JP3320920B2 - Slope start assist device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is used as a driving assistance device for an automobile. According to the present invention, when the braking pressure equal to or more than a predetermined value is applied and the vehicle speed reaches zero, if the clutch is depressed, the braking pressure is temporarily held even if the brake pedal is released, and the clutch is released. The present invention relates to a hill start assist device that automatically releases the temporarily held braking pressure at a set value. INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention is applied to an automobile equipped with a clutch and a manual shift transmission, and is not applied to an automatic vehicle without a clutch pedal.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A hill start operation in which a vehicle stopped on a hill is started in an uphill direction is performed by depressing a brake pedal while depressing a clutch pedal and shifting a transmission to a start gear (or a reverse gear). When the clutch is in a half-clutch state, the brake pedal is released and the accelerator pedal is depressed while the clutch pedal is gently released in the direction of the shallow stepping amount.
The slope start assist device is a driving assist device that automatically performs this. In other words, the slope start assist device depresses the brake pedal, the vehicle decelerates, and the vehicle speed becomes zero (or almost zero).
Is reached, if the clutch pedal is depressed beyond a predetermined value at this time, the brake pressure is controlled to be automatically maintained even when the brake pedal is released. further,
When the transmission is set and the depressed clutch pedal is released to the set release point, control is performed so that the state of holding the braking pressure is automatically released.

This device takes in a solenoid valve connected to maintain the braking pressure in accordance with the control even when the brake pedal is released, and acquires vehicle speed information, braking pressure information and clutch pedal stroke information. This is realized by a program control circuit that electrically controls the solenoid valve. In a vehicle equipped with this device, even if the driver releases the brake pedal while the side brake is not applied, the vehicle is maintained in a stopped state, so the above-described driving operation on a hill starts smoothly. It can be carried out. Further, when driving on a road in a congested state, it is not necessary to continuously depress the brake pedal for a long time or repeatedly operate the side brake, so that the driver's fatigue can be reduced.

Such a slope start assist device is disclosed in
No. 4,60,456 and others. This device has come into widespread use in lorries whose operating conditions vary according to the load weight.

[0005] In the above-mentioned slope start assist device, as described above, when a vehicle stopped on a slope is to be started,
The clutch pedal is slowly released, and when the stroke of the clutch pedal reaches a preset release point, the held braking pressure is automatically released. It is desirable that the position of this release point can be changed according to the driver's preference or the loaded weight at that time. An apparatus for this is disclosed in JP-A-64-60548,
An apparatus capable of automatically following the set release point in accordance with wear of the clutch is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-244.
No. 462.

[0006]

The prior art device is
The configuration is such that the setting of the position of the release point can be changed only when the transmission is in neutral, and the position of the release point is changed only for a certain step each time the operating end is operated. As a result of repeating the test on the slope start assist device, the inventor of the present application has noticed that the conditions described above and above are not always convenient for a practical vehicle and need to be improved. In other words, when the conditions described above and are set, it is necessary to change the release point to the neutral position, perform the change operation, and then set the transmission to the start position in order to change the release point. There is a drawback in that when changing the release point when the value changes, the change step is small and the operation must be repeated many times. Therefore, the change of the release point is not performed except in special cases.

Generally, a driver wants to test the changed state immediately after performing an operation for changing the release point. Further, if the clutch is sufficiently disengaged in order to perform the operation of changing the release point, there is no safety problem even if the transmission is not in neutral. Further, the amount of change by one operation of the operating end is more convenient if the load is changed from an empty state to the maximum amount. In this case, it is necessary to repeat the operation many times, and it is preferable that the operation can be changed in a certain large step.

The present invention has been made in such a background, and it is possible to change the setting of the release point even when the transmission is not in neutral when the clutch is deeply depressed. It is an object of the present invention to provide a hill start assistance device which can be frequently changed when the setting change step is not fixed and the load capacity is changed.

