Motorcycle

Abstract

A motorcycle, comprising an engine and a manual gearbox which are connected via a clutch, wherein the motorcycle has a first unit which is designed to assist the rider of the motorcycle when shifting without clutch actuation, and wherein the motorcycle has a second unit which is designed to calculate a shifting time, and a display for displaying and / or communicating the shifting time to the rider.

Description

[0001] motorcycle

[0002] The present invention relates to a motor vehicle, such as a motorcycle.

[0003] In particular, this applies to motorcycles that have so-called automatic transmissions. Such automatic transmissions support the rider when changing gears without the clutch. These systems are also known as “quickshifters” or “blippers”. Quickshifters make it possible to shift into a higher gear without lifting your foot off the accelerator and without using the clutch. To do this, the ignition or fuel injection is interrupted for a very short time. In contrast, the blipper enables downshifting to a lower gear. To do this, the engine speed is increased by briefly double-declutching while coasting. Downshifting, i.e. the blipper functionality, is particularly challenging, especially if the rider chooses the wrong shift point and the engine speed is not right or the automatic engine speed adjustment is insufficient. In this case, shifting is not smooth and is perceived as extremely uncomfortable. Under certain circumstances, the gear may even jump out of gear.

[0004] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a motorcycle which optimises clutchless shifting, in particular downshifting, compared to the prior art.

[0005] This object is achieved by a motorcycle according to claim 1. Further advantages and features emerge from the subclaims as well as the description and the attached figure.

[0006] According to the invention, a motorcycle, such as a motorbike, comprises an engine, in particular an internal combustion engine, and a manual transmission, which are connected via a clutch, wherein the motorcycle has a first device which is designed to assist the rider of the motorcycle when shifting gears without the clutch, i.e. without actuating the clutch, and wherein the motorcycle has a second device which is designed to calculate, in particular to calculate in advance, a shifting time, as well as a display for displaying and / or transmitting the shifting time to the rider. The manual transmission is a transmission which is or must be actively operated by the rider in order for a shifting process to take place. Basically, the clutch must be engaged and the desired gear must be engaged.The first device can be a quickshifter, a blipper, or an automatic gearshift, whereby an automatic gearshift is understood here to be a system that provides the function of both a quickshifter and a slipper. Using a quickshifter, it is possible to shift into a higher gear without releasing the accelerator and without engaging the clutch. To do this, the ignition and / or fuel injection are briefly interrupted, removing the load from the transmission and allowing the next gear to be engaged. In contrast, the blipper enables downshifting to a lower gear. Here, too, the load is removed from the transmission. However, this occurs by briefly increasing the engine speed (doubling the throttle). The functionalities of both the quickshifter and the blipper, as well as their technical implementations, are generally known from the state of the art and are therefore not explained in detail here.

[0007] The second device is advantageously designed to calculate shift timing for upshifts and / or downshifts. Downshifting in lower gears, such as from second gear to first gear, is particularly challenging, as this is where the engine speed jumps are greatest.

[0008] Preferably, the calculation of the shift times should be adjustable. In normal road use, one target parameter when calculating the shift times could be comfort, for example. The shifting process should then be as smooth as possible. In racetrack use, one target parameter could be shifting reliability, for example. This means that the gear change can be carried out reliably and with sufficient precision. Downshifting into the lower gears in particular often proves difficult, especially if the driver chooses the wrong shift time and the engine speed is not right or the automatic engine speed adjustment (doubling the throttle) is not sufficient. Downshifting from second to first gear presents a particular challenge, as the jump in engine speed is relatively large here. This can result in gear jumping out, especially when driving at high speeds, such as on a racetrack. This means that the engaged gear may not be available.jumps out again, which can create a difficult driving situation for the driver. Advantageously, the second device can calculate a suitable shift time and display it to the driver. This can signal to the driver when they should shift so that the gear change can be carried out safely. The second device is expediently designed to detect and announce or display the impending gear change or gear changes. The second device is expediently designed to detect, for example based on the evaluation of the driving speed, whether an upshift or downshift is imminent. An optimal shift time for the next upcoming gear change is calculated in advance and displayed accordingly.

[0009] The second device is also conveniently designed to indicate when the ideal switching time has been reached via the display.

[0010] The control system is conveniently designed to record and / or calculate various operating parameters to determine the shifting point. This makes it possible, among other things, to clearly distinguish between upshifts and downshifts, to recognize different riding situations, and to monitor the current riding condition of the motorcycle (engine speed, engaged gear, operating mode, riding situation, etc.).

[0011] Conveniently, the various operating parameters are selected at least from the following: vehicle speed, engine speed, transmission speed, throttle position, gear ratio, etc. These operating parameters can be processed by the control system in such a way that an ideal shifting point can be calculated, in particular predicted, from a comfort perspective. High shifting comfort is characterized in particular by the smoothest possible gear engagement. Vehicle acceleration advantageously remains as constant as possible during the shifting process.

