Method and apparatus for controlling an electromagnetic clutch for use on a vehicle

A method of controlling an electromagnetic clutch incorporated in a power transmission system of a vehicle to transmit an output of an engine to drive wheels of the vehicle, so as to absorb a variation in output torque of said engine, said method comprising the steps of:

• detecting a frequency of variations in rotating speed or torque of an output shaft of said electromagnetic clutch;
• detecting an ignition frequency of said engine;
• comparing the detected frequency of variations in rotating speed or torque of said output shaft of said electromagnetic clutch, with the detected ignition frequency of said engine;
• and
• controlling an engaging action of said electromagnetic clutch to adjust a clutch torque transmitted by said clutch, based on whether the detected frequency of variations in rotating speed or torque of said output shaft is coincident with the detected ignition frequency of said engine.

An apparatus for controlling an electromagnetic clutch incorporated in a power transmission system of a vehicle to tranmit an output of an engine to drive wheels of the vehicle, so as to absorb a variation in output torque of said engine, an engaging action of said clutch being controlled to adjust a torque transmitted by said clutch such that said clutch torque is varied as a function of an amount of electric current applied to the electromagnetic clutch, comprising:

• first detecting means for detecting an ignition frequency of said engine;
• second detecting means for detecting a frequency of variations in rotating speed of an output shaft of said electromagnetic clutch;
• and
• current adjusting means for controlling said amount of electric current, said current adjusting means reducing said amount of electric current when said frequency of variations is coincident with said ignition frequency, and increasing said amount of electric current when said frequency of variations is not coincident with said ignition frequency.

An apparatus for controlling an electromagnetic clutch incorporated in a power transmission system of a vehicle to transmit an output of an engine to drive wheels of the vehicle, so as to absorb a variation in output torque of said engine, an engaging action of said clutch being controlled to adjust a clutch torque transmitted by said clutch such that said clutch torque is varied as a function of an amount of electric current applied to the electromagnetic clutch, comprising:

• first detecting means for detecting an ignition frequency of said engine;
• second detecting means for detecting a frequency of variations in torque of an output shaft of said electromagnetic clutch;
• and
• current adjusting means for controlling said amount of electric current, said current adjusting means reducing said amount of electric current when said frequency of variations is coincident with said ignition frequency, and increasing said amount of electric current when said frequency of variations is not coincident with said ignition frequency.

A method of controlling an electromagnetic clutch incorporated in a power transmission system of a vehicle to transmit an output of an engine to drive wheels of the vehicle, so as to absorb a variation in output torque of said engine, said method comprising the steps of:

• detecting the number of ignitions per unit time of said engine;
• detecting the number of variations per unit time in torque of an output shaft of said electromagnetic clutch;
• comparing the detected number of ignitions per unit time of said engine with the detected number of variations per unit time in torque of said output shaft;
• and
• controlling an engaging action of said electromagnetic clutch to transmit a clutch torque transmitted by said clutch, such that a difference between said detected number of ignitions of the engine and said detected number of variations in torque of said output shaft coincides with a predetermined reference value.

An apparatus for controlling an electromagnetic clutch incorporated in a power transmission system of a vehicle to transmit an output of an engine to drive wheels of the vehicle, so as to absorb a variation in output torque of said engine, an engaging action of said clutch being controlled to adjust a clutch torque transmitted by said clutch such that said clutch torque is varied as a function of an amount of electric current applied to the electromagnetic clutch, comprising:

• first detecting means for detecting the number of ignitions per unit time of said engine;
• second detectinutch, comprising:
• first detecting means for detecting the number of ignitions per unit time of said engine;
• second detecting means for detecting the number of variations per unit time in torque of an output shaft of said electromagnetic clutch;
• and
• current adjusting means for controlling said amount of electric current such that a difference between said number of ignitions of the engine and said number of variations in torque of said output shaft coincides with a predetermined reference value.