System for protecting drive train components from excessive engine inertial forces

In a drive train including an internal combustion engine coupled to a number of additional drive train components, a method of protecting one or more of the number of additional drive train components from excessive engine inertial forces, the method comprising the steps of:

• determining an acceleration rate of the drive train;
• comparing said acceleration rate with at least one acceleration threshold corresponding to a maximum acceleration capacity of one of said number of additional drive train components;
• and
• automatically disengaging the engine from the number of additional drive train components if said acceleration rate exceeds said at least one acceleration threshold.

A system for protecting one or more drive train components from excessive engine inertial forces, comprising:

• a drive train including an internal combustion engine coupled by a clutch to a number of additional drive train components, said clutch responsive to a disengagement signal to disengage said engine from said number of additional drive train components;
• means for determining an acceleration rate of said drive train and producing a acceleration value corresponding thereto;
• and
• a control computer determining a drive train torque based on at least said acceleration value and comparing said drive train torque with at least one torque threshold corresponding to a maximum torque capacity of one of said number of additional drive train components, said control computer producing said disengagement signal if said drive train torque exceeds said at least one torque threshold.

In a drive train including an internal combustion engine coupled to a number of additional drive train components, a method of protecting one or more of the number of additional drive train components from excessive engine inertial forces, the method comprising the steps of:

• determining an acceleration rate of the drive train;
• determining a drive train torque based on at least said acceleration rate;
• comparing said drive train torque with at least one torque threshold corresponding to a maximum torque capacity of one of said number of additional drive train components;
• and
• automatically disengaging the engine from the number of additional drive train components if said drive train torque exceeds said at least one torque threshold.