IP Library Granted Patent US 8,172,059
Granted Patent B2
US 8,172,059 · App. 12/396,092 · Granted May 8, 2012

Clutch system

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,172,059
App. No.
12/396,092
Granted
May 8, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

The clutch system relates to an automatic friction clutch with a hydrostatically actuator-controlled clutch withdrawal. In such clutch release systems, a slave cylinder pressurized by a master cylinder in an engaged state is in connection with a reservoir (tank) via a connection opening uncovered by the master cylinder piston. To determine the opening deviations and location of the connection opening, it is proposed that actuation of master cylinder be velocity-dependent and pressure patterns of the hydrostatic clutch release system be evaluated.

Claims (10)

1. A clutch system with friction clutch automatically actuated by an actuator having a hydrostatic clutch withdrawal system, comprising:

a control unit activating the actuator;

a slave cylinder; and

a master cylinder connected with and pressurizing said slave cylinder through a line, the master cylinder including a resting state, wherein a master cylinder piston is positioned to uncover a connection opening to a reservoir, and the master cylinder piston is actuated according to a pressure pattern to cover and uncover the connection opening at different actuation travels,

wherein pressure patterns of the clutch withdrawal system are determined and dependent upon an actuation velocity of the master cylinder piston, and

wherein, in the pressure pattern of the master cylinder piston, starting from the resting state, cycles of fast and slow actuations of the master cylinder piston are performed in an actuation direction with increasing displacement from a starting point in the actuation direction, in order to determine closure of the connection opening through a distance that tends to zero relative to an actuation travel.

2. The clutch system according to claim 1 , wherein the master cylinder piston is actuated at least at two different velocities when actuated according to the pressure pattern such that the connection opening is transformed from an uncovered state and a covered state by the master cylinder piston.

3. The clutch system according to claim 2 , wherein the pressure patterns are evaluated by means of a pressure sensor disposed on the clutch withdrawal system.

4. The clutch system according to claim 2 , wherein the pressure patterns are determined by comparison of locations of a sensing point on the friction clutch after the master cylinder passes over the connection opening at different velocities.

5. The clutch system according to claim 1 , wherein the connection opening is opened and closed by means of a snifting groove located on one side of the master cylinder piston and in connection with a U-seal fixed on a housing and dependent on distance covered by the master cylinder piston.

Assignments (6)
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 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 15, 2012
From: LUK VERMOEGENSVERWALTUNGSGESELLSCHAFT MBH
To: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KG
Reel/Frame 027706/0501 →
MERGER Recorded Jan 26, 2012
From: LUK LAMELLEN UND KUPPLUNGSBAU BETEILIGUNGS KG
To: LUK VERMOEGENSVERWALTUNGSGESELLSCHAFT MBH
Reel/Frame 027597/0544 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 2, 2009
From: REUSCHEL, MICHAEL; RAMMHOFER, THOMAS
To: LUK LAMELLEN UND KUPPLUNGSBAU BETEILIGUNGS KG
Reel/Frame 022332/0408 →