Clutch protection system
AssigneeEaton Corporation
InventorWilliam J. Mack
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system for protecting the clutch of a vehicle from a harmful operating state. Included in the clutch protection system are means for monitoring the operating state of the clutch, along with means for estimating the amount of energy being dissipated by the clutch. A control unit compares the estimated amount of energy dissipated by the clutch to one or more predetermined threshold energy levels. One or more actions designed to reduce the amount of energy dissipated by the clutch are initiated when the estimated amount of energy dissipated by the clutch exceeds the one or more predetermined thresholds.
Claims28
A clutch protection system, comprising:
- a monitor for monitoring an operating state of a clutch connecting a motor to a system of gears;
- an estimator for estimating an amount of energy dissipated by said clutch;
- a comparator that compares said estimated amount of energy dissipated by said clutch to at least one predetermined threshold energy level;
- and
- a control unit wherein said control unit initiates one or more actions to automatically reduce said amount of energy dissipated by said clutch when said estimated amount of energy dissipated by said clutch exceeds said predetermined threshold energy level, wherein the greater said estimated amount of energy dissipated by said clutch exceeds said predetermined threshold energy level, the faster said control unit initiates one or more actions.
A method of protecting a clutch mechanism connecting a motor to a gear system, comprising the steps of:
- monitoring an operating state of said clutch mechanism;
- estimating an amount of energy dissipated by said clutch mechanism;
- determining when said estimated amount of energy dissipated by said clutch mechanism exceeds a predetermined threshold energy level;
- and
- initiating one or more actions designed to automatically lower said estimated amount of energy dissipated by said clutch mechanism when it is determined that said estimated amount of energy dissipated by said clutch mechanism exceeds said predetermined threshold energy level, wherein the greater said estimated amount of energy dissipated by said clutch exceeds said predetermined threshold energy level, the faster said one or more actions are initiated.
A system for protecting a clutch of an automobile against damage when said clutch is in an engaged to lockup state and an accelerator pedal is at least partially depressed, comprising:
- a monitor for monitoring said clutch and a motor of said automobile;
- an estimator for estimating an amount of energy dissipated by said clutch;
- a comparator that compares said estimated amount of energy dissipated by said clutch to at least a first predetermined threshold energy level and a second predetermined threshold energy level;
- and
- a control unit that i) issues a warning signal when said estimated amount of energy dissipated by said clutch exceeds said first predetermined threshold energy level, and ii) automatically increases a rate at which said clutch engages said motor when said estimated amount of energy dissipated by said clutch exceeds said second predetermined threshold energy level, wherein said increase of said rate of clutch engagement is determined by said estimated amount of energy dissipated by said clutch, with a greater amount of exceedence of the second predetermined threshold energy level by said clutch resulting in a greater rate of clutch engagement.
A system for protecting a clutch of an automobile against damage when said clutch is in an engage to lockup state, an accelerator pedal is at least partially depressed, and a transmission system of said automobile is in a manual mode of operation, comprising:
- a monitor for monitoring said clutch and a motor of said automobile;
- an estimator for estimating an amount of energy dissipated by said clutch;
- a comparator that compares said estimated amount of energy dissipated by said clutch to at least a first predetermined threshold and a second predetermined threshold;
- and
- a control unit that i) issues a warning signal when said estimated amount of energy dissipated by said clutch exceeds said first predetermined threshold level, and ii) automatically downshifts said transmission system to a lower gear when a) said estimated amount of energy dissipated by said clutch exceeds said second predetermined threshold and b) said downshifting will not result in said motor entering an over-speed condition.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.