Saddled Vehicle Engine Braking Stabilization via Throttle Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

In saddled vehicles like motorcycles, engine braking affects the vehicle's behavior and occupant posture during deceleration, as the braking force varies with driving situations, leading to unstable deceleration.

Innovation Solution

A saddled vehicle equipped with an electronic throttle valve mechanism and a control unit that includes an engine braking controller to offset engine braking, combined with a clutch mechanism to reduce engine braking and an automatic brake controller to manage wheel braking, ensuring stable deceleration by controlling the throttle valve and clutch state.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If the vehicle uses automatic brake control to decelerate, then the deceleration performance is improved, but the varying engine braking force causes unstable vehicle body behavior

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedeceleration performanceVSAvoidvehicle body behavior stability
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The engine braking controller generates a counteracting force through the throttle valve mechanism to offset the varying engine braking force before it can affect vehicle body behavior. This preliminary anti-action stabilizes the vehicle during automatic brake control by neutralizing the disruptive engine braking variations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Solution Approach 2:

The throttle valve mechanism acts as an intermediary between the engine braking force and the vehicle body. By controlling the throttle valve, the system mediates the engine braking effect, transforming the unstable varying force into a stable or offset condition that doesn't disrupt vehicle body behavior during deceleration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the engine braking force is allowed to vary with driving situation, then the adaptability to different conditions is improved, but the occupant posture becomes unstable

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedriving situation adaptabilityVSAvoidoccupant posture stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The engine braking controller predicts or detects engine braking variations based on driving situation and generates a counteracting force in advance. This preliminary anti-action prevents the varying engine braking from affecting occupant posture, maintaining stability while preserving adaptability to different driving conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback from sensors detecting vehicle state and driving conditions to continuously adjust the throttle valve position. This feedback mechanism allows the system to adapt to different driving situations while maintaining stable occupant posture by compensating for engine braking variations in real-time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3734050B1Saddled vehicle
Publication Date: 2022.02.16 HONDA MOTOR CO LTD
  • EP3734050B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3734050B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3734050B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Engine braking is stabilized so that a saddled vehicle can be decelerated smoothly. In a saddled vehicle comprising an engine 10 including an electronic throttle valve mechanism 27 that drives an air intake throttle valve via an actuator 27a, and a first control unit 31a that controls the engine 10, the first control unit 31a comprises an engine braking controller 52 that controls the throttle valve so as to generate a force that offsets the engine braking of the engine 10 when the vehicle is decelerated.