Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha

Taito Goto

Satoshi Ishida

Shota Murai

Masayuki Arai

Ryohei Yuasa

A four-wheel drive vehicle in which, when a switching request is made for switching from a non-meshing state to a meshing state, the control device calculates a first rotation speed difference between the drive-power-source-side meshing teeth and the sub-drive-wheel-side meshing teeth, and a second rotation speed difference between the drive-power-source-side meshing teeth and the sub-drive-wheel-side meshing teeth. If at least one of the calculated first and second rotation speed differences is within a predetermined range set in advance, the control device couples the sub-drive wheel corresponding to the rotation speed difference within the predetermined range, to the central axle by the control coupling to switch the dog clutch from the non-meshing state to the meshing state. And, if neither the calculated first nor second rotation speed difference is within the predetermined range, the control device prohibits switching of the dog clutch from the non-meshing state to the meshing state.

Four-wheel drive vehicle

An electronic control unit executes gradual reduction control when a friction clutch is to be maintained in a fully engaged state such that an input rotary member and an output rotary member rotate integrally. As a result, a motor current supplied to a motor is adjusted to a lower current value. Thus, an average current value of the motor current supplied to the motor when the friction clutch is to be maintained in the fully engaged state is appropriately reduced.

Growing community of inventors

Nagoya, Japan

Taito Goto