Patent ID: 9090240
Filing Date: 2015-07-28
Classification: B60W,B60Y,F16H,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method for managing clutch thermal loads in a multi-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT) that is paired with an internal combustion engine in a vehicle, the method comprising: assessing operation of the DCT; ascertaining a mode of operation of a clutch in the DCT; predicting, in response to the ascertained mode of operation of the clutch, an amount of time remaining until the clutch reaches a threshold temperature, wherein said predicting the amount of time remaining until the clutch reaches the threshold temperature includes employing the Newton-Raphson method to approximate the amount of time remaining; ascertaining whether the predicted amount of time remaining until the clutch reaches the threshold temperature is within a predetermined range of time; and activating an indicator configured to signal that the predicted amount of time remaining until the clutch reaches the threshold temperature is within the predetermined range of time, wherein the threshold temperature is a first value indicative of the clutch being overheated, the method further comprising regulating the operation of the DCT such that energy input to the clutch is reduced when the predicted amount of time remaining until the clutch reaches the first value is within the predetermined range of time.