IP Library Granted Patent US 8,241,180
Granted Patent B2
US 8,241,180 · App. 12/478,498 · Granted Aug 14, 2012

Method for controlling a creeping process and drive train configured for such method

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,241,180
App. No.
12/478,498
Granted
Aug 14, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

A drive train of a motor vehicle with an internal combustion engine, a torque converter and a transmission, wherein a separation clutch is provided between the internal combustion engine and the torque converter. In order to be able to perform a creeping process at a certain creeping velocity, the separation clutch is operated slipping. This way, the gearing of the startup process can be configured long, even when using a so-called hard torque converter, without having to tolerate a creeping velocity, which is too high.

Claims (15)

1. A method for controlling a creeping process in a drive train ( 1 ) with an internal combustion engine ( 2 ), a torque converter ( 18 ) and a transmission ( 15 ), comprising:

decoupling the internal combustion engine ( 2 ) and the torque converter ( 18 ) from one another through a separation clutch ( 5 ); and,

at least partially slipping the separation clutch ( 5 ) during the creeping process.

2. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising, slipping the separation clutch at a slip rate with at least two stages.

3. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising, in order to start the creeping process:

controlling the separation clutch ( 5 ) to a predetermined maximum creep torque (M(max)); and

when a creeping velocity is reached, regulating the creeping torque downward while maintaining the creeping velocity (v).

4. The method according to claim 3 , further comprising, adjusting the creeping velocity (v) as a function of a predetermined driving program.

5. The method according to claim 4 , further comprising, selecting the driving program from the group consisting of sport, comfort and winter program.

6. The method according to claim 3 , further comprising, individually adjusting the creeping velocity (v) by a driver.

7. A drive train ( 1 ) for a motor vehicle with an internal combustion engine ( 2 ), a torque converter ( 18 ) and an automated transmission ( 15 ) with plural gears and a separation clutch ( 5 ), coupling the internal combustion engine ( 2 ) and the torque converter ( 18 ), wherein a creeping process with predetermined creeping velocity is activated when an accelerator pedal is not actuated and a brake is not actuated, wherein a velocity greater than the creeping velocity is achieved during a start-up process with the shortest gearing and with a completely closed separation clutch ( 5 ) and with the combustion engine ( 2 ) operated at idle.

8. The drive train ( 1 ) according to claim 7 , wherein the separation clutch ( 5 ) is operated slipping in order to adjust the creeping velocity (v).

9. The drive train ( 1 ) according to claim 7 , wherein the creeping velocity (v) is adjusted through the torque converter ( 18 ) as a function of the slippage of the separation clutch ( 5 ) and of the augmentation of the transferable torque.

10. The drive train ( 1 ) according to claim 9 , wherein the slippage of the separation clutch ( 5 ) is increased by the torque converter ( 18 ) at constant creeping velocity and with increasing transferrable torque.

11. The drive train ( 1 ) according to claim 7 , wherein the speed of the internal combustion engine ( 2 ) is kept constant during the creeping process.

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 →
MERGER Recorded Apr 25, 2012
From: LUK LAMELLEN UND KUPPLUNGSBAU BETEILIGUNGS KG
To: LUK VERMOEGENSVERWALTUNGSGESELLSCHAFT MBH
Reel/Frame 028106/0668 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 25, 2012
From: LUK VERMOEGENSVERWALTUNGSGESELLSCHAFT MBH
To: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KG
Reel/Frame 028106/0935 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 20, 2009
From: KLUMP, MARKUS; VORNEHM, MARTIN; LANG, DIETMAR
To: LUK LAMELLEN UND KUPPLUNGSBAU BETEILIGUNGS KG
Reel/Frame 023125/0602 →