Method and apparatus for controlling an electromagnetic clutch for use on a vehicle
First Claim
1. A method of controlling an electromagnetic clutch which is incorporated in a power transmission system of a vehicle to transmit an output of an engine to drive wheels, and which includes a solenoid, said method comprising the steps of:
- detecting a required output of said engine;
determining a target speed of said engine, based on the detected required output of the engine, and according to a predetermined relation between said target speed and said required output of the engine;
applying an electric current to said solenoid to effect an engaging action of the electromagnetic clutch to transmit a torque of the engine to the drive wheels; and
controlling a magnitude of said electric current to be applied to said solenoid during a period of said engaging action of the electromagnetic clutch, to vary the torque to be transmitted by said clutch, as a function of the controlled magnitude of said electric current, such that an actual speed of the engine coincides with the determining target speed of the engine.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Method and apparatus for controlling an electromagnetic clutch which is incorporated in a power transmission system of a vehicle to transmit an output of an engine to drive wheels, and which includes a solenoid to be energized for an engaging action of the electromagnetic clutch to transmit a torque of the engine to the drive wheels, the torque to be transmitted by the clutch being varied as a function of an electric current to energize the solenoid. The method of apparatus comprises: a step or device for determining a target speed of the engine during a period of the engagement action of the electromagnetic clutch, based on a required output of the engine, and according to a predetermined relation between the target speed and required output of the engine; a step or device for controlling a magnitude of the electric current applied to the solenoid during the period of engagement of the clutch, such that an actual speed of the engine coincides with the determined target speed of the engine, and thereby applying the controlled magnitude of electric current to the solenoid to control the torque to be transmitted by the electromagnetic clutch.
-
Citations
6 Claims
-
1. A method of controlling an electromagnetic clutch which is incorporated in a power transmission system of a vehicle to transmit an output of an engine to drive wheels, and which includes a solenoid, said method comprising the steps of:
-
detecting a required output of said engine; determining a target speed of said engine, based on the detected required output of the engine, and according to a predetermined relation between said target speed and said required output of the engine; applying an electric current to said solenoid to effect an engaging action of the electromagnetic clutch to transmit a torque of the engine to the drive wheels; and controlling a magnitude of said electric current to be applied to said solenoid during a period of said engaging action of the electromagnetic clutch, to vary the torque to be transmitted by said clutch, as a function of the controlled magnitude of said electric current, such that an actual speed of the engine coincides with the determining target speed of the engine.
-
-
2. An apparatus for controlling an electromagnetic clutch which is incorporated in a power transmission system of a vehicle to transmit an output of an engine to drive wheels, and which includes a solenoid, said apparatus comprising:
-
first detecting means for detecting an actual speed of said engine; second detecting means for detecting a currently required output of said engine; means for determining a target speed of said engine, based on the detecting required output of the engine, and according to a predetermined relation between said target speed and said required output of the engine; means for applying an electric current to said solenoid to effect an engaging action of the electromagnetic clutch to transmit a torque of the engine to the drive wheels; and current adjusting means for controlling a magnitude of said electric current to be applied from said current applying means to said solenoid during a period of said engaging action of the electromagnetic cutch, to vary the torque to be transmitted by said clutch, as a function of the controlled magnitude of said electric current, such that an actual speed of the engine coincides with the determining target speed of the engine. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6)
-
Specification