[0009]

According to the present invention, when the clutch is deeply depressed, even if the transmission is not in the neutral position, the brake pressure holding state set during the stroke is released. The setting position can be changed.

That is, an electromagnetic valve connected to maintain the braking pressure in accordance with the control even when the brake pedal is released, and information on the vehicle speed, information on the braking pressure and information on the stroke of the clutch pedal are taken in. A control circuit that controls the solenoid valve to hold the braking pressure when the vehicle speed becomes zero and the stroke of the clutch pedal is greater than a predetermined value when the braking pressure is equal to or greater than a predetermined value. An operation for changing the set value of the release point by operation in a slope start assist device provided with control means for releasing the braking pressure holding state of the solenoid valve when the stroke of the stroke becomes smaller than the set release point. The control circuit determines that the transmission is in a neutral state when the stroke of the clutch pedal is greater than a predetermined value. Characterized by comprising means for enabling input from said operating end regardless of whether or not.

The operating end includes a push button for moving the setting of the release point in a positive direction and a negative direction, respectively.
The control circuit includes means for moving the setting of the release point in the positive direction or the negative direction by one step each time the push button is operated once to one of the push buttons, stroke of the clutch pedal several steps continuously set before Symbol release point in <br/> when the one in the push button is operated continuously while maintained at greater than that predetermined value after being times operated And means for moving in the positive or negative direction, respectively.

[0012]

When the brake pedal is depressed and the vehicle speed becomes zero and the stroke of the clutch pedal is greater than a predetermined value, the solenoid valve holds the braking pressure, and when the stroke of the clutch pedal becomes smaller than the set release point. By releasing the braking pressure holding state of the solenoid valve, the slope start assisting operation is performed. The change of the set value of the release point is performed by an operation input from an operation end provided in a driver's seat, but when the stroke of the clutch pedal is larger than a predetermined value, it is determined whether the transmission is in a neutral state. Regardless of this, the input from the operation terminal is made valid, and the release point is changed and set according to the instruction input.

Since the operating end is provided with a push button for moving the release point in the positive and negative directions, the release point is moved in a small step each time the push button is operated once in either direction. Or move in the negative direction. Further, when the push button is continuously operated for one long time after the push button is continuously operated for one long time while the stroke of the clutch pedal is maintained at a state larger than the predetermined value after one of the push buttons is operated once. The release points are moved in the positive or negative direction for a plurality of steps, respectively.

Thus, when the clutch pedal is depressed deeply, it is possible to change and set the release point even if the transmission is not in neutral.
Further, when the load capacity is changed, the position of the optimum release point can be set according to the change in the situation, and the starting operation on the slope can be performed more appropriately.

If the clutch pedal is deeply depressed, the engine and the drive shaft are not connected to each other, even if the transmission is set to one of the gears. Adjustments can be made. This is consistent with the sense of driving operation, and there is no misunderstanding of operation.

[0016]

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a main part of an embodiment of the present invention.

In the embodiment of the present invention, a solenoid valve 1 connected to maintain a braking pressure in accordance with control even when the brake pedal 11 is released, a vehicle speed sensor 2 for detecting a vehicle speed, and a braking pressure are detected. A stop lamp switch 3, a clutch stroke sensor 4 for detecting a stroke of a clutch pedal 12, a hydraulic sensor 5 for detecting a hydraulic pressure value of a hydraulic circuit of a clutch, and a gradient sensor 6 for detecting a gradient of a vehicle.
A neutral switch 7 for indicating that the position of the vehicle speed lever is in neutral, a gear-in switch 8 for detecting that the transmission is set to the starting gear or the reverse gear, a vehicle speed sensor 2, a stop lamp switch 3, A program control circuit 10 which takes in outputs from the clutch stroke sensor 4, the oil pressure sensor 5, the acceleration sensor 6, and the neutral switch 7 and the gear-in switch 8 to control the solenoid valve 1; And an alarm device 22 for generating an alarm when a failure occurs. The alarm device 22 is provided with an alarm buzzer 23 that generates an alarm by sound, and an alarm lamp 24 that emits an alarm when turned on.

