Clutch failure detector, automatic clutch system and straddle-type vehicle
AssigneeYamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorYoshihiko Takeuchi
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A clutch failure detector is provided for detecting failure of an automatic clutch system. The clutch failure detector can include a current value detector and a determination device. Upon turning ON a main switch, an operation to disengage and engage a clutch can be performed by a clutch actuator, and a totalized value of current supplied to a clutch actuator can be calculated for a specific period of time while the clutch is in the process of engaging in the operation to disengage and engage the clutch. The totalized value can be compared with a preset threshold, and if a difference between the totalized value and the threshold is equal to or greater than a given value, it is determined that an automatic clutch system has a failure.
Claims21
A clutch failure detector for detecting a failure of an automatic clutch system, the clutch system having a friction clutch and an electric actuator for disengaging and engaging the friction clutch, the failure detector comprising:
- a current value detector for detecting a value of current supplied to the actuator;
- and
- a determination device for determining whether or not the automatic clutch system has a failure based on the value of the current detected by the current value detector.
An automatic clutch system comprising:
- a friction clutch;
- an electric actuator for disengaging and engaging the friction clutch;
- and
- a drive control unit for drive control of the actuator;
- and
- a clutch failure detector for detecting a failure of the clutch system, the failure detector including:
- a current value detector for detecting a value of current supplied to the actuator;
- and
- a determination device for determining whether or not the automatic clutch system has a failure based on the value of the current detected by the current value detector.
A straddle-type vehicle comprising:
- an automatic clutch system including a friction clutch, an electric actuator, a drive control unit, and a clutch failure detector, the electric actuator being operative to disengage and engage the friction clutch, the drive control unit being operative to provide drive control of the actuator, the clutch failure being operative to detect a failure of the clutch system, the failure detector including:
- a current value detector for detecting a value of current supplied to the actuator;
- and
- a determination device for determining whether or not the automatic clutch system has a failure based on the value of the current detected by the current value detector.
A method for detecting failure of an automatic clutch system that comprises a friction clutch and an electric actuator for disengaging and engaging the friction clutch, the method comprising:
- activating the electric actuator to disengage or engage the friction clutch;
- while disengaging or engaging the friction clutch, detecting an amount of current supplied to the electric actuator;
- and
- based at least in part on the detected amount of the current supplied to the electric motor, determining whether a failure has occurred in the automatic clutch system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.