192 clutches and power-stop control – Clutches – Operators
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-14
2001-09-18
Marmor, Charles A. (Department: 3681)
192 clutches and power-stop control
Clutches
Operators
C192S090000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06290045
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to an actuating mechanism for a clutch, and more particularly, an actuating mechanism for a clutch in which a control system receives target-value signals and an actual-value signal representing the actual clutch stroke, and which controls the clutch stroke according to the received target-value and actual-value signals by means of pressure transmitted to an actuating cylinder.
An actuating mechanism of this type is disclosed, for example, in EP-B-0 710 580. Such device enables an automatically regulated clutch actuation and an operator-dependent clutch actuation in a transmission for the purpose of shifting gears.
In the automatic clutch actuation, the control system regulates the stroke of the clutch via an electrically driven hydraulic master cylinder and a hydraulic slave cylinder integrated into the actuating cylinder upon receiving target-value signals and the actual-stroke signal. In accordance with the known device, the actual-stroke signal is obtained from a piston rod of the electrically driven master cylinder. The stroke of this piston rod has a fixed ratio to the clutch stroke. The actuating cylinder transmits the force exerted upon the slave cylinder piston by the pressure in the slave cylinder in the disengagement direction of the clutch, to the clutch. This force is, however, insufficient to actuate the clutch. For this reason, the pressure in the slave cylinder is also transmitted as control pressure to a proportional valve which allows pressure proportional to this control pressure to pass from a pressure source into the actuating cylinder, which thereby produces a sufficient force for the actuation of the clutch in its disengagement direction.
The operator-dependent clutch actuation is provided, in the known actuating mechanism, for purposes of permitting an emergency actuation of the clutch. The control system and the electrically driven master cylinder do not participate in this type of actuation. For this type of actuation, the operator produces the pressure in the slave cylinder integrated in the actuating cylinder which triggers the clutch via a master cylinder by means of an actuating element. This pressure is also transmitted to the proportional valve, which achieves the result described above. The force exerted in such instance by the slave cylinder piston can be designated as an operator force.
Due to the non-participation of the control system, the known actuating system offers only a non-regulated open loop operator-dependent clutch actuation. As a result, the sensitivity of the operator-dependent clutch actuation may be limited.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to improve the sensitivity of operator-dependent clutch actuation in an actuation system of the type mentioned above.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with this and other objects of the invention, there is provided an actuating mechanism for a clutch which includes an actuating cylinder which produces a force in a disengagement direction of the clutch when a pressure is applied. A control system is provided, which receives target-value signals and an actual-stroke signal representing an actual clutch stroke, and which regulates the clutch stroke according to the received target-value and actual-stroke signals by controlling the pressure transmitted to the actuating cylinder. In accordance with the invention, an operator-force sensor is further provided for sensing an operator force and for producing an operator force signal which is transmitted to the control system. The control system processes this operator force signal as the target-value signal for the clutch stroke regulation with priority over other target-value signals.
In addition to the above-stated drawbacks of the prior art, it is further noted that practical application of the known actuating mechanism is also very expensive. The invention makes it possible to reduce necessary expenditures.
The above, and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which like reference numerals designate the same elements and functions.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4796739 (1989-01-01), Jonner et al.
patent: 5579882 (1996-12-01), Stuhldreher
patent: 5676229 (1997-10-01), Bates
patent: 43 24 063 (1995-01-01), None
patent: 43 23 485 (1995-01-01), None
patent: 195 37 393 (1997-04-01), None
patent: 197 07 960 (1998-09-01), None
patent: 0 516 309 B1 (1992-12-01), None
patent: 0 710 580 (1996-03-01), None
patent: 0 843 108 A2 (1998-05-01), None
Marmor Charles A.
Proskauer Rose LLP
Rodriguez Saul
WABCO GmbH
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