US5540299A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System for driving an automotive vehicle
Assignee: Mazda Motor Corp
•
Filing: 1993-11-30
•
Granted: 1996-07-30
•
Expires: 2013-11-30
Abstract
Abstract The left rear wheel is driven with the left motor and the right rear wheel is driven with the right motor. Selection of a control mode is made from a first control mode in which the left and right motors are driven in common and a second control mode in which the left and right motors are driven discretely and separately. A region in which the motors are driven is so arranged as to be altered in accordance with the running state of the vehicle, such as the lateral acceleration acting upon the vehicle body, the road surface friction coefficient mu , the vehicle speed, the steered angle of the steering wheel, etc. A clutch can be disposed to couple the left and right wheels to be driven with the motors when a predetermined condition is met. When the motor is of a hydraulic type, the accumulator for accumulating the hydraulic pressure is disposed to thereby drive the secondarily driven wheels by the motors by taking advantage of the hydraulic pressure from the accumulator, in addition to the driving of the engine, leading to an increase in acceleration with a force larger than the force generated by the engine.
Inventors
- 👤 Isao Tohda
- 👤 Jiro Maebayashi
- 👤 Shigefumi Hirabayashi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 09:09
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60K; B60K6/00; B60K6/08; B60K6/12; B60K17/00; B60K17/34; B60K17/356; B60K23/00; B60K23/08; B60K23/0808; B60T; B60T8/00; B60T8/17; B60T8/175; B60T8/32; B60T8/321; B60T8/322; B60W; B60W30/00; B60W30/18; B60W30/18009; B60W30/18145; F; F16; F16H; F16H61/00; F16H61/38; F16H61/40; F16H61/46; F16H61/461; B60T2270/00; B60T2270/20; B60T2270/208; B60W2520/00; B60W2520/10; B60W2520/105; B60W2520/12; B60W2520/125; B60W2552/00; B60W2552/40; F16H59/00; F16H59/48; F16H59/60; F16H59/66; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T10/00; Y02T10/60; Y02T10/62; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/19; Y10T74/19149; Y10T74/19158
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 40
Claim 1
Independent Claim
227 words
A drive system for driving an automotive vehicle having one of a) left and right front wheels and b) left and right rear wheels driven with an engine as primarily driven wheels and the other driven with a motor means as secondarily driven wheels, comprising: motor means comprising a left motor for driving the left secondarily driven wheel and a right motor for driving the right secondarily driven wheel; a first control means for controlling in an integrated mode, for controlling forceable driving of said left motor and said right motor in a way such that a number of rotations of said left secondarily driven wheel and said right secondarily driven wheel become identical to each other, when a running state of the vehicle exists in a preset first control region; and a second control means for controlling in an independent mode, for discretely and separately controlling the forceable driving of said left motor and said right motor in a way such that a number of rotations of each of said left secondarily driven wheel and said right secondarily driven wheel become discretely and separately preset number of rotations for each of said left secondarily driven wheel and said right secondarily driven wheel, respectively, when a running state of the vehicle exists in a second control region preset as a region different from said first control region.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
227 words
A drive system for driving an automotive vehicle having one of a) left and right front wheels and b) left and right rear wheels driven with an engine as primarily driven wheels and the other driven with a motor means as secondarily driven wheels, comprising: motor means comprising a left motor for driving the left secondarily driven wheel and a right motor for driving the right secondarily driven wheel; a first control means for controlling in an integrated mode, for controlling forceable driving of said left motor and said right motor in a way such that a number of rotations of said left secondarily driven wheel and said right secondarily driven wheel become identical to each other, when a running state of the vehicle exists in a preset first control region; and a second control means for controlling in an independent mode, for discretely and separately controlling the forceable driving of said left motor and said right motor in a way such that a number of rotations of each of said left secondarily driven wheel and said right secondarily driven wheel become discretely and separately preset number of rotations for each of said left secondarily driven wheel and said right secondarily driven wheel, respectively, when a running state of the vehicle exists in a second control region preset as a region different from said first control region.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
74 words
A vehicle drive system as claimed in claim 1, wherein a control mode by said first control means includes a control mode for normal driving so adapted as to drive said secondarily driven wheels in the same direction as the running direction in which the vehicle is running and a control mode for reverse driving so adapted as to drive said secondarily driven wheels in a braking direction in which the vehicle is braked.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
74 words
A vehicle drive system as claimed in claim 1, wherein a control mode by said second control means includes a control mode for normal driving so adapted as to drive said secondarily driven wheels in the same direction as the running direction in which the vehicle is running and a control mode for reverse driving so adapted as to drive said secondarily driven wheels in a braking direction in which the vehicle is braked.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
58 words
A vehicle drive system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: a clutch for mechanically coupling said left and right secondarily driven wheels; wherein said clutch is coupled at the time of the controlling by said first control means and the coupling of said clutch is released at the time of the controlling by said second control means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
55 words
A vehicle drive system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said left motor and said right motor are driven in a same condition so as for the target numbers of rotation of said left and right secondarily driven wheels to become identical to each other, when the controlling is made by said first control means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
67 words
A vehicle drive system as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said first and second control regions is controlled by said first control means when the vehicle is running straight in a road condition having a high road surface friction coefficient μ and by said second control means when the vehicle is running straight in a road condition having a low road surface friction coefficient μ.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
A vehicle drive system as claimed in claim 1, wherein a control by said first control means is inhibited in a predetermined control region.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
A vehicle drive system as claimed in claim 7, wherein said predetermined control region is set as a region having a low road surface friction coefficient μ.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
A vehicle drive system as claimed in claim 7, wherein said predetermined control region is set as a region having a rough or bad road condition.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
A vehicle drive system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second control region is a region containing at least a region where the vehicle is cornering.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
42 words
A vehicle drive system as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said first and second control regions is controlled by said first control means when the vehicle is running straight and by said second control means when the vehicle is cornering.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
51 words
A vehicle drive system as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said first and second control regions is controlled by said first control means when the vehicle is running straight at a high speed and by said second control means when the vehicle is running straight at a low speed.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
A vehicle drive system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a control-region altering means for altering each of said first and second control regions.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
55 words
A vehicle drive system as claimed in claim 13, wherein said second control region is expanded to an area wider when the vehicle is running in a road condition having a low road surface friction coefficient μ than when the vehicle is running in a road condition having a high road surface friction coefficient μ.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
70 words
A vehicle drive system as claimed in claim 1, wherein: the controlling by said second control means only is made when the vehicle is running in a bad road condition by inhibiting the control by said first control means; and the control by said first control means only is made when the vehicle is running in a less bad road condition by inhibiting the control by said second control means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
70 words
A vehicle drive system as claimed in claim 1, wherein: the control by said first control means only is made when the vehicle is running in a bad road condition by inhibiting the control by said second control means; and the control by said second control means only is made when the vehicle is running in a less bad road condition by inhibiting the control by said first control means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
48 words
A vehicle drive system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the controlling by said second control means is made so as for said target numbers of rotation of said left and right secondarily driving wheels to become equal to each other or to become different from each other.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
78 words
A vehicle drive system as claimed in claim 17, wherein: when the controlling is made by said second control means, said target numbers of rotation of said left and right secondarily driven wheels are set so as to become different from each other when the vehicle is cornering; and said target numbers of rotation of said left and right secondarily driven wheels are set so as to become identical to each other when the vehicle is running straight.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
30 words
A vehicle drive system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a selection means for manually selecting control by one of said first control means and said second control means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
137 words
A drive system for driving an automotive vehicle having one of a) left and right front wheels and b) left end right rear wheels driven with an engine as primarily driven wheels and the other driven with a motor means as secondarily driven wheels, comprising: a drive control means for controlling the driving of said motor means so as to drive said secondarily driven wheels in the same direction in which said primarily driven wheels are driven with said engine, only when a running state of said vehicle exists in a predetermined driving region; and a driving-region altering means for altering said driving region in accordance with said running state of the vehicle, said driving-region altering means being adapted as to alter said driving region on the basis of a lateral G-force acting upon the vehicle body.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
