Motor vehicle drive train comprising a hydrodynamic retarder that can be disengaged, and control method therefor

US9291220B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Voith Patent GmbH · DE

Inventors

• Achim Menne · Crailsheim, DE
• Tilman Huth · Satteldorf, DE
• Dieter Laukemann · Crailsheim, DE
• Werner Koch · Deggingen, DE
• Werner Klement · Heidenheim, DE
• Martin Becke · Ulm, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 28, 2012
• Grant date: Mar 22, 2016
• Expiry date: Nov 28, 2032

Classification

• Technology area (CPC F): Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
• CPC primary: F16D67/02
• WIPO field: Mechanical elements
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A motor vehicle drive train including a hydrodynamic retarder (1) that comprises a revolving bladed impeller (10) and a stationary or counter-rotating bladed turbine (11) which jointly form a working chamber (12) that can be filled with a working medium to switch on the retarder (1) is disclosed. The hydrodynamic retarder (1) can be mechanically disengaged from the drive train by a disconnect clutch (2). A fill level monitoring device (14) can detect the current fill level of the working medium in the working chamber (12), while a disconnect clutch-blocking device (9) is effectively connected in a communicating or mechanical manner to the fill level monitoring device (14) and prevents the disconnect clutch (2) from engaging in accordance with the detected fill level.