1. A power output apparatus that outputs power to a driveshaft, said power output apparatus comprising:
an internal combustion engine that outputs power and has an in-cylinder fuel injection valve for injecting a fuel into a cylinder and a port fuel injection valve for injecting the fuel in an intake port;
a torque conversion unit that converts the output power of the internal combustion engine by torque conversion and transmits the converted power to the driveshaft;
a target driving force setting module that sets a target driving force to be output to the driveshaft;
a target power setting module that sets a target power to be output from the internal combustion engine, based on the set target driving force;
a target operating state setting module that sets a target operating state of the internal combustion engine, based on the set target power, a specified allocation rate of fuel injection from the in-cylinder fuel injection valve to fuel injection from the port fuel injection valve, a first constraint, and a second constraint, where the first constraint is imposed on an operating state of the internal combustion engine with shared fuel injection from the in-cylinder fuel injection valve and from the port fuel injection valve at a predetermined first allocation rate, and the second constraint is imposed on the operating state of the internal combustion engine with shared fuel injection from the in-cylinder fuel injection valve and from the port fuel injection valve at a predetermined second allocation rate different from the first allocation rate; and
a control module that controls the internal combustion engine and the torque conversion unit to drive the internal combustion engine in the target operating state with fuel injection at the specified allocation rate and to ensure output of the target driving force to the driveshaft.
2. A power output apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said target operating state setting module sets the target operating state of the internal combustion engine by distributing a first operating state and a second operating state of the internal combustion engine by a ratio of the specified allocation rate to the predetermined first allocation rate and a ratio of the specified allocation rate to the predetermined second allocation rate, where the first operating state of the internal combustion engine is set based on the first constraint and the target power and the second operating state of the internal combustion engine is set based on the second constraint and the target power.
3. A power output apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the first constraint regards operation of the internal combustion engine with fuel injection from only the in-cylinder fuel injection valve, and
the second constraint regards operation of the internal combustion engine with fuel injection from only the port fuel injection valve.
4. A power output apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the torque conversion unit is a continuously variable transmission, and
said control module varies a change gear ratio of the torque conversion unit to drive and rotate the internal combustion engine at a rotation speed specified by the set target operating state.
5. A power output apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein each of the first constraint and the second constraint includes multiple restrictions with regard to multiple conditions, and
said target operating state setting module sets the target operating state of the internal combustion engine, based on a certain restriction included in the first constraint and a corresponding restriction included in the second constraint with regard to a selected condition among the multiple conditions.
6. A power output apparatus in accordance with claim 5, wherein the multiple restrictions include at least one of an efficient operation restriction for efficient operation of the internal combustion engine and a high torque output restriction for output of a high torque from the internal combustion engine.
7. A power output apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the torque conversion unit comprises:
an electric power-mechanical power input output mechanism that is connected to an output shaft of the internal combustion engine and to the driveshaft and outputs at least part of the output power of the internal combustion engine to the driveshaft through input and output of electric power and mechanical power;
a motor that inputs and outputs power from and to the driveshaft; and
an accumulator unit that receives and transmits electric power from and to the electric power-mechanical power input output mechanism and the motor,
wherein said control module controls the internal combustion engine, the electric power-mechanical power input output mechanism, and the motor to drive the internal combustion engine in the target operating state and to ensure output of a driving force equivalent to the target driving force to the driveshaft.
8. A power output apparatus in accordance with claim 7, wherein the electric power-mechanical power input output mechanism comprises:
a three shaft-type power input output module that is linked to three shafts, the output shaft of the internal combustion engine, the driveshaft, and a rotating shaft, and inputs and outputs power from and to a residual one shaft based on powers input from and output to any two shafts among the three shafts; and
a generator that inputs and outputs power from and to the rotating shaft.
9. A vehicle, said vehicle comprising:
an internal combustion engine that outputs power and has an in-cylinder fuel injection valve for injecting a fuel into a cylinder and a port fuel injection valve for injecting the fuel in an intake port;
a torque conversion unit that converts the output power of the internal combustion engine by torque conversion and transmits the converted power to the driveshaft connected to an axle;
a target driving force setting module that sets a target driving force to be output to the driveshaft;
a target power setting module that sets a target power to be output from the internal combustion engine, based on the set target driving force;
a target operating state setting module that sets a target operating state of the internal combustion engine, based on the set target power, a specified allocation rate of fuel injection from the in-cylinder fuel injection valve to fuel injection from the port fuel injection valve, a first constraint, and a second constraint, where the first constraint is imposed on an operating state of the internal combustion engine with shared fuel injection from the in-cylinder fuel injection valve and from the port fuel injection valve at a predetermined first allocation rate, and the second constraint is imposed on the operating state of the internal combustion engine with shared fuel injection from the in-cylinder fuel injection valve and from the port fuel injection valve at a predetermined second allocation rate different from the first allocation rate; and
a control module that controls the internal combustion engine and the torque conversion unit to drive the internal combustion engine in the target operating state with fuel injection at the specified allocation rate and to ensure output of the target driving force to the driveshaft.
10. A vehicle in accordance with claim 9, wherein said target operating state setting module sets the target operating state of the internal combustion engine by distributing a first operating state and a second operating state of the internal combustion engine by a ratio of the specified allocation rate to the predetermined first allocation rate and a ratio of the specified allocation rate to the predetermined second allocation rate, where the first operating state of the internal combustion engine is set based on the first constraint and the target power and the second operating state of the internal combustion engine is set based on the second constraint and the target power.
11. A vehicle in accordance with claim 9, wherein each of the first constraint and the second constraint includes multiple restrictions with regard to multiple conditions, and
said target operating state setting module sets the target operating state of the internal combustion engine, based on a certain restriction included in the first constraint and a corresponding restriction included in the second constraint with regard to a selected condition among the multiple conditions.
12. A vehicle in accordance with claim 9, wherein the first constraint regards operation of the internal combustion engine with fuel injection from only the in-cylinder fuel injection valve, and
the second constraint regards operation of the internal combustion engine with fuel injection from only the port fuel injection valve.
13. A vehicle in accordance with claim 9, wherein the torque conversion unit is a continuously variable transmission, and
said control module varies a change gear ratio of the torque conversion unit to drive and rotate the internal combustion engine at a rotation speed specified by the set target operating state.
14. A vehicle in accordance with claim 9, wherein the torque conversion unit comprises:
an electric power-mechanical power input output mechanism that is connected to an output shaft of the internal combustion engine and to the driveshaft and outputs at least part of the output power of the internal combustion engine to the driveshaft through input and output of electric power and mechanical power;
a motor that inputs and outputs power from and to the driveshaft; and
an accumulator unit that receives and transmits electric power from and to the electric power-mechanical power input output mechanism and the motor,
wherein said control module controls the internal combustion engine, the electric power-mechanical power input output mechanism, and the motor to drive the internal combustion engine in the target operating state and to ensure output of a driving force equivalent to the target driving force to the driveshaft.
15. A vehicle in accordance with claim 14, wherein the electric power-mechanical power input output mechanism comprises:
a three shaft-type power input output module that is linked to three shafts, the output shaft of the internal combustion engine, the driveshaft, and a rotating shaft, and inputs and outputs power from and to a residual one shaft based on powers input from and output to any two shafts among the three shafts; and
a generator that inputs and outputs power from and to the rotating shaft.
16. A control method of a power output apparatus, said power output apparatus comprising: an internal combustion engine that outputs power and has an in-cylinder fuel injection valve for injecting a fuel into a cylinder and a port fuel injection valve for injecting the fuel in an intake port; and a torque conversion unit that converts the output power of the internal combustion engine by torque conversion and transmits the converted power to a driveshaft,
said control method comprising the steps of:
(a) setting a target driving force to be output to the driveshaft, and setting a target power to be output from the internal combustion engine based on the set target driving force;
(b) setting a target operating state of the internal combustion engine, based on the set target power, a specified allocation rate of fuel injection from the in-cylinder fuel injection valve to fuel injection from the port fuel injection valve, a first constraint, and a second constraint, where the first constraint is imposed on an operating state of the internal combustion engine with shared fuel injection from the in-cylinder fuel injection valve and from the port fuel injection valve at a predetermined first allocation rate, and the second constraint is imposed on the operating state of the internal combustion engine with shared fuel injection from the in-cylinder fuel injection valve and from the port fuel injection valve at a predetermined second allocation rate different from the first allocation rate; and
(c) controlling the internal combustion engine and the torque conversion unit to drive the internal combustion engine in the target operating state with fuel injection at the specified allocation rate and to ensure output of the target driving force to the driveshaft.
17. A control method of a power output apparatus in accordance with claim 16, wherein said step (b) sets the target operating state of the internal combustion engine by distributing a first operating state and a second operating state of the internal combustion engine by a ratio of the specified allocation rate to the predetermined first allocation rate and a ratio of the specified allocation rate to the predetermined second allocation rate, where the first operating state of the internal combustion engine is set based on the first constraint and the target power and the second operating state of the internal combustion engine is set based on the second constraint and the target power.
