IP Library Granted Patent US 8,449,433
Granted Patent B2
US 8,449,433 · App. 13/445,549 · Granted May 28, 2013

Clutch device

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,449,433
App. No.
13/445,549
Granted
May 28, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

A clutch device, which has at least one clutch, which can assume an open operating state and a closed operating state, in which a torque can be transmitted by the clutch, an actuator device for activating the clutch, and a sensor device, which has a motion sensor. In order to simplify the actuation strategy of the clutch device, the sensor device has an additional sensor, which detects whether the actuator device is in or near an actuator end position in which the clutch is in the open operating state thereof.

Claims (7)

1. A method for actuating and/or operating a clutch device that comprises at least one clutch, which can assume an open operating state and a closed operating state and which can transmit a torque, an actuator device for actuating the clutch, and a redundant sensor device for the actuator device having a movement sensor and an additional sensor, the additional sensor detects only whether the actuator device is situated in or near an actuator end position, the method comprising the following method steps:

detecting, by using the additional sensor of the redundant sensor device, whether the actuator device is situated in or near the actuator end position in which the clutch is in the open operating state; and

checking whether an actuator end a position information item, which is detected with aid of the movement sensor, corresponds with the signal of the additional sensor, and carrying out a calibration operation if there is no correspondence.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 , further involving reading out a signal from the addition& sensor after an ignition is switched on and/or a control device is reset to ensure that the actuator device is situated in or near the actuator end position.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 , including moving the actuator with a substantially great force in a direction of the actuator end position if the signal of the additional sensor indicates that the actuator device is not situated in or near the actuator end position.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the additional sensor is a limit switch.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the additional sensor is an absolute movement sensor with a small detection region near the actuator end position of the actuator device.

Assignments (3)
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 →