Patent ID: 6113517
Filing Date: 2000-09-05
Classification: B60W,F16D,F16H,Y10T

Abstract:
A motor vehicle comprising a power train including a transmission; a variable-RPM prime mover; a repeatedly engageable and disengageable automated torque trasmitting clutch having friction linings which are subject to heating and wear in response to repeated engagement and disengagement of the clutch and which are arranged to slip relative to adjacent constituents of the clutch in an at least partially engaged condition of the clutch; and means for operating said clutch, including a signal receiving, processing and transmitting control unit, means for transmitting signals to said control unit including means for transmitting signals denoting the RPM of said prime mover, and at least one actuator for changing the extent of engagement of and hence the magnitude of torque being transmitted by said clutch in response to signals from said control unit, said control unit being arranged to carry out at least one of the operations including determining and ascertaining the extent of slip of said friction linings relative to said adjacent constituents of the clutch, to ascertain the magnitude of torque which the clutch can transmit, to calculate at least one of (a) an energy input of said friction linings, (b) a rise of temperature of said friction linings, and (c) the extent of wear upon said friction linings on the basis of the ascertained slip and magnitude of torque, to compare the ascertained magnitude of torque with a first threshold value, to compare the ascertained rise of temperature with a second threshold value, to compare the ascertained extent of wear with a third threshold value, to maintain the magnitude of torque being transmitted at least substantially unaffected by said energy input for a first interval of time when at least one of said threshold values is exceeded, to repeatedly vary the magnitude of torque being transmitted as a function of time during a second interval of time following said first interval, and to increase the torque being transmitted by said clutch during a third interval of time following at least one of (a) the elapse of said second interval and (b) the elapse of said second interval but prior to expiration of said third interval when the RPM of said prime mover decreases to a predetermined minimum value.