Control apparatus for vehicle, and vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9878708-B2
Application number	US-201615017761-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 8, 2016
Priority date	Feb 18, 2015
Publication date	Jan 30, 2018
Grant date	Jan 30, 2018

Abstract

A drive system includes a drive source and a transmission mechanism transmitting a torque between the drive source and a drive wheel. The transmission mechanism includes at least one clutch switching between an engaged state of transmitting the torque between elements constituting the drive system and a disengaged state of failing to transmit the torque. An ECU detects at least one loaded state in which an excessively large torque can be applied to the drive system in a direction from the drive wheel, and disengages a predetermined clutch when the at least one loaded state in which an excessively large torque can be applied is detected. In the case where an excessively large torque can be applied to the drive system, the torque applied to a predetermined element constituting the drive system can be blocked and the torque applied to the drive system can be suppressed with a good response.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A control apparatus for a vehicle including a drive system,
the drive system including a drive source and a transmission mechanism transmitting a torque between the drive source and a drive wheel,
the transmission mechanism including at least two clutches switching between an engaged state of transmitting the torque between elements constituting the drive system and a disengaged state of failing to transmit the torque,
the control apparatus comprising:
a detection unit configured to detect a loaded state in which an excessively large torque can be applied to the drive system in a direction from the drive wheel; and
a control unit configured to switch at least one of the clutches to the disengaged state when the detection unit detects the loaded state in which an excessively large torque can be applied, wherein
the drive source includes an engine,
the transmission mechanism includes a torque converter provided on an output side of the engine, a main transmission provided on an output side of the torque converter, and a sub transmission provided on an output side of the main transmission and configured to further decelerate an output from the main transmission,
the at least two clutches include a lock-up clutch included in the torque converter, and a first clutch provided between the engine and the torque converter,
the detection unit detects, as the loaded state, a state in which the vehicle is braked, a state in which the sub transmission decelerates the output from the main transmission, and a state in which the vehicle is traveling on a bad road,
the control unit switches the first clutch to the disengaged state when the detection unit detects the state in which the vehicle is braked, the state in which the sub transmission decelerates the output from the main transmission, and a state in which the vehicle is not traveling on a bad road, and
the control unit switches the first clutch and the lock-up clutch to the disengaged state when the detection unit detects the state in which the vehicle is braked, the state in which the sub transmission decelerates the output from the main transmission, and the state in which the vehicle is traveling on the bad road.

2. The control apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein
the drive source further includes a motor generator provided between the engine and the torque converter,
the at least two clutches further include a second clutch provided between the motor generator and a shaft connecting the engine and the torque converter to each other,
the detection unit detects, as the loaded state, a state in which a strength of braking is a predetermined amount or more, and
the control unit additionally switches the second clutch to the disengaged state when the detection unit detects the state in which the strength of braking is a predetermined amount or more.

3. A vehicle comprising the control apparatus as recited in claim 1 .

4. A vehicle comprising the control apparatus as recited in claim 2 .

Assignees

• Toyota Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Arai Yasuo

Classifications

• B60W2552/35

  Road bumpiness, e.g. potholes · CPC title

• F16D2500/31433

  Brake pedal position threshold, e.g. switch · CPC title

• B60W2520/10

  Longitudinal speed · CPC title

• F16D2500/30806

  Engaged transmission ratio · CPC title

• F16D2500/1026

  Hydraulic · CPC title