Method for controlling a friction clutch

1. A method for controlling a friction clutch, which is arranged so as to act between a drive unit and a gearbox and which has a clutch disk with friction linings and counterpart friction surfaces, the method comprising the steps of:

detecting a torque transmitted via the friction clutch;

determining a friction coefficient between the friction linings of the clutch disk and the counterpart friction surfaces of the friction clutch;

evaluating functional capability based on the friction coefficient determined; and

suspending the evaluating step during a predefined run-in phase of the friction clutch.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 , including activating the run-in phase until a threshold of a total amount of energy input into the friction clutch is reached.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2 , including forming the total amount of energy input by integrating an associated frictional power.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3 , wherein integrating the frictional power input takes place only above a predefined threshold of the frictional power.

5. The method as claimed in claim 3 , including weighting a calculation of the total amount of energy as a function of a temperature of the friction clutch prevailing at the frictional power determined.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1 , including, during the run-in phase, setting a signal, and suspending the evaluation while the signal is active.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1 , including, during the run-in phase, limiting a torque of the drive unit to a maximum torque that can be transmitted via the friction clutch.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1 , including establishing a histogram of frictional energy input into the friction clutch or of power classes of arising frictional energies, and evaluating run-in behavior of the friction clutch by evaluating the histogram.