18. A control method of a power output apparatus in accordance with claim 16, wherein each of the first constraint and the second constraint includes multiple restrictions with regard to multiple conditions, and
said step (b) sets the target operating state of the internal combustion engine, based on a certain restriction included in the first constraint and a corresponding restriction included in the second constraint with regard to a selected condition among the multiple conditions.
19. A control method of a power output apparatus in accordance with claim 16, wherein the first constraint regards operation of the internal combustion engine with fuel injection from only the in-cylinder fuel injection valve, and
the second constraint regards operation of the internal combustion engine with fuel injection from only the port fuel injection valve.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1-21. (canceled)
22. A swivel mechanism for incorporation between a carriage of a stairlift assembly and a chair of the stairlift assembly, the chair having a pair of spaced sides and a central axis midway between the spaced sides, the swivel mechanism comprising: at least one pivot centre about which the chair may swivel with respect to the carriage, the pivot centre intersecting with the chair at a point between the central axis and one of the pair of spaced sides.
23. The mechanism of claim 22, in which there are two pivot centres located to intersect with the chair on opposite sides of the central axis, the swivel mechanism being constructed and arranged so that only one pivot centre at a time is engaged to define the swivel axis between the carriage and the chair.
24. The mechanism of claim 23, in which engagement of one of the pivot centres to define the swivel axis limits rotation about the other of the pivot centres.
25. The mechanism of claim 23, further comprising an arcuate guide positioned to overlie each of the pivot centres.
26. The mechanism of claim 25, further comprising a control member mounted for rotation on each of the pivot centres, and being engageable with a the guide, the guide being slidable with respect to its control member.
27. The mechanism of claim 26, in which a swivel movement is generated by applying a rotational action to the control member mounted on a first the of pivot centres, against and contacting an edge of the guide, while allowing sliding movement of the other of the guides over the control member mounted on the second of the pivot centres.
28. The mechanism of claim 26, further comprising a motor for each control member, each motor being operable to rotate its respective control member.
29. The mechanism of claim 28, further comprising interlocking means to disengage one of the motors while the other motor is in operation.
30. The mechanism of claim 28, further comprising means to manually isolate at least one motor from its respective control member.
31. The combination of the stairlift assembly and the swivel mechanism of claim 22.
32. A swivel mechanism, comprising a substantially planar first part; a substantially planar second part arranged substantially parallel to the first part, the first and second parts arranged for rotation with respect to each other about two spaced swivel axes perpendicular to each, and two respective means for defining the swivel axes; in which one means for defining a swivel axis, when not engaged to act as the swivel axis, controls relative rotation of the first and second parts about the other swivel axis.
33. The mechanism of claim 32, in which rotation about each swivel axis is defined by a combination of arcuate guides provided in one of the first or second parts, and control members mounted on the other of the first or second parts, the control members engaging with, and being displaceable with respect to, the arcuate guides.
34. The mechanism of claim 33, further comprising a control member mounted on and pivotable about respective swivel axes.
35. The combination of a stairlift installation including a carriage and a chair, and the swivel mechanism of claim 32 disposed between the carriage and the chair.
36. A swivel mechanism for providing swivel action about two spaced, parallel, axes, the mechanism comprising control members located in, and displaceable with respect to, arcuate guides, in which the swivel action about each axis is effected and controlled by the control members.
37. The mechanism of claim 36, in which the control members are rotatable.
38. The mechanism of claim 36, in which each arcuate guide comprises slots receiving the control members.
39. The combination of a stairlift installation including a carriage and a chair, and the swivel mechanism of claim 36 disposed between the carriage and the chair.
40. A swivel mechanism for a stairlift installation having a carriage and a chair mounted on the carriage, the chair being swivelable from a central position in which a user seated in the chair faces in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of travel of the carriage, to first and second positions in clockwise and a counter-clockwise directions, respectively, from the central position; in which the swivel mechanism comprises a first drive means to swivel the chair between the central position and the first position; and a second drive means to swivel the chair between the central position and the second position.
41. The mechanism of claim 40, in which the chair swivels between the central position and the first position about one spaced swivel axis and, between the central position and the second position about the other spaced swivel axis.
42. The combination of a carriage and chair for a stairlift and the swivel mechanism of claim 40.
43. A swivel mechanism for incorporation between a stairlift carriage and a stairlift chair, the swivel mechanism including at least one motor to rotate the chair with respect to the carriage, the swivel mechanism further comprising a means to manually disengage the swivel mechanism and thus allow the chair to be manually rotated with respect to the carriage.
44. The combination of a carriage and chair for a stairlift and the swivel mechanism of claim 43.