US 4,905,801 A · Control system for a clutch for a motor vehicle

Abstract

A control system for an electromagnetic clutch for a vehicle has an engine speed sensor, a clutch driven member speed sensor and a throttle position sensor. The system has a memory storing first torque capacities increasing with increase of engine speed and storing second torque capacities at clutch engagement rate 100% in accordance with engine speed and throttle position. The actual clutch engagement rate is calculated based on output signals of the engine speed sensor and the clutch driven member speed sensor. A first torque capacity and a second capacity are derived from the memory in accordance with output signals of the sensors. A torque capacity Tc for engaging the clutch is calculated as follows, Tc=Re.multidot.TcL+(1-Re).multidot.Tcs where Re is the clutch engagement rate, Tcs is the first torque capacity and TcL is the second torque capacity.

Claims9

Dependent claims

A control system for a clutch for a vehicle driven by an engine having an engine speed sensor, a clutch driven member speed sensor and a throttle position sensor, the system comprising:

a memory storing first torque capacities increasing with increase of engine speed and storing second torque capacities dependent on engine torque characteristic in accordance with engine speed and throttle position;
means responsive to output signals of the engine sensor and the clutch driven member speed sensor for producing an actual clutch engagement rate signal;
deriving means responsive to output signals of said engine speed and throttle position sensors for deriving a first torque capacity and a second torque capacity from the memory;
means responsive to the clutch engagement rate signal and the derived first and second torque capacities for calculating a calculated torque capacity by using a predetermined equation;
actuating means for engaging the clutch depending on the calculated torque capacity.

2 more elements

A control system for a clutch connected between an engine and driving wheels of a motor vehicle having an engine speed sensor to detect rotating speed of an output shaft of said engine for providing an engine speed signal, a first sensor to detect speed corresponding to rotating speed of a driven member of said clutch for producing a driven member speed signal, and a throttle position sensor to detect opening degree of a throttle valve mounted on said engine, the improvement in the control system comprising:

first storing means for providing a first clutch torque characteristic with respect to said engine speed signal when said clutch is completely disengaged;
second storing means for providing a second clutch torque characteristic with respect to said engine speed signal and said opening degree of said throttle valve when said clutch is fully engaged;
clutch engagement rate setting means responsive to said engine speed and said driven member speed signals for providing a clutch engagement rate;
clutch torque calculating means responsive to said first and second clutch torque characteristics and said clutch engagement rate for calculating a clutch torque;
and
control means responsive to said clutch torque for controlling said clutch providing optimum control of said clutch so as to smoothly engage said clutch without slipping at a starting mode and to operatively increase clutch torque of the clutch at a lockup mode when said engine torque signal abnormally increases, thereby preventing said clutch from overheating.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Control system for a clutch for a motor vehicle

Life of this patent

Control system for a clutch for a motor vehicle

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims9