# US 2017/0282923 A1 · Rough terrain vehicle

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- Number: US 2017/0282923 A1
- Document ID: US20170282923A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/473,806
- Filed: 2017-03-30
- Published: 2017-10-05
- Earliest claimed: 2016-03-31
- Assignees: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Honda Motor Co., Ltd
- Inventors: Naoki Sakamoto; Yasuhiro Nozaki; Naoki Kobayashi; Dai Arai; Takao Kochi
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170282923A1

## CPC

- B60W 30/1884: {Avoiding stall or overspeed of the engine}
- B60W 10/02: including control of driveline clutches
- B60W 10/023: {Fluid clutches}
- B60W 10/06: including control of combustion engines
- B60W 10/113: with two input flow paths, e.g. double clutch transmission selection of one of the torque flow paths by the corresponding input clutch
- B60W 30/18027: {Drive off, accelerating from standstill}
- B60W 40/09: Driving style or behaviour
- F02D 41/0097: {using means for generating speed signals}
- F02D 41/022: {in relation with the clutch status}
- B60W 2300/185: Off-road vehicles
- B60W 2510/0638: Engine speed
- B60W 2540/10: Accelerator pedal position
- B60W 2540/16: Ratio selector position
- B60W 2710/021: Clutch engagement state
- B60W 2710/0627: Fuel flow rate
- B60W 2710/0644: Engine speed
- F02D 2200/602: Pedal position
- F02D 2200/702: Road conditions
- F16H 2059/0247: {with lever or paddle behind steering wheel}
- 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
- F02D: CONTROLLING COMBUSTION ENGINES (vehicle fittings, acting on a single sub-unit only, for automatically controlling vehicle speed B60K31/00; conjoint control of vehicle sub-units of different type or different function, road vehicle drive control systems for purposes other than the control of a single sub-unit B60W)
- F16H: GEARING

## Abstract

In a rough terrain vehicle, at a time of preparing to start movement, in a case that a left paddle switch and a right paddle switch are operated together with an accelerator pedal, an ECU disengages a clutch of an automatic transmission, and causes an output of an engine to increase. On the other hand, at a time of starting movement, in a case that the left paddle switch and the right paddle switch are returned to their initial positions, the ECU engages the clutch and transmits the output of the engine from the engine to vehicle wheels via the automatic transmission, to thereby rapidly start movement of the rough terrain vehicle.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A rough terrain vehicle having an engine and an accelerator operating unit operated by a vehicle occupant, comprising:
a twin-clutch type automatic transmission configured to transmit an output of the engine to vehicle wheels;
a clutch operating unit operated by the vehicle occupant; and
a control unit configured to control traveling of the rough terrain vehicle, by controlling the engine and the twin-clutch type automatic transmission on basis of operations of the accelerator operating unit and/or the clutch operating unit by the vehicle occupant;
wherein the control unit:
at a time of preparing to start movement of the rough terrain vehicle, in a case that the clutch operating unit and the accelerator operating unit are operated, disengages a clutch of the twin-clutch type automatic transmission and causes the output of the engine to increase; and
whereas at a time of starting movement of the rough terrain vehicle, in a case that operation of the clutch operating unit is canceled, engages the clutch and transmits the output of the engine from the engine to the vehicle wheels via the twin-clutch type automatic transmission, to thereby start movement of the rough terrain vehicle.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The rough terrain vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising a first clutch mode and a second clutch mode which exhibit respective relationships between an engine rotational speed of the engine and a clutch hydraulic pressure amount of the clutch;
wherein, at the time of preparing to start movement, the control unit sets the clutch hydraulic pressure amount corresponding to the engine rotational speed on basis of the first clutch mode, whereas at the time of starting movement, the control unit sets the clutch hydraulic pressure amount corresponding to the engine rotational speed on basis of the second clutch mode.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The rough terrain vehicle according to claim 2, wherein in comparison with the second clutch mode, the first clutch mode exhibits a smaller clutch hydraulic pressure amount with respect to a same engine rotational speed.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The rough terrain vehicle according to claim 3, wherein the control unit:
in a case that the clutch operating unit is operated by the vehicle occupant during traveling of the rough terrain vehicle, sets the clutch hydraulic pressure amount corresponding to the engine rotational speed on basis of the first clutch mode; and
thereafter, in a case that operation of the clutch operating unit is canceled, sets the clutch hydraulic pressure amount corresponding to the engine rotational speed on basis of the second clutch mode, to thereby engage the clutch and transmit the output of the engine from the engine to the vehicle wheels via the twin-clutch type automatic transmission, whereby the rough terrain vehicle is accelerated again.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The rough terrain vehicle according to claim 2, wherein, during the time of preparing to start movement, in a case that the engine rotational speed is greater than or equal to a predetermined rotational speed, the control unit cuts fuel injection to the engine, and maintains the engine rotational speed at the predetermined rotational speed.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The rough terrain vehicle according to claim 1, wherein:
the accelerator operating unit is an accelerator pedal; and
the clutch operating unit is a paddle shift disposed on a handle steered by the vehicle occupant;
wherein the control unit:
at the time of preparing to start movement, in a case that the accelerator pedal is depressed together with the paddle shift being operated, disengages the clutch and causes the output of the engine to increase; and
at the time of starting movement, in a case that the paddle shift is returned to its initial position, engages the clutch and transmits the output of the engine from the engine to the vehicle wheels via the twin-clutch type automatic transmission.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The rough terrain vehicle according to claim 6, wherein:
the paddle shift is disposed on each of both left and right sides of the handle;
wherein the control unit:
at the time of preparing to start movement, in a case that the accelerator pedal is depressed together with the paddle shift on each of the sides being operated, disengages the clutch and causes the output of the engine to increase; and
at the time of starting movement, in a case that the paddle shift on each of the sides is returned to its initial position, engages the clutch and transmits the output of the engine from the engine to the vehicle wheels via the twin-clutch type automatic transmission.