JP7063054B2 - Engine automatic stop starter - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an engine automatic stop starter.

Patent Document 1 discloses a transmission in which a first neutral switch and a second neutral switch are installed in a clutch case and a rear case located on both sides of the transmission case, respectively. According to this conventional transmission, since the first neutral switch and the second neutral switch are greatly separated from each other across the transmission case, the state of scattering of the mission oil to each neutral switch changes and is included in the mission oil. The degree of clogging caused by iron powder or the like can be made different between the first neutral switch and the second neutral switch. As a result, the conventional transmission can prevent the first neutral switch and the second neutral switch from having substantially the same failure at substantially the same time.

The transmission described in Patent Document 1 uses the detection signals of the first neutral switch and the second neutral switch for idle stop control of the engine. Therefore, according to this transmission, when the detection signals from the two neutral switches are different from each other, the failure determination can be reliably performed and the idle stop control can be prohibited.

Japanese Patent No. 4967804

By the way, even though the transmission is in a state where power can be transmitted to the wheels during idle stop control, if a signal indicating that the transmission is in a power non-transmission state is output due to a failure of the neutral switch, a signal is output. There is a risk that the engine will be restarted while the transmission is capable of transmitting power. In this case, when the engine is restarted, the power of the engine is transmitted to the wheels, which may result in unintended vehicle behavior by the driver.

In the transmission described in Patent Document 1, the occurrence of the above-mentioned vehicle behavior during idle stop control can be suppressed by reliably determining the failure of these neutral switches by using two neutral switches.

However, the transmission described in Patent Document 1 requires two neutral switches in order to suppress the occurrence of the vehicle behavior as described above, the number of parts increases, and the manufacturing cost of the vehicle increases. Will end up.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides an automatic engine stop starting device capable of suppressing the occurrence of unintended vehicle behavior by the driver without increasing the number of parts. The purpose.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is a transmission capable of switching between a power transmission state in which engine power can be transmitted to wheels and a power non-transmission state in which power is not transmitted between the engine and the wheels. The transmission is configured by a manual transmission that establishes any of a plurality of shift stages in response to an operation of a shift lever by the driver, and the power non-transmission state is any of the shifts. It is a neutral state in which no stage is established, and it is turned on when the operating position of the shift lever is in the neutral position, detects the neutral state of the transmission, and is turned off when the operating position of the shift lever is other than the neutral position. An engine automatic stop starter used for a vehicle equipped with only one neutral position switch, which automatically stops the engine when a predetermined stop condition is satisfied, and a predetermined engine is automatically stopped during the automatic stop of the engine. A control unit for restarting the engine when the restart condition is satisfied is provided, and the neutral state is detected by the neutral position switch under the predetermined stop condition and the predetermined restart condition, respectively. The control unit includes, on condition that the number of times the neutral position switch is turned from on to off during the automatic stop of the engine reaches a predetermined number of times, the predetermined stop condition is set after the engine is restarted. It has a configuration in which the engine is set to the engine automatic stop prohibition state in which the engine is not automatically stopped even if it is established.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an engine automatic stop starting device capable of suppressing the occurrence of vehicle behavior unintended by the driver without increasing the number of parts.

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a vehicle equipped with an automatic engine stop starting device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing of engine automatic stop function management control executed by the control device according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a timing chart showing an example of a driving mode in a vehicle of a comparative example. FIG. 4 is a timing chart showing an example of an operation mode of a vehicle equipped with an automatic engine stop starting device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The engine automatic stop starting device according to an embodiment of the present invention can switch between a power transmission state in which engine power can be transmitted to wheels and a power non-transmission state in which power is not transmitted between the engine and wheels. An automatic engine stop / starting device used for a vehicle equipped with a power transmission mechanism and a power transmission state detection unit for detecting a power transmission state or a power non-transmission state, and the engine is used when a predetermined stop condition is satisfied. Is provided with a control unit that automatically stops the engine and restarts the engine when a predetermined restart condition is satisfied during the automatic stop of the engine, and the power transmission state is detected under the predetermined stop condition and the predetermined restart condition. Each unit includes the detection of a power transmission state, and if the power transmission state is detected by the power transmission state detection unit during the automatic stop of the engine, the control unit determines after restarting the engine. It is characterized by setting the engine automatic stop prohibition state in which the engine is not automatically stopped even if the stop condition of is satisfied. Thereby, the engine automatic stop starting device according to the embodiment of the present invention can suppress the occurrence of vehicle behavior unintended by the driver.

