Patent Application
20250018917
The present disclosure relates to a hydraulic pressure control unit capable of appropriately detecting abnormality in the hydraulic pressure control unit.
Conventionally, a vehicle such as a motorcycle is provided with a hydraulic pressure control unit for controlling a braking force on a wheel. As an example of such a hydraulic pressure control unit, the hydraulic pressure control unit includes a hydraulic pressure control mechanism, and the hydraulic pressure control mechanism includes: an inlet valve that is provided to a primary channel communicating a master cylinder and a wheel cylinder; an outlet valve that is provided to a secondary channel through which a hydraulic fluid in the wheel cylinder is released to an intermediate portion of the primary channel; a pump that is provided on a downstream side of the outlet valve in the secondary channel; and a motor that drives the pump (for example, see JP20188674A).
By the way, in the hydraulic pressure control unit, there is a case where the hydraulic pressure control mechanism is not operated as expected due to various factors such as contamination by a foreign substance. Thus, in order to improve safety, it is desired to propose a mechanism that appropriately detects abnormality in the hydraulic pressure control unit.
The present invention has been made with the above-described problem as the background and therefore obtains a hydraulic pressure control unit capable of appropriately detecting abnormality in the hydraulic pressure control unit.
A hydraulic pressure control unit according to the present invention is a hydraulic pressure control unit used for a brake system of a vehicle, and includes: a hydraulic pressure control mechanism including an inlet valve that is provided to a primary channel communicating a master cylinder and a wheel cylinder, an outlet valve that is provided to a secondary channel through which a hydraulic fluid in the wheel cylinder is released to an intermediate portion of the primary channel, a pump that is provided on a downstream side of the outlet valve in the secondary channel, and a motor that drives the pump; and a controller that controls operation of the hydraulic pressure control mechanism. The controller includes a diagnosis section that executes a diagnostic mode to diagnose presence or absence of abnormality in the hydraulic pressure control mechanism on the basis of a current fluctuation of the motor in a state where the pump is driven by the motor.
In the hydraulic pressure control unit according to the present invention, the controller includes the diagnosis section that executes the diagnostic mode to diagnose the presence or the absence of the abnormality in the hydraulic pressure control mechanism on the basis of the current fluctuation of the motor in the state where the pump is driven by the motor. In this way, it is possible to appropriately diagnose the presence or the absence of the abnormality in the hydraulic pressure control mechanism according to a load acting on the motor. Therefore, it is possible to appropriately detect the abnormality in the hydraulic pressure control unit.
A description will hereinafter be made on a hydraulic pressure control unit according to the present invention with reference to the drawings.
A description will hereinafter be made on the hydraulic pressure control unit used for a brake system of a two-wheeled motorcycle (see a vehicle 100 in
A description will hereinafter be made on a case where one front-wheel brake mechanism and one rear-wheel brake mechanism are provided (see a front-wheel brake mechanism 12 and a rear-wheel brake mechanism 14 in
A configuration, operation, and the like, which will be described below, constitute merely one example, and the hydraulic pressure control unit according to the present invention is not limited to a case with such a configuration, such operation, and the like.
The same or similar description will appropriately be simplified or will not be made below. In the drawings, the same or similar members or portions will not be denoted by a reference sign or will be denoted by the same reference sign. In addition, a detailed structure will appropriately be illustrated in a simplified manner or will not be illustrated.
A description will be made on a configuration of the vehicle 100 according to a first embodiment of the present invention with reference to
The vehicle 100 is a two-wheeled motorcycle that corresponds to an example of the vehicle according to the present invention. As illustrated in
As illustrated in
The first brake operation section 11 is provided to the handlebar 2 and is operated by the rider's hand. The first brake operation section 11 is a brake lever, for example. The second brake operation section 13 is provided to a lower portion of the trunk 1 and is operated by the rider's foot. The second brake operation section 13 is a brake pedal, for example. However, like a brake operation section of the scooter or the like, each of the first brake operation section 11 and the second brake operation section 13 may be the brake lever that is operated by the rider's hand.
