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US 2018/0231073 A1Published application
Improved clutch control
AssigneeVolvo Truck Corporation
InventorJonas GUSTIN
Life of this patent
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AssigneeVolvo Truck Corporation
InventorJonas GUSTIN
Estimating the term…
A method is provided for controlling a friction clutch for connecting first and second rotatable axles in a vehicle, where the clutch includes a first friction part which is connected to the first axle, a second friction part which is connected to the second axle, a spring element which is adapted to bias the second friction part into engagement with the first friction part to connect the first and second axles, and an actuator including a movable actuator part which is engageable with the spring element, and adapted to move, upon being subjected to an actuation force from an actuator control system, towards a disengagement position, thereby deforming the spring element to disengage the second friction part from the first friction part to disconnect the first and second axles. The method includes subjecting the movable actuator part to a test force urging the movable actuator part towards the disengagement position, the test force being smaller than the actuation force, and subsequently or simultaneously to subjecting the movable actuator part to the test force, determining a position of the movable actuator part.
A method for controlling a friction clutch (1) for connecting first and second rotatable axles (2, 3) in a vehicle, where the clutch comprises
A method according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising comparing the determined position to a fixed reference position.
A method according to any one of the preceding claims, where the clutch comprises a blocking device (12) adapted to assume a blocking position in which it prevents the movement of the movable actuator part (8, 9, 10) towards the disengagement position, and a non-blocking position in which it allows the movement of the movable actuator part (8, 9, 10) towards the disengagement position, comprising determining whether the determined position is between the disengagement position and an obstruction position, the obstruction position being as close to the disengagement position as the movable actuator part can be when the blocking device (12) is in the blocking position.
A method according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising determining, based on the determined position, whether to prevent the actuator control system (11) to subject the movable actuator part (8, 9, 10) to the actuation force.
A method according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising determining, based on the determined position, whether to issue an alert signal for an operator of the clutch.
A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the movable actuator part (8, 9, 10) is subjected to the test force using the actuator control system (11).
A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein determining a position of the movable actuator part (8, 9, 10) is carried out by means of a position sensor (13).
A method according to any of the preceding claims, where the actuator control system (11) comprises a fluid pressure system, and the test force is controlled at least partly based on feedback from a pressure sensor (111) in the fluid pressure system.
A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the test force is at least 1%, preferably at least 3%, more preferably at least 5%, most preferably at least 10%, of the actuation force.
A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the test force is not higher than 80%, preferably not higher than 60%, more preferably not higher than 30%, most preferably not higher than 15%, of the actuation force.
A method according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising determining, at least partly based on the determination of the position of the movable actuator part (8, 9, 10), whether the movable actuator part (8, 9, 10) moves in response to the test force.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.