Automatic clutch engagement controlled by engine speed
AssigneeNew Holland North America, Inc.
InventorGarth H. Bulgrien
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In a vehicle transmission system including a transmission having an input shaft driven by an engine, an output shaft, and a clutch for controlling the transfer of torque from the input shaft to the output shaft, the clutch is controlled by sensing the speed of the engine and controlling engagement of the clutch according to the sensed engine speed. The system normally operates in a mode wherein clutch engagement is controlled according to the position of a clutch pedal. An auto-clutch mode, wherein engine speed controls clutch engagement is invoked when the transmission is in gear, brake pedals are depressed, and the engine speed is less than a predetermined speed.
Claims13
In a vehicle transmission system including a transmission having an input shaft driven by an engine, an output shaft, and a clutch for controlling the transfer of torque from said input shaft to said output shaft, a method of controlling said clutch, said method comprising:
- sensing the speed of said engine by using a sensor;
- controlling engagement of said clutch according to the sensed engine speed by using a controller responsive to the sensor, whereby the transmission of torque from said input shaft to said output shaft is determined by the speed of said engine, wherein the controller is also responsive to a brake pedal switch, and sensing means for indicating whether the transmission is in gear or in neutral;
- and
- invoking in auto-clutch mode for the controller to control engagement of the clutch according to engine speed when the brake switch is operated by a brake pedal, the transmission is in gear, and the sensed engine speed is less than a predetermined value.
A vehicle transmission system comprising:
- an engine driving an input shaft;
- an output shaft;
- a transmission having a clutch for transferring torque from said input shaft to said output shaft;
- a sensor for sensing the speed of said engine;
- a controller responsive to said sensor for controlling engagement of said clutch in response to the sensed speed of said engine, whereby the transmission of torque from said input shaft to said output shaft is determined by the speed of said engine;
- a clutch pedal, the controller, in a first mode, being responsive to operation of the clutch pedal to control engagement of the clutch and operable in an auto-clutch mode to control engagement of the clutch according to the speed of the engine;
- and
- a brake pedal and a brake pedal switch operable by the brake pedal, the transmission including a lever for selectively placing the transmission in gear or in neutral, sensing means operable by the lever for indicating whether the transmission is in gear or in neutral, the controller being responsive to the brake pedal switch, the sensing means, and the sensed engine speed for invoking the auto-clutch mode of operation when the brake pedal is pressed, the transmission is in gear, and the sensed engine speed is less than a predetermined value.
A vehicle transmission system, employing an auto-clutch control, comprising:
- an engine driving an input shaft;
- an output shaft;
- a transmission having a clutch for transferring torque from the input shaft to the output shaft;
- a clutch pedal;
- a sensor for sensing the speed of the engine;
- and
- a controller connected to be responsive to the sensor for controlling engagement of the clutch in response to the sensed speed of the engine and to the clutch pedal for controlling engagement of the clutch in response to a position of the clutch pedal, wherein the controller operates to determine transmission of torque from the input shaft to the output shaft as a function of the sensed speed of the engine when the controller is in an auto-clutch mode, and when the controller is in a normal mode, operation of the controller results in transmission of torque from the input shaft to the output shaft as a function of the position of the clutch pedal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.