Each of the front-wheel brake mechanism 12 and the rear-wheel brake mechanism 14 includes: a master cylinder 21 in which a piston (not illustrated) is installed; a reservoir 22 that is attached to the master cylinder 21; a brake caliper 23 that is held by the trunk 1 and has a brake pad (not illustrated); a wheel cylinder 24 that is provided to the brake caliper 23; a primary channel 25 that communicates the master cylinder 21 and the wheel cylinder 24, and through which a brake fluid in the master cylinder 21 flows into the wheel cylinder 24; and a secondary channel 26 through which the brake fluid in the wheel cylinder 24 is released to an intermediate portion 25a of the primary channel 25. The brake fluid corresponds to an example of the hydraulic fluid according to the present invention.
An inlet valve (EV) 31 is provided to the primary channel 25. The secondary channel 26 bypasses a portion of the primary channel 25 between the wheel cylinder 24 side and the master cylinder 21 side of the inlet valve 31. The secondary channel 26 is sequentially provided with an outlet valve (AV) 32, an accumulator 33, and a pump 34 from an upstream side. Just as described, the pump 34 is provided on a downstream side of the outlet valve 32 in the secondary channel 26. The inlet valve 31 is an electromagnetic valve that is opened in an unenergized state and is closed in an energized state, for example. The outlet valve 32 is an electromagnetic valve that is closed in an unenergized state and is opened in an energized state, for example.
The hydraulic pressure control unit 5 is provided with: a motor 35 that drives the pumps 34; and a current sensor 41 that detects a current value flowing through the motor 35. Here, the current sensor 41 may detect another physical quantity that can substantially be converted to the current value of the current flowing through the motor 35.
The hydraulic pressure control unit 5 includes: a hydraulic pressure control mechanism 51 that includes a part of the front-wheel brake mechanism 12 and a part of the rear-wheel brake mechanism 14 described above; and a controller (ECU) 52 that controls operation of the hydraulic pressure control mechanism 51.
The hydraulic pressure control mechanism 51 includes: a base body 51a; components (more specifically, the inlet valves 31, the outlet valves 32, the accumulators 33, and the pumps 34) that are assembled to the base body 51a and control a hydraulic pressure generated in the brake fluid as the hydraulic fluid in the brake system 10; and the motor 35. The component means an element such as a part that is assembled to the base body 51a.
The base body 51a has a substantially rectangular-parallelepiped shape and is formed of a metal material, for example. In the base body 51a of the hydraulic pressure control mechanism 51, the primary channels 25 and the secondary channels 26 are formed, and the inlet valves 31, the outlet valves 32, the accumulators 33, and the pumps 34 are assembled as the components. As will be described below, operation of each of these components and the motor 35 is controlled by the controller 52 of the hydraulic pressure control unit 5. The base body 51a may be formed of one member or may be formed of plural members. In the case where the base body 51a is formed of the plural members, the components may separately be provided in the plural members.
For example, the controller 52 is partially or entirely constructed of a microcomputer, a microprocessor unit, or the like. In addition, the controller 52 may partially or entirely be constructed of one whose firmware and the like can be updated, or may partially or entirely be a program module or the like that is executed by a command from a CPU or the like, for example. The controller 52 may be provided as one unit or may be divided into plural units, for example. In addition, the controller 52 may be attached to the base body 51a or may be attached to a member other than the base body 51a.
The acquisition section 521 acquires information from each of the devices mounted to the vehicle 100, and outputs the acquired information to the control section 522. For example, the acquisition section 521 acquires information from the current sensor 41.
The control section 522 controls the operation of each of the various devices. The control section 522 includes a braking control section 522a and a diagnosis section 522b, for example.
The braking control section 522a controls the operation of each of the above-described components, which are assembled to the base body 51a of the hydraulic pressure control mechanism 51, and the operation of the motor 35. In this way, the braking control section 522a can control the braking force to be applied to the front wheel 3 by the front-wheel brake mechanism 12 and the braking force to be applied to the rear wheel 4 by the rear-wheel brake mechanism 14.
The diagnosis section 522b executes a diagnostic mode to diagnose presence or absence of abnormality in the hydraulic pressure control mechanism 51 by appropriately controlling the operation of the hydraulic pressure control mechanism 51. A detailed description will be made below on the diagnostic mode executed by the diagnosis section 522b. As will be described below, the diagnosis section 522b can also control the operation of the notification device 6.
As described above, in the hydraulic pressure control unit 5, the braking force to be applied to the wheel is controlled by controlling the operation of the hydraulic pressure control mechanism 51.
