Method and device for controlling the clutch of a vehicle
First Claim
1. In a method for controlling the clutch of an engine driven vehicle comprising the steps of:
- generating a reference torque signal (CRIF) representing at least one desired value of the torque transmitted by the engine through the said clutch (5);
generating a reaction signal (X) correlated to the position of an actuating member (4) of the clutch (5), the position of the actuating member (4) being located between a first end-of-travel position in which the clutch (5) is completely open and a second end-of-travel position in which the clutch (5) is completely closed;
generating an estimated torque signal (CST) representing at least one estimated value of the torque transmitted through the clutch (5), on the basis of the reaction signal (X) and a transmissibility function (F(X)) of the clutch (5);
generating a control signal (CM) for adjusting the position of the actuating member (4) of the clutch (5) as a function of the reference torque signal (CRIF) and the estimated torque signal (CST);
the improvement comprising the step of periodically updating the transmissibility function (F(X)) of the clutch (5) as a function of the torque and angular speed of said engine thereby adapting said function (F(X)) to any variations, over time, of the mechanical characteristics of the clutch (5), andwherein said step of periodically updating the transmissibility function (F(X)) of the clutch (5) comprises the step of updating the transmissibility function (F(X)) itself during operation of the clutch (5), and wherein the transmissibility function (F(X)) of the clutch (5) defines a one-to-one relationship between each of the instantaneous values (Xi) of said reaction signal (X) and a corresponding instantaneous value (CFRIZ--OLD) of the estimated torque signal (CST).
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Abstract
The control method comprises the stages of: generating a reference torque signal, the instantaneous value of which indicates the desired value of the torque transmitted through the clutch; generating a reaction signal correlated to the position of an actuating member of the clutch, the position of the actuating member being comprised between a first end-of-travel position in which the clutch is completely open and a second end-of-travel position in which the clutch is completely closed; generating an estimated torque signal, the instantaneous value of which indicates the estimated value of the torque transmitted through the clutch, on the basis of the reaction signal and a transmissibility function of the clutch; and generating a control signal for adjusting the position of the clutch as a function of the reference torque signal and the estimated torque signal. The method comprises, moreover, the stage of updating the transmissibility function of the clutch during operation of the clutch (for example at acceleration of the vehicle) so as to adapt it to the variations, over time, in the mechanical characteristics of the clutch itself.
16 Citations
24 Claims
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1. In a method for controlling the clutch of an engine driven vehicle comprising the steps of:
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generating a reference torque signal (CRIF) representing at least one desired value of the torque transmitted by the engine through the said clutch (5); generating a reaction signal (X) correlated to the position of an actuating member (4) of the clutch (5), the position of the actuating member (4) being located between a first end-of-travel position in which the clutch (5) is completely open and a second end-of-travel position in which the clutch (5) is completely closed; generating an estimated torque signal (CST) representing at least one estimated value of the torque transmitted through the clutch (5), on the basis of the reaction signal (X) and a transmissibility function (F(X)) of the clutch (5); generating a control signal (CM) for adjusting the position of the actuating member (4) of the clutch (5) as a function of the reference torque signal (CRIF) and the estimated torque signal (CST); the improvement comprising the step of periodically updating the transmissibility function (F(X)) of the clutch (5) as a function of the torque and angular speed of said engine thereby adapting said function (F(X)) to any variations, over time, of the mechanical characteristics of the clutch (5), and wherein said step of periodically updating the transmissibility function (F(X)) of the clutch (5) comprises the step of updating the transmissibility function (F(X)) itself during operation of the clutch (5), and wherein the transmissibility function (F(X)) of the clutch (5) defines a one-to-one relationship between each of the instantaneous values (Xi) of said reaction signal (X) and a corresponding instantaneous value (CFRIZ--OLD) of the estimated torque signal (CST). - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. In a device for controlling the clutch of an engine driven vehicle, comprising:
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signal generating means (8) for receiving at their input a plurality of information signals (SINF) and for generating at their output a reference torque signal (CRIF) representing at least one desired value of the torque transmitted through the clutch (5); position detecting means (11) coupled to the said clutch (5) for generating at their output a reaction signal (X) correlated to the position of an actuating member (4) of the said clutch (5), the said position of the actuating member (4) being located between a first end-of-travel position in which the clutch (5) is completely open and a second end-of-travel position in which the clutch (5) is completely closed; storage means (12) for storing in memory a transmissibility function (F(X)) of the clutch (5) for receiving at their input said reaction signal (X) and for generating at their output, on the basis of the reaction signal (X) and the stored transmissibility function (F(X)), an estimated torque signal (CST) representing at least one estimated value of the torque transmitted through the clutch (5); control means (9,
10) for receiving at their input said reference torque signal and said estimated torque signal (CRIF) and for generating at their output a control signal (CM) for adjusting the position of the said actuating member (4) of the clutch (5);
the improvement comprising;means (20-29) for updating the transmissibility function (F(X)) of the clutch (5) as a function of the torque and angular speed of said engine thereby to adapt it to any variations, over time, of the mechanical characteristics of the clutch (5) itself, and wherein the updating means (20-29) update said transmissibility function (F(X)) during operation of the clutch (5), and wherein the storage means (12) include a table comprising the transmissibility function (F(X));
the transmissibility function (F(X)) defining a one-to-one relationship between each of the instantaneous values (Xi) of the reaction signal (X) and a corresponding instantaneous value (CFRIZ--OLD) of the estimated torque signal (CST). - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification