Patent ID: 7757831

Claim:
A method for actuating at least one clutch of a vehicle in a hydraulic circuit having a pump, a hydraulic pressure storage device, and at least one solenoid valve situated in a hydraulic fluid infeed of the at least one clutch, said method comprising the steps of: providing as a hydraulic pressure storage device a low pressure hydraulic reservoir that is operatively connected with a clutch actuator of the at least one clutch and with the pump, wherein the low pressure hydraulic reservoir is pressurized to a pressure of up to about 10 bar; supplying pressurized hydraulic fluid from the low pressure hydraulic reservoir to fill the clutch actuator of the at least one clutch prior to clutch operation; and supplying to the clutch actuator pressurized hydraulic fluid from the pump at a pressure higher than the pressure of the low pressure reservoir for rapidly engaging the at least one clutch by providing the clutch actuator with needed pressurized hydraulic fluid at a requisite operating pressure to actuate the at least one clutch.