Further, when the brake pedal is depressed and the vehicle speed becomes zero and the stroke of the clutch pedal 12 is greater than a predetermined value, the program control circuit 10
When the stroke of the clutch pedal 12 becomes smaller than the set release point.
Control means for releasing the braking pressure holding state of the clutch. When the stroke of the clutch pedal 12 is larger than a predetermined value, the control means is released regardless of whether the transmission is in a neutral state. Means for validating the input from 21 is provided.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing the structure of the operating end in the embodiment of the present invention.

An operation / release switch 21a for setting or releasing the slope start assist device to an operation state is provided at the operation end 21.
An initial setting switch 21b for setting a release point on the stroke of the clutch pedal 12, a release point adjustment switch 21c for adjusting the release point, and a release point adjustment switch 21c.
and a display screen 21d for displaying the brake release timing and the like adjusted by the operation c.

The operation / release switch 21a is set to a state in which the slope start assist device can be operated when operated to the "operation" side, and is set to a state in which the slope start assistance device cannot be operated when operated to the "release" side. It is released. The initial setting switch 21b is initialized when the switch is operated. That is, when the initial setting switch 21b is operated while depressing the clutch pedal 12, the stroke of the clutch pedal 12 becomes a set value for performing the brake pressure releasing operation. The release point adjustment switch 21c shifts the release point to the "+" side (in a direction in which the depression amount of the clutch pedal 12 is deeper) when operated to the "early" side, and automatically shifts to the neutral position when the hand is released. Is returned. When operated on the "slow" side, the release point is shifted to the "-" side (the direction in which the depression amount of the clutch pedal 12 is shallower), and is automatically returned to the neutral position when the hand is released.

Further, the program control circuit controls the setting of the release point in the positive direction or the negative direction in small steps each time one of the release button adjustment switches 21c of the push button type is operated once. Movement means and one of the release point adjustment switches 21c
When the push button is continuously operated for a long time while the stroke of the clutch pedal 12 is maintained at a state larger than the predetermined value after the first operation, the setting of the release point is correct for a plurality of the small steps. Means for moving in the direction or in the negative direction.

FIG. 3A is a side view showing an attached state of the clutch stroke sensor according to the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.
Is a front view thereof. Clutch stroke sensor 4
Is fixed to a bracket 14 fixed to the vehicle body side, one end of an arm 4b is fixed to a rotating shaft 4a, and further displaced with the movement of the clutch pedal 12 to the other end of the arm 4b to move the arm 4b. The connecting shaft 4c to be rotated is fixed.

The clutch stroke sensor 4 detects a change in the stroke of the clutch pedal 12 via the connecting shaft 4c, the arm 4b and the rotating shaft 4a, and as shown in FIG. 4, outputs a voltage according to the changed angle of the arm 4b. Is configured to occur. In the case of this example, 5 V is generated at 90 degrees, the voltage decreases as the angle decreases, and becomes 0 V at 0 degrees.

Next, the operation of the embodiment of the present invention configured as described above will be described.

First, a description will be given of the slope start assist operation performed during normal running. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the flow of the brake holding operation in the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the flow of the brake releasing operation in the embodiment of the present invention.

The brake holding operation by the program control circuit 10 is performed as shown in FIG.
Captures the output from the stop lamp switch 3,
It is determined whether the brake pedal is depressed. If the brake pedal is not depressed, it means that the vehicle is not stopped by braking, so that the transmission of the control signal to the electromagnetic valve 1 is prohibited, and the assist operation for starting on a slope is stopped. When the brake pedal is depressed, the output from the vehicle speed sensor 2 is taken in to determine whether or not the vehicle speed is zero. If the vehicle speed is not zero, the vehicle is running, and therefore the transmission of the control signal to the electromagnetic valve 1 is prohibited, and the auxiliary operation for starting on a slope is stopped.

