Clutch control unit which controls clutch torque in dependence on engine torque

• Main Author: MICHAEL SALECKER
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 10.03.1999
• Edition: 6
• Subjects: BLASTING; BRAKES; CLUTCHES; CONJOINT CONTROL OF VEHICLE SUB-UNITS OF DIFFERENT TYPE ORDIFFERENT FUNCTION; CONTROL SYSTEMS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR HYBRID VEHICLES; COUPLINGS FOR TRANSMITTING ROTATION; ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVEFUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; HEATING; LIGHTING; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; ROAD VEHICLE DRIVE CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR PURPOSES NOT RELATED TOTHE CONTROL OF A PARTICULAR SUB-UNIT; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL; TRANSPORTING; VEHICLES IN GENERAL; WEAPONS

A clutch control unit 13a controls a torque transferable by clutch 3 in dependence on an engine torque produced by engine 2. The clutch torque is regulated within a predefined tolerance band around the engine torque and the tolerance band is dependent on a gear transmission ratio set in gearbox 4 by a shift lever 18. Sensors 19a. 19b detect the ratio and/or shift intent and outputs this information to control unit 13a which also receives signals from other sensors, eg throttle valve sensor 15, speed senor 15, tacho sensor 17 etc. The clutch torque Mkuppl is proportional to the engine torque Mmotor over a proportionality factor k and/or a summand B so that the clutch torque Mkuppl is greater than the engine torque Mmotor Proportionality factor k and/or the summand B may vary according to the gear ratio selected, for example k could be greater in a higher than in a lower gear so that the clutch torque in first gear may be in a range of 1.02 and 1.25 times the engine torque. Gearbox 4 may be an automatic gearbox of, for example, a planetaary type or of a CVT variety.