Coolant flow control for a clutch

US5224578A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Deere & Company · US

Inventors

• Guenter Rheinheimer · Frankelbach, DE
• Helmut Schaefer · Pirmasens, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 17, 1992
• Grant date: Jul 6, 1993
• Expiry date: Jun 17, 2012

Classification

• Technology area (CPC F): Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
• CPC primary: F16D25/123
• WIPO field: Mechanical elements
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

The cooling of a hydraulically-operated wet clutch with coolant is primarily required during the slippage phase when the linings are heated by the slip, that is, when the torque transmitted by the clutch is less than the torque delivered by the engine. A coolant flow control is provided in which a coolant control valve is controlled in such a way that it interrupts the coolant flow to the clutch during operation with clutch engaged or disengaged and opens the coolant flow to the clutch during the engagement process of the clutch and, if required, for a predetermined time interval following the engagement process. However, the coolant control valve only opens the coolant flow to the clutch during the disengagement process if the slippage phase during disengagement lasts longer than a predetermined second time interval.