Interrelated power delivery controls – including engine control – Transmission control – With clutch control
Patent
1993-12-08
1995-05-09
Marmor, Charles A.
Interrelated power delivery controls, including engine control
Transmission control
With clutch control
477 78, 477174, 477109, B60K 4102
Patent
active
054135427
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention concerns semiautomatic or fully automatic clutch control systems and in particular clutch disengagement during gear changes controlled by such systems.
WO89/10282 discloses a clutch control system comprising a clutch position sensor, a throttle position sensor, gear selection means, clutch actuation means, and control means arranged to cause the clutch to disengage for a gear shift initiated by the gear selection means.
It is a shortcoming of that system that the clutch actuation means starts from a completely de-energised condition and is subject to some variation in its response time. Also the throttle can be in any position when the clutch disengages. There can therefore be considerable torque being transmitted whose sudden release on clutch disengagement can give rise to engine flare and driveline shock.
The present invention aims to provide a clutch control system which can provide a smooth and shock free clutch disengagement.
The present invention provides a motor vehicle clutch control system for a vehicle friction clutch comprising a clutch position sensor, a throttle position sensor, gear selection means, clutch actuation means and control means, arranged such that during clutch disengagement for a gear shift initiated by the gear selection means the clutch actuation means holds the clutch in a martially disengaged position until the sensed throttle signal falls below a predetermined throttle value.
The present invention can be included in a system where gear selection is manual, or servo operated in response to a driver controlled switch or pushbuttons, or fully automated with gearshifts initiated by the control means. It can also be used either in a system where the throttle is controlled, during at least mart of the gear change, by the control means, or where the throttle is controlled completely by the driver.
A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic representation of a vehicle clutch control system according to the invention, and
FIG. 2 shows the variation with time of various parameters of the clutch control system of FIG. 1 during a gear change to a higher gear ratio.
Referring to FIG. 1 a vehicle clutch system comprises an engine 10 and a gearbox 12 coupled through a friction clutch 14, including the usual driven plate, via a gearbox input shaft 15. Fuel is supplied to the engine by a throttle 16 which includes a throttle valve 18 operated by an accelerator pedal 19. The clutch 14 is actuated by a release fork 20 which is operated by a slave cylinder 22. The gearbox is operated by a gear lever 24. The system further comprises an engine speed signal generator comprising an engine speed sensor 26 which includes a transducer and produces a signal Ve proportional to engine speed; a throttle valve position sensor 30 which produces a throttle signal Vt proportional to the amount which the throttle is open; a pedal position sensor 39 or torque demand sensor for producing a signal variable with the position of the accelerator pedal 19 i.e. the demand for torque from a driver; a gear position sensor 32 which produces a signal Vg corresponding to the gear which is engaged; a gear change sensor or knobswitch 33 on the gear lever 24 which is operated by the driver and which produces a signal Vs indicating an intention to change gear; an actuation sensor 34 which produces a signal Vc varying with the position of the slave cylinder; and a driven plate speed sensor 42 which produces a signal Vdp proportional to the speed of the gearbox input shaft 15, which is equal to that of a driven plate 40 of the clutch 14. Since the speed of the vehicle depends on the driven plate speed and the gear engaged, the driven plate speed sensor 42 acts in effect as a vehicle speed sensor. Signals from the sensors are transmitted to a control unit 36 which controls the actuation of the clutch 14 via a hydraulic control 38. A throttle control 37 is operated by the control unit 36
REFERENCES:
patent: 4732246 (1988-03-01), Tateno et al.
patent: 4899857 (1990-02-01), Tateno et al.
patent: 5038287 (1991-08-01), Taniguchi et al.
patent: 5072815 (1991-12-01), Jarvis
Jensen Nathian O.
Marmor Charles A.
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