Torque-transmitting system
AssigneeLuk Lamellen und Kupplungsbau GmbH
InventorRobin John Warren
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A torque-transmitting system for vehicles has a main drive clutch operable by means of a clutch-actuator, a transmission, a shift mechanism for setting the transmission ratio, a selector lever allowing the driver to select between a neutral mode or a drive mode of the transmission, and electronic control means for controlling the clutch actuator and the shift. mechanism. The electronic control means will cause the clutch-actuator to disengage the clutch when the engine is started and to re-engage the clutch if the transmission has been left in neutral mode for a preprogrammed time period while the vehicle is standing still, so as to turn the input shaft of the transmission and thereby warm up the transmission oil.
Claims11
A torque transmitting system for a vehicle, comprising:
- a main drive clutch,
- a clutch-actuating means for engaging and disengaging the main drive clutch;
- a transmission that has a neutral mode, a forward drive mode with a plurality with a plurality of transmission ratios, and a reverse drive mode,
- a shifting mechanism for setting and shifting the transmission to one of said modes and transmission ratios,
- a driver-operable selector means allowing a driver to select between said modes and transmission ratios,
- an electronic control means to control the clutch-actuating means and the shifting mechanism,
- wherein the electronic control means will cause the clutch-actuating means to disengage the clutch when an engine is started and will also cause the clutch-actuating means to re-engage the clutch under at least one re-engagement condition, said at least one re-engagement condition being that the transmission has been left in neutral mode for a preprogrammed time period while the vehicle is standing still, wherein, if the control means has caused the clutch-actuating means to re-engage the clutch after the preprogramed time period, said re-engagement is terminated and the clutch is taken out of engagement when a transmission temperature rises above a preprogrammed temperature level.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.