IP Library Granted Patent US 8,024,988
Granted Patent B2
US 8,024,988 · App. 12/643,452 · Granted Sep 27, 2011

Drive unit for a motor vehicle

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,024,988
App. No.
12/643,452
Granted
Sep 27, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

A drive unit for a motor vehicle, comprising an engine, a transmission or gearbox, a clutch aggregate for transmitting torque, the clutch aggregate including at least two friction clutches that are assigned to an input shaft of the transmission or gearbox, wherein at least one of the at least two friction clutches features an energy accumulator operatively arranged to generate a lock-up force required for torque transmission through the clutch aggregate, and a control unit operatively arranged to control an automatic activation of the at least two friction clutches and the transmission or gearbox, wherein in the event of a malfunction of the activation of the friction clutch, the stored energy in the accumulator creates an interruption of torque transmission within a section of the drive unit connected downstream of the clutch aggregate.

Claims (9)

1. A drive unit for a motor vehicle, comprising:

an engine;

a transmission or gearbox;

a clutch aggregate for transmitting torque, the clutch aggregate including at least two friction clutches that are assigned to respective first and second input shafts of the transmission or gearbox, wherein torque is transmitted through the clutch aggregate when at least one of the at least two friction clutches is closed; and,

a control unit operatively arranged to control an automatic activation of the at least two friction clutches and the transmission or gearbox, wherein in the event of a malfunction of the activation of at least one of the at least two friction clutches, an auxiliary clutch for at least one of the first and second input shafts is opened to create an interruption of torque transmission within a section of the drive unit connected downstream of the clutch aggregate.

2. The drive unit according to claim 1 , wherein the interruption of torque transmission takes place within the transmission or gearbox.

3. The drive unit according to claim 1 , wherein the auxiliary clutch can be closed again after elimination of the malfunction.

4. The drive unit according to claim 1 , wherein means for interruption of torque transmission are connected upstream of gears that are accommodated on the gearbox input shaft assigned to the clutch aggregate.

5. The drive unit according to claim 1 , wherein the interruption of torque transmission takes place through disengagement of a gear of the transmission or gearbox.

Assignments (4)
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 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 5, 2016
From: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES GMBH & CO. KG
To: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KG
Reel/Frame 037731/0834 →
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 →