System for controlling an electromagnetic clutch for a vehicle

Claim 1

In a system for a motor vehicle having an engine, an accelerator pedal for controlling air-fuel ratio of fuel mixture supplied to the engine, a choke valve for controlling the air-fuel ratio of the fuel mixture at a cold engine condition, a continuously variable transmission, an electromagnetic clutch having a coil for operating the clutch for transmitting the power of the engine to the transmission, the transmission having a drive range, reverse range and neutral range, and a selector lever for selecting the ranges, the improvement in the system comprising: vehicle speed detecting means for producing a first vehicle speed signal at a first predetermined low speed and respectively a second vehicle speed signal when vehicle speed is between said first predetermined low speed and a second predetermined speed higher than said first low speed; drive range detecting means for detecting the position of said selector lever and for producing a drive signal when said selector lever is at a drive range position; switch means for producing a release signal during release of the accelerator pedal; means for producing a choke signal when the choke valve of the engine is closed; first control means responsive to said first vehicle speed signal and to said drive signal for producing a lock-up current signal; second control means responsive to said second vehicle speed signal, said release signal and said choke signal for producing a current reducing signal; clutch current control means responsive to said lock-up current signal for controlling current passing through the coil in said electromagnetic clutch to lock-up said electromagnetic clutch, and respectively responsive to the current reducing signal for reducing the current through the coil to slightly slip said clutch, so as to prevent elevation of temperature of the clutch at cold engine.