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US 2007/0130942 A1Published application
Automobile clutch booster
AssigneeSORL Auto Parts, Inc.
InventorsBaojian Tao, Liu Yang
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A clutch booster usable for an automobile having a clutch. In one embodiment, the clutch booster includes a booster member coupled with the clutch for engaging or disengaging the clutch from the engine of the vehicle in response to a force applied to the clutch of the vehicle and means for determining the status of the clutch of the automobile.
Claims20
A clutch booster 100 usable for an automobile having a clutch, comprising:
- a. a booster cylinder 1 having a first end portion 1A and an opposite, second end portion 1B defining a booster cylinder chamber 1C therebetween;
- b. an assistance cylinder 6 having a first end portion 6A and an opposite, second end portion 6B defining an assistance cylinder chamber 6C therebetween, wherein the first end portion 6A is mounted onto the second end portion 1B of the booster cylinder 1 and the second end portion 6B is formed with an opening 9 in fluid communication with a hydraulic clutch pump;
- c. a piston plate 2 having a first side 2A and an opposite, second side 2B, configured to be positioned in the booster cylinder chamber 1C to divide the booster cylinder chamber 1C into a first chamber portion 3A and a second chamber portion 3;
- d. a piston rod 4 having a first end portion 4A mounted onto the second side 2B of the piston plate 2, and an opposite, second end portion 4B extending through the second end portion 1B of the booster cylinder 1 and into the assistance cylinder chamber 6C;
- e. a push rod 10 having a first end portion 10A mounted onto the piston plate 2 and an opposite, second end portion 10B extending through the first end portion 1A of the booster cylinder 1 and engageable with a clutch of an automobile;
- f. a control valve unit 21 located proximately to the first end portion 6A of the assistance cylinder 6 and the second end portion 1B of the booster cylinder 1 and adapted for regulating the pressure of the first chamber portion 3A and the second chamber portion 3 of the booster cylinder 1 in response to the hydraulic fluid pressure in the assistance cylinder chamber 6C;
- g. an electromagnetic solenoid coil 7 attached to the second end portion 1B of the booster cylinder 1;
- h. a ferromagnetic plunger 5 having a first end portion 5A mounted on the second side 2B of the piston plate 2 and an opposite, second end portion 5B extending through the second end portion 1B of the booster cylinder 1 and into the electromagnetic solenoid coil 7;
- and
- i. a sensor 8 electrically coupled with the electromagnetic coil 7 for measuring inductance of the electromagnetic solenoid coil 7 induced by the ferromagnetic plunger 5, wherein the inductance is associated with the status of the clutch of the automobile.
7 more elements
A clutch booster usable for an automobile having a clutch, comprising:
- a. a booster member coupled with the clutch for engaging or disengaging the clutch from the engine of the automobile in response to a force applied to the clutch of the automobile;
- and
- b. an electromagnetic member configured to determine the status of the clutch of the automobile.
The clutch booster of claim 17, wherein the booster member comprises:
- a. at least one cylinder defined a cylinder chamber therein;
- b. a piston plate configured to be positioned in the cylinder chamber to divide the interior thereof into a first chamber portion and a second chamber portion, and being reciprocally moveable in the cylinder chamber in response to the force applied to the clutch of the automobile;
- and
- c. a piston rod having a first end attached onto the piston plate and an opposite, second end attached onto the clutch, and being reciprocally moveable according to the movement of the piston plate for engaging or disengaging the clutch from the engine of the automobile.
1 more element
The clutch booster of claim 18, wherein the electromagnetic member comprises:
- a. an electromagnetic solenoid coil attached to the at least one cylinder;
- b. a ferromagnetic plunger having a first end portion mounted the piston plate and an opposite, second end portion extending through the electromagnetic solenoid coil, and being reciprocally moveable in the electromagnetic solenoid coil according to the movement of the piston plate;
- and
- c. a sensor coupled with the electromagnetic coil for measuring inductance of the electromagnetic solenoid coil induced by the ferromagnetic plunger, wherein the inductance is associated with the status of the clutch of the automobile.
1 more element
A method of determining the status of a clutch of an automobile, comprising the steps of:
- a. providing a booster member coupled with a clutch of an automobile, comprising:
- (i) at least one cylinder defining a cylinder chamber therein;
- (ii) a piston plate configured to be positioned in the cylinder chamber to divide the interior thereof into a first chamber portion and a second chamber portion, and being reciprocally moveable in the cylinder chamber in response to the force applied to the clutch of the automobile;
- and
- (iii) a piston rod having a first end attached onto the piston plate and an opposite, second end attached onto the clutch, and being reciprocally moveable according to the movement of the piston plate for engaging or disengaging the clutch from the engine of the automobile;
- (iv) an electromagnetic solenoid coil attached to the at least one cylinder;
- and
- (v) a ferromagnetic plunger having a first end portion mounted the piston plate and an opposite, second end portion extending through the electromagnetic solenoid coil, and being reciprocally moveable in the electromagnetic solenoid coil according to the movement of the piston plate, thereby inducing the inductance in the electromagnetic solenoid coil;
- and
- b. detecting inductance of the electromagnetic solenoid coil induced by the ferromagnetic plunger, wherein the inductance is associated with the status of the clutch of the automobile.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.