Automatic clutch

• US 6,139,467 A
• Filed: 03/25/1999
• Issued: 10/31/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Original Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Inventors: Grass, Thomas, Kosik, Franz
• Primary Examiner(s): Marmor, Charles A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rodriguez, Saul
• Application Number:
  US09/269,279
• Time in Patent Office: 586 Days
• Field of Search: 477/166, 477/174, 477/76, 477/70, 477/86, 477/87
• US Class Current: 477/76
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2500/1024 combined with hydraulic actuation
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2500/10412 Transmission line of a vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2500/3026 Stroke
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2500/3122 Ambient temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2500/31466 Gear lever
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2500/70406 Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2500/7044 Output shaft torque
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 48/066 Control of fluid pressure, e.g. using an accumulator F16D48/062, F16D48/068 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 48/068 using signals from a manually actuated gearshift linkage

Abstract

Disclosed is an automatic clutch intended for an engine-transmission unit in a vehicle. When in the closing stage, the clutch works under contact overpressure conditions, so that the torque transmitted by the clutch is higher by a set quantity than the engine generated torque. At low external temperature, the contact overpressure is reduced, resulting in a shorter clutch adjustment path and in less energy being required for clutching, thereby compensating for the greater stiffness of the clutch control element.

Claims

1. An automatic clutch in a drive train of a motor vehicle having a transmission which is shifted manually between different drive positions or transmission stages, comprising:

a motorized adjusting unit which actuates the clutch;

a system of sensors which monitors predetermined parameters and releases the clutch if criteria for a change of the transmission stage intended by the driver are detected;

wherein when the transmission stage has been selected, the clutch is controlled analogously with the torque of the engine with excess contact pressure such that a moment which can be transmitted by the clutch is a predetermined amount above the moment which can be picked up at the engine, and further wherein the amount of excess contact pressure is reduced at low outside temperatures.

2. The clutch as claimed in claim 1, wherein a hydraulic adjusting unit is provided to adjust the contact pressure.

3. A control system for an automatic clutch in a drive train of a motor vehicle having a manually shiftable transmission and a motorized adjusting unit which actuates the clutch, comprising:

a control unit including a plurality of sensors which monitor predetermined parameters, the control units releasing the clutch if criteria indicating an intended transmission stage change by the driver are detected;

wherein once the transmission stage is selected, the control unit controls the clutch analogously with an engine torque using excess contact pressure such that a moment which is transmittable by the clutch has a value which is a predetermined amount above a moment which is picked up at the engine, and further wherein the amount of excess contact pressure is reduced at low outside temperatures.

4. A method of controlling an automatic clutch in a drive train of a motor vehicle, the method comprising the acts of:

controlling the clutch when the transmission stage has been selected analogously with an engine torque with excess contact pressure, such that a moment which is transmittable by the clutch is a predetermined amount above a moment which can be picked up at the engine; and

reducing the amount of excess contact pressure in accordance with lowered outside temperatures.