Clutch Control for Slope Rollback Prevention in Straddle Vehicles

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Solution Overview

Problem

Saddled vehicles face challenges in preventing rolling back on slopes without using braking devices, especially when transitioning from a brake pedal to an accelerator pedal, as the vehicle's orientation can cause instability.

Innovation Solution

A driving force control device with a dual clutch transmission system that adjusts reduction ratios and engages clutches based on inclination detection, allowing for partial clutch engagement to prevent forward or backward movement in slow mode, using shift operations and throttle control to maintain stability without relying on braking.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a braking device is used to prevent rolling back on a slope in slow mode, then the vehicle can be prevented from moving forward or backward, but the vehicle body stability deteriorates due to orientation variation caused by braking device operation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprevention of vehicle movementVSAvoidvehicle body stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical braking system with a clutch-based force application system. The clutch applies force to the transmission input shaft to prevent vehicle movement on slopes, substituting the braking mechanism with a drivetrain-based solution that maintains vehicle body stability without causing orientation variations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The clutch acts as an intermediary between the engine and transmission, applying controlled force to the transmission input shaft to prevent vehicle movement. This intermediary mechanism allows force application without directly engaging the braking system, thereby maintaining vehicle body stability while preventing rolling back.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Stability of the object's composition

If the clutch is held in partial engagement condition to prevent vehicle movement on slopes, then vehicle body stability is maintained, but the complexity of the control system increases due to inclination detection and clutch control coordination

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevehicle body stabilityVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The clutch system serves multiple functions: it engages/disengages the transmission under normal operating conditions and simultaneously acts as a force application mechanism to prevent vehicle movement on slopes. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for a separate braking system in slow mode, reducing overall system complexity despite the added control requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses inclination detection to provide feedback about vehicle orientation, which the controller uses to adjust clutch engagement accordingly. This feedback mechanism enables automatic adaptation to slope conditions, maintaining vehicle stability without requiring complex manual intervention or additional control systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If a braking device is operated to prevent rolling back, then the vehicle can be held stationary, but the ease of operation deteriorates as the rider must coordinate brake release with driving force application

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprevention of vehicle movementVSAvoidoperation simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The clutch system automatically applies force to prevent vehicle movement on slopes without requiring rider intervention. When the vehicle is on a slope in slow mode, the controller automatically engages the clutch in partial engagement condition to prevent rolling back, eliminating the need for the rider to coordinate brake application and release with driving force application.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary action by detecting the slope condition and automatically adjusting clutch engagement before the rider needs to operate the vehicle. This preliminary detection and automatic adjustment simplifies operation by handling the anti-rollback function automatically, allowing the rider to focus on driving without coordinating brake operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3438491B1Driving force control device for straddle-type vehicles
Publication Date: 2020.04.08 HONDA MOTOR CO LTD
  • EP3438491B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3438491B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3438491B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention provides a driving force control device for saddled vehicle for preventing a vehicle provided with a slow mode from rolling back on a slope without using a braking device. The driving force control device comprises a transmission (40) that transmits driving force of an engine (100) to a driving wheel (WR) of a vehicle (1) at predetermined reduction ratio; a clutch (108) that connects/disconnects the driving force between the engine (100) and the transmission (40); and a controller (106) that controls the transmission (40) and the clutch (108), wherein the controller (106) is configured to enable selecting a normal mode in which the reduction ratio of the transmission (40) is varied according to a running condition and a slow mode for enabling slow forward movement and slow backward movement by varying the reduction ratio of the transmission (40) to fixed reduction ratio according to predetermined operation, and the controller (106) holds the clutch (108) in a partial clutch engagement condition so as to prevent the vehicle (1) from moving forward or backward when the slow mode is selected and no predetermined operation is performed.