Patent ID: 6910330

Claim:
A method for controlling the power-consumption of a starting element ( 1 ) in form of a hydrodynamic clutch ( 2 ), comprising an impeller ( 4 ) and a turbine wheel ( 5 ), which form with one another at least one toroidal working chamber that can be filled with an operating medium ( 6 ), and is located in a drive train ( 3 ) with at least one other drive motor that can be coupled to the hydrodynamic clutch ( 2 ), wherein the power consumption can be freely adjusted as a function of the volumetric efficiency of the hydrodynamic clutch ( 2 ), the method comprising: directing at least one portion of the operating medium in the working chamber ( 6 ) during the operation of the hydrodynamic clutch ( 2 ) in a closed rotating circuit ( 42 ) between at least one outlet ( 18 ) from the toroidal working chamber ( 6 ) between the impeller ( 4 ) and turbine wheel ( 5 ) and at least one inlet ( 44 ) into the toroidal working chamber ( 6 ); influencing the supply of operating medium to the working chamber ( 6 ) or the removal of operating medium from the working chamber ( 6 ) by the generation and introduction of a static superposition pressure into the closed rotating circuit; supplying or removing the operating medium to or from the working chamber ( 6 ) via an operating medium reservoir ( 40 ) which is pressure tight connected to the inlet ( 44 ) in the toroidal working chamber ( 6 ); wherein the supple of operating medium to the working chamber ( 6 ) or the removal of operating medium from the working chamber ( 6 ) takes place by applying a superposition or influence pressure to the operating medium level of the operating medium reservoir ( 40 ); and wherein when a value is present which characterizes the power desired to be received of the hydrodynamic clutch ( 2 ) at least indirectly, creating a manipulated variable for the generation of an influence pressure on the operating medium resting in the operating medium reservoir ( 40 ), and triggering a servo unit that generates the influence pressure.