Hereinafter, the engine automatic stop starting device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle 1 equipped with the engine automatic stop start device according to the present embodiment includes an engine 2, an engine start device 3, a transmission 4, a clutch 5, and drive wheels 6 as wheels. , And the control device 10.

The engine 2 is a four-cycle gasoline engine that performs a series of four strokes including an intake stroke, a compression stroke, an expansion stroke, and an exhaust stroke, and ignites during the compression stroke and the expansion stroke to generate the driving force of the vehicle 1. It is configured. The engine 2 may be composed of a diesel engine.

The engine starting device 3 has a starter motor, a gear, a clutch mechanism, and the like, and the starter motor is configured to be connectable to the crankshaft of the engine 2 via the gear and the clutch mechanism.

The engine starting device 3 drives the starter motor based on the start signal transmitted from the control device 10 to rotate the crankshaft of the engine 2 via the gear and the clutch mechanism to start the engine 2. There is.

The start signal is transmitted from the control device 10 to the engine starting device 3 on the condition that, for example, the ignition switch 7 described later is turned on or a predetermined restart condition described later is satisfied.

The transmission 4 is composed of a manual transmission that establishes any of a plurality of gears according to the operation of the shift lever 42 by the driver. The transmission side of the transmission 4 is connected to the engine 2 via the clutch 5, and the output side is connected to the drive wheels 6.

When the clutch 5 is engaged, the transmission 4 shifts the rotation of the engine 2 input via the clutch 5 at a gear ratio corresponding to the established shift stage and transmits the rotation to the drive wheels 6. It has become like. In this embodiment, as described above, the state in which the transmission 4 shifts the rotation of the engine 2 and transmits it to the drive wheels 6 is referred to as a power transmission state.

Further, the transmission 4 is configured to be able to form a neutral state, that is, a neutral state in which none of the shift stages is established. In this neutral state, the rotation of the engine 2 input to the transmission 4 is not transmitted to the drive wheels 6. In this embodiment, the case where the transmission 4 is in the neutral state as described above is referred to as a power non-transmission state.

In this way, the transmission 4 is configured to be able to switch between a power transmission state in which the power of the engine 2 is transmitted to the drive wheels 6 and a power non-transmission state in which the power is not transmitted between the engine 2 and the drive wheels 6. Has been done. The transmission 4 in this embodiment constitutes the power transmission mechanism in the present invention.

The transmission 4 is provided with a neutral position switch 41. The neutral position switch 41 is turned on when the operating position of the shift lever 42 is in the neutral position, and detects the neutral state of the transmission 4. The neutral position switch 41 is turned off when the operating position of the shift lever 42 is other than the neutral position.

The neutral position switch 41 detects whether the transmission 4 is in a power transmission state or a power non-transmission state by detecting the neutral state of the transmission 4. The neutral position switch 41 in the present embodiment constitutes the power transmission state detection unit in the present invention.

The clutch 5 is provided in a power transmission path between the engine 2 and the transmission 4, and is a transmission state in which power is transmitted between the engine 2 and the transmission 4 and a power transmission between the engine 2 and the transmission 4. It switches between a cutoff state that cuts off transmission.

The control device 10 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a flash memory for storing backup data, an input port, and an output port. It is composed of computer units. In addition to various constants and various maps, the ROM of the computer unit stores programs for realizing the functions of the computer unit.

An ignition switch 7, an accelerator opening sensor 8, a clutch switch 9, a neutral position switch 41, a vehicle speed sensor 61, an engine starting device 3, and an engine 2 are connected to the control device 10.

The accelerator opening sensor 8 detects the amount of depression of the accelerator pedal 81 by the driver. The clutch switch 9 detects whether or not the clutch pedal 91 has been depressed by the driver. The vehicle speed sensor 61 detects the speed of the vehicle 1, that is, the vehicle speed.

The control device 10 has a function as an automatic stop control unit 11 capable of executing automatic stop control for automatically stopping the engine 2 when a predetermined stop condition is satisfied. The control device 10 has a function as a restart control unit 12 capable of executing restart control for restarting the engine 2 when a predetermined restart condition is satisfied during the automatic stop of the engine 2. The control device 10 in the present embodiment constitutes the control unit in the present invention.

