Clutch control apparatus for a mechanical supercharger

• US 5,133,326 A
• Filed: 07/05/1990
• Issued: 07/28/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
• Inventors: Nishimura, Eiji, Matsuoka, Toshihiro
• Primary Examiner(s): KOCZO JR, MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US07/548,306
• Time in Patent Office: 754 Days
• Field of Search: 123/559.3, 123/561
• US Class Current: 123/559.3
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 33/443 Heating of charging air, e.g. for facilitating the starting
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 39/12 Drives characterised by use of couplings or clutches therein using fluid slip couplings for varying gear ratio F02B39/08
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2500/1022 Electromagnet
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2500/1068 Engine supercharger or turbocharger
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2500/3064 Temperature of the engine
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2500/3067 Speed of the engine
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2500/3108 Vehicle speed
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2500/3121 Ambient conditions, e.g. air humidity, air temperature, ambient pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2500/3127 Road slope
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2500/3144 Accelerator pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2500/50239 Soft clutch engagement
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2500/50293 Reduction of vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2500/50296 Limit clutch wear
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2500/525 Improve response of control system
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2500/70229 Voltage
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2500/70258 Throttle
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2500/7027 Engine speed
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2500/70294 Valve look-up tables
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2500/70404 Force
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2500/7042 Voltage
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2500/70426 : Clutch slip
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 48/064 : Control of electrically or electromagnetically actuated clutches F16D48/062, F16D48/068 take precedence

Abstract

A clutch control apparatus for a mechanical supercharger is used in connection with a mechanical supercharger provided in the intake passage of an engine and driven by the output shaft of the engine through a clutch. The clutch control apparatus suppresses shock during clutch engagement and increases clutch life by controlling the slipping condition of the clutch when the mechanical supercharger is engaged.

Claims

1. A clutch control apparatus for a mechanical supercharger, comprising:

a supercharger driven by an output shaft of an engine and provided in an intake system,

clutch means for connecting and disconnecting the supercharger with the output shaft of the engine so that the supercharger can be actuated in a predetermined engine operational region,

engine speed detecting means for detecting engine speed, and

clutch control means for controlling a slipping condition of the clutch means in response to the engine speed detected by the engine speed detecting means when the clutch means is operated to actuate the supercharger,

said clutch control means controlling the slipping condition so that engagement force of the clutch means becomes larger and period of slipping time of the clutch means becomes longer as the engine speed detected by the engine speed detecting means increases.