Automatic control system for a motor vehicle clutch

Details Automatic control system for a motor vehicle clutch Automatic control system for a motor vehicle clutch

1995-09-29

1999-05-11

Marmor, Charles A

Interrelated power delivery controls, including engine control

Transmission control

Transmission controlled by engine

192 30W, 477116, 477174, F16H61/18

Patent

active

059022116

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a clutch control system for the automatic control of a motor vehicle clutch which connects an engine with a gearbox under the control of a driver-operated gear ratio selector lever, the control system controlling both initial clutch take-up on starting of the vehicle, clutch re-engagement following each ratio change, clutch disengagement on movement of the gear selector lever to change the operative ratio of the gearbox, and clutch disengagement on the coming to rest etc. of the vehicle. Such a clutch control system is herein after referred to as a clutch control system of the kind specified.


BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Examples of such systems are described in the Applicants earlier patents Nos. 0038113, 0043660, 0059035 and 0101220 and European Application No. 0566595.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved form of clutch control system of the kind specified in which abusive use of the system by the operator is mitigated.
Thus according to the present invention there is provided a clutch control system of the kind specified in which the operator is warned, for example by sounding a buzzer and/or flashing a warning light, if he attempts to drive away in a designated non take-up gear or in any gear in a predetermined abusive manner.
Typically in a vehicle with a five speed gearbox an attempt to drive away in a non take-up gear is designated as an attempt to drive away in third, fourth or fifth with a vehicle speed below a predetermined level (e.g. 4 kph).
Typically an attempt to drive away in an abusive manner is defined as an attempted clutch take-up in second gear with a high engine speed (e.g. over 3500 rpm) and a low vehicle speed (e.g. below 4 kph).
Take up is also defined as abusive if it is estimated that more than a first predetermined level of energy (e.g. 40 kJ) remains dissipated in the clutch.
The control system may also be arranged to estimate the energy dissipated in the clutch in each individual clutch take-up and to warn of abuse if the energy dissipated in any individual take-up exceeds a second predetermined level (eg. 30 kJ).
The level of energy dissipated in the clutch is estimated by: and clutch driven plate speed; position of the clutch actuator using a look-up table; product of the slip speed and torque capacity; consideration (e.g. the individual take-up or since keying on of the system) to estimate the total energy generated and representative of the natural cooling of the clutch to arrive at a current final total level of energy dissipated within the clutch during the time period under consideration.
In a clutch control system of the kind specified in which the level of clutch engagement is controlled by an electronic control unit in response to an engine speed error signal derived from a comparison of current engine speed and a reference speed signal generated by the control unit, said error signal being compared with a current clutch position signal to produce a clutch actuation signal, an additional control on clutch abuse is provided if an attempt is made to move away in a non take-up gear by not allowing the reference signal to increase above a predetermined level (e.g. 1100 rpm), or reducing the reference signal, as the throttle is opened. This containment of the reference signal may be extended to take-up in second gear, if desired. By not increasing the reference signal this ensures a more rapid clutch engagement thus reducing energy generation in the clutch.
In an alternative configuration the system may be configured to rapidly disengage the clutch to prevent the dissipation of excessive energy in the clutch. This rapid disengagment may be achieved by rapidly raising the value of the reference signal.


SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A clutch control system for the automatic control of a motor vehicle clutch which connects an engine with a gearbox under the control of a gear ratio selector lever operated by a driver in a vehicle, the control system controlling both initial clutch take-up on starting

REFERENCES:
patent: 4403683 (1983-09-01), Takano
patent: 4583171 (1986-04-01), Hara et al.
patent: 4651142 (1987-03-01), Klatt
patent: 4722426 (1988-02-01), Bellanger
patent: 4922769 (1990-05-01), Tury
patent: 5416698 (1995-05-01), Hutchison

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Automatic control system for a motor vehicle clutch does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Automatic control system for a motor vehicle clutch, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Automatic control system for a motor vehicle clutch will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-242738