1. Traction chain for an automobile vehicle, comprising:
a wheel support which carries a rotating hub designed to receive a drive wheel and having a rotation axis for the drive wheel,
a rotating toothed wheel having a rotation axis the same as that of the drive wheel, the toothed wheel meshing directly with the hub, and
an arrangement comprising at least two gear-wheels which are permanently meshed with the toothed wheel, an input shaft designed to be coupled with a shaft of an electric motor, and a gear ratio change shifter mechanism shiftable between:
a first driving position in which the shifter mechanism directly connects the input shaft with one of the gear-wheels for rotation therewith about a common axis of the input shaft,
a second driving position in which the shifter mechanism indirectly connects the input shaft with another gear-wheel through a mechanical transmission path establishing a gear reduction ratio different from a gear ratio established in the first driving position, and
a neutral non-driving position.
2. Traction chain according to claim 1,in which the gear ratio change shifter mechanism comprises a dog clutch slidable along a common axis of rotation of the input shaft and the one gear wheel.
3. Traction chain according to claim 2, in which in the other second driving state position the dog clutch rotates the other gear-wheel via an intermediate gear-wheel which causes the rotation speed to be inverted.
4. Traction chain according to claim 2, in which in the first driving position, the dog clutch moves the one gear-wheel at a 1:1 ratio directly without any intermediate gear-wheel.
5. Traction chain according to claim 1, which has no friction clutch.
6. Traction chain according to claim 1,in which the gear ratio shifter mechanism is shiftable between only two gear ratios.
7. Traction chain according to claim 1, which comprises an electric synchronous motor, having at least one integrated rotor position sensor used to control the motor.
8. Traction chain according to claim 7, in which the only sensors used to determine the wheel rotation speed are the position sensor integrated in the motor and a position sensor associated with the gear ratio change mechanism.
9. Traction chain for an automobile vehicle, comprising:
a wheel support which carries a rotating hub designed to receive a drive wheel and having a rotation axis for the drive wheel,
a rotating toothed wheel having a rotation axis the same as that of the drive wheel, the toothed wheel meshing directly with the hub,
a synchronous, self-adjusting electric motor comprising at least one integrated rotor position sensor used to control the motor, and
an arrangement comprising at least two gear-wheels permanently meshed with said toothed wheel, an input shaft coupled with a shaft of the electric motor, and a gear ratio change mechanism with a neutral position between gear ratios, the mechanism selectively producing engagement between the input shaft and one or the other of the gear-wheels, the said mechanism comprising, between the input shaft and the other gear-wheel, at least one other mechanical transmission path with a reduction ratio different from a gear ratio of the engagement between the input shaft and the one gear wheel,
wherein the only sensors used to determine the wheel rotation speed are the at least one position sensor integrated in the motor and a sensor associated with the gear ratio change mechanism.
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. A rotational fluctuation malfunction detection device for an internal combustion engine that serves as a power source for a vehicle, the rotational fluctuation malfunction detection device, comprising:
a parameter obtaining device that is configured to obtain a value of a fluctuation parameter that indicates a degree of non-uniformity in fluctuation of rotational speed of an output shaft of the internal combustion engine;
an automatic engine stop device that is configured to stop the internal combustion engine when an engine stop condition including that the vehicle is stopped is satisfied; and
a signal output device that is configured to output a signal that indicates a determination result of whether the degree of non-uniformity of fluctuation of the rotational speed is normal or not based on the value of the fluctuation parameter obtained in the operation of the internal combustion engine,
wherein if the value of the fluctuation parameter obtained during a disturbance fluctuation state, in which the rotational speed of the output shaft of the internal combustion engine fluctuates due to disturbances from a driving wheel, is below a first threshold value, the signal output device outputs a signal that indicates the determination result based on the value of the fluctuation parameter obtained in the disturbance fluctuation state, and
if the value of the fluctuation parameter obtained in the disturbance fluctuation state equals or exceeds the first threshold value, the signal output device outputs a signal that indicates the determination results based on the value of the fluctuation parameter obtained in a non-disturbance fluctuation state, in which rotational speed of the output shaft of the internal combustion engine does not fluctuate as a result of disturbances from the driving wheel of the vehicle, instead of the value of the fluctuation parameter obtained in the disturbance fluctuation state.
2. The rotational fluctuation malfunction detection device for an internal combustion engine according to claim 1, further comprising:
a transmission disposed in a driveline between the output shaft of the internal combustion engine and the driving wheel, wherein
the disturbance fluctuation state is established when the internal combustion engine is running, the vehicle is moving, and the transmission is transmitting torque between the output shaft of the internal combustion engine and the driving wheel,
the non-disturbance fluctuation state is established when the internal combustion engine is running and the vehicle is stopped.
