Patent US4629045A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4629045A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automatic clutch control system
Assignee: Fujitsu Ltd
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Filing: 1984-11-26
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Granted: 1986-12-16
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Expires: 2004-11-26
Abstract
Abstract An automatic clutch control system including a clutch, a clutch actuator for controlling a clutch stroke, a plurality of solenoid valves for controlling the clutch actuator, a clutch stroke sensor for measuring the clutch stroke, a control unit for feeding back a stroke signal detected by the clutch stroke sensor and for controlling the solenoid valves to control clutch engagement and disengagement. The control unit includes a learning control section for storing a full clutch engagement point upon saturation of the stroke signal in a clutch engagement operation and storing clutch contact point upon start of rotation of an engine input shaft in a clutch engagement operation following a clutch disengagement operation. Based on the full clutch engagement point and clutch contact point, the control unit judges a clutch operation range for control of clutch engagement and disengagement.
Inventors
- 👤 Hitoshi Kasai
- 👤 Noriaki Ogawa
- 👤 Toshihiro Hattori
- 👤 Masaki Ishihara
- 👤 Makoto Uriuhara
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 18:45
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16D; F16D48/00; F16D48/06; F16D48/066; B; B60; B60W; B60W30/00; B60W30/18; B60W50/00; B60W2050/0001; B60W2050/0002; B60W2050/0014; B60W2050/0062; B60W2050/0075; B60W2050/0083; B60W2050/0087; B60W2050/0088; B60W2510/00; B60W2510/02; B60W2510/0208; B60W2510/0225; B60W2510/06; B60W2510/0638; B60W2510/10; B60W2510/104; B60W2540/00; B60W2540/10; B60W2710/00; B60W2710/02; B60W2710/021; B60W2710/022; B60W2710/023; F16D2500/00; F16D2500/10; F16D2500/102; F16D2500/1026
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
162 words
An automatic clutch control system, comprising: a clutch having a full clutch engagement point and a clutch contact point; a clutch actuator for controlling a clutch stroke; a plurality of solenoid valves for controlling said clutch actuator; clutch stroke sensor means for measuring said clutch stroke and for detecting the full clutch engagement point and the clutch contact point in said clutch stroke; control means, for feeding back a stroke signal detected by said clutch stroke sensor and for controlling the solenoid valves to control clutch engagement and disengagement, including learning control means, for storing the full clutch engagement point upon saturation of the stroke signal in a clutch engagement operation and storing a clutch contact point upon start of rotation of a transmission input shaft in a clutch engagement operation following a clutch disengagement operation and for judging a clutch operation range, for control of clutch engagement and disengagement, based on the full clutch engagement point and the clutch contact point.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
162 words
An automatic clutch control system, comprising: a clutch having a full clutch engagement point and a clutch contact point; a clutch actuator for controlling a clutch stroke; a plurality of solenoid valves for controlling said clutch actuator; clutch stroke sensor means for measuring said clutch stroke and for detecting the full clutch engagement point and the clutch contact point in said clutch stroke; control means, for feeding back a stroke signal detected by said clutch stroke sensor and for controlling the solenoid valves to control clutch engagement and disengagement, including learning control means, for storing the full clutch engagement point upon saturation of the stroke signal in a clutch engagement operation and storing a clutch contact point upon start of rotation of a transmission input shaft in a clutch engagement operation following a clutch disengagement operation and for judging a clutch operation range, for control of clutch engagement and disengagement, based on the full clutch engagement point and the clutch contact point.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
166 words
A method for controlling a clutch actuator, to operate a clutch having a clutch stroke, in an automatic transmission system for automobiles, comprising the steps of: (a) detecting an accelerator position by an accelerator position sensor, an engine rotational speed by an engine speed sensor, a clutch stroke by a clutch stroke sensor provided on a clutch actuator, a change lever position by a lever position sensor, an input shaft rotational speed by an input shaft rotational speed sensor, and a transmission gear position by a transmission gear position sensor; (b) performing learning control with a microcomputer by (1) obtaining a full clutch engagement point in a clutch engagement operation based on a saturated clutch stroke signal and then obtaining a clutch contact point in a clutch engagement operation following a clutch disengagement operation and (2) judging an effective clutch operation range based on said full clutch engagement point and clutch contact point; and (c) controlling the clutch stroke based on said effective clutch operation range.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
166 words
A method for controlling a clutch actuator, to operate a clutch having a clutch stroke, in an automatic transmission system for automobiles, comprising the steps of: (a) detecting an accelerator position by an accelerator position sensor, an engine rotational speed by an engine speed sensor, a clutch stroke by a clutch stroke sensor provided on a clutch actuator, a change lever position by a lever position sensor, an input shaft rotational speed by an input shaft rotational speed sensor, and a transmission gear position by a transmission gear position sensor; (b) performing learning control with a microcomputer by (1) obtaining a full clutch engagement point in a clutch engagement operation based on a saturated clutch stroke signal and then obtaining a clutch contact point in a clutch engagement operation following a clutch disengagement operation and (2) judging an effective clutch operation range based on said full clutch engagement point and clutch contact point; and (c) controlling the clutch stroke based on said effective clutch operation range.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method according to claim 2, wherein said learning control step comprises judging the effective clutch operation range based on a clutch stroke back-up value when said full clutch engagement point and clutch contact point are not obtained.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
130 words
An apparatus, including a microcomputer, for controlling a clutch actuator, to operate a clutch having a clutch stroke, in an automatic transmission system for automobiles, comprising: means for detecting an accelerator position, an engine rotational speed, a clutch stroke, a change lever position, an input shaft rotational speed, and a transmission gear position; means for performing learning control, including means for obtaining a full clutch engagement point by a clutch engagement operation based on a saturated clutch stroke signal and then obtaining a clutch contact point by a clutch engagement operation following a clutch disengagement operation and means for judging an effective clutch operation range based on said full clutch engagement point and clutch contact point; and means for controlling a clutch stroke based on said effective clutch operation range.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
130 words
An apparatus, including a microcomputer, for controlling a clutch actuator, to operate a clutch having a clutch stroke, in an automatic transmission system for automobiles, comprising: means for detecting an accelerator position, an engine rotational speed, a clutch stroke, a change lever position, an input shaft rotational speed, and a transmission gear position; means for performing learning control, including means for obtaining a full clutch engagement point by a clutch engagement operation based on a saturated clutch stroke signal and then obtaining a clutch contact point by a clutch engagement operation following a clutch disengagement operation and means for judging an effective clutch operation range based on said full clutch engagement point and clutch contact point; and means for controlling a clutch stroke based on said effective clutch operation range.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the microcomputer comprises said learning control means and said controlling means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4023660A
Cited
US4440279A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-12-15 | 1990-06-16 | 1990-12-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-12-15 | 1994-06-16 | 1994-12-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-12-15 | 1998-06-16 | 1998-12-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |