Clutch temperature management in a slip control method and arrangement for a drivetrain including a continuously variable transmission
AssigneeTransmission Cvtcorp Inc.
InventorsJonathan Guérin, Jean-François Dionne, Daniel Girard, François Messier
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Clutch temperature management in a slip control method and arrangement for a drivetrain including a continuously variable transmission is described herein. The drivetrain includes a clutch that is so controlled as to slip when a torque higher than the usable torque attempts to pass through. The temperature data from the clutch is used to determine the usable torque. Accordingly, the clutch prevents the prime mover from stalling.
Claims13
A method to control a slippage of a drivetrain including a prime mover having an output shaft, a transmission having an input connected to the output shaft of the prime mover and an output, a clutch having an input connected to the output of the transmission and an output;
- the clutch having a controllable slippage level between its input and output, means to obtain clutch temperature data, the slippage control method including:
- determining a usable torque of the prime mover using the clutch temperature data;
- and
- controlling the clutch so as to allow the usable torque to pass therethrough and to cause the clutch to slip should a torque between the input and output of the clutch be greater than the usable torque.
A drivetrain including:
- a prime mover having an output shaft;
- a transmission having an input associated with the output shaft of the prime mover and an output;
- a clutch having an input associated with the output of the transmission and an output;
- means to determine a temperature of the clutch;
- a clutch slip controller controlling a level of torque allowed to pass through the clutch before slippage occurs therein;
- and
- a main controller associated with a prime mover speed sensor, the clutch temperature determining means and the clutch slip controller;
- the main controller being so configured as to determine a usable torque of the prime mover using clutch temperature data and to set the clutch slip controller so that the clutch slips when a torque higher than the usable torque attempts to pass through the clutch.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.