In a normal time (that is, when anti-lock brake control, which will be described below, is not executed), the braking control section 522a opens the inlet valve 31 and closes the outlet valve 32. When the first brake operation section 11 is operated in such a state, in the front-wheel brake mechanism 12, the piston (not illustrated) in the master cylinder 21 is pressed to increase the hydraulic pressure of the brake fluid in the wheel cylinder 24, the brake pad (not illustrated) of the brake caliper 23 is then pressed against a rotor 3a of the front wheel 3, and the braking force is thereby generated on the front wheel 3. Meanwhile, when the second brake operation section 13 is operated, in the rear-wheel brake mechanism 14, the piston (not illustrated) in the master cylinder 21 is pressed to increase the hydraulic pressure of the brake fluid in the wheel cylinder 24, the brake pad (not illustrated) of the brake caliper 23 is then pressed against a rotor 4a of the rear wheel 4, and the braking force is thereby generated on the rear wheel 4.
The anti-lock brake control is control that is executed when the wheel (more specifically, the front wheel 3 or the rear wheel 4) is locked or possibly locked and that reduces the braking force to be applied to the wheel without relying on a brake operation by the rider, for example. In the anti-lock brake control, pressure reduction control, hydraulic pressure keeping control, and pressure increase control are continuously executed in this order. The pressure reduction control reduces a brake hydraulic pressure of the wheel, the hydraulic pressure keeping control keeps the brake hydraulic pressure of the wheel, and the pressure increase control increases the brake hydraulic pressure of the wheel. The pressure reduction control, the hydraulic pressure keeping control, and the pressure increase control are repeated, for example, until it is determined that locking of the wheel is avoided.
In the pressure reduction control, the brake control section 522a brings a state where the inlet valve 31 is closed and the outlet valve 32 is opened, and drives the pump 34 by the motor 35 in such a state. In this way, the brake control section 522a reduces the hydraulic pressure of the brake fluid in the wheel cylinder 24. In this way, the braking force generated on the wheel is reduced. In the pressure reduction control, the brake fluid that has flowed into the accumulator 33 from the wheel cylinder 24 is returned to the primary channel 25 via the secondary channel 26 by the pump 34. Next, in the hydraulic pressure keeping control, the brake control section 522a closes both of the inlet valve 31 and the outlet valve 32, and thereby keeps the hydraulic pressure of the brake fluid in the wheel cylinder 24. In this way, the braking force generated on the wheel is kept. Next, in the pressure increase control, the brake control section 522a opens the inlet valve 31, closes the outlet valve 32, and thereby increases the hydraulic pressure of the brake fluid in the wheel cylinder 24. In this way, the braking force generated on the wheel is increased.
As described above, the motor 35 and the pump 34 are driven in the pressure reduction control of the anti-lock brake control. A description will hereinafter be made on a configuration of a connection portion between the motor 35 and the pump 34 with reference to
The output shaft 351 of the motor 35 is provided with an eccentric cam section 36 that is eccentric to the output shaft 351. The eccentric cam section 36 includes: a columnar cam member 361 that is eccentric to the output shaft 351 of the motor 35; and a rolling bearing 362 that is fitted to an outer circumferential portion of the cam member 361. The eccentric cam section 36 is arranged between the plungers 341, and an axial direction of the eccentric cam section 36 is orthogonal to the axial direction of each of the plungers 341. Just as described, the plungers 341 oppose each other with the eccentric cam section 36 being interposed therebetween. A spring 342 abuts a base end portion (that is, an end portion on an opposite side of the output shaft 351 side) of each of the plungers 341, and each of the plungers 341 is urged by the spring 342 in a direction to approach the output shaft 351. A tip portion (that is, an end portion on the output shaft 351 side) of each of the plungers 341 is in contact with an outer circumferential surface of the rolling bearing 362 in the eccentric cam section 36.
When the output shaft 351 of the motor 35 rotates, the eccentric cam section 36 rotates eccentrically to the output shaft 351 and keeps pressing one of the plungers 341 and the other plunger 341 alternately. That is, each of the plungers 341 is pressed intermittently by the eccentric cam section 36. At this time, the eccentric cam section 36 presses the plunger 341 against an urging force of the spring 342.
A type of the motor 35 is not particularly limited. For example, the motor 35 may be a DC motor or an AC motor. For example, the motor 35 may be a brushed DC motor or a brushless DC motor. A configuration of the pump 34 is not particularly limited, and, for example, various components such as a check valve may be provided to the plunger 341.