If the vehicle speed is zero, the output from the acceleration sensor 6 is fetched, and it is determined whether or not the current acceleration sensor output exceeds a predetermined value S. If the output value of the acceleration sensor exceeds the predetermined value S, it is determined that the vehicle is not in a stopped state, and the transmission of a control signal to the electromagnetic valve 1 is prohibited and the auxiliary operation is stopped. If it does not exceed the predetermined value S, it is determined that the vehicle is in a stopped state, and it is determined whether or not the stroke of the clutch has exceeded a predetermined value. By driving the valve 1 to operate the brake valve 13 to maintain the braking pressure, the hill start assisting operation is executed. If it does not exceed the predetermined value, the control signal transmission to the electromagnetic valve 1 is prohibited, and the execution of the auxiliary operation is stopped.

Next, the brake release operation which is normally performed will be described with reference to FIG.

When the vehicle is in the brake holding state on a slope, the clutch stroke sensor 4 and the neutral
The output from the switch 7 or the gear-in switch 8 is taken in, and it is determined whether or not the clutch pedal 12 is depressed to set the gear to the forward start position (low or second) or the reverse position.

When the clutch pedal 12 is depressed and the gear is set to the start state, it is determined from the output of the clutch stroke sensor 4 whether or not the stroke has become equal to or less than a predetermined stroke. When the stroke becomes equal to or less than the predetermined stroke, it is determined that the vehicle is to be started, and the transmission of the control signal to the electromagnetic valve 1 is prohibited and the brake is released. If the gear is not set to the start state or the amount of depression of the clutch pedal 12 is equal to or more than a predetermined stroke,
The transmission of the control signal to the solenoid valve 1 is continued to maintain the brake holding state.

The setting of the brake release position (the value of the depression stroke of the clutch pedal 12) can be arbitrarily performed according to the driver's preference and changes due to clutch wear by an operation input from the operation end 21. The set value of the depression stroke of the clutch pedal 12 is held until it is reset. If each stepping stroke of the clutch pedal 12 exceeds the set reference value, the start assisting operation is continued.

As described above, the holding and releasing of the braking pressure in the slope start assisting operation is executed according to the amount of depression of the clutch pedal 12. This is set in advance as a release point at which the braking pressure is released during that stroke.
The stroke is the clutch stroke sensor 4 shown in FIG.
Is detected by If the driving conditions of the car are always constant, this release point can be used even if it is fixed, but in practice it can be changed with simple operations according to the clutch wear and loading weight. desirable.

According to the present invention, when the stroke of the clutch pedal 12 is larger than the predetermined value, the operating end 21 provided in the driver's seat is operated regardless of whether the transmission is in a neutral state. The set value of the release point can be changed, and the driving operation can be performed in response to the situation change at that time.

[0035] Here, a description will be given of changes the operation of the release point. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the flow of the operation of changing the release point in the embodiment of the present invention.

[0036]

[0037] will be described operation of changing cancel point. The operation / release switch 21a is operated to the “operation” side to set the slope start assist device to the operation state, and the clutch pedal 12
Is stepped deeper than a predetermined value, the program control circuit 10
Detects the state from the output from the clutch stroke sensor 4. Subsequently, when the release point adjustment switch 21c is operated, the operation is on the “early” side or “late”.
Side.

When the operation is performed once on the "early" side, the release point is advanced by one step, and "+1" is displayed on the display screen 21d. After that, if it is operated to the "early" side continuously,
Speed up multiple steps during operation and display screen 21
For example, the number of steps stepped forward is displayed, for example, "+4". With this operation, the release point shifts to the direction in which the depression of the clutch pedal 12 is deep.

The release point adjustment switch 21c is set to "slow".
, The release point is delayed by one step and "-1" is displayed on the display screen 21. Further, when the operation is continuously performed on the “slow” side, a plurality of steps during the operation are delayed, and the number of the delayed steps such as “−4” is displayed on the display screen 21. By this operation, the release point shifts to a direction in which the depression of the clutch pedal 12 is shallow.

