Patent ID: 6086508
Filing Date: 2000-07-11
Classification: B60W,F16D,Y10T

Abstract:
An automatic clutch in a drive train of a motor vehicle, said drive train having a transmission which is manually shifted between different drive positions or transmission stages, an adjusting unit which automatically actuates the clutch and a system of sensors which serves for controlling said adjusting unit, the system sensing at least driver actuation of a vehicle brake, driver actuation of an engine control element as well as an activated state of a drive position or transmission stage, wherein the adjusting unit sets the clutch to a creeping moment if, with the engine running, the vehicle brake and the control element are unactuated, or releases the clutch if the vehicle brake remains actuated and the control element is not actuated, and further wherein, when the vehicle brake is actuated, the clutch moment is reduced continuously according to a predetermined ramp, so that if the brake remains actuated the clutch moment is slowly reduced until a fully released state of the clutch is reached.