Here, in the hydraulic pressure control unit 5, there is a case where the hydraulic pressure control mechanism 51 is not operated as expected due to various factors such as contamination by a foreign substance. For example, there is a case where the pump 34 is fixed (that is, stuck) due to such a factor that the foreign substance enters a clearance between the plunger 341 of the pump 34 and the base body 51a. The fixation of the pump 34 is a state where, regardless of whether being pressed by the eccentric cam section 36, the plunger 341 keeps being held at the position of being pressed by the eccentric cam section 36 and thus the plunger 341 is no longer operated. Once the pump 34 is fixed, the hydraulic pressure control mechanism 51 is no longer operated as expected, and it becomes difficult to control the braking force to be applied to the wheel as expected.
In this embodiment, the abnormality in the hydraulic pressure control unit 5 is appropriately detected by devising processing related to the diagnostic mode in which the diagnosis section 522b of the controller 52 diagnoses the presence or the absence of the abnormality in the hydraulic pressure control mechanism 51
A description will be made on the operation of the hydraulic pressure control unit 5 according to the first embodiment of the present invention with reference to
As described above, the diagnosis section 522b of the controller 52 executes the diagnostic mode to diagnose the presence or the absence of the abnormality in the hydraulic pressure control mechanism 51. For example, the diagnostic mode may repeatedly be executed at specified time intervals, or may be executed once when a power supply system of the vehicle 100 is turned on. In addition, the diagnostic mode may be executed while the vehicle 100 is stopped or during travel of the vehicle 100.
In the diagnostic mode by the diagnosis section 522b, the presence or the absence of the abnormality in the hydraulic pressure control mechanism 51 is diagnosed by focusing on a relationship between the current value of the current flowing through the motor 35 and a load (that is, a pressure) acting on the motor 35. A description will hereinafter be made on the relationship between the current value of the current flowing through the motor 35 and the load acting on the motor 35 with reference to
When pressing the pump 34, the motor 35 is applied with the load as rotation resistance.
In the example illustrated in
In
In this embodiment, in the diagnostic mode, the diagnosis section 522b diagnoses the presence or the absence of the abnormality in the hydraulic pressure control mechanism 51 on the basis of the current fluctuation of the motor 35 in a state where the pump 34 is driven by the motor 35. In this way, it is possible to appropriately diagnose the presence or the absence of the abnormality in the hydraulic pressure control mechanism 51 according to the load acting on the motor 35.
For example, in the case where the pump 34 is operated normally, a channel on the discharge side of the pump 34 is pressurized, and the load acting on the motor 35 is thereby increased. Accordingly, the current value i of the current flowing through the motor 35 is also increased. On the other hand, in the case where the pump 34 is fixed, the channel on the discharge side of the pump 34 is not pressurized. Furthermore, since the plunger 341 of the pump 34 is no longer operated, the urging force of the spring 342 of the pump 34 no longer acts on the motor 35. As a result, the load acting on the motor 35 becomes smaller than that in the case where the pump 34 is operated normally. Accordingly, the current value i of the current flowing through the motor 35 also becomes lower than that in the case where the pump 34 is operated normally. Thus, it is possible to detect the abnormality (for example, the fixation of the pump 34) in the hydraulic pressure control mechanism 51 on the basis of the current fluctuation of the motor 35. As described above, according to this embodiment, it is possible to appropriately detect the abnormality in the hydraulic pressure control unit 5.
For example, in the diagnostic mode, in the case where an amplitude (that is, a peak value of the current value i) of the current fluctuation of the motor 35 is smaller than a reference amplitude RA, the diagnosis section 522b diagnoses that the hydraulic pressure control mechanism 51 is abnormal. The reference amplitude RA is set to a value with which it is possible to determine whether the load acting on the motor 35 is small enough to diagnose that the abnormality occurs to the hydraulic pressure control mechanism 51. Amplitudes of the current values i1, i2, which are indicated by the solid lines in
Here, such a case is also assumed that the abnormality such as the fixation of the pump 34 only occurs to one of the front-wheel brake mechanism 12 and the rear-wheel brake mechanism 14. For example, in the case where the current value i is the current value i1′ in
As described above, in the diagnostic mode, the diagnosis section 522b diagnoses presence or absence of the fixation of the pump 34 as the presence or the absence of the abnormality in the hydraulic pressure control mechanism 51, for example. Here, it is assumed that the channel on the discharge side of the pump 34 is not pressurized also in the case where the abnormality (for example, fixation) occurs to the electromagnetic valve of the hydraulic pressure control mechanism 51. In this case, the load acting on the motor 35 and the current value i of the current flowing through the motor 35 become smaller than those in the case where the electromagnetic valve is operated normally. Thus, in this case, the diagnosis section 522b diagnoses that the hydraulic pressure control mechanism 51 is abnormal. Just as described, in the diagnostic mode, the diagnosis section 522b can also diagnose presence or absence of the abnormality of the electromagnetic valve as the presence or the absence of the abnormality in the hydraulic pressure control mechanism 51.
