Monitoring a clutch

US5982280A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Robert Bosch GmbH · DE

Inventors

• Wilhelm Fahrbach · Bietigheim, DE
• Thomas Rueping · Lenningen, DE
• Marcel Hachmeister · Ditzingen, DE
• Ralf Klewin · Stuttgart, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 6, 1998
• Grant date: Nov 9, 1999
• Expiry date: Apr 6, 2018

Classification

• Technology area (CPC F): Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
• CPC primary: F16H2059/467
• WIPO field: Mechanical elements
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

The invention relates to a system for monitoring a clutch between a motor of a vehicle and a transmission thereof with respect to impermissible slip. For this purpose, the monitoring system provides that a value is determined with the presence of specific operating conditions. This value represents the slip present at the clutch. This value can then be compared to at least one pregiven first threshold value. With the system of the invention, the clutch is monitored with respect to clutch wear which has already occurred. In one configuration of the invention, the clutch is configured as a converter bridging clutch and is generally configured with an automatic transmission; whereas, in another configuration of the invention, a clutch is considered which can interrupt the frictional connection between the motor of the vehicle and the transmission when the clutch is completely disengaged.