Device and method for regulating a dual-clutch transmission for achieving a safe state

A device for regulating a hydraulically actuated, mechanically non-intrinsically safe dual-clutch transmission in the drivetrain of a motor vehicle, comprising:

• a main computer for regulating the normal mode of the vehicle which can select a separate hardware unit in the emergency mode;
• a monitoring unit for monitoring the main computer, wherein the monitoring unit can select the separate hardware unit in the emergency mode;
• a first hydraulic clutch for a first sub-transmission, a second hydraulic clutch for a second sub-transmission, wherein at least one of the first clutch and the second clutch is closed by a spring force when in a depressurised state;
• and
• a control unit for controlling a hydraulic clutch actuator for actuating the corresponding clutch, or for controlling a hydraulic transmission actuator for providing the different speeds of the dual-clutch transmission;
• wherein in case of error, a safe state of an open drivetrain can be achieved by the separate hardware unit as follows:
• the separate hardware unit selects the clutch actuator by the first control unit and said clutch actuator opens the at least one normally closed clutch, or
• the separate hardware unit selects the hydraulic transmission actuator by the second control unit and said hydraulic transmission actuator places the dual-clutch transmission in a neutral position, and
• wherein the state of the open drivetrain can be achieved using hydraulic and/or electrical residual energy stored in the device, and wherein this state can be maintained without expending additional energy until the emergency mode is cancelled.

A device for regulating an electromechanically actuated, mechanically non-intrinsically safe dual-clutch transmission in the drivetrain of a motor vehicle, comprising:

• a main computer for regulating the normal mode of the vehicle which can select a separate hardware unit in an emergency mode;
• a monitoring unit for monitoring the main computer, wherein the monitoring unit can select the separate hardware unit in the emergency mode;
• a first electromechanical clutch for a first sub-transmission, a second electromechanical clutch for a second sub-transmission, wherein at least one clutch is closed by a spring force in the currentless state;
• and
• a control unit for controlling an electromechanical clutch actuator for actuating the clutch, or for controlling a electromechanical transmission actuator for providing the different speeds of the dual-clutch transmission,
• wherein in case of error, the safe state of the open drivetrain can be achieved by the separate hardware unit as follows:
• the separate hardware unit selects the clutch actuator by the first control unit and said clutch actuator opens the at least one normally closed clutch, or
• the separate hardware unit selects the electromechanical transmission actuator by the second control unit and said electromechanical transmission actuator places the dual-clutch transmission in a neutral position, wherein the state of the open drivetrain can be achieved using electrical residual energy stored in the device, and wherein this state is maintained without expending additional energy until the emergency mode is cancelled.