For example, in the case where it is understood that the amplitude of the current fluctuation of the motor 35 is smaller than the reference amplitude RA and the electromagnetic valve is normal, the diagnosis section 522b diagnoses that the pump 34 is fixed. Alternatively, for example, in the case where it is understood that the amplitude of the current fluctuation of the motor 35 is smaller than the reference amplitude RA and the pump 34 is normal, the diagnosis section 522b diagnoses that the electromagnetic valve is fixed.
In the case where the hydraulic pressure control mechanism 51 is normal (that is, in the case where the abnormality such as the fixation of the pump 34 does not occur), in the diagnostic mode, the pump 34 is driven, and the channel on the discharge side of the pump 34 is thereby pressurized. In
On the other hand, in the case where the hydraulic pressure control mechanism 51 is abnormal (for example, in the case where the pump 34 is fixed), the pressurized portion PP is not pressurized, and the load acting on the motor 35 becomes smaller than that in the case where the hydraulic pressure control mechanism 51 is normal. In particular, in the case where the pump 34 is fixed, the urging force of the spring 342 of the pump 34 no longer acts on the motor 35. Thus, the load acting on the motor 35 is further reduced. Accordingly, the current value i of the current flowing through the motor 35 also becomes lower than that in the case where the hydraulic pressure control mechanism 51 is normal. Thus, it is possible to detect the abnormality (for example, the fixation of the pump 34) in the hydraulic pressure control mechanism 51 on the basis of the current fluctuation of the motor 35.
As described above, in the case where the pump 34 is fixed, the current value i of the current flowing through the motor 35 is reduced due to the factor that the urging force of the spring 342 of the pump 34 no longer acts on the motor 35. Here, by setting the urging force of the spring 342 to a force that is as large as possible, it is possible to further increase the amplitude of the current fluctuation of the motor 35 in the case where the pump 34 is not fixed. In this way, it is possible to increase a difference in the amplitude of the current fluctuation of the motor 35 between the case where the pump 34 is not fixed and the case where the pump 34 is fixed. Thus, it is possible to further appropriately diagnose the presence or the absence of the fixation of the pump 34.
Here, the diagnosis section 522b may control notification operation on the basis of the diagnosis result in the diagnostic mode. The notification operation is operation to notify the rider of various types of information. For example, the notification operation is performed by the notification device 6 and may be operation to show the information or operation to output sound. Here, the notification operation may be terminated after being continued for a set period, or may be terminated when the rider performs an input operation to stop the notification operation.
For example, in the case where the diagnosis section 522b diagnoses that the hydraulic pressure control mechanism 51 is abnormal, the diagnosis section 522b causes the notification device 6 to perform the notification operation so as to notify that the hydraulic pressure control mechanism 51 is abnormal. On the other hand, in the case where the diagnosis section 522b diagnoses that the hydraulic pressure control mechanism 51 is normal, the diagnosis section 522b stops the notification operation by the notification device 6. However, in the case where the diagnosis section 522b diagnoses that the hydraulic pressure control mechanism 51 is normal, the diagnosis section 522b may cause the notification device 6 to perform the notification operation so as to notify that the hydraulic pressure control mechanism 51 is normal.
The notification operation may be performed by a device other than the notification device 6. For example, the notification operation may be performed by a display device (for example, a transmissive display arranged over the rider's line of sight) that is provided to a helmet worn on the rider's head. Alternatively, for example, the notification operation may be performed by a sound output device that is provided to the helmet worn on the rider's head. Further alternatively, for example, the notification operation may be operation to generate vibration by a vibration generator that is provided to the vehicle 100 or is attached to the rider. For example, the notification operation may be operation to instantaneously decelerate the vehicle 100. The above instantaneous deceleration may occur by reducing output of the drive source, may occur by generating the braking force by the hydraulic pressure control unit 5, or may occur by changing a gear ratio of a transmission mechanism of the vehicle 100.
A description will be made on effects of the hydraulic pressure control unit 5 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
In the hydraulic pressure control unit 5, the diagnosis section 522b executes the diagnostic mode in which the diagnosis section 522b diagnoses the presence or the absence of the abnormality in the hydraulic pressure control mechanism 51 on the basis of the current fluctuation of the motor 35 in the state where the pump 34 is driven by the motor 35. In this way, it is possible to appropriately diagnose the presence or the absence of the abnormality in the hydraulic pressure control mechanism 51 according to the load acting on the motor 35. Therefore, it is possible to appropriately detect the abnormality in the hydraulic pressure control unit 5.
Preferably, in the hydraulic pressure control unit 5, in the diagnostic mode, the diagnosis section 522b diagnoses the presence or the absence of the fixation of the pump 34 as the presence or the absence of the abnormality in the hydraulic pressure control mechanism 51. In this way, it is possible to appropriately diagnose the presence or the absence of the fixation of the pump 34 according to the load acting on the motor 35. Therefore, it is possible to appropriately detect the fixation of the pump 34.
Preferably, in the hydraulic pressure control unit 5, in the diagnostic mode, in the case where the amplitude of the current fluctuation of the motor 35 is smaller than the reference amplitude RA, the diagnosis section 522b diagnoses that the hydraulic pressure control mechanism 51 is abnormal. In this way, it is possible to appropriately diagnose the presence or the absence of the abnormality in the hydraulic pressure control mechanism 51 by focusing on the relationship between the current value i of the current flowing through the motor 35 and the load acting on the motor 35. Therefore, it is possible to appropriately detect the abnormality in the hydraulic pressure control unit 5.
Preferably, in the hydraulic pressure control unit 5, in the diagnostic mode, the diagnosis section 522b drives the pump 34 by the motor 35 in the state where the outlet valve 32 is closed. In this way, in the diagnostic mode, the channel on the discharge side of the pump 34 is pressurized when the hydraulic pressure control mechanism 51 is normal, and the channel on the discharge side of the pump 34 is not pressurized when the hydraulic pressure control mechanism 51 is abnormal. Accordingly, it is possible to change the magnitude of the load acting on the motor 35 between the case where the hydraulic pressure control mechanism 51 is normal and the case where the hydraulic pressure control mechanism 51 is abnormal. Therefore, it is possible to appropriately diagnose the presence or the absence of the abnormality in the hydraulic pressure control mechanism 51 according to the load acting on the motor 35.
Preferably, in the hydraulic pressure control unit 5, the diagnosis section 522b controls the notification operation on the basis of the diagnosis result in the diagnostic mode. In this way, it is possible to notify the rider of the information on the diagnosis result of the presence or the absence of the abnormality in the hydraulic pressure control mechanism 51. Thus, the rider can comprehend whether the hydraulic pressure control mechanism 51 is abnormal. Therefore, safety is improved.
A description will be made on a configuration of a vehicle 100A according to a second embodiment of the present invention with reference to
As illustrated in
In addition, the brake system 10A differs from the above-described brake system 10 in a point that each of the front-wheel brake mechanism 12 and the rear-wheel brake mechanism 14 is provided with a first valve (USV) 37 and a second valve (HSV) 38. The first valve 37 is provided on the master cylinder 21 side of the intermediate portion 25a in the primary channel 25. The supply channel 27 is connected to a portion on the master cylinder 21 side of the first valve 37 in the primary channel 25. The second valve 38 is provided to the supply channel 27. The first valve 37 is an electromagnetic valve that is opened in an unenergized state and is closed in an energized state, for example. The second valve 38 is an electromagnetic valve that is closed in an unenergized state and is opened in an energized state, for example.
The hydraulic pressure control unit 5A includes: a hydraulic pressure control mechanism 51A; and a controller (ECU) 52A that controls operation of the hydraulic pressure control mechanism 51A.
The hydraulic pressure control mechanism 51A differs from the above-described hydraulic pressure control mechanism 51 in points that the supply channel 27 is further formed in the base body 51a and that the first valve 37 and the second valve 38 are further assembled as the components of the base body 51a.
A functional configuration of the controller 52A is the same as the functional configuration of the above-described controller 52. However, the braking control section 522a of the controller 52A can also execute control other than the above-described anti-lock brake control by further controlling operation of the first valve 37 and the second valve 38. For example, the braking control section 522a can execute automated brake control.
The automated brake control is control that is executed when it is necessary to stabilize a posture of the vehicle 100A during turning or the like of the vehicle 100A and that causes generation of the braking force to be applied to the wheel (more specifically, the front wheel 3 or the rear wheel 4) without relying on the brake operation by the rider, for example. For example, in the automated brake control, the braking control section 522a brings a state where the inlet valve 31 is opened, the outlet valve 32 is closed, the first valve 37 is closed, and the second valve 38 is opened. Then, the braking control section 522a drives the pump 34 by the motor 35 in such a state to increase the hydraulic pressure of the brake fluid in the wheel cylinder 24. In this way, the braking force that brakes the wheel is generated.
A description will be made on operation of the hydraulic pressure control unit 5A according to the second embodiment of the present invention with reference to
Similar to the above-described first embodiment, in the diagnostic mode, the diagnosis section 522b of the controller 52A diagnoses presence or absence of abnormality in the hydraulic pressure control mechanism 51A on the basis of the current fluctuation of the motor 35 in the state where the pump 34 is driven by the motor 35. In addition, similar to the above-described first embodiment, in the diagnostic mode, the diagnosis section 522b diagnoses the presence or the absence of the fixation of the pump 34 as the presence or the absence of the abnormality in the hydraulic pressure control mechanism 51A, for example. Furthermore, similar to the above-described first embodiment, in the diagnostic mode, for example, in the case where the amplitude of the current fluctuation of the motor 35 is smaller than the reference amplitude RA, the diagnosis section 522b diagnoses that the hydraulic pressure control mechanism 51A is abnormal.
In the example illustrated in
On the other hand, in the case where the hydraulic pressure control mechanism 51A is abnormal (for example, in the case where the pump 34 is fixed), the pressurized portion PP is not pressurized, and the load acting on the motor 35 becomes smaller than that in the case where the hydraulic pressure control mechanism 51A is normal. Accordingly, the current value i of the current flowing through the motor 35 also becomes lower than that in the case where the hydraulic pressure control mechanism 51A is normal. Thus, it is possible to detect the abnormality (for example, the fixation of the pump 34) in the hydraulic pressure control mechanism 51A on the basis of the current fluctuation of the motor 35.
Also, in the example illustrated in
Here, in the example illustrated in
In the case where the inlet valve 31 is in the closed state during the execution of the diagnostic mode, which is executed during the travel of the vehicle 100A, the diagnosis section 522b preferably brings the inlet valve 31 into the open state from the closed state under a specified situation.
For example, in the case where the brake operation is performed by a rider of the vehicle 100A during the execution of the diagnostic mode, which is executed during the travel of the vehicle 100A, the diagnosis section 522b brings the inlet valve 31 into the open state from the closed state. For example, the diagnosis section 522b can determine whether the brake operation is performed by the rider on the basis of a detection result of a master-cylinder pressure sensor that is provided to the vehicle 100A. In the case where the brake operation is performed by the rider, the rider intends to brake the vehicle 100A. In such a case, it is possible to pressurize the brake fluid in the wheel cylinder 24 by bringing the inlet valve 31 into the open state from the closed state and thus to brake the vehicle 100A according to the rider's intention.
In the case where the brake operation is performed by the rider of the vehicle 100A during the execution of the diagnostic mode, which is executed during the travel of the vehicle 100A, the diagnosis section 522b may bring the first valve 37 into the open state from the closed state in addition to the inlet valve 31. In this way, it is possible to pressurize the brake fluid in the wheel cylinder 24 according to the brake operation by the rider. Thus, the vehicle 100A can be braked by the brake operation by the rider.
For example, in the case where the brake operation by the rider of the vehicle 100A is expected during the execution of the diagnostic mode, which is executed during the travel of the vehicle 100A, the diagnosis section 522b brings the inlet valve 31 into the open state from the closed state. For example, in the case where the vehicle 100A approaches a target in front (for example, a preceding vehicle, an obstacle other than a vehicle, or the like), the diagnosis section 522b can determine that the brake operation by the rider is expected. For example, the diagnosis section 522b can determine whether the vehicle 100A has approached the target in front on the basis of a detection result of a surrounding environment sensor that is provided to the vehicle 100A. In the case where the brake operation by the rider is expected, necessity of braking the vehicle 100A is increased. In such a case, it is possible to pressurize the brake fluid in the wheel cylinder 24 by bringing the inlet valve 31 into the open state from the closed state and thus to brake the vehicle 100A under a situation where the necessity of braking the vehicle 100A is high.
In the case where the brake operation by the rider of the vehicle 100A is expected during the execution of the diagnostic mode, which is executed during the travel of the vehicle 100A, the diagnosis section 522b may bring the first valve 37 into the open state from the closed state in addition to the inlet valve 31. In this way, it is possible to pressurize the brake fluid in the wheel cylinder 24 according to the brake operation by the rider. Thus, the vehicle 100A can be braked by the brake operation by the rider.
A description will be made on effects of the hydraulic pressure control unit 5A according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
In the hydraulic pressure control unit 5A, in the diagnostic mode, the diagnosis section 522b drives the pump 34 by the motor 35 in the state where the first valve 37 is closed and the second valve 38 is opened. In this way, in the diagnostic mode, the channel on the discharge side of the pump 34 is pressurized when the hydraulic pressure control mechanism 51A is normal, and the channel on the discharge side of the pump 34 is not pressurized when the hydraulic pressure control mechanism 51A is abnormal. Accordingly, it is possible to change the magnitude of the load acting on the motor 35 between the case where the hydraulic pressure control mechanism 51A is normal and the case where the hydraulic pressure control mechanism 51A is abnormal. Therefore, it is possible to appropriately diagnose the presence or the absence of the abnormality in the hydraulic pressure control mechanism 51A according to the load acting on the motor 35.
Preferably, in the hydraulic pressure control unit 5A, in the diagnostic mode, the diagnosis section 522b drives the pump 34 by the motor 35 in the state where the inlet valve 31 is closed. In this way, it is possible to suppress braking of the vehicle 100A that contradicts the rider's intention. Therefore, the safety is improved.
In the diagnostic mode of the hydraulic pressure control unit 5 according to the above-described first embodiment, similar to the second embodiment, the diagnosis section 522b may drive the pump 34 by the motor 35 in the state where the inlet valve 31 is closed.
Preferably, in the hydraulic pressure control unit 5A, in the case where the brake operation is performed by a driver (more specifically, the rider) of the vehicle 100A during the execution of the diagnostic mode, which is executed during the travel of the vehicle 100A, the diagnosis section 522b brings the inlet valve 31 into the open state from the closed state. In this way, it is possible to pressurize the brake fluid in the wheel cylinder 24 and thus to brake the vehicle 100A according to the rider's intention.
In the diagnostic mode of the hydraulic pressure control unit 5 according to the above-described first embodiment, similar to the second embodiment, in the case where the brake operation is performed by a driver (more specifically, the rider) of the vehicle 100 during the execution of the diagnostic mode, which is executed during the travel of the vehicle 100, the diagnosis section 522b may bring the inlet valve 31 into the open state from the closed state.
Preferably, in the hydraulic pressure control unit 5A, in the case where the brake operation by the driver (more specifically, the rider) of the vehicle 100A is expected during the execution of the diagnostic mode, which is executed during the travel of the vehicle 100A, the diagnosis section 522b brings the inlet valve 31 into the open state from the closed state. In this way, it is possible to pressurize the brake fluid in the wheel cylinder 24 and thus to brake the vehicle 100A under the situation where the necessity of braking the vehicle 100A is high.
In the diagnostic mode of the hydraulic pressure control unit 5 according to the above-described first embodiment, similar to the second embodiment, in the case where the brake operation by the driver (more specifically, the rider) of the vehicle 100 is expected during the execution of the diagnostic mode, which is executed during the travel of the vehicle 100, the diagnosis section 522b may bring the inlet valve 31 into the open state from the closed state.
The present invention is not limited to the embodiments that have been described. For example, only a part of each of the embodiments may be implemented. Alternatively, the examples in the embodiments may be combined.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-001171 | Jan 2021 | JP | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/IB2021/061965 | 12/17/2021 | WO |
