US 11,530,725 B1Granted

Power transmission device having a friction clutch and a controller configured to determine an approximated lubricant temperature of the friction clutch and responsively control the friction clutch

AssigneeAmerican Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.

InventorSyeda F. Mahmud

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Abstract

A power transmission device includes a friction clutch, an actuator with an output member, and a controller. The friction clutch is lubricated with a lubricant. The controller is configured to determine a current power state of the friction clutch and determine values for a plurality of thermal coefficients based on the current power state, a set of operation variables, and one or more multi-variable correlation data. The controller is further configured to determine an approximated temperature change of the lubricant based on the values of the plurality of thermal coefficients and a lubricant temperature model. The controller is further configured to determine an approximated lubricant temperature based on the approximated temperature change and a device ambient temperature, and to control operation of the actuator based at least on the approximated lubricant temperature.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A power transmission device comprising:

a friction clutch having a clutch pack and an apply plate, the apply plate being movable along an axis, wherein the friction clutch is lubricated with a lubricant;
an actuator with an output member that is movable along the axis between a first position and a second position, wherein the output member, the apply plate and the clutch pack are disposed in a force transmission path, wherein the output member is movable along the axis from the first position to the second position to apply relatively more force through the force transmission path onto the clutch pack;
and
a controller configured to:
determine a current power state of the friction clutch,
determine values for a plurality of thermal coefficients based on the current power state, a set of operation variables, and one or more multi-variable correlation data, wherein the plurality of thermal coefficients is indicative of at least two operation variables in the set of operation variables,
determine an approximated temperature change of the lubricant based on the values of the plurality of thermal coefficients and a lubricant temperature model,
determine an approximated lubricant temperature based on the approximated temperature change and a device ambient temperature, and
control operation of the actuator based at least on the approximated lubricant temperature.

6 more elements

A power transmission device comprising:

a friction clutch having a clutch pack and an apply plate, the apply plate being movable along an axis, wherein the friction clutch is lubricated with a lubricant;
an actuator with an output member that is movable along the axis between a first position and a second position, wherein the output member, the apply plate and the clutch pack are disposed in a force transmission path, wherein the output member is movable along the axis from the first position to the second position to apply relatively more force through the force transmission path onto the clutch pack;
and
a controller configured to:
determine a current power state of the friction clutch,
determine whether the current power state indicates one of an engagement state or a disengagement state of the friction clutch,
in response to determining the current power state indicating the engagement state, the controller is configured to:
determine values for a first set of thermal coefficients based on a first group of operation variables and a first set of multi-variable correlation data, wherein the first group of operation variables includes the current power state, a differential input speed, a device ambient temperature, and a previous approximated temperature change, and
determine a current approximated temperature change of the lubricant based on a thermal engagement model and the values of the first set of thermal coefficients,
in response to determining the current power state is the disengagement state the controller is configured to:
determine values for a second set of thermal coefficients based on the current power state, a second group of operation variables, and a second set of multi-variable correlation data, wherein the second group of operation variables includes a desired power state change, the differential input speed, the device ambient temperature, and the approximated temperature change in a previous determination, wherein the desired power state change is determined based on the current power state and a previous power state, and
determine the current approximated temperature change of the lubricant based on a thermal disengagement model and the values of the second set of thermal coefficients,
determine an approximated lubricant temperature based on the current approximated temperature change and the device ambient temperature, and
control operation of the actuator based at least on the approximated lubricant temperature.

11 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 17/706,929Filed 29 Mar 2022 · us provisional application
Priority: 4 Mar 2022
Granted: 20 Dec 2022
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification20 codes

F16D 48/10
Control by electric or electronic means, e.g. of fluid pressure: preventing unintentional or unsafe engagement
F16D 13/74
Details: features relating to lubrication
F16D 48/06
External control of clutches: control by electric or electronic means, e.g. of fluid pressure
F16D 25/082
With fluid-actuated member not rotating with a clutching member: the line of action of the fluid-actuated members co-inciding with the axis of…