Patent ID: 7041031

Claim:
An automated friction clutch (C), adapted to be fitted to a vehicle and engageable to transfer power from an engine (E) to a mechanical change gear transmission ( 11 ) and a central processing unit (CPU) for controlling operation of the clutch, and capable of sending command signals to the engine (E) and transmission, a plurality of sensors ( 22 , 25 , 28 , 30 ) whose outputs are supplied as inputs to the central processing unit (CPU) for use in calculating a gradient on which the vehicle is operating and a weight of the vehicle (GVW), the calculated values of gradient and vehicle weight being used by the central processing unit (CPU) to calculate a value of modified urge torque (UT.sub.MOD) and to provide command signals to the engine (E) to deliver to the clutch (C) a torque output equal to the modified urge torque (UT.sub.MOD) and to a clutch operator ( 27 ) to engage to said clutch (C) to the transmit the modified urge torque (UT.sub.MOD).