Patent US5489012A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5489012A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Clutch control system
Assignee: LuK Leamington Ltd
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Filing: 1992-11-19
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Granted: 1996-02-06
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Expires: 2012-11-19
Abstract
Abstract A system for preventing a vehicle from running away downhill and for ensuring a smooth take-up from rest, in which signals proportional to engine speed (Ve) and vehicle speed (Vdp) are used. The engine speed signal is compared with a reference signal (Vs) to produce an engagement signal (E) which controls a clutch actuation means for engagement of the clutch. The vehicle speed signal (Vdp) and the engine speed signal (Ve) are fed into a filter (71) which produces a clutch actuation signal if either (Vdp or E) exceeds a predetermined value.
Inventors
- 👤 Stephen D. Buckley
- 👤 Ian D. Kennedy
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 06:20
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16D; F16D48/00; F16D48/06; F16D48/066; B; B60; B60W; B60W50/00; B60W2050/0001; B60W2050/0002; B60W2050/0008; B60W2050/001; B60W2050/0043; B60W2050/0052; B60W2510/00; B60W2510/06; B60W2510/0638; B60W2710/00; B60W2710/02; B60W2710/021; B60W2710/022; F16D2500/00; F16D2500/10; F16D2500/104; F16D2500/10443; F16D2500/1045; F16D2500/30; F16D2500/306; F16D2500/3067; F16D2500/308; F16D2500/30806; F16D2500/31; F16D2500/3108; F16D2500/314; F16D2500/3146; F16D2500/31466; F16D2500/50; F16D2500/502; F16D2500/50224; F16D2500/508; F16D2500/50825; F16D2500/70; F16D2500/706; F16D2500/70668
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
107 words
A friction clutch control system for a vehicle having a clutch, a gearbox and an engine, the system comprising a vehicle speed sensor for generating a vehicle speed signal variable with the speed of the vehicle, a clutch engagement signal generator that produces an engagement signal utilised for controlling a clutch actuation means that operates the clutch engagement, a filter means that receives the engagement signal and the vehicle speed signal to generate a clutch actuation signal for operation of the clutch actuation means for engagement of the clutch in the event that either the vehicle speed signal and/or the engagement signal exceeds a predetermined minimum value.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
107 words
A friction clutch control system for a vehicle having a clutch, a gearbox and an engine, the system comprising a vehicle speed sensor for generating a vehicle speed signal variable with the speed of the vehicle, a clutch engagement signal generator that produces an engagement signal utilised for controlling a clutch actuation means that operates the clutch engagement, a filter means that receives the engagement signal and the vehicle speed signal to generate a clutch actuation signal for operation of the clutch actuation means for engagement of the clutch in the event that either the vehicle speed signal and/or the engagement signal exceeds a predetermined minimum value.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
65 words
A system according to claim 1, wherein the clutch actuation signal is passed into a limiter which also receives a vehicle engine speed signal, the limiter being enabled by the engine speed exceeding a predetermined value, so that the engagement of the clutch is proportional to the engine speed up to a second predetermined value of engine speed where the clutch can be fully engaged.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
A clutch control system according to claim 2 wherein the filter means, limiter and clutch actuation means comprises a microprocessor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
55 words
A system according to claim 2 which further includes, a gear sensor used for controlling the clutch actuation means, so that when the engine is not running, the clutch is only engageable when the vehicle speed signal exceeds a minimum value, the vehicle is in neutral, and then the vehicle is subsequently put in gear.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
56 words
A system according to claim 1 which further includes, a gear position sensor used for controlling the clutch actuation means, so that when the engine is not running, the clutch is only engageable when the vehicle speed signal exceeds a minimum value, the vehicle is in neutral, and then the vehicle is subsequently put in gear.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein when the engine is running and the vehicle speed exceeds said predetermined value, the clutch is ramped to a level of engagement in order to control the engine speed to a predetermined level.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein when the engine is not running, and the vehicle speed drops below a further predetermined value the clutch is caused to disengage.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
A system according to claim 7 wherein the vehicle speed sensor further comprises means for varying the vehicle speed signal according to the state of the gearbox.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
A system according to claim 1 wherein the vehicle speed sensor comprises means for measuring the speed of rotation of a driven plate of the clutch.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
A system according to claim 1 wherein the vehicle speed sensor comprises means for measuring the speed of rotation of an output from the gearbox.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-02-05 | 1999-08-07 | 2000-02-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-02-05 | 2003-08-07 | 2004-02-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-02-05 | 2007-08-07 | 2008-02-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |