Method of and apparatus for controlling the operation of a clutch in the power train of a motor vehicle

A method of varying the rate of torque transmission by an adjustable torque transmitting system in a power train forming part of a motor vehicle and having a prime mover with an output element rotatable at RPMs exceeding and below a desired RPM, comprising the steps of:

• monitoring the RPM of the output element of the prime mover;
• reducing the rate of torque transmission by the torque transmitting system when the monitored RPM is below the desired RPM;
• increasing the rate of torque transmission by the torque transmitting system when the monitored RPM exceeds the desired RPM;
• generating a first signal denoting the monitored RPM of the output element of the prime mover;
• ascertaining the desired RPM including monitoring the RPM of the input element of the transmission and generating a second signal denoting the monitored RPM of the input element of the transmission, monitoring the load upon the prime mover and generating a third signal denoting the monitored load upon the prime mover, and processing said second and third signals into a fourth signal denoting the desired RPM of the prime mover;
• generating a control signal including processing said first and second signals;
• establishing a difference, if any, between, said first and fourth signals, and
• performing upon the fourth signal a gradient limitation in dependency (a) upon the established difference between said first and fourth signal and (b) upon said third signal to thus generate a fifth signal, said steps of reducing and increasing the rate of torque transmission by the torque transmitting system including comparing said control signal with said fifth signal.

A method of varying the rate of torque transmission by an adjustable torque transmitting system in a power train forming part of a motor vehicle and having a prime mover with an output element rotatable at RPMs exceeding and below a desired RPM, comprising the steps of:

• monitoring the RPM of the output element of the prime mover;
• reducing the rate of torque transmission by the torque transmitting system when the monitored RPM is below the desired RPM;
• increasing the rate of torque transmission by the torque transmitting system when the monitored RPM exceeds the desired RPM;
• generating a first signal denoting the monitored RPM of the output element of the prime mover;
• ascertaining the desired RPM including monitoring the RPM of the input element of the transmission and generating a second signal denoting the monitored RPM of the input element of the transmission, monitoring the load upon the prime mover and generating a third signal denoting the monitored load upon the prime mover, and processing said second and third signals into a fourth signal denoting the desired RPM of the prime mover;
• generating a control signal including processing said first and second signals;
• establishing a difference, if any, between said first and fourth signals;
• performing upon the fourth signal a gradient limitation in dependency (a) upon the established difference between the first and fourth signals and (b) upon said third signal to thus generate a fifth signal;
• and
• processing said fifth signal in a regulator to thus generate a sixth signal, said steps of reducing and increasing the rate of torque transmission by the torque transmitting system including comparing said control signals with said sixth signal.

A method of varying the rate of torque transmission by an adjustable torque transmitting system in a power train forming part of a motor vehicle and having a prime mover with an output element rotatable at RPMs exceeding and below a desired RPM, comprising the steps of:

• monitoring the RPM of the output element of the prime mover;
• reducing the rate of torque transmission by the torque transmitting system when the monitored RPM is below the desired RPM;
• increasing the rate of torque transmission by the torque transmitting system when the monitored RPM exceeds the desired RPM,
• respectively generating first and second signals denoting the monitored RPM and the desired RPM of the output element of the prime mover;
• processing said first and second signal, said steps of reducing and increasing the rate of torque transmission by the torque transmitting system including adjusting the torgue transmitting system as a function of the processed first and second signals;
• wherein said processing step includes subtracting processed second signal from processed first signal when the monitored RPM of the output element of the prime mover is below the desired RPM, and adding processed second signal to processed first signal when the monitored RPM of the output element of the prime mover is above the desired RPM.

A power train for a motor vehicle, comprising:

• a prime mover having an output element rotatable at a plurality of different RPMs including a desired RPM;
• an adjustable torque transmitting system driven by said output element;
• means for operating said system, including means for monitoring the RPM of said output element, means for comparing the monitored RPM with the desired RPM, and means for adjusting said system to reduce the torque being transmitted by said system when the monitored RPM is below the desired RPM and to increase the torque being transmitted by said system when the monitored RPM is above the desired RPM;
• wherein said operating means further comprises means for ascertaining the desired RPM, including means for generating a first signal denoting the monitored RPM, means for generating a second signal denoting the magnitude of the load upon said prime mover, and means for processing said first and second signals into a third signal denoting the desired RPM.