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Method and apparatus for diagnosing a malfunction of a clutch actuator

  • US 6,752,743 B2
  • Filed: 02/27/2003
  • Issued: 06/22/2004
  • Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2000
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A method of diagnosing a malfunction of a clutch actuator that actuates the engagement and disengagement of a clutch of a motor vehicle with a transmission and a control unit, comprising the steps of:

  • a) feeding an input command signal representing a desired amount of clutch engagement from the control unit to the clutch actuator;

    b) measuring the clutch-actuator position and generating an actual position signal corresponding to the actually measured clutch-actuator position;

    c) feeding the actual position signal to a processor unit for the function of the clutch and a dynamic behavior of an engine, which generates an actual rpm signal based on an rpm-sensor input, representing a measured engine rpm-rate;

    d) simultaneously with step c), feeding the actual position signal to a calculator unit which calculates a theoretically estimated engine rpm-rate based on the estimated position signal and a current engine torque and generates an estimated rpm signal representing the theoretically estimated engine rpm-rate;

    e) feeding the actual rpm signal and the estimated rpm signal to a comparator unit which, in turn, generates a comparison signal representing the result of a comparison of actual and estimated rpm signals;

    f) based on said comparison signal, making a conclusion about the condition of the clutch.

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