Method of and apparatus for transmitting torque in vehicular power trains

A method of operating a torque transmitting apparatus which receives torque from a rotary output element of a prime mover and transmits torque to a rotary input element of an automatic transmission in a power train of a vehicle, wherein a hydrokinetic torque converter is arranged to transmit torque between the output and input elements in parallel with a slip clutch, wherein the magnitude of torque being transmitted by the clutch is detectable by a monitoring unit in conjunction with a central computer unit, and wherein the application of force to, and hence the magnitude of torque being transmitted by, the clutch is controllable by the computer unit, comprising the steps of:

• ascertaining the magnitude of torque to be transmitted by the clutch in dependency upon the operating condition of the power train in accordance with the equation
• Mclutch=ke·kcorr·Mpm, wherein
• ke=kme is a torque dividing factor for apportioning respective amounts of torque being transmitted by the slip clutch and the torque converter,
• Kcorr is a correction factor that is dependent on a current operating point of the power train,
• Mclutch is the torque being transmitted by the clutch and
• Mpm is the torque being transmitted by the rotary output element of the prime mover,
• (b) ascertaining the magnitude of the force to be applied to the clutch for the transmission of a predetermined torque, and
• (c) applying the thus ascertained force to the clutch,
• wherein the slip between the output and input elements adjusts itself automatically as a function of the torque dividing factor ke and possible deviations of an individual power train from an ideal behavior are corrected by the correction factor kcorr.

A method of operating a torque transmitting apparatus which receives torque from a rotary output element of a prime mover and transmits torque to a rotary input element of an automatic transmission, wherein a hydrokinetic torque converter is arranged to transmit torque between the output and input elements in parallel with a slip clutch and wherein the magnitude of torque being transmitted by the clutch is detectable by a monitoring device in conjunction with a central computer unit, comprising the steps of:

• (a) ascertaining the magnitude of torque to be transmitted by the clutch in dependency upon the operating condition of the power train in accordance with the equation
• Mclutch=ke·kcorr·Mpm, wherein
• ke=Kme is a torque dividing factor which is independent of a characteristic field of the prime mover,
• kcorr is a correction factor that is dependent on a current operating point of the power train, and
• Mpm is the torque being transmitted by the prime mover,
• (b) ascertaining the magnitude of the force to be applied to the clutch for the transmission of a predetermined torque, and
• (c) applying the thus ascertained force to the clutch,
• wherein the slip between the output and input elements adjusts itself automatically as a function of the torque dividing factor ke and possible deviations of an individual power train from an ideal behavior are corrected by the correction factor kcorr.

A method of operating a torque transmitting apparatus which receives torque from a rotary output element of a prime mover and transmits torque to a rotary input element of an automatic transmission, wherein a hydrokinetic torque converter is arranged to transmit torque between the output and input elements in parallel with a slip clutch and wherein the magnitude of torque being transmitted by the clutch is detectable by a monitoring device in conjunction with a central computer unit, comprising the steps of

• (a) ascertaining the magnitude of torque Mclutch to be transmitted by the clutch in dependency upon the operating condition of the torque transmitting apparatus in accordance with the equation
• Mclutch=ke·kcorr·Mpm, wherein ke=kme
• ke=kme is a torque dividing factor which is dependent only upon the RPM of the output element of the prime mover,
• kcorr is a correction factor that is dependent on a current operating point of the power train, and
• Mpm is the torque being transmitted by the prime mover,
• (b) ascertaining the magnitude of the force to be applied to the clutch for the transmission of a predetermined torque, and
• (c) applying the thus ascertained force to the clutch,
• wherein the slip between the output and input elements adjusts itself automatically as a function of the torque dividing factor ke and possible deviations of an individual power train from an ideal behavior are corrected by the correction factor kcorr.

A method of operating a torque transmitting apparatus which receives torque from a rotary output element of a prime mover and transmits torque to a rotary input element of an automatic transmission, wherein a hydrokinetic torque converter is arranged to transmit torque between the output and input elements in parallel with a slip clutch and wherein the magnitude of torque being transmitted by the clutch is detectable by a monitoring device in conjunction with a central computer unit, comprising the steps of

• (a) ascertaining the magnitude of torque Mclutch to be transmitted by the clutch in dependency upon the operating condition of the torque transmitting apparatus in accordance with the equation
• Mclutch=ke·kcorr·Mpm, wherein ke=kme
• ke=kme is a torque dividing factor which is dependent only upon the RPM of the output element of the prime mover and the magnitude of torque being transmitted by the output element of the prime mover,
• kcorr is a correction factor that is dependent on a current operating point of the power train, and
• Mpm is the torque being transmitted by the prime mover,
• (b) ascertaining the magnitude of the force to be applied to the clutch for the transmission of a predetermined torque, and
• (c) applying the thus ascertained force to the clutch,
• wherein the slip between the output and input elements adjusts itself automatically as a function of the torque dividing factor ke and possible deviations of an individual power train from an ideal behavior are corrected by the correction factor kcorr.

A method of operating a torque transmitting apparatus which receives torque from a rotary output element of a prime mover and transmits torque to a rotary input element of an automatic transmission in a power train of a vehicle, wherein a hydrokinetic torque converter is arranged to transmit torque between the output and input elements in parallel with a slip clutch, and wherein the magnitude of torque being transmitted by the clutch is variable by a pressure differential between two bodies of a hydraulic fluid one of which is confined in a first compartment between a housing of the torque converter and the slip clutch and the other of which is confined in a separate second compartment between the housing and the clutch, and wherein the pressure differential is detectable by a monitoring unit in conjunction with a central computer unit and, and wherein the application of force to, and hence the magnitude of torque being transmitted by, the clutch is controllable by the computer unit, comprising the steps of

• (A) determining the RPM of said output element,
• (B) ascertaining the magnitude of torque to be transmitted by the clutch in dependency upon the operating condition of the power train in accordance with the equation Mclutch=ke·kcorr·Mpm, wherein ke=kme is a torque dividing factor which satisfies at least one of the requirements including (a) at least substantial constancy within the entire operating range of the power train, (b) independence from a characteristic field of the prime mover, (c) dependency exclusively upon the RPM of the output element of the prime mover, and (d) dependency upon the RPM of the prime mover and the magnitude of torque being transmitted by the output element, kcorr is a correction factor, Mclutch is the torque being transmitted by the clutch and Mpm is the torque being transmitted by the rotary output element of the prime mover,
• (C) ascertaining the magnitude of the force to be applied to the clutch for the transmission of a predetermined torque, and
• (D) applying the thus ascertained force to the clutch,
• wherein the slip between the output and input elements adjusts itself automatically as a function of the torque dividing factor ke and possible deviations of an individual power train from an ideal behavior are corrected by the correction factor kcorr ascertaining the magnitude of the force to be applied to the clutch for the transmission of a predetermined torque, and applying the thus ascertained force to the clutch with attendant automatic selection of the slip between the output and input elements as a function of the torque dividing factor ke and compensation for eventual departures from the desired torque transmission, as a function of the correction factor kcorr, due to the characteristics of the selected power train.