Saddle-ride type vehicle comprising a clutch assembly and a control device for said clutch assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11933374-B2
Application number	US-202118019834-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 3, 2021
Priority date	Aug 7, 2020
Publication date	Mar 19, 2024
Grant date	Mar 19, 2024

Abstract

The present invention relates to a saddle-ride type vehicle comprising a clutch assembly (4), interposed between an engine (2) and a gearbox (3), which includes a clutch device (11) in turn comprising two clutch elements (one integral with the shaft of the engine and the other with the input shaft of the gearbox) and return means (12) that keep these elements (11A, 11B) in contact in a closure condition of the clutch. According to the invention, the clutch assembly (4) further comprises an operating device (21) of the clutch device that causes detachment of the elements (11A, 11B) of the clutch device up to an opening condition of the clutch assembly. This latter further comprises a control device (6) to limit the torque peaks during gear change. This device comprises an actuation means (5) that, during gear change, exerts a predetermined force (S) in contrast to the force exerted by said return means (12) of the clutch assembly, wherein said predetermined force (S) is less than the force (F) generated by the return means (12) so as to cause a mutual slip of the elements (11A, 11B) of the clutch device (11) without said opening condition being reached. The operating device (21) is of hydraulic type and comprises a primary pump (22) operated by means of a control lever (23), wherein this primary pump (22) is hydraulically connected, through a primary hydraulic circuit (16), to a primary piston (24) acting on at least one of the elements (11A, 11B) of the clutch device (11) in opposition to the return means (12) so that, following an action on the control lever (23), the primary piston (24) exerts an action the elements (11A, 11B) determining the opening condition. According to the invention, the control device (6) comprises a secondary piston (25) connected to the primary piston (24), wherein the actuation means (5) exerts, directly or indirectly, the predetermined force (S) on the secondary piston (25), said predetermined force (S) being transferred to the primary piston (24) in opposition to the force (F) of the return means (12).

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A saddle-ride type vehicle comprising:
an engine;
a gearbox;
a clutch assembly interposed between the engine and the gearbox, wherein the clutch assembly comprises:
a clutch device comprising at least one drive element integral with a shaft of the engine, at least one driven element integral with an input shaft of the gearbox, and return means that keep the at least one drive element and the at least one driven element in contact in a closure condition of the clutch device;
an operating device of the clutch device to cause, in opposition to the return means, a mutual detachment of the at least one drive element and the at least one driven element up to an opening condition of the clutch device;
a control device comprising an actuation means that, during a gear change performed by the gearbox following a pilot command, exerts a predetermined force in contrast to a force exerted by the return means, the predetermined force being less than the force exerted by the return means so as to cause the clutch device to slip without the opening condition being reached;

wherein the operating device is of hydraulic type and comprises a primary pump operated via a control lever, wherein the primary pump is hydraulically connected, through a primary hydraulic circuit, to a primary piston acting on at least one of the at least one drive element and the at least one driven element in opposition to the return means so that, as a result of an action on the control lever, the primary piston exerts an action on the at least one drive element and the at least one driven element determining the opening condition;
wherein the control device comprises a secondary piston connected to the primary piston, wherein the actuation means exerts, directly or indirectly, the predetermined force on the secondary piston, the predetermined force being transferred to the primary piston in opposition to the force of the return means.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the secondary piston is activated through a secondary hydraulic circuit that is independent from the primary hydraulic circuit.

3. The vehicle of claim 2 , wherein the actuation means is configured to generate, when activated, an increase of pressure in said secondary hydraulic circuit.

4. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the actuation means is mechanically activated when a gear change is required by the pilot.

5. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the actuation means is activated electronically by a control unit of the vehicle when the control unit detects a gear change requested by the pilot.

6. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle comprises a control unit configured to control activation and deactivation of the actuation means.

7. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the actuation means is of hydraulic type and is activated, directly or indirectly, via a control lever that is activated, directly or indirectly, via a pedal mechanism for gear change.

8. A saddle-ride type vehicle comprising:
an engine;
a gearbox;
a clutch comprising at least one drive element integral with a shaft of the engine, and at least one driven element integral with an input shaft of the gearbox;
an elastic spring configured to exert a force keeping the at least one drive element and the at least one driven element in contact in a closure condition of the clutch;
a primary hydraulic pump operated via a control lever, wherein the primary pump is hydraulically connected, through a primary hydraulic circuit, to a primary piston, wherein as a result of an action on the control lever the primary piston exerts an action on the at least one drive element and the at least one driven element in opposition to the force exerted by the elastic spring, to cause a mutual detachment of the at least one drive element and the at least one driven element and determine an opening condition of the clutch;
a secondary piston connected to the primary piston; and
one or more actuators configured, during a gear change performed by the gearbox following a pilot command, to exert a predetermined force on the secondary piston and transferred thereby to the primary piston in opposition to the force exerted by the elastic spring, the predetermined force being less than the force exerted by the elastic spring so as to cause the clutch to slip without the opening condition being reached.

9. The vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the secondary piston is activated through a secondary hydraulic circuit that is independent from the primary hydraulic circuit.

10. The vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the one or more actuators are configured to generate, when activated, an increase of pressure in said secondary hydraulic circuit.

11. The vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the one or more actuators are mechanically activated when a gear change is required by the pilot.

12. The vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the one or more actuators are activated electronically upon detection of a gear change requested by the pilot.

13. The vehicle of claim 8 , comprising a vehicle control unit configured to control activation and deactivation of the one or more actuators.

14. The vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the one or more actuators are of hydraulic type and activated, directly or indirectly, via a control lever that is activated, directly or indirectly, via a pedal lever for gear change.

Assignees

• Piaggio & C Spa

Inventors

• Albesiano Romano
• Scattolin Walter
• Grisotolo Francesco

Classifications

• F16D48/066 Primary

  Control of fluid pressure, e.g. using an accumulator (F16D48/062, F16D48/068 take precedence) · CPC title

• F16D13/56

  in which the clutching pressure is produced by springs only · CPC title

• F16D2500/1026

  Hydraulic · CPC title

• F16D2500/10412

  Transmission line of a vehicle · CPC title

• F16D2500/1045

  Friction clutch · CPC title