KR102731300B1 - Method for operating a clutch and clutch system - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method (10) for operating a clutch (34) within a power train (32) of a vehicle, wherein torque transmission between a drive element (36) and a transmission (38) can be performed via the clutch (34), wherein the transmission (38) has a plurality of gear stages, which gear stages can be manually engaged by a vehicle driver (12), wherein the clutch (34) is operated by a clutch operating system (42) and assumes an open or closed state (16), wherein torque transmission is performed in the closed state, wherein torque transmission via the clutch (34) is stopped when an unsuitable gear stage is engaged and the speed of the vehicle is less than or equal to a limit speed. The present invention also relates to a clutch system (30) within a vehicle power train (32) to which the method (10) is applied.

Description

{METHOD FOR OPERATING A CLUTCH AND CLUTCH SYSTEM}

The present invention relates to a method for operating a clutch in a power train of a vehicle, according to the preamble of claim 1. The present invention also relates to a clutch system in a power train of a vehicle, according to the preamble of claim 10.

A method for actuating a clutch is known, for example, from DE 10 2015 213 655 A1. This document describes a method in which protection of a vehicle clutch system is achieved. For this purpose, in order to prevent overloading of the clutch system during the vehicle starting process, the vehicle starting in the second gear is interrupted. This is achieved by starting the vehicle automatically in the first gear or by the activation of a traffic jam assistance system, as a result of which the engaged second gear is automatically deactivated.

Another method for actuating a clutch is known from DE 10 2015 218 246 A1. The method described generates a warning signal in the powertrain of the vehicle. This warning signal for the driver is a change in the torque transmitted from the clutch, which is triggered by interrupting a starting attempt in the second gear of the transmission or in a higher gear.

The object of the present invention is to propose an improved method for operating a clutch within a power train of a vehicle. In addition, a clutch system having an improved method for operating a clutch should be proposed.

At least one of the above tasks is solved by a method for operating a clutch in a power train of a vehicle, having the features according to claim 1. Correspondingly, a method for operating a clutch in a power train of a vehicle is proposed, wherein the torque transmission between a drive element and a transmission can be performed via the clutch, wherein the transmission has a plurality of gears, which gears can be manually engaged by the vehicle driver, wherein the clutch is operated by a clutch actuation system, assumes an open or closed state, wherein the torque transmission takes place in the closed state, and in this case, when an unsuitable gear is engaged and the speed of the vehicle is less than or equal to a limit speed, the torque transmission via the clutch is interrupted.

By doing so, the clutch can be reliably protected from overload. Furthermore, premature wear of the clutch can be prevented. As a result, starting the vehicle in an unsuitable gear can be reliably and reliably prevented.

In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the closed state of the clutch also includes a partially closed state, for example a slip state of the clutch.

In one particular embodiment of the present invention, the clutch actuation system maintains the clutch in an open state, thereby stopping torque transmission through the clutch. A closed state of the clutch can be prevented. Starting of the vehicle in an inappropriate gear can be prevented.

In another special embodiment of the invention, the limit speed is 5 km/h, in particular 4 km/h, in particular 3 km/h, in particular 2 km/h, in particular 1 km/h, in particular 0. The speed can be determined by detection of the wheel rotation speed, for example via an ABS sensor. Detection of the engaged gear can be performed via a transmission sensor.

In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the unsuitable gear is one of a plurality of unsuitable gears including all gears other than the first gear, the second gear, and the reverse gear. Starting in the first gear, the second gear, and the reverse gear may be possible.

In one particular embodiment of the present invention, a warning signal is transmitted to the driver to indicate that the gear is not suitable, wherein the warning signal is an acoustic signal and/or an optical signal that can be heard by the driver. The warning signal may be a flashing of a gear indicator light, or an illumination or flashing of a warning light.

In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, when changing to one engaged gear or to another engaged gear, the clutch is in an open state. In this case, the clutch pedal can be operated by the driver.

In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the drive element is an internal combustion engine and/or an electric motor, the transmission is a manual transmission, and/or the clutch is an automatic or semi-automatic clutch.

In one very preferred embodiment of the present invention, the clutch is assigned to a clutch-by-wire system which transmits the driver's clutch operation request to the clutch operation system by operation of the clutch pedal by the driver.

