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US 7,726,456 B2Granted
Linear clutch system for vehicle and method for controlling the same
AssigneeHyundai Motor Company
InventorDonghyun Ha
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A linear electromotive actuator mounted on an input shaft of a manual transmission clutch system and a clutch operation is controlled by a current signal applied in response to an operating stroke of a clutch pedal. In addition, according to the clutch system and a method for controlling the same, a vehicle weight is reduced and a clutch vibration or an impact can be reduced.
Claims15
A linear clutch system for a vehicle, comprising:
- a clutch cover, a front portion of which is secured to a flywheel;
- a clutch disc disposed between the flywheel and a rear portion of the clutch cover and splined to an input shaft to selectively transmit power from the flywheel to the input shaft of a transmission;
- a diaphragm spring disposed between the clutch disc and the rear portion of clutch cover such that the clutch disc is selectively contacted to the flywheel;
- a clutch unit disposed to a rear portion of the diaphragm spring, slidably mounted on the input shaft, and comprising a release bearing connected to the rear portion of the diaphragm spring such that the clutch disc does not contact the flywheel;
- a linear electromotive actuator disposed to a rear portion of the release bearing and on an exterior circumference of the input shaft in an axial direction of the input shaft and moving the release bearing in the axial direction of the input shaft in response to a control signal from a controller;
- and
- a displacement detector connected to a clutch pedal for outputting a signal to the controller by detecting a stroke of the clutch pedal,
- wherein the linear electromotive actuator comprises:
- a case body defining a penetration hole such that the input shaft is inserted thereto and a round shaped space portion in the case body, and comprising a flange engaged to a transmission housing in a rear portion of the case body;
- a N pole magnetic pipe disposed in the space portion;
- a S pole magnetic pipe having a diameter bigger than a diameter of the N pole magnetic pipe and disposed in the space portion at a state that the S pole magnetic pipe is disposed apart from the N pole magnetic pipe at a predetermined distance;
- a supporting block formed as a cylindrical shape having a predetermined thickness, disposed between the N pole magnetic pipe and the S pole magnetic pipe, and defining a plurality of operating holes formed in a length direction of the supporting block;
- operating coils inserted into the operating holes wherein the operating coils are configured to move back and forth by a current signal from the controller;
- operating rods having one end connected to the operating coils and the other end disposed outside of the case body;
- a pushing disk defining a hole such that the input shaft is inserted thereto, one side of the pushing disk secured to a portion of the release bearing and another side of the pushing disk connected to the other ends of the operating rods such that the pushing disk integrally moves with the operating coils and the operating rods;
- and
- a case cover guiding the operating rods and mounted in a front portion of the case body.
14 more elements
A method for controlling a linear clutch system for a vehicle comprising:
- determining a current value to be applied to a linear electromotive actuator with respect to a whole stroke of a clutch pedal, a time Δt for updating an output value from a displacement detector, and an initial time t;
- calculating an operating stroke of a clutch pedal by utilizing an output signal from the displacement detector;
- calculating a time tn by adding up the time Δt for updating an output value from the displacement detector with a time tn−1;
- determining if the operating stroke value of the clutch pedal is 0 mm at the time tn;
- not applying a control current to operating coils of a linear electromotive actuator if the operating stroke value of the clutch pedal is 0 mm;
- determining if the operating stroke value of the clutch pedal at the time tn+1 is bigger than an operating stroke value at the time tn in a case that the operating stroke value of the clutch pedal is not 0 mm;
- applying a control current in a direction from − to + such that the operating coils move forward by an electromagnetic force if the operating stroke value of the clutch pedal at the time tn+1 is bigger than an operating stroke value at the time tn;
- and
- applying a control current in a direction from + to − such that the operating coils move backward by an electromagnetic force if the operating stroke value of the clutch pedal at the time tn+1 is not bigger than an operating stroke value at the time tn.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.