US 4,295,551 AGranted

Automatic clutch system

AssigneeVolkswagenwerk Aktiengesellschaft

InventorsFrank Zimmermann, Paulus Heidemeyer, Erhard Bigalke

Life of this patent

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Abstract

An automatic clutch system is provided for use in a motor vehicle and has a control mechanism which responds to the position of the accelerator pedal and which also responds to first and second rotation speed sensing means connected to the engine shaft and the transmission shaft. In a preferred embodiment, the automatic clutch system is provided with a control mechanism which operates in a first mode when the vehicle is starting from a standing position to engage the clutch in a manner which keeps the engine in a specified speed range, which depends on accelerator lever position. The control mechanism operates in a second mode when the vehicle is shifted between gears in order to engage the clutch in a manner which provides a constant time gradient for the shaft speed difference selected in accordance with accelerator pedal position.

Claims12

Dependent claims

An automatic clutch system, for use in a motor vehicle having an accelerator lever, for selectively connecting the output shaft of a vehicle engine to the input shaft of a multi-speed transmission, comprising:

a clutch mechanism, responsive to supplied signals, for selectively connecting said shafts;
first means for sensing the rotational speed of said engine shaft,
second means for sensing the rotational speed of said transmission shaft;
third means for sensing the position of said accelerator lever;
and control means, responsive to said first, second and third sensing means, for developing said control signals, said control means having a first operating mode, operative when said vehicle is accelerated from a stationary condition, and wherein said control means activates said clutch mechanism in said first mode to maintain said engine shaft speed within a selected speed range from a selected nominal engine speed function and wherein said nominal engine speed function is determined as a function of said accelerator lever position.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 06/061,059Filed 26 Jul 1979
Priority: DE 28339613 Aug 1978
Granted: 20 Oct 1981
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification25 codes

F16D 48/08
Control by electric or electronic means, e.g. of fluid pressure: regulating clutch take-up on starting
B60W 10/02
Conjoint control of vehicle sub-units of different type or different function: including control of driveline clutches
B60W 10/04
Conjoint control of vehicle sub-units of different type or different function: including control of propulsion units
B60W 30/1819
Propelling the vehicle: propulsion control with control means using analogue circuits, relays or mechanical links