IP Library Granted Patent US 8,257,224
Granted Patent B2
US 8,257,224 · App. 13/365,412 · Granted Sep 4, 2012

Method for controlling an inching procedure of a motor vehicle

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,257,224
App. No.
13/365,412
Granted
Sep 4, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for controlling an inching procedure of a motor vehicle, which has at least one friction clutch arranged between a drive unit and a transmission. The torque of the clutch is specified by a control unit and set by a clutch actuator. If the brake and load lever are not actuated, a multi-stage is started by an torque set by the clutch. To perform the process, the torque is increased up to a specified maximum limit to reach a specified speed in a first stage. A specified time period is waited in a second stage if the specified speed does not reached the maximum limit. The torque is increased by a specified value in a third phase if the specified speed is not reached, and the torque is reduced in a fourth stage and a driver warning is output if the specified speed again is not reached.

Claims (17)

1. A method for controlling a creeping maneuver of a motor vehicle having at least one automatically actuated friction clutch which is arranged so as to act between a drive unit and a gearbox, the friction clutch having a torque transmission capability that is predefined by a control unit and adjusted by a clutch actuator, the clutch actuator having a first sensor device for detecting the speed of the motor vehicle, a second sensor device for detecting an actuation of a service brake of the motor vehicle, and a third sensor device for detecting an actuation of a load lever which controls the drive unit as a function of a driver demand, the method comprising the steps of:

starting a multi-stage creeping process with a creeping torque set at the friction clutch when the service brake is not actuated and the load lever is not actuated;

increasing the creeping torque in a load-dependent manner up to a predefined maximum limit value in order to attain a predefined speed in a first stage;

allowing a predefined period of time to elapse in a second stage if the predefined speed is not reached at the maximum limit value of the creeping torque;

increasing the creeping torque by a predefined value in a third phase if the predefined speed is not reached; and

reducing the creeping torque and outputting a warning to a driver in a fourth stage if the predefined speed is still not reached.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the maximum limit value of the creeping torque is predefined as a function of a temperature of the friction clutch.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein driver warning is realized by a modulation of the torque that can be transmitted via the friction clutch.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the modulation takes place in sawtooth form or in a form of torque steps.

5. The method as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the modulation takes place at a fixed frequency with continuous reduction of the creeping torque to zero.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the fourth stage is terminated by a driver reaction.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the driver reaction is an actuation of the service brake, the load lever and/or a selector lever for adjusting the gearbox.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a braking intervention initiated by an automated brake system takes place in the third stage.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a driver warning is started in the third stage.

10. The method as claimed in claim 1 , including skipping the third stage, if the motor vehicle is rolling and being braked as a result of increasing rolling resistance.

11. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein, if a parking brake is actuated, the creeping torque is reduced.

12. The method as claimed in claim 1 , including starting the creeping maneuver upon release of a parking brake only in conjunction with a release of the service brake.

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 →
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 3, 2012
From: REUSCHEL, MICHAEL
To: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KG
Reel/Frame 027648/0053 →