Controlled engagement of supercharger drive clutch

• US 6,634,344 B2
• Filed: 10/30/2001
• Issued: 10/21/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Eaton Corp. (Wisconsin) (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Stretch, Dale A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Denion, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRIEU, THAI BA
• Application Number:
  US10/021,465
• Publication Number:
  US 20030079727A1
• Time in Patent Office: 721 Days
• Field of Search: 123/559.3, 123/564, 606/09, 192/21.5, 192/84.31, 192/84.951, 192/84.96
• US Class Current: 123/559.3
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 33/38 of Roots type
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 33/446 having valves for admission of atmospheric air to engine, e.g. at 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 2037/002 characterised by a single substantially axial gap in which the fluid or medium consisting of small particles is arranged
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 37/02 the particles being magnetisable

Abstract

The present invention provides a control system and method of controlling a supercharger having an input and a pair of rotors. The method comprises providing a magnetic particle clutch having an input member, an output member and a source of magnetic flux. In the presence of a magnetic field, a magnetically reactive medium disposed between the input and output members is transformed into a torque transmitting coupling that causes the clutch to transition from a disengaged state to an engaged state. The method includes sensing a vehicle parameter and generating a signal operable to engage the clutch in response to the sensed vehicle parameter, so that the transition to the engaged state may be controlled as a function of the sensed vehicle parameter.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a rotary blower comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a magnetic particle clutch in driving relationship with the blower, the clutch operable to transition from a disengaged state to an engaged state;

(b) sensing at least one vehicle parameter; and

(c) generating a signal operable to engage the clutch in response to the sensed vehicle parameter, wherein the transition from a disengaged state to an engaged state is a function of the sensed vehicle parameter.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of generating a signal is performed as a function of a change in the sensed vehicle parameter.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of sensing a vehicle parameter comprises sensing a throttle position.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the throttle position is representative of a change in commanded throttle position.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of sensing a vehicle parameter comprises sensing a rate of change in a throttle position.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of sensing a vehicle parameter comprises sensing an engine speed.

7. The method according to claim 1 further including the step of modifying the signal to maintain the clutch in the engaged state.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the generating step comprises generating a signal having an input current that transitions from an engagement level operable to engage the clutch to a steady state level operable to maintain the clutch in the engaged state.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the engagement level is greater than the steady state level.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the generating step further comprises pulse width modulating the signal.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of providing a magnetic particle clutch comprises providing a magnetic particle clutch that includes an input member, an output member and a source of magnetic flux, the input and output members each including a plurality of non-magnetic features positioned to force the magnetic flux to travel a path substantially between the features transforming a magnetically reactive medium disposed between the input and output members into a torque transmitting coupling causing the clutch to transition from the disengaged state to the engaged state.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the torque transmitted between the input member and the output member is substantially proportional to the signal.

13. A control system for controlling operation of a rotary blower comprising:

a magnetic particle clutch in driving relationship with the blower, the clutch operable to transition from a disengaged state to an engaged state;

at least one sensor for sensing a vehicle parameter;

a control unit operable to selectively communicate a signal to the clutch in response to the sensed vehicle parameter causing the clutch to engage; and

wherein the transition from said disengaged state to said engaged state is a function of the sensed vehicle parameter.

14. The control system of claim 13, wherein the control unit includes logic rules effective for:

(a) sensing a vehicle parameter; and

(b) generating a signal operable to engage the clutch.

15. The control system of claim 13, wherein the vehicle parameter comprises at least one of throttle position, engine speed and rate of change in throttle position.

16. The control system of claim 13, wherein the transition from the disengaged state to the engaged state will occur more rapidly for a more rapid change in the vehicle parameter.

17. The control system of claim 13, wherein the signal exhibits an input current that transitions from an engagement level operable to engage the clutch to a steady state level operable to maintain the clutch in the engaged state.

18. The control system of claim 17, wherein the engagement level is greater than the steady state level.

19. The control system of claim 17, wherein the input current quickly ramps to an engagement level greater than the steady state level.

20. The control system of claim 17, wherein the input current slowly ramps to an engagement level substantially equal to the steady state level.

21. The control system of claim 17, wherein the engagement level is greater than the steady state level for rapid changes in the sensed vehicle parameter.

22. The control system of claim 17, wherein the engagement level is approximately a magnetic saturation point of the clutch for relatively rapid changes in the sensed vehicle parameter.

23. The control system of claim 13, wherein the signal provided by the control unit is pulse width modulated.

24. The control system of claim 13, wherein clutch includes an input member, an output member and a source of magnetic flux, the input and output members each including a plurality of non-magnetic features positioned to force the magnetic flux to travel a path substantially between the features transforming a magnetically reactive medium disposed between the input and output members into a torque transmitting coupling causing the clutch to transition from the disengaged state to the engaged state.

25. The control system of claim 24, wherein the torque transmitted between the input member and the output member is substantially proportional to the signal.

27. The method according to claim 25, wherein the transition between the disengaged state and the engaged state will occur more rapidly for a more rapid change in the vehicle parameter.

26. A method of controlling a rotary blower comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a magnetic particle clutch in driving relationship with the blower, the clutch operable to transition from a disengaged state to an engaged state;

(b) sensing at least one vehicle parameter; and

(c) generating a signal operable to engage the clutch in response to the sensed vehicle parameter, the step of generating the signal is performed as a function of the rate of change of the sensed vehicle parameter, wherein the transition from a disengaged state to an engaged state is a function of the sensed vehicle parameter.