137 words
A drive system for driving an automotive vehicle having one of a) left and right front wheels and b) left end right rear wheels driven with an engine as primarily driven wheels and the other driven with a motor means as secondarily driven wheels, comprising: a drive control means for controlling the driving of said motor means so as to drive said secondarily driven wheels in the same direction in which said primarily driven wheels are driven with said engine, only when a running state of said vehicle exists in a predetermined driving region; and a driving-region altering means for altering said driving region in accordance with said running state of the vehicle, said driving-region altering means being adapted as to alter said driving region on the basis of a lateral G-force acting upon the vehicle body.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
135 words
A drive system for driving an automotive vehicle having one of a) left and right front wheels and b) left and right rear wheels driven with an engine as primarily driven wheels and the other driven with a motor means as secondarily driven wheels, comprising: a drive control means for controlling the driving of said motor means so as to drive said secondarily driven wheels in the same direction in which said primarily driven wheels are driven with said engine, only when a running state of said vehicle exists in a predetermined driving region; and a driving-region altering means for altering said driving region in accordance with said running state of the vehicle, said driving-region altering means being adapted as to alter said driving region on the basis of a road surface friction coefficient μ.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
135 words
A drive system for driving an automotive vehicle having one of a) left and right front wheels and b) left and right rear wheels driven with an engine as primarily driven wheels and the other driven with a motor means as secondarily driven wheels, comprising: a drive control means for controlling the driving of said motor means so as to drive said secondarily driven wheels in the same direction in which said primarily driven wheels are driven with said engine, only when a running state of said vehicle exists in a predetermined driving region; and a driving-region altering means for altering said driving region in accordance with said running state of the vehicle, said driving-region altering means being adapted as to alter said driving region on the basis of a road surface friction coefficient μ.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
136 words
A drive system for driving an automotive vehicle having one of a) left and right front wheels and b) left and right rear wheels driven with an engine as primarily driven wheels and the other driven with a motor means as secondarily driven wheels, comprising: a drive control means for controlling the driving of said motor means so as to drive said secondarily driven wheels in the same direction in which said primarily driven wheels are driven with said engine, only when a running state of said vehicle exists in a predetermined driving region; and a driving-region altering means for altering said driving region in accordance with said running state of the vehicle, said driving-region altering means being adapted as to alter said driving region on the basis of a steered angle of a steering wheel.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
136 words
A drive system for driving an automotive vehicle having one of a) left and right front wheels and b) left and right rear wheels driven with an engine as primarily driven wheels and the other driven with a motor means as secondarily driven wheels, comprising: a drive control means for controlling the driving of said motor means so as to drive said secondarily driven wheels in the same direction in which said primarily driven wheels are driven with said engine, only when a running state of said vehicle exists in a predetermined driving region; and a driving-region altering means for altering said driving region in accordance with said running state of the vehicle, said driving-region altering means being adapted as to alter said driving region on the basis of a steered angle of a steering wheel.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
132 words
A drive system for driving an automotive vehicle having one of a) left and right front wheels and b) left and right rear wheels driven with an engine as primarily driven wheels and the other driven with a motor means as secondarily driven wheels, comprising: a drive control means for controlling the driving of said motor means so as to drive said secondarily driven wheels in the same direction in which said primarily driven wheels are driven with said engine, only when a running state of said vehicle exists in a predetermined driving region; and a driving-region altering means for altering said driving region in accordance with said running state of the vehicle, said driving-region altering means being adapted as to alter said driving region on the basis of a road condition.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
132 words
A drive system for driving an automotive vehicle having one of a) left and right front wheels and b) left and right rear wheels driven with an engine as primarily driven wheels and the other driven with a motor means as secondarily driven wheels, comprising: a drive control means for controlling the driving of said motor means so as to drive said secondarily driven wheels in the same direction in which said primarily driven wheels are driven with said engine, only when a running state of said vehicle exists in a predetermined driving region; and a driving-region altering means for altering said driving region in accordance with said running state of the vehicle, said driving-region altering means being adapted as to alter said driving region on the basis of a road condition.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
147 words
A drive system for driving an automotive vehicle having one of a) left and right front wheels and b) left and right rear wheels driven with an engine as primarily driven wheels and the other driven with a motor means as secondarily driven wheels, comprising: a drive control means for controlling the driving of said motor means so as to drive said secondarily driven wheels in the same direction in which said primarily driven wheels are driven with said engine, only when a running state of said vehicle exists in a predetermined driving region; and a driving-region altering means for altering said driving region in accordance with said running state of the vehicle, said driving-region altering means being adapted to alter said driving region by employing at least a vehicle speed, a steered angle of a steering wheel and a road surface friction coefficient μ as parameters.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
147 words
A drive system for driving an automotive vehicle having one of a) left and right front wheels and b) left and right rear wheels driven with an engine as primarily driven wheels and the other driven with a motor means as secondarily driven wheels, comprising: a drive control means for controlling the driving of said motor means so as to drive said secondarily driven wheels in the same direction in which said primarily driven wheels are driven with said engine, only when a running state of said vehicle exists in a predetermined driving region; and a driving-region altering means for altering said driving region in accordance with said running state of the vehicle, said driving-region altering means being adapted to alter said driving region by employing at least a vehicle speed, a steered angle of a steering wheel and a road surface friction coefficient μ as parameters.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
90 words
A drive system for an automotive vehicle having one of, a) left and right front wheels and b) left and right rear wheels driven with an engine as primarily driven wheels and the other driven with a motor means as secondarily driven wheels, comprising: said motor means comprising a pair of left and right motors disposed for driving said left and right secondarily driven wheels discretely and separately; and a clutch for mechanically coupling said left and right secondarily driven wheels to each other when a predetermined condition is set.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
90 words
A drive system for an automotive vehicle having one of, a) left and right front wheels and b) left and right rear wheels driven with an engine as primarily driven wheels and the other driven with a motor means as secondarily driven wheels, comprising: said motor means comprising a pair of left and right motors disposed for driving said left and right secondarily driven wheels discretely and separately; and a clutch for mechanically coupling said left and right secondarily driven wheels to each other when a predetermined condition is set.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
22 words
A vehicle drive system as claimed in claim 25, wherein said clutch is coupled on condition that the vehicle is running straight.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
29 words
A vehicle drive system as claimed in claim 26, wherein said clutch is coupled in a predetermined state in which said secondarily driven wheels are driven with said motor.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
30 words
A vehicle drive system as claimed in claim 26, wherein said clutch is coupled in a predetermined state in which said secondarily driven wheels are not driven with said motor.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
33 words
A vehicle drive system as claimed in claim 25, wherein the coupling of said clutch is inhibited when the vehicle is running on a road having a low road surface friction coefficient μ.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
28 words
A vehicle drive system as claimed in claim 25, wherein the coupling of said clutch is inhibited in a predetermined state in which a road condition is bad.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
43 words
A vehicle drive system as claimed in claim 25, wherein the coupling of said clutch is inhibited when the vehicle is running on a road having or bad road condition at a vehicle speed identical to or higher than a predetermined vehicle speed.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
62 words
A vehicle drive system as claimed in claim 25, further comprising a resistance increasing means for increasing resistance to rotation of said motor means in a state in which said motor does not generate a driving force; wherein said clutch is coupled and said resistance increasing means is set so as to be operated on condition that the vehicle is being decelerated.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
33 words
A vehicle drive system as claimed in claim 32, wherein said clutch is coupled and said resistance increasing means is operated when the vehicle is being decelerated and running at a high speed.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4236595A
Cited
US4480502A
Cited
JPS5774222A
Cited
US4399886A
Cited
US4401182A
Cited
US4528871A
Cited
JPS6338031A
Cited
JPH02120136A
Cited
US5361208A
Cited
US5368120A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-07-30 | 2000-01-29 | 2000-07-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-07-30 | 2004-01-29 | 2004-07-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-07-30 | 2008-01-29 | 2008-07-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |