Patent · US Active

Four-wheel-drive vehicle and control unit

US8825324B2 · kind B2 · utility

11Cited by
4References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 2, 2011
Grant dateSep 2, 2014
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 2, 2031

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB60W2552/40
  • WIPO fieldTransport
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A four-wheel-drive vehicle includes: a drive source which generates torque forming a driving force of the vehicle; a driving force transmission system which transmits the torque of the drive source to main driven wheels and auxiliary driven wheels; and a dog clutch provided in the driving force transmission system and capable of transmitting the torque to an auxiliary driven wheel side by engagement of a recess portion and a protruding portion. The vehicle further includes: a determination unit which determines whether a friction coefficient of a road surface is lower than a predetermined value based on an index value relating to the friction coefficient of the road surface; and a control unit which generates a control signal which causes engagement of the dog clutch before the vehicle starts when the determination unit determines that the friction coefficient of the road surface is lower than the predetermined value.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.