according to claim 3, wherein when the non-operation of the vehicle behavior stabilizer is selected by operating the switching operation section, the predetermined limit value of the command value of the torque is a lower value compared to when the operation of the vehicle behavior stabilizer is selected.

### Claim 11 (depends on 5)

The control device for the torque distributor according to claim 5, wherein when the non-operation of the vehicle behavior stabilizer is selected by operating the switching operation section, the predetermined limit value of the command value of the torque is a lower value compared to when the operation of the vehicle behavior stabilizer is selected.