Control device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12297877-B2
Application number	US-202418825327-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 5, 2024
Priority date	Mar 9, 2022
Publication date	May 13, 2025
Grant date	May 13, 2025

Abstract

A control device includes a connecting member connected to a release operation member of a clutch device, an electric actuator for displacing the release operation member through the connecting member, a control unit configured to displace the release operation member by driving the electric actuator so as to change a clutch capacity of the clutch device, a first sensor configured to detect an operation amount of the electric actuator with respect to the connecting member, and a second sensor configured to detect a displacement amount of the release operation member. The control unit is configured to determine whether or not there is an intervention of the manual operation by the operator through the clutch operating element based on each detection result of the first sensor and the second sensor during an automatic control of the clutch device by the electric actuator.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A control device for automatically controlling a clutch device disposed on a path along which a driving force output from a prime mover is transmitted, the clutch device being configured to connect or disconnect transmission of the driving force according to a manual operation of an operator with respect to a clutch operating element, the control device comprising:
a connecting member connected to a release operation member of the clutch device;
an electric actuator configured to displace the release operation member through the connecting member;
a control unit configured to displace the release operation member by driving the electric actuator so as to change a clutch capacity of the clutch device;
a first sensor configured to detect an operation amount of the electric actuator with respect to the connecting member; and
a second sensor configured to detecting a displacement amount of the release operation member,
wherein the control unit is configured to determine whether or not there is an intervention of the manual operation by the operator through the clutch operating element based on each detection result of the first sensor and the second sensor during an automatic control of the clutch device by the electric actuator.

2. The control device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a cancellation mechanism configured to cancel an operation corresponding to a displacement amount overlapping between the manual operation and the operation by the electric actuator with respect to the release operation member.

3. The control device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a first cable;
a second cable; and
a transmission mechanism provided between the first cable and the second cable,
wherein the transmission mechanism includes:
a movable element engaged with the first cable and the second cable; and
a support member configured to support the movable element so that the movable element is movable,
the first cable is connected to the release operation member,
the second cable is connected to the electric actuator,
the connecting member includes the first cable, the second cable, and the movable element,
a third cable connected to the clutch operating element is engaged with the movable element, and
the release operation member is
displaced by a driving force of the electric actuator transmitted through the first cable, the movable element, and the second cable, and
displaced by an operating force on the clutch operating element transmitted through the first cable, the movable element, and the third cable.

4. The control device according to claim 3 , wherein
the transmission mechanism is fixed to a clutch cover of the clutch device.

5. The control device according to claim 1 , wherein
the release operation member is a shaft member rotatably supported,
the connecting member connects a first arm member protruding from the release operation member in a radial direction of the release operation member and the electric actuator,
the clutch operating element is connected to a second arm member protruding from the release operation member in the radial direction of the release operation member through a cable, and
the release operation member is
rotated by a driving force of the electric actuator transmitted through the connecting member and the first arm member, and
rotated by an operating force on the clutch operating element transmitted through the cable and the second arm member.

6. The control device according to claim 5 , wherein
the first arm member is fixed to the release operation member,
the second arm member is attached to the release operation member so as to be rotatable coaxially with the release operation member, and
when a first engagement portion of the second arm member and a second engagement portion of the release operation member are in an engaged state, the second arm member and the release operation member rotate in conjunction with each other.

7. The control device according to claim 6 , wherein
the clutch device is disposed between an internal combustion engine and a transmission in a straddle type vehicle to connect or disconnect transmission of a driving force of the internal combustion engine to the transmission, and
the clutch operating element and the electric actuator are disposed at positions opposite each other with respect to the release operation member in a front-and-rear direction of the straddle type vehicle.

8. The control device according to claim 1 , wherein
the control unit is configured to stop the automatic control when it is determined that there is the intervention of the manual operation during the automatic control.

9. The control device according to claim 1 , wherein
the control unit is configured to control the electric actuator during the automatic control based on information indicating a relationship between the clutch capacity and a difference between the operation amount and the displacement amount, and each detection result of the first sensor and the second sensor.

10. The control device according to claim 1 , wherein
the control unit is configured to control the electric actuator during the automatic control based on information indicating a relationship between the clutch capacity and the displacement amount of the release operation member, and the detection result of the second sensor.

Assignees

• Honda Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Kittaka Eiji
• Fujimoto Yasushi

Classifications

• F16D2500/50203

  Transition between manual and automatic control of the clutch · CPC title

• F16D2500/1117

  Motorcycle · CPC title

• F16D2300/18

  Sensors; Details or arrangements thereof · CPC title

• F16D48/068

  using signals from a manually actuated gearshift linkage · CPC title

• B62M7/02

  with engine between front and rear wheels · CPC title