Patent · US Expired

Touch point identification for automatic clutch controller

US5337868A · kind A · utility

27Cited by
17References
26Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 23, 1993
Grant dateAug 16, 1994
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 23, 2013

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
  • CPC primaryF16H2342/042
  • WIPO fieldTransport
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

This invention provides automatic and reliable determination of the touch point of a clutch controlled by an automatic clutch actuation controller. This invention determines the touch point while idling the engine, with the transmission in neutral and an inertial brake applied. The clutch actuation controller engages the clutch so that the measured transmission input speed matches a reference speed signal preferably between 40% and 60% of the idle speed. This reliably provides the degree of clutch engagement at a small torque matching the braking torque. When the transmission input speed is within a predetermined amount of the reference speed signal, such as 4%, this invention determines the clutch touch point corresponding to the degree of clutch engagement. This degree of clutch engagement may be a clutch position signal or a clutch pressure signal produced by an existing sensor used in the automatic clutch control. If no measured clutch engagement signal is available, this degree of clutch engagement may be the clutch engagement signal used to control the degree of clutch engagement. The touch point is set as the difference between this degree of clutch engagement for the small …

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.