Clutch controller
View Patent ↗A claw clutch includes first and second rotors disposed coaxially with each other, and is switched between an engaged state engaging teeth of the rotors and a disengaged state releasing the engagement. An actuator moves either one of the rotors in an axial direction to switch the clutch between the states. A synchronization controlling unit controls an electric motor coupled to the second rotor to cause its rotation number to approach the rotation number of the first rotor when the clutch is switched to the engaged state. An engagement controlling unit that controls the actuator moves either one of the rotors to a position where the teeth are engaged before a difference in rotation speed between the rotors falls within a predetermined range and the rotation number of the second rotor reaches that of the first rotor when the clutch is switched to the engaged state.
1. A clutch controller comprising:
a claw clutch including a first rotor having an engagement tooth and a second rotor disposed coaxially with the first rotor and having the engagement tooth, the claw clutch being configured to be switched between an engaged state where the engagement teeth are engaged with each other and a disengaged state where the engagement between the engagement teeth is released;
an actuator to move either one of the first rotor and the second rotor in an axial direction to switch the claw clutch between the engaged state and the disengaged state;
a synchronization controlling unit to control an electric motor coupled to the second rotor to control a rotation speed of the second rotor such that the rotation speed of the second rotor approaches a rotation speed of the first rotor when the claw clutch is switched to the engaged state; and
an engagement controlling unit to control the actuator to move the either one of the first rotor and the second rotor toward the other when the claw clutch is switched to the engaged state, wherein
the engagement controlling unit moves the either one of first rotor and the second rotor to a position where the engagement teeth are engaged with each other in the axial direction before a difference in the rotation speed between the first rotor and the second rotor falls within a predetermined range and the rotation speed of the second rotor reaches the rotation speed of the first rotor.
2. The clutch controller according to claim 1 , wherein
the engagement tooth of the first rotor includes a first chamfered portion provided at a tip and a first engagement portion extending from the first chamfered portion;
the engagement tooth of the second rotor includes a second chamfered portion provided at a tip and a second engagement portion extending from the second chamfered portion; and
the engagement controlling unit moves the either one of the first rotor and the second rotor to a position where the first engagement portion and the second engagement portion are engaged with each other in the axial direction before the difference in the rotation speed between the first rotor and the second rotor falls within the predetermined range and the rotation speed of the second rotor reaches the rotation speed of the first rotor.
3. The clutch controller according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a synchronization predicting unit to predict a synchronization time period required for the difference in the rotation speed between the first rotor and the second rotor to fall within the predetermined range, wherein
the engagement controlling unit starts the movement of the either one of the first rotor and the second rotor based on the synchronization time period before the difference in the rotation speed between the first rotor and the second rotor falls within the predetermined range.
4. The clutch controller according to claim 2 , further comprising:
a synchronization predicting unit to predict a synchronization time period required for the difference in the rotation speed between the first rotor and the second rotor to fall within the predetermined range, wherein
the engagement controlling unit starts the movement of the either one of the first rotor and the second rotor based on the synchronization time period before the difference in the rotation speed between the first rotor and the second rotor falls within the predetermined range.
5. The clutch controller according to any one of claim 1 , wherein the claw clutch does not include a rotation synchronization mechanism.
6. The clutch controller according to any one of claim 2 , wherein the claw clutch does not include a rotation synchronization mechanism.
7. The clutch controller according to any one of claim 3 , wherein the claw clutch does not include a rotation synchronization mechanism.
8. The clutch controller according to any one of claim 4 , wherein the claw clutch does not include a rotation synchronization mechanism.