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AssigneeMitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorsTadashi Yoshioka, Shigeyuki Yoshida, Kaoru Sawase, Takahisa Niwa, Yoshihiro Ikushima
Estimating the term…
Disclosed herein is a driving state switching unit with a synchro-mechanism which employs a synchro-mechanism to perform switching of a driving state. The switching unit is equipped with a first gear (32) and a second gear (33) coaxially disposed, a gear connecting member (34) axially movable so that the first gear (32) and the second gear (33) can be connected, and a synchro-mechanism (35) interposed between the first gear (32) and the second gear (33). By moving the gear connecting member (34) by an electric actuator (50), the first gear (32) and the second gear (33) are connected, while they are being synchronized by the synchro-mechanism (35). When this occurs, control means (102) controls a supply current to the electric actuator (50), and judgement means (102) judges synchronization of the synchro-mechanism (35), based on a change in the supply current value to the electric actuator (50). With this, the judgement of the synchronization of the synchro-mechanism (35) is made possible without providing dedicated sensors, switches, etc., and an accurate judgement, corresponding even to an individual difference in the sliding resistance between members and a change in running conditions, is made possible.
A driving state switching unit with a synchro-mechanism, comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.
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From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.
Arrangement or mounting of control devices for vehicle transmissions, or parts thereof, not otherwise provided for: for changing number of driven…
With at least one movement of the final actuating mechanism being caused by a non-mechanical force, e.g. power-assisted: electric motors ,…
Constructional features of the final output mechanisms: the final output mechanisms comprising elements moved by electrical or magnetic force
Inputs being a function of gearing status: status of gear-change operation, e.g. clutch fully engaged
Term ended 4 Oct 2020 (estimated)
The present invention relates to a driving state switching unit with a synchro-mechanism that employs the synchro-mechanism to perform switching of a driving state.
In part-time four-wheel-drive vehicles capable of switching of a two-wheel-drive state (2WD) and a four-wheel-drive state (4WD), in the case where 2WD is selected, a transfer is constructed such that the transmission of power to either wheel side (generally front wheels) of the front and rear wheel sides is disconnected and that only the other wheel side (generally rear wheels) is driven. At this time, on the front wheel side where the transmission of power is disconnected, power loss will become greater in the case where all parts in the front driving system (e.g., a front propeller shaft, a front differential gear, a front axle shaft, etc.) rotate, as compared with the case where only tires and wheels are rotating.
Hence, free wheel mechanisms have hitherto been employed which are constructed so as to reduce power loss during 2WD and enhance fuel consumption, by releasing the connection between the front wheels and the front axle shaft, or by disconnecting the front axle front, during 2WD.
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a part-time four-wheel-drive vehicle to which a driving state switching unit as a first embodiment of the present invention is applied. In FIG. 1, it is indicated that the vehicle is in the center differential 4W state;
FIG. 2 is a correspondence diagram showing the relationship between detection switches and driving states, according to the driving state switching unit as the first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is an essential vertical sectional view of a transfer during 2WD, according to the driving state switching unit as the first embodiment of the present invention;
Embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described with reference to the drawings.
In a first embodiment of the present invention, a driving state switching unit with a synchro-mechanism of the present invention is equipped in a part-time four-wheel-drive vehicle and constructed as a driving state switching unit that performs switching of a driving stage between a two-wheel-drive state and a four-wheel-drive state. FIGS. 1 through 14 show a driving state switching unit as the first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 being a diagram showing the construction of the driving system of a part-time four-wheel-drive vehicle to which the driving state switching unit is applied.
As shown in FIG. 1, this vehicle 1 is a four-wheel-drive vehicle of a front engine rear drive (FR) base with drive by rear wheels 82, 83 as a base. Driving force is taken out from a transfer 4 and transmitted to front wheels 80, 81, whereby four-wheel drive is performed.