Here, when the clutch pedal 12 is returned,
Release the release point change mode and return to the normal operation mode. If the clutch pedal 12 is still depressed, the same operation is repeated assuming that an adjustment operation is further performed.

In the present invention, when the stroke of the clutch pedal 12 is larger than a predetermined value, regardless of whether the transmission is in a neutral state or not, the operation terminal 21 is not required.
Release point change input from is valid. Whether the gear is in the neutral state is detected by the neutral switch 7 and the gear-in switch 8 based on whether the gear is in the neutral position.

[0042] With reference now in the gear-engaging switch 5 for, gear-switch 8, as shown in FIG. 8,
Upper cover 16 with neutral switch 7
Attached to, the transmission shift shaft 17 and is wound on the left side of the FIG. 9 example, the angle θ
_At the position of P1 which has moved _one position, the neutral switch 7
Becomes an OFF state as shown in 10, in the well still OFF state gear-switch 8, gear--when reaching the further position for Q ₁ on Figure 9 which is wound by an angle Δθ
The switch 8 is turned on. Similarly, when the transmission shift shaft 17 is turned rightward by an angle θ ₁ , the neutral switch 15 is turned off at the position P _2.
Although the state, gear-switch 8 is OFF state, the ON state upon reaching a further angle Δθ only turned position Q ₂ 'on Fig.

This is because the transmission shift shaft 17 is turned to the left or right, and
When the switch 7 is turned off, the gear-in switch 8
The range of the angle Δθ until is turned ON is ON, OFF
, The neutral switch ON / OFF and the gear-in switch 8 at an angle Δθ
Are configured so that ON and OFF are clearly defined.

[0044]

As described above, according to the present invention, when the clutch is deeply depressed, the brake pressure set during the stroke is maintained even if the transmission is not in the neutral position. The setting position of the release point to be released can be changed. Therefore, when the load capacity is changed, the release point can be frequently changed by a simple operation according to the situation, and the starting operation on the slope can be performed more appropriately.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a main part of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing a configuration of an operation end according to the embodiment of the present invention.

3A is a side view showing a clutch stroke / sensor mounting state in the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3B is a front view thereof.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a relationship between an output voltage and an angle of a clutch stroke sensor according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a flow of a brake holding operation in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a flow of a brake release operation in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a flow of a change operation of a release point in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a view showing a state where the gear-in switch and the neutral switch according to the embodiment of the present invention are mounted on the transmission.

FIG. 9 is a view for explaining positions of neutral and gear-in due to rotation of a transmission shift shaft.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a neutral region and a gear-in region of the transmission according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. An electromagnetic valve connected to maintain a braking pressure according to control even when a brake pedal is released, and the electromagnetic valve taking in information of vehicle speed, information of braking pressure, and information of stroke of a clutch pedal. A control circuit that controls the solenoid valve to hold the braking pressure when the brake pedal is depressed and the vehicle speed becomes zero and the stroke of the clutch pedal is larger than a predetermined value, and the stroke of the clutch pedal A slope start assist device provided with control means for canceling the braking pressure holding state of the solenoid valve when becomes smaller than the set release point, wherein an operating end for changing the set value of the release point by operation is provided. The control circuit is provided in a driver's seat, and the control circuit is configured such that the transmission is in a neutral state when the stroke of the clutch pedal is larger than a predetermined value. A hill start assistance device comprising means for validating an input from the operation end regardless of whether or not the input is provided. 2. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the operation end includes a push button for moving the setting of the release point in a positive direction and a negative direction, respectively, and the control circuit is configured to perform the operation each time the push button is operated once. Means for moving the setting of the release point in the positive direction or the negative direction one step at a time, and maintaining the state in which the stroke of the clutch pedal is kept larger than a predetermined value after one of the push buttons is operated once. 2. The slope starting assist device according to claim 1, further comprising: means for continuously moving the setting of the release point in a positive direction or a negative direction by a plurality of steps when the push button is continuously operated.