Transmission-equipped vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11466771-B2
Application number	US-202017007363-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 31, 2020
Priority date	Sep 5, 2019
Publication date	Oct 11, 2022
Grant date	Oct 11, 2022

Abstract

A controller drives a shifting actuator to move a first engagement member from an original position of a first engagement portion in one direction along a relative motion path and acquires first position information representing a first position, the first position being a position where the first engagement portion moved in the one direction contacts a second engagement portion. The controller drives the shifting actuator to move the first engagement member from the original position in the other direction along the relative motion path and acquires second position information representing a second position where the first engagement portion moved in the other direction contacts the second engagement portion. The controller calculates a center position of the first engagement portion on the relative motion path from the acquired first position information and the acquired second position information, compares the calculated center position to the original position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A transmission-equipped vehicle comprising:
a transmission that changes a speed of rotation produced by rotational power of a power source for travel of the vehicle;
a shifting operation member operated by an operator;
a manual shifting power transmission mechanism configured to transmit an operation force applied by the operator to the shifting operation member to the transmission as shifting power for a shifting process via at least a rod, a pivot arm, and a rotary member;
a shifting actuator;
an automatic shifting power transmission mechanism through which a drive force of the shifting actuator is transmitted to the manual shifting power transmission mechanism as the shifting power; and
a controller that controls the shifting actuator, wherein
the automatic shifting power transmission mechanism comprises a unidirectional transmitting part that, when the manual shifting power transmission mechanism is set in motion upon operation of the shifting operation member, cuts off transmission of the motion of the manual shifting power transmission mechanism to the shifting actuator and that permits transmission of the drive force of the shifting actuator to the manual shifting power transmission mechanism,
the automatic shifting power transmission mechanism further comprises: a first engagement member movable in conjunction with motion of the shifting actuator and provided with a first engagement portion; and a second engagement member movable in conjunction with the motion of the manual shifting power transmission mechanism and provided with a second engagement portion engageable with the first engagement portion,
the unidirectional transmitting part comprises a play portion formed between the first engagement portion and the second engagement portion on a relative motion path along which the second engagement member moves relative to the first engagement member in conjunction with the motion of the manual shifting power transmission mechanism,
the controller is configured to, during a predetermined non-shifting period, execute a first detection procedure that detects a center position of the first engagement portion on the relative motion path, and
in the first detection procedure,
the controller drives the shifting actuator to move the first engagement member from an original position of the first engagement portion in one direction along the relative motion path and acquires first position information representing a first position, the original position corresponding to a non-shifting position of the shifting actuator, the first position being a position where the first engagement portion moved in the one direction contacts the second engagement portion,
the controller drives the shifting actuator to move the first engagement member from the original position in the other direction along the relative motion path and acquires second position information representing a second position where the first engagement portion moved in the other direction contacts the second engagement portion,
the controller calculates the center position of the first engagement portion on the relative motion path from the acquired first position information and the acquired second position information, and
the controller compares the calculated center position to the original position and determines whether the original position is within a predetermined first range defined based on the center position.

2. The transmission-equipped vehicle according to claim 1 , further comprising a notifier that provides a notification of abnormality, wherein
when the original position is outside the first range, the controller causes the notifier to provide the notification of abnormality.

3. The transmission-equipped vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein when the original position is outside the first range, the controller sets the non-shifting position of the shifting actuator such that the calculated center position is set as the original position.

4. The transmission-equipped vehicle according to claim 1 , further comprising a notifier that provides a notification of abnormality, wherein
when the original position is outside the first range and within a second range wider than the first range, the controller sets the non-shifting position of the shifting actuator such that the calculated center position is set as the original position, and
when the original position is outside the second range, the controller causes the notifier to provide the notification of abnormality.

5. The transmission-equipped vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein in the first detection procedure,
the controller controls the drive force of the shifting actuator to a drive force for detection which is small enough not to set the manual shifting power transmission mechanism in motion,
the controller determines the first position as a position where, when the shifting actuator is driven by the drive force for detection, the first engagement portion moved by the drive force for detection in the one direction along the relative motion path comes to a stop, and
the controller determines the second position as a position where, when the shifting actuator is driven by the drive force for detection, the first engagement portion moved by the drive force for detection in the other direction along the relative motion path comes to a stop.

6. The transmission-equipped vehicle according to claim 5 , wherein
the controller performs pulse width modulation (PWM) control of the drive force of the shifting actuator,
in the shifting process, the controller sets a duty cycle of the PWM control to a first duty cycle, and
in the first detection procedure, the controller sets the duty cycle of the PWM to a second duty cycle lower than the first duty cycle.

7. The transmission-equipped vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the predetermined non-shifting period is a period where a key switch is turned on.

8. The transmission-equipped vehicle according to claim 1 , further comprising a change mechanism by which a shift drum is rotated to set a shift fork of the transmission in motion, wherein
the change mechanism comprises:
a change lever that pivots in conjunction with the motion of the manual shifting power transmission mechanism to rotate the shift drum in a stepwise fashion; and
a mechanical stopper that is secured to a case of the transmission and that physically restricts a range over which the change lever is pivotable,

the controller is configured to, when the shifting process is effected, execute a second detection procedure that detects an actuator center position of the shifting actuator on a motion path of the shifting actuator, and
in the second detection procedure,
the controller drives the shifting actuator from the non-shifting position in one direction along the motion path of the shifting actuator and acquires third position information representing a third position where the change lever contacts the mechanical stopper,
the controller drives the shifting actuator from the non-shifting position in the other direction along the motion path of the shifting actuator and acquires fourth position information representing a fourth position where the change lever contacts the mechanical stopper,
the controller calculates the actuator center position of the shifting actuator on the motion path from the acquired third position information and the acquired fourth position information, and
the controller compares the calculated actuator center position to the non-shifting position and determines whether the non-shifting position is within a predetermined third range defined based on the actuator center position.

9. A transmission-equipped vehicle comprisi

Assignees

• Kawasaki Motors Ltd

Inventors

• Matsumoto Yuuka

Classifications

• B60Q9/00

  Arrangement or adaptation of signal devices not provided for in one of main groups B60Q1/00 - B60Q7/00 {, e.g. haptic signalling} · CPC title

• F16H59/0204 Primary

  for automatic transmissions with means for range selection and manual shifting, e.g. range selector with tiptronic · CPC title

• F16H61/12

  Detecting malfunction or potential malfunction, e.g. fail safe (in control of hydrostatic gearing F16H61/4192) {; Circumventing or fixing failures} · CPC title

• F16H61/2807

  using electric control signals for shift actuators, e.g. electro-hydraulic control therefor  (F16H61/30, F16H61/32 take precedence) · CPC title

• B62M25/08

  with electrical or fluid transmitting systems · CPC title