Method of and apparatus for controlling automatic clutch
AssigneeIsuzu Motors Limited
InventorsHiroshi Yoshimura, Akira Ohkawa
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
When the brake pedal on a motor vehicle is depressed, the braking force is detected, and thereafter the speed of rotation of the engine is detected, or the rate of increase of the braking force is detected. Whether the clutch is to be quickly disengaged or not is ascertained on the basis of a combination of the detected braking force and the detected engine speed or the detected rate of increase of the braking force, so that the engine is prevented from being stopped due to, for example, quick depression of the brake pedal.
Claims16
An apparatus for controlling an automatic clutch on a motor vehicle having wheels and a brake, to disengage the automatic clutch when the brake is operated, comprising:
- an engine for generating rotative power to move the motor vehicle;
- a gear transmission for transmitting the rotative power from said engine at a selected gear ratio to the wheels of the motor vehicle;
- a clutch, disposed between said engine and said gear transmission, for controlling the transfer of the rotative power from said engine to said gear transmission;
- means for detecting a braking force applied to the brake;
- means for detecting the speed of rotation of said engine;
- means for ascertaining whether the speed of rotation of the engine, corresponding to the detected braking force, is less than a preset value;
- and
- means for abruptly disengaging said clutch when said ascertaining means determines that the speed of rotation of the engine corresponding to the detected braking force is less than the preset value.
an apparatus for controlling an automatic clutch on a motor vehicle having a brake and wheels, to disengage the clutch when the brake is operated, said apparatus comprising:
- an engine for generating rotative power to move the motor vehicle;
- a gear transmission for transmitting the rotative power from said engine at a selected gear ratio to the wheels of the motor vehicle;
- a clutch, disposed between said engine and said gear transmission, for controlling the transfer of the rotative power from said engine to said gear transmission;
- means for detecting a braking force applied to the brake;
- means for detecting the rate of increase of the braking force;
- means for ascertaining whether the rate of increase of the braking force exceeds a preset value;
- and
- means for abruptly disengaging said clutch if said ascertaining means determines that the rate of increase of the braking force exceeds a preset value.
A method of controlling an automatic clutch on a motor vehicle having a brake, an engine and a gear transmission, to disengage the automatic clutch when the brake is operated, so that the gear transmission is disconnected from the engine, said method comprising the steps of:
- (a) detecting a braking force applied to the brake;
- (b) detecting the speed of rotation of the engine;
- (c) ascertaining whether the automatic clutch is to be disengaged on the basis of the detected braking force and the detected speed of rotation of the engine, corresponding to the detected braking force, is less than a preset value;
- and
- (d) abruptly disengaging the automatic clutch when it is ascertained that the speed of rotation of the engine, corresponding to the detected braking force, is less than the preset value.
A method of controlling an automatic clutch on a motor vehicle having a brake, an engine and a gear transmission, to disengage the automatic clutch when the brake is operated, so that the gear transmission is disconnected from the engine, said method comprising the steps of:
- (a) detecting a braking force applied to the brake;
- (b) ascertaining whether the rate of increase of the detected braking force exceeds a preset value;
- and
- (c) abruptly disengaging the automatic clutch if it is ascertained that the detected rate of increase of the braking force exceeds the preset value.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.