US4200175A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Control device for a motor vehicle clutch
Assignee: Voith Getriebe KG
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Filing: 1977-12-15
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Granted: 1980-04-29
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Expires: 1997-12-15
Abstract
Abstract A device for controlling a motor vehicle clutch is disclosed. A hydraulic control system coupled to the disengagement lever of a clutch selectively engages and disengages the clutch responsive to a control signal. The control signal is generated by a control circuit which receives a first signal representative of the speed of the vehicle and a second signal representative of the rotary speed of the engine. The control circuit varies the control signal during each engagement of the clutch as a function of two components: a first component which initially varies as a substantially linear function of the speed of the vehicle and thereafter varies as a positive exponential function of the speed of the vehicle; and a second component which varies as a substantially linear function of the speed of the engine. Both components vary in a direction which drives the clutch further into engagement for increasing vehicle and engine speed.
Inventors
- 👤 Heinrich Dick
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 01:06
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60W; B60W10/00; B60W10/04; B60W10/06; B60K; B60K17/00; B60K17/02; B60W10/02; B60W30/00; B60W30/18; F; F16; F16D; F16D43/00; F16D43/28; B60W2510/00; B60W2510/06; B60W2510/0638; B60W2710/00; B60W2710/02; B60W2710/021; F16H; F16H59/00; F16H59/02; F16H59/0217; F16H63/00; F16H63/40; F16H63/46
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
166 words
Apparatus for controlling the operation of a clutch of the type which selectively couples a vehicle engine to a gear changing mechanism, said apparatus comprising: (A) clutch control means for moving said clutch between an engaging and disengaging position as a function of a control signal applied thereto; (B) control circuit means for generating said control signal as a function of the rotary speed of said engine and the speed of said vehicle, said control circuit to vary said control signal during each engagement of said cluth as a function of two components: (1) a first component which initially varies as a substantially linear function of the speed of the vehicle and thereafter varies as a positive exponential function of the speed of the vehicle; and (2) a second component which varies as a substantially linear function of the speed of said engine, said first and second components varying in a direction which drives the clutch further into engagement for increasing vehicle and engine speeds, respectively.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
166 words
Apparatus for controlling the operation of a clutch of the type which selectively couples a vehicle engine to a gear changing mechanism, said apparatus comprising: (A) clutch control means for moving said clutch between an engaging and disengaging position as a function of a control signal applied thereto; (B) control circuit means for generating said control signal as a function of the rotary speed of said engine and the speed of said vehicle, said control circuit to vary said control signal during each engagement of said cluth as a function of two components: (1) a first component which initially varies as a substantially linear function of the speed of the vehicle and thereafter varies as a positive exponential function of the speed of the vehicle; and (2) a second component which varies as a substantially linear function of the speed of said engine, said first and second components varying in a direction which drives the clutch further into engagement for increasing vehicle and engine speeds, respectively.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
89 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said clutch control means comprises: a hydraulic cylinder coupled to a disengaging lever of said clutch, said cylinder adapted to move said lever between an engaging and disengaging position as a function of the pressure of a fluid applied to said cylinder; a pump for pumping fluid under pressure into said cylinder; fluid control means including an electro-hydraulic pressure control valve for controlling the pressure of the fluid applied to said cylinder as a function of the relative position of said control valve.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
63 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said electro-hydraulic pressure controls valve includes a magnet which control the relative position of said control valve and wherein said fluid control means further includes a magnetic force regulator which adjusts the armature attracting force of said electro-magnets, irrespective of the magnetic resistance of the magnetic system, to a value which is determined by said control signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
91 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said control circuit means comprises: means for generating a first current signal proportional to the speed of said engine; means for generating a second current signal proportional to the speed of said vehicle; means for generating a third current signal when the speed of said vehicle is greater than a predetermined value, said third current signal increasing with the speed of said vehicle; and summing means for generating said control signal as a function of the sum of said first, second and third current signals.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said summing means is an operational amplifier connected to operate as a differential amplifier.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said means for generating a third current signal includes a series connected diode and resistor which are connected between a voltage whose magnitude is proportional to the speed of said vehicle and said operational amplifier.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further including: means for generating a first voltage whose magnitude is proportional to the speed of said engine; and means for generating a second voltage whose magnitude is proportional to the speed of said vehicle.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
89 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said control circuit comprises: means for generating a first current signal proportional to the speed of said engine; means for generating a second current signal proportional to the speed of said vehicle; means for generating a third current signal when the speed of said vehicle is greater than a predetermined value, said third current signal increasing with the speed of said vehicle; summing means for generating said control signal as a function of the sum of said first, second and third current signals.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
94 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said means for generating a first current signal comprises a resistive element connected between said voltage which is proportional to the speed of said engine and ground said means for generating said second current signal comprises a resistor connected between said voltage whose magnitude is proportional to the speed of said vehicle and ground and said means for generating said third current signal comprises a series connected diode and resistor which are connected between said voltage whose magnitude is proportional to the speed of said vehicle and ground.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said means for generating said control signal is an operational amplifier connected to operate as a differential amplifier.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
65 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said control circuit means further includes means for generating a biasing voltage which may be adjusted to determine the speed of the engine at which the clutch begins to engage and wherein said summing means generates said control signal as a function of said biasing signal as well as the function of said first, second and third current signals.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said vehicle engine is the type which is controlled by a fuel throttle valve and wherein said apparatus further includes means for automatically reducing the opening of said fuel throttle valve whenever the speed of the vehicle is below a predetermined value.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1983-04-29 | 1983-10-29 | 1984-04-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-04-29 | 1987-10-29 | 1988-04-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-04-29 | 1991-10-29 | 1992-04-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |