IP Library Granted Patent US 7,835,844
Granted Patent B2
US 7,835,844 · App. 11/906,583 · Granted Nov 16, 2010

Method and system for control of an automatic friction clutch arranged between an engine and a gearbox on a motor vehicle

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,835,844
App. No.
11/906,583
Granted
Nov 16, 2010
Kind
B2
Abstract

An automatic friction clutch in a drive train of a motor vehicle is controlled to transfer a clutch torque that includes an engine torque-dependent component and a clutch slip-dependent component.

Claims (33)

1. A method for controlling an automated friction clutch disposed between an engine and a transmission of a motor vehicle, the method comprising:

detecting a set of operating state variables of the drive train;

computing a first component of a clutch torque, the first component being essentially engine torque-dependent, wherein the computing of the first component is performed using at least a first operating state variable from the set;

computing a second component of the clutch torque, the second component being slip-dependent, wherein the computing of the second component is performed using at least a second operating state variable from the set;

determining the clutch torque from the first and second components;

controlling the clutch so as to transfer the clutch torque;

computing and correcting at least one parameter of a controller based on at least a third operating state variable from the set; and

adapting the first component using an i-component of the controller in the sense of a reduction of the i-component and wherein the determining of the second component is performed using the controller according to a variance between actual slip and a setpoint slip, the setpoint slip being determined using at least the second operating state variable from the set, wherein during a rapid change of the position of the load control element, the first component is determined using the position of the load control element and a rotational speed of the engine, and during a slow change of the position of the load control element, the first component is determined using additional engine operating variables.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein at least two of the first, second and third operation state variables include the same operation state variable.

3. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the i-component used during the adaptation is corrected during an engine torque change in accordance with a ratio of the engine torque change to a magnitude of the engine torque.

4. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the third operating state variable includes at least one of an engine torque, a clutch torque, a speed fluctuation, a rotational speed, and a gear, and further comprising modifying the setpoint slip speed and a controller characteristic curve as a function of a first driving state, wherein the first driving state includes at least one of a tip-in, a back-out, a quickly decreasing setpoint slip variance, a prolonged negative setpoint slip variance, a creeping, a control instability, and a zero crossing.

5. The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising synchronizing at least one of the adapting of the first component, and the correcting of the at least one parameter of the controller are performed using a characteristic map indicating a speed fluctuation as a function of a static engine torque and a rotational speed.

6. The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising changing the setpoint slip slowly during a change in at least one of the set of operating variables, and temporarliy increasing the setpoint slip in the event of an interference due to at least one of a gear change, a zero crossing, a tip-in and a back-out.

7. The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising detecting a controller instability when predefined number of setpoint slip transitions and threshold value overruns of setpoint slip variances occur within a predetermined time interval, and performing at least one of the following steps in the event of a controller instability: changing a controller parameter; switching to a different controller configuration; reducing the setpoint slip speed; and switching off the slip control.

8. A method for controlling an automated friction clutch disposed between an engine and a transmission of a motor vehicle, the method comprising:

detecting a set of operating state variables of the drive train;

computing a first component of a clutch torque, the first component being essentially engine torque-dependent, wherein the computing of the first component is performed using at least a first operating state variable from the set;

computing a second component of the clutch torque, the second component being slip-dependent, wherein the computing of the second component is performed using at least a second operating state variable from the set;

determining the clutch torque from the first and second components;

controlling the clutch so as to transfer the clutch torque;

computing and correcting at least one parameter of a controller based on at least a third operating state variable from the set;

adapting the first component using an i-component of the controller in the sense of a reduction of the i-component and wherein the determining of the second component is performed using the controller according to a variance between an actual slip and a setpoint slip, the setpoint slip being determined using at least the second operating state variable from the set; and

synchronizing at least one of the adapting of the first component, and the correcting of the at least one parameter of the controller are performed using a characteristic map indicating a speed fluctuation as a function of a static engine torque and a rotational speed.

9. A method for controlling an automated friction clutch disposed between an engine and a transmission of a motor vehicle, the method comprising:

detecting a set of operating state variables of the drive train;

computing a first component of a clutch torque, the first component being essentially engine torque-dependent, wherein the computing of the first component is performed using at least a first operating state variable from the set;

computing a second component of the clutch torque, the second component being slip-dependent, wherein the computing of the second component is performed using at least a second operating state variable from the set;

determining the clutch torque from the first and second components;

controlling the clutch so as to transfer the clutch torque;

computing and correcting at least one parameter of a controller based on at least a third operating state variable from the set;

adapting the first component using an i-component of the controller in the sense of a reduction of the i-component and wherein the determining of the second component is performed using the controller according to a variance between an actual slip and a setpoint slip, the setpoint slip being determined using at least the second operating state variable from the set; and

detecting a controller instability when predefined number of setpoint slip transitions and threshold value overruns of setpoint slip variances occur within a predetermined time interval, and performing at least one of the following steps in the event of a controller instability:

changing a controller parameter; switching to a different controller configuration; reducing the setpoint slip speed; and switching off the slip control.

Assignments (3)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE PROPERTY NUMBERS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 037732 FRAME 0347. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE APP. NO. 14/553248 SHOULD BE APP. NO. 14/553258. Recorded Oct 11, 2016
From: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES GMBH & CO. KG
To: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KG
Reel/Frame 040404/0530 →
MERGER AND CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 5, 2016
From: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KG; SCHAEFFLER VERWALTUNGS 5 GMBH
To: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES GMBH & CO. KG
Reel/Frame 037732/0228 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 5, 2016
From: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES GMBH & CO. KG
To: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KG
Reel/Frame 037732/0347 →