3. The rotational fluctuation malfunction detection device for an internal combustion engine according to claim 2,
wherein if the vehicle is stopped and the engine stop condition is satisfied, the signal output device prohibits the automatic engine stop device from stopping operation of the internal combustion engine and continues operation of the internal combustion engine so as to maintain the non-disturbance fluctuation state.
4. The rotational fluctuation malfunction detection device for an internal combustion engine according to claim 2, wherein
if the fluctuation parameter value obtained in the disturbance fluctuation state is below the first threshold value, the signal output device outputs a signal that indicates the degree of non-uniformity of fluctuation in the output shaft rotational speed is normal,
if the fluctuation parameter value obtained in the disturbance fluctuation state equals or exceeds a second threshold value, which is greater than the first threshold value, the signal output device outputs a signal that indicates the degree of non-uniformity of fluctuation in the output shaft rotational speed is abnormal, and
if the value of the fluctuation parameter obtained in the disturbance fluctuation state is equal to the first threshold value or between the first threshold value and the second threshold value, the signal output device outputs a signal that indicates the degree of non-uniformity of fluctuation in the output shaft rotational speed is normal if the value of the fluctuation parameter obtained in the non-disturbance fluctuation state is below a third threshold value, and outputs a signal that indicates the degree of non-uniformity of fluctuation in the output shaft rotational speed is abnormal if the value of the fluctuation parameter obtained in the non-disturbance state equals or exceeds the third threshold value.
5. The rotational fluctuation malfunction detection device for an internal combustion engine according to claim 1, further comprising:
a transmission disposed in a driveline between the output shaft of the internal combustion engine and the driving wheel, wherein
the disturbance fluctuation state is established when the internal combustion engine is running, the vehicle is moving, and the transmission is transmitting torque between the output shaft of the internal combustion engine and the driving wheel, and
the non-disturbance fluctuation state is established when the internal combustion engine is running and the transmission is not transmitting torque between the output shaft of the internal combustion engine and the driving wheel.
6. The rotational fluctuation malfunction detection device for an internal combustion engine according to claim 5, wherein
if the fluctuation parameter value obtained in the disturbance fluctuation state is below the first threshold value, the signal output device outputs a signal that indicates the degree of non-uniformity of fluctuation in the output shaft rotational speed is normal,
if the value of the fluctuation parameter obtained in the disturbance fluctuation state equals or exceeds a second threshold value, which is greater than the first threshold value, the signal output device outputs the signal that indicates the degree of non-uniformity of fluctuation in the output shaft rotational speed is abnormal, and
if the fluctuation parameter value obtained in the disturbance fluctuation state is equal to the first threshold value or between the first threshold value and the second threshold value, the signal output device outputs a signal that indicates the degree of non-uniformity of fluctuation in the output shaft rotational speed is normal if the value of the fluctuation parameter obtained in the non-disturbance fluctuation state is below a third threshold value, and outputs a signal that indicates the degree of non-uniformity of fluctuation in the output shaft rotational speed is abnormal if the value of the fluctuation parameter obtained in the non-disturbance state equals or exceeds the third threshold value.
7. The rotational fluctuation malfunction detection device for an internal combustion engine according to claim 1,
wherein the fluctuation parameter is a rotational fluctuation value of the internal combustion engine, and wherein the first threshold value is reduced as rotational speed of the internal combustion engine increases and increased as an intake air amount equivalent value increases.
8. The rotational fluctuation malfunction detection device for an internal combustion engine according to claim 1,
wherein if the fluctuation parameter value obtained in the disturbance fluctuation state is below the first threshold value, the signal output device outputs the signal that indicates the degree of non-uniformity of fluctuation of the rotational speed is normal,
when the value of the fluctuation parameter obtained in the disturbance fluctuation state is a second threshold value or more which is larger than the first threshold value, the signal output device outputs a signal that indicates the degree of non-uniformity of fluctuation in the output shaft rotational speed is abnormal, and
if the value of the fluctuation parameter value obtained in the disturbance fluctuation state is equal to the first threshold value or between the first threshold value and the second threshold value, the signal output device outputs a signal that indicates the degree of non-uniformity of fluctuation in the output shaft rotational speed is normal if the value of the fluctuation parameter obtained in the non-disturbance fluctuation state is below a third threshold value, and outputs a signal that indicates the degree of non-uniformity of fluctuation in the output shaft rotational speed is abnormal if the value of the fluctuation parameter obtained in the non-disturbance state equals or exceeds the third threshold value.
9. The rotational fluctuation malfunction detection device for an internal combustion engine according to claim 8,
wherein the fluctuation parameter is the rotational fluctuation value of the internal combustion engine, and wherein the second threshold value is reduced as the rotational speed of the internal combustion engine increases and increased as the intake air amount equivalent value increases.
10. The rotational fluctuation malfunction detection device for an internal combustion engine according to claim 8,
wherein the fluctuation parameter is the rotational fluctuation value of the internal combustion engine, and wherein the third threshold value is reduced as the rotational speed of the internal combustion engine increases and increased as the intake air amount equivalent value increases.
11. A rotational fluctuation malfunction detection device for an internal combustion engine that serves as a power source for a vehicle, the rotational fluctuation malfunction detection device comprising:
a parameter obtaining device that is configured to obtain the value of fluctuation parameter that indicates the degree of non-uniformity of fluctuation in rotational speed of an output shaft of the internal combustion engine;
an automatic engine stop device that is configured to stop the internal combustion engine when an engine stop condition including that the vehicle is stopped is satisfied; and
a signal output device that is configured to output a signal that indicates a determination result of whether the degree of non-uniformity of fluctuation of the rotational speed is normal based on the value of the fluctuation parameter obtained by the parameter obtaining device when the engine is in operation,
wherein the signal output device outputs a signal that indicates the determination result based on the value of the fluctuation parameter obtained in at least one of disturbance fluctuation states in which the rotational speed of the output shaft of the internal combustion engine fluctuates as a result of disturbances from a driving wheel of the vehicle to which driving torque of the output shaft of the internal combustion engine is transmitted, and also outputs the signal that indicates the determination result based on the fluctuation parameter value obtained in a non-disturbance state in which the rotational speed of the output shaft of the internal combustion engine does not fluctuate as a result of disturbances from the driving wheel of the vehicle, and
when the internal combustion engine is in a lean imbalanced state in which a fuel injection valve for a part of a plurality of cylinders sprays a smaller amount of fuel than specified, the signal output device does not output the signal that indicates the determination result in the disturbance fluctuation state but does output the signal that indicates the determination result in the non-disturbance state.
12. A method of detecting rotational fluctuation malfunctions in an internal combustion engine that serves as a power source for a vehicle, the method comprising:
obtaining the value of fluctuation parameter that indicates the degree of non-uniformity of fluctuation in rotational speed of an output shaft of the internal combustion engine;
outputting a signal that indicates a determination result of whether the degree of non-uniformity of fluctuation of the rotational speed is abnormal based on the value of the fluctuation parameter obtained during a disturbance fluctuation state, in which disturbances from a driving wheel, to which driving torque of the output shaft of the internal combustion engine is transmitted, cause fluctuations in the rotational speed of the output shaft of the internal combustion engine, and a non-disturbance state, in which disturbances from the driving wheel do not cause fluctuations in the rotational speed of the output shaft, wherein
the determination result is based on the fluctuation parameter value obtained during the disturbance fluctuation state if the fluctuation parameter value obtained in the disturbance fluctuation state is below a first threshold value, and
the determination result is based on the fluctuation parameter value obtained during the disturbance fluctuation state if the fluctuation parameter value obtained in the non-disturbance fluctuation state if the fluctuation parameter value obtained in the disturbance fluctuation state equals or exceeds the first threshold value.
13. A method of detecting rotational fluctuation malfunctions in an internal combustion engine that serves as a power source for a vehicle, comprising:
obtaining the value of fluctuation parameter that indicates the degree of non-uniformity of fluctuation in rotational speed of an output shaft of an internal combustion engine;
outputting a signal that indicates a determination result of whether the degree of non-uniformity of fluctuation of the rotational speed is abnormal based on the value of the fluctuation parameter obtained during at least one of a disturbance fluctuation state, in which disturbances from a driving wheel, to which driving torque of the output shaft of the internal combustion engine is transmitted, cause fluctuations in the rotational speed of the output shaft, and a non-disturbance state, in which disturbances from the driving wheel, to which driving torque of the output shaft of the internal combustion engine is transmitted, does not cause fluctuations in the rotational speed of the output shaft, from a signal output device, wherein the signal that indicates the determination result based on the fluctuation parameter value obtained during the non-disturbance state if the internal combustion engine is in a lean imbalanced state, in which a fuel injection amount injected by at least one fuel injection valve is below a target fuel injection amount.