Soft start clutch controller
AssigneeGlobal Digital Instruments LLC
InventorSean O. Harnett
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A clutch actuator for an electromechanical clutch having a solenoid actuating coil initially provides power to the solenoid at a high rate by using a high duty cycle pulse with a modulated controller. When the initial engagement of the clutch elements is sensed by a decrease in current, the duty cycle of the pulse width modulator is reduced and thereafter increased in a controlled fashion to accomplish a soft start.
Claims19
A controller for operating a range of electrically operated solenoid actuated clutches requiring different operating current comprising:
- a controllable power source coupled to the solenoid;
- a current sensor coupled to the solenoid, responsive to the current flowing in the solenoid and producing an output signal proportional to said current;
- a controller having a memory and coupled to the power source and the current sensor and responsive to the output signal for calculating a normalization factor based on the output signal and storing the normalization factor in the memory, increasing the current at a first rate, reducing the current to a second preselected current determined with reference to the normalization factor, increasing the current to a third preselected current based on the normalization factor at a second rate lower than the first rate, and then increasing the current at the first rate.
A controller for operating an electrically operated solenoid actuated clutch to provide controlled engagement comprising:
- a controllable power source coupled to a clutch solenoid;
- a current sensor coupled to the solenoid, responsive to the current flowing in the solenoid and producing an output signal proportional to said current,
- a controller coupled to the power source and the current sensor for increasing the current at a first rate until the onset of pull-in, reducing the current and then, increasing the current at a second rate lower than the first rate, and then increasing the current at the first rate.
A method for smoothly engaging a solenoid actuated electromechanical clutch comprising:
- applying current to the solenoid;
- detecting the onset of pull-in reducing the amount of current supplied to the solenoid;
- monitoring the load on the clutch;
- applying current to the solenoid in response to the monitored load to maintain a predetermined monitored load profile.
A method for smoothly engaging a solenoid actuated electromechanical clutch comprising:
- applying current to the solenoid;
- detecting the onset of pull-in reducing the amount of current supplied to the solenoid;
- measuring the speed of the clutch by sensing the period of a spark signal applied to an engine coupled to the clutch;
- and
- applying current to the solenoid to maintain a predetermined speed profile as determined by the measured speed.
A method for smoothly engaging a solenoid actuated electromechanical clutch comprising:
- applying current to the solenoid;
- detecting the onset of pull-in reducing the amount of current supplied to the solenoid;
- monitoring the load on the clutch;
- applying current to the solenoid to maintain a predetermined load profile as determined by the monitored load by generating a predetermined speed profile measuring the difference between the predetermined speed profile and the actual speed profile and modifying a subsequent predetermined current profile based on the measured difference for a previous actuation.
A method for smoothly engaging a solenoid actuated electromechanical clutch comprising:
- applying current to the solenoid at a first rate;
- detecting the onset of pull-in;
- allowing a predetermined time to pass and then momentarily interrupting the flow of current to the solenoid;
- and
- supplying current to the solenoid at a rate lower than the first rate.
A method for smoothly engaging a solenoid actuated electromechanical clutch comprising:
- applying current to the solenoid at a first rate;
- monitoring the current flowing through the solenoid;
- detecting the onset of pull-in by first detecting a local decrease and then detecting a further increase in current beyond the local decrease;
- allowing a predetermined time to pass and then momentarily interrupting the flow of current to the solenoid;
- supplying current to the solenoid at a rate lower than the first rate.
A method for smoothly engaging a solenoid actuated electromechanical clutch having a solenoid and a solenoid core comprising:
- supplying current to the solenoid at a first rate;
- detecting the onset of pull-in by waiting a time after the initiation of pull-in determined by the amount of decrease in clutch current immediately following the initiation of pull-in to allow the current to build to avoid responding to a false pull-in;
- and
- in response to the detecting, reducing the current supplied to the solenoid to a rate that causes a gradual engagement of the clutch.
A method for smoothly engaging a solenoid actuated electromechanical clutch having a solenoid and a solenoid core comprising:
- supplying current to the solenoid at a first rate;
- detecting the onset of pull-in;
- detecting the onset of pull-in allowing the current to build to a threshold determined by the amount of decrease in clutch current immediately following the initiation of pull-in to allow the current to build to avoid responding to a false pull-in;
- and
- in response to the detecting, reducing the current supplied to the solenoid to a rate that causes a gradual engagement of the clutch.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.