[0012] As already indicated, the first device can be a system that assists with upshifting, a system that assists with downshifting, or a system that assists with both upshifting and downshifting. Basically, it should be mentioned that in this case, upshifting is less problematic, particularly from a comfort point of view. Downshifting, in particular into the lower gears, represents a particular challenge. However, in this case, this can expediently be optimized using the second device so that comfort is maximum or at least can be carried out reliably. In particular, it can be ensured that gear changes are carried out with the necessary precision so that the gear cannot jump out. The first device is expediently designed to influence the engine speed, in particular to reduce and / or increase it.In the case of upshifts, the engine speed can be influenced, for example, by briefly interrupting the ignition and / or the fuel injection. In the case of downshifts, the engine speed is achieved by a brief burst of throttle, for example, by briefly increasing the fuel injection quantity.

[0013] According to one embodiment, the display is designed to provide acoustic, visual, and / or haptic information. The display is advantageously integrated into the motorcycle, for example into its cockpit in the form of a display. Alternatively or additionally, the display can also be integrated into the rider's equipment, for example into a piece of clothing or into a component that is or can be arranged separately on the vehicle. According to one embodiment, for example, the "shift light" known from the prior art can be used for the display. A shift light is understood to be a device that is designed to transmit information via an optical signal. According to a preferred embodiment, the shift light is designed as a light or lamp that is designed to emit a light signal when the rider is to shift gears.Preferably, the shift light is designed to use a different colored light signal for upshifting than for downshifting.

[0014] According to one embodiment, the controller is designed to use a different display for upshifting and downshifting. In the case of the aforementioned shift light, for example, different colors are used for upshifting and downshifting.

[0015] Further advantages and features will become apparent from the following description of an embodiment of a display of a motorcycle according to the invention.

[0016] It shows:

[0017] Fig. 1 : a schematic view of an embodiment of a display of a motorcycle according to the invention.

[0018] Fig. 1 shows a schematic representation of a display 10, which indicates an ideal shifting point 12 depending on an operating parameter 16. The operating parameter 16 is, for example, the driving speed. This increases from left to right. Reference numeral 14 denotes a current operating point, i.e., in this case, the speed at which the rider is currently traveling on their motorcycle. Above the arrow with the reference symbol P, it is indicated that the rider is currently slowing down. The second device calculates the ideal shifting point 12, for example, depending on the current driving speed, the engine speed, the transmission speed, and taking into account the engaged gear.The driver can therefore see that when they reach the field marked with the reference number 12 they should ideally shift gears, in this case in particular downshifting as the driving speed is reduced. Depending on the operating parameters, it is possible that the field marked with the reference number 12 "moves" or leaves its position or even disappears. If the driver accelerates, the field 12 can, for example, disappear or move to the right. In the display 10 sketched here, the shift time is not only shown but also announced. The field 12 can also be positioned entirely differently. In particular, it can be arranged in the area of ​​a cockpit, for example, in the form of a (separate) light or lamp (shift light).The second device can advantageously provide the driver with optimal support during gear shifting, particularly when downshifting (but also when upshifting), by signaling the approach and / or reaching of the gear shift point or the corresponding engine speed, also gear-dependent. The signaling can be acoustic, haptic and / or visual, integrated into the vehicle, integrated into the driver's equipment, or provided by a device worn by the driver, for example by the shift light already known from the prior art. It is advantageous to provide a distinction between upshifting and downshifting, for example by using different colors for the aforementioned shift light. This can expediently achieve improved comfort, particularly in two-person operation, as well as a sportier character in solo operation and on the racetrack.At the same time, the signaling ensures and trains safer downshifting into first gear. Reference symbols.

[0019] 10 Ad

[0020] 12 (ideal) switching time, field 14 current operating point

[0021] 16 operating parameters

[0022] P Arrow

Claims

Claims 1. A motorcycle comprising an engine and a manual transmission connected via a clutch, wherein the motorcycle has a first device designed to assist the rider of the motorcycle in shifting gears without clutch actuation, and wherein the motorcycle has a second device designed to calculate a shifting time (12), and a display (10) for displaying and / or transmitting the shifting time (12) to the rider.

2. Motorcycle according to claim 1, wherein the second device is designed to calculate switching times (12) for upshifting and / or downshifting.

3. Motorcycle according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the calculation of the switching times (12) is adaptable.

4. Motorcycle according to claim 3, wherein a target value in the calculation of the switching times (12) is comfort and / or switching reliability.

5. Motorcycle according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the second device is designed to detect and announce an impending gear change.

6. Motorcycle according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the second device is designed to detect and / or calculate different operating parameters (16) for determining the switching time (12).

7. Motorcycle according to claim 6, wherein the different operating parameters (16) are selected from the Following: vehicle speed, engine speed, transmission speed, throttle position, gear position.

8. Motorcycle according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first device is designed to influence the engine speed, in particular to reduce and / or increase it.

9. Motorcycle according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the display (10) is designed to effect an acoustic, visual and / or haptic transmission.

10. Motorcycle according to claim 9, wherein the display (10) is designed to use a different display or transmission for upshifting than for downshifting.

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