Patent ID: 7347802
Filing Date: 2008-03-25
Classification: B60K,B60W,F16H,Y02T,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A clutch control apparatus for a hybrid vehicle having an engine and a motor as power sources, and an output shaft to which at least one of the driving powers of the engine and the motor is transmitted for driving the vehicle in an engine cruise mode in which the vehicle is driven by the engine, or in a motor cruise mode in which the vehicle is driven by the motor, the clutch control apparatus comprising: a clutch device which is provided between the engine and motor and the output shaft, and which is adapted to selectively disconnect the driving powers of the engine and motor from the output shaft; and a clutch control device operatively connected to the clutch device for controlling an engagement degree of the clutch device when the driving mode of the vehicle is alternately switched between the engine cruise mode and the motor cruise mode, wherein the clutch control device is adapted to execute a clutch relaxation control operation when the driving mode of the vehicle is switched between the engine cruise mode and the motor cruise mode, which includes an engagement decreasing control operation in which the engagement degree of the clutch device is decreased, and a subsequent engagement recovery control operation in which the engagement degree of the clutch device is gradually increased and recovered, and is further adapted to execute an engagement increasing control operation in which the engagement degree of the clutch device is forced to increase when a revolution rate of the engine falls below a predetermined value.