Patent ID: 8261898

Claim:
A method of operating a construction machine, the construction machine having a machine frame, a working drum supported from the machine frame, a combustion engine supported from the machine frame, a drive train connecting the combustion engine and the working drum, the drive train including a clutch, the clutch including a drive side including at least one drive side clutch element and an output side including at least one output side clutch element operably engageable with the at least one drive side clutch element, the method comprising: (a) transferring a load torque from the engine to the working drum during a working mode when the working drum is working a ground surface; (b) transferring a drag torque from the engine to the working drum during a non-working mode when the working drum is rotating but not working a ground surface; and (c) during engagement of the clutch, transmitting a braking torque between the output side of the clutch and the drive side of the clutch without passing the braking torque through the operably engaged clutch elements, the braking torque being smaller than the load torque and larger than the drag torque.