The predetermined stop conditions are, for example, that the vehicle speed is equal to or lower than the predetermined vehicle speed, that the accelerator pedal 81 is not depressed, that the clutch pedal 91 is not depressed, and that the transmission 4 is in the neutral state at least. include.

The predetermined restart conditions include, for example, that the transmission 4 is in the neutral state and that the clutch pedal 91 is depressed. As described above, in the present embodiment, the transmission 4 is in the neutral state in both the predetermined stop condition and the predetermined restart condition.

When the neutral position switch 41 detects that the transmission 4 is in the power transmission state during the automatic stop of the engine 2, the control device 10 changes the automatic stop function management state of the engine 2 to the engine automatic stop prohibition state. It has a function as an engine automatic stop prohibition state setting unit 13 to be set.

Specifically, in the control device 10, the number of times the transmission 4 is switched from the non-power transmission state to the power transmission state during the automatic stop of the engine 2, that is, the neutral position switch 41 is turned off during the automatic stop of the engine 2. The number of times (hereinafter referred to as "switching number") is counted. For example, the control device 10 has a counter (hereinafter referred to as “switching counter”) that counts the number of switching times, and each time the transmission 4 switches from the power non-transmission state to the power transmission state during the automatic stop of the engine 2. The value of the switching counter is set to "+1".

The control device 10 changes the automatic stop function management state of the engine 2 to the engine automatic stop prohibition state on condition that the above-mentioned number of switching times counted in one driving cycle reaches a predetermined number of times (“2 times” in this embodiment). It is designed to be set to. 1 The driving cycle means a period from when the ignition switch 7 is turned on to when the ignition switch 7 is turned off. The above-mentioned predetermined number of times is set to an arbitrary number of times according to the specifications of the vehicle 1, and is not limited to two times.

When the automatic stop function management state is set to the engine automatic stop prohibition state, after the power transmission state is detected and the engine 2 that has been automatically stopped is restarted, the engine 2 is operated even if a predetermined stop condition is satisfied. Will not be stopped automatically.

Whether or not the engine is in the automatic stop prohibition state is controlled by, for example, a prohibition flag. When the engine automatic stop prohibition state is set, the prohibition flag is set to "1", and when the engine automatic stop prohibition state is not set, the engine automatic stop permission state is set and the prohibition flag is set to "0".

The control device 10 cancels the setting of the engine automatic stop prohibition state by resetting the prohibition flag to "0" every one driving cycle. Further, the control device 10 also resets the value of the switching counter to "0" every one driving cycle.

Next, with reference to FIG. 2, the engine automatic stop function management control executed by the control device 10 according to the present embodiment will be described. This engine automatic stop function management control is repeatedly executed at predetermined time intervals from the time when the ignition switch 7 is turned on to the time when the ignition switch 7 is turned off.

As shown in FIG. 2, the control device 10 determines whether or not the engine 2 is automatically stopped (step S1). When the control device 10 determines that the engine 2 is not automatically stopped, the control device 10 ends the engine automatic stop function management control.

When the control device 10 determines that the engine 2 is automatically stopped, whether or not there has been a switch from the power transmission state of the transmission 4 to the power transmission state, that is, the neutral position during the automatic stop of the engine 2. It is determined whether or not the switch 41 is turned off (step S2).

When the control device 10 determines that the transmission 4 has not been switched from the power non-transmission state to the power transmission state, the control device 10 shifts the process to step S4.

When the control device 10 determines that the power transmission state of the transmission 4 has been switched from the power transmission state, the transmission 4 switches from the power transmission state to the power transmission state during the automatic stop of the engine 2. The number of switchings is counted up, that is, the value of the switching counter is "+1" (step S3).

Next, the control device 10 determines whether or not the value of the switching counter has reached a predetermined number of times (step S4). When the control device 10 determines that the value of the switching counter has not reached the predetermined number of times, the engine automatic stop permission state is set as the automatic stop function management state, that is, after the prohibition flag is set to "0". (Step S6), the process returns to the process of step S1.

When the control device 10 determines that the value of the switching counter has reached a predetermined number of times, the engine automatic stop prohibition state is set as the automatic stop function management state, that is, after the prohibition flag is set to "1" ( Step S5) returns to the process of step S1. As a result, after that, the automatic stop of the engine 2 is prohibited until the ignition switch 7 is turned off.

Next, with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, regarding the driving mode of the vehicle equipped with the engine automatic stop starting device according to the present embodiment, in the vehicle of the comparative example in which the engine automatic stop function management control of the present embodiment is not executed. This will be described in comparison with the operation mode.

The time charts shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 both show the driving mode of the vehicle in one driving cycle.

As shown in FIG. 3, in the vehicle of the comparative example, the transmission from the non-power transmission state of the transmission is not switched to the power transmission state during the first automatic stop of the engine, and the second, third and fourth times are not performed. During the automatic stop of the engine, the transmission is switched from the non-power transmission state to the power transmission state.

When the transmission is switched to the power transmission state during the automatic stop of the engine, when the engine is restarted, the power of the engine may be transmitted to the drive wheels, and the vehicle is not intended by the driver. Behavior may occur.

However, when the neutral position switch is functioning normally, the power transmission state of the transmission is detected and the predetermined restart condition is not satisfied, so that the engine is not restarted. As a result, there is no risk of vehicle behavior unintentional by the driver.

However, if the neutral position switch is out of order and the neutral position switch erroneously detects a non-power transmission state even though the transmission is in the power transmission state, the engine is restarted and the engine power is driven. It may be transmitted to the ring. In this case, as described above, there is a possibility that vehicle behavior not intended by the driver may occur.

Therefore, when the transmission is in the state of being switched to the power transmission state during the automatic stop of the engine, the driver's unintended vehicle behavior may occur, and caution is required. In FIG. 3, as the caution state when the engine is automatically stopped, the state in which the driver's unintended vehicle behavior as described above may occur is “caution”, and the state in which the vehicle behavior is not likely to occur is “normal”. It is expressed as.

However, in the vehicle of the comparative example, the number of times of switching from the power non-transmission state of the transmission to the power transmission state is not counted, and the switching from the power non-transmission state of the transmission to the power transmission state during the automatic stop of the engine is not counted. Even if this is done, the automatic stop of the engine is not prohibited.

Therefore, in the vehicle of the comparative example, every time the power transmission state of the transmission is switched from the power transmission state to the power transmission state during the automatic stop of the engine, the vehicle behavior unintentional by the driver may occur.

On the other hand, in the vehicle 1 equipped with the automatic engine stop starting device according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, power is transmitted from the power non-transmission state of the transmission 4 during the second automatic stop of the engine 2. The number of switchings is "+1" due to the switching to the state. At this time, since the number of switching times has not reached the predetermined number of times, the automatic stop function management state is still set to the automatic stop permission state (described as “permission” in FIG. 4).

Next, in the vehicle 1 equipped with the automatic engine stop starting device according to the present embodiment, the power transmission state of the transmission 4 is switched from the non-power transmission state to the power transmission state during the third automatic stop of the engine 2. The number of switchings is "+1", and the number of switching reaches 2 times, which is a predetermined number.

In the vehicle 1 equipped with the engine automatic stop start device according to this embodiment, the automatic stop function management state is set to the automatic stop prohibition state (described as "prohibited" in FIG. 4) when the number of switching reaches two times, which is a predetermined number of times. Is set to.

As a result, after that, the automatic stop of the engine 2 is prohibited until the ignition switch 7 is turned off. Therefore, in the vehicle 1 equipped with the automatic engine stop starting device according to the present embodiment, the number of times that the vehicle behavior unintentional by the driver may occur can be reduced as compared with the vehicle of the comparative example. can.

As described above, in the engine automatic stop starting device according to the present embodiment, when it is detected by the neutral position switch 41 that the transmission 4 is in the power transmission state during the automatic stop of the engine 2, the engine 2 The automatic stop function management status is configured to set the engine automatic stop prohibition status.

Therefore, in the engine automatic stop starting device according to the present embodiment, after the automatic stop function management state is set to the engine automatic stop prohibition state, a predetermined stop condition is satisfied until the ignition switch 7 is turned off. Even so, the automatic stop of the engine 2 is prohibited.

As described above, the automatic engine stop starting device according to the present embodiment uses the detection result of the ready-made neutral position switch 41 without providing a sensor, a switch, or the like for determining the failure of the neutral position switch 41, and is used for the engine 2. Automatic stop can be prohibited.

Therefore, the engine automatic stop starting device according to the present embodiment can reduce the number of times the vehicle behavior that the driver does not intend may occur without increasing the number of parts. As a result, the engine automatic stop starting device according to the present embodiment can suppress the occurrence of vehicle behavior unintended by the driver without increasing the number of parts.

If the transmission 4 is in a power transmission state while the engine 2 is automatically stopped, the engine 2 is automatically restarted when the engine 2 is to be started due to factors such as ensuring a negative brake pressure or charging the battery. Can not do it. In such a case, for example, it is necessary to urge the driver to perform a shift operation so as to put the transmission 4 in the non-power transmission state, which is a burden on the driver.

In the engine automatic stop starting device according to the present embodiment, after the automatic stop function management state is set to the engine automatic stop prohibition state as described above, a predetermined stop condition is set until the ignition switch 7 is turned off. Even if it is established, the automatic stop of the engine 2 is prohibited. As a result, it is possible to prevent the driver from falling into a situation that is burdensome to the driver as described above.

The engine automatic stop starting device according to this embodiment is set to the engine automatic stop function management state of the engine 2 on the condition that the number of switchings counted in one driving cycle reaches a predetermined number. It is configured.

Therefore, in the engine automatic stop starting device according to the present embodiment, when the driver who frequently performs a shift operation such as switching the transmission 4 to the power transmission state during the automatic stop of the engine 2 drives the vehicle 1. As described above, the automatic stop of the engine 2 can be prohibited.

On the other hand, if the transmission 4 is switched to the power transmission state during the automatic stop of the engine 2 by mistake, for example, only once during one driving cycle, the automatic stop of the engine 2 is not prohibited.

As described above, the engine automatic stop starting device according to the present embodiment can prohibit the automatic stop of the engine 2 according to the behavior tendency of the driver, that is, the tendency of the shift operation.

Since the engine automatic stop starting device according to this embodiment cancels the setting of the engine automatic stop prohibition state every one driving cycle, the engine automatic stop function management state of the engine 2 is permitted to automatically stop every time one driving cycle ends. Can be in a state.

Therefore, for example, when the driver who drives the vehicle 1 changes or when the tendency of the driver's shift operation changes, the automatic engine stop prohibition state is not maintained. As a result, even if the automatic engine stop prohibition state was set in the previous driving cycle, it is not detected that the transmission 4 is in the power transmission state during the automatic stop of the engine 2 in the current driving cycle. The automatic stop function management state is not set to the engine automatic stop prohibition state.

Therefore, the automatic engine stop starting device according to the present embodiment can appropriately automatically stop the engine 2 when the driver changes or the tendency of the driver's shift operation changes, and improves fuel efficiency. be able to.

Although embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. All such modifications and equivalents are intended to be included in the following claims.

1 Vehicle 2 Engine 3 Engine starter 4 Transmission (power transmission mechanism)
5 Clutch 6 Drive wheel 7 Ignition switch 8 Accelerator opening sensor 9 Clutch switch 10 Control device (control unit)
11 Automatic stop control unit 12 Restart control unit 13 Engine automatic stop prohibition status setting unit 41 Neutral position switch (power transmission status detection unit)
42 Shift lever 61 Vehicle speed sensor 81 Accelerator pedal 91 Clutch pedal

Claims (2)

It is equipped with a transmission that can switch between a power transmission state in which the power of the engine can be transmitted to the wheels and a power non-transmission state in which power is not transmitted between the engine and the wheels.
The transmission is composed of a manual transmission that establishes any of a plurality of gears according to the operation of the shift lever by the driver.
The power non-transmission state is a neutral state in which none of the shift stages is established.
It is equipped with only one neutral position switch that is turned on when the operating position of the shift lever is in the neutral position to detect the neutral state of the transmission and is turned off when the operating position of the shift lever is outside the neutral position. It is an engine automatic stop starter used for vehicles
The engine is provided with a control unit that automatically stops the engine when a predetermined stop condition is satisfied and restarts the engine when a predetermined restart condition is satisfied during the automatic stop of the engine.
The predetermined stop condition and the predetermined restart condition include that the neutral state is detected by the neutral position switch , respectively.
The control unit satisfies the predetermined stop condition after restarting the engine, provided that the number of times the neutral position switch is turned from on to off during the automatic stop of the engine reaches a predetermined number of times. The engine automatic stop starter, which is set to an engine automatic stop prohibition state in which the engine is not automatically stopped. If one driving cycle is from the time the ignition switch is turned on to the time it is turned off,
The engine automatic stop starting device according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit cancels the setting of the engine automatic stop prohibition state every one driving cycle.

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