One of the aforementioned tasks is also solved by a clutch system in a power train of a vehicle, having the features of claim 10. Correspondingly, a clutch system in a power train of a vehicle is proposed, comprising a clutch for transmitting torque between a drive element and a transmission and a clutch actuation system for actuating said clutch so that the clutch assumes an open state or a closed state, said clutch system applying a method having at least one of the aforementioned features.

Further advantages and preferred embodiments of the present invention are apparent from the description of the drawings and from each drawing.

The present invention is described in more detail below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a flow chart illustrating a method for operating a clutch according to one particular embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a clutch system according to a particular embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 1 shows a method (10) for operating a clutch within a power train of a vehicle. The clutch enables torque transmission between a drive element and a transmission. The transmission has a plurality of gears that can be manually engaged (12) by the driver of the vehicle.

The clutch is operated by the clutch operating system (14) and takes an open or closed state (16). Depending on the clutch operating state, the state of torque transmission (18) also changes through the clutch between the driving element and the transmission. When the clutch is open, torque transmission through the clutch is not performed, and when the clutch is closed, torque transmission through the clutch is performed.

Depending on the gear (12) engaged by the driver and the speed of the vehicle, the clutch is actuated via the clutch actuation system (14). For this purpose, the speed of the vehicle is compared with the limit speed (20). In addition, it is checked whether the gear (12) engaged by the driver is an unsuitable gear (22). Both of the above parameters are taken into account and the clutch actuation system is controlled according to these parameters (24).

If the vehicle speed is less than or equal to the limit speed and the gear engaged by the driver is an inappropriate gear, a command is sent to the clutch actuation system (24) that the clutch is to be closed and that torque transmission is to be stopped. Since the clutch is in the open state when changing to one engaged gear or to another engaged gear, the clutch remains in the open state, so that torque transmission does not take place between the drive element and the transmission.

The above unsuitable gear may be one of a plurality of unsuitable gears, including all gears other than the first gear, the second gear, and the reverse gear.

Additionally, an additional warning signal may be transmitted to the driver (26) indicating an inappropriate gear position, in which case the warning signal is an acoustic signal and/or an optical signal audible to the driver. The warning signal may be a flashing of the gear indicator light.

In Fig. 2, a clutch system (30) according to one particular embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. The clutch system (30) is arranged within a power train (32) of a vehicle. The clutch system (30) includes a clutch (34) for transmitting torque between a drive element (36), such as, for example, an internal combustion engine, and a transmission (38), such as, for example, a manual transmission. The transmission (38) can transmit torque to the vehicle wheels (40).

The clutch system (30) includes a clutch operating system (42) for operating the clutch (34). As a result, the clutch (34) can assume an open state or a closed state.

Depending on the gear engaged by the driver and the speed of the vehicle within the transmission (38), the clutch (34) is actuated via the clutch actuation system (42). For this purpose, the speed of the vehicle is compared with the limit speed. In addition, it is checked whether the gear engaged by the driver is an unsuitable gear. Both of the above parameters are taken into account, and the clutch actuation system (42) is controlled according to these parameters.

If the vehicle speed is less than or equal to the limit speed and the gear engaged by the driver corresponds to one of a plurality of unsuitable gears, preferably including all gears other than first gear, second gear and reverse gear, a command is sent to the clutch actuation system (42) that the clutch (34) is to be closed and that the torque transmission to the transmission (38) is to be stopped. Since the clutch (34) is in the open state when changing to one engaged gear or to another engaged gear, the clutch (34) thereby remains in the open state in which no torque transmission takes place between the drive element (36) and the transmission (38).

The clutch (34) may be an automatic or semi-automatic clutch and may be assigned to a clutch-by-wire system that transmits the driver's clutch operation request to the clutch operating system (42) by operation of the clutch pedal by the driver.

10: Method
12: Gear engagement
14: Clutch operation
16: Open or closed state
18: Torque transmission status
20: Speed comparison
22: Gear check
24: Command output
26: Output of warning signal
30: Clutch System
32: Power Train
34: Clutch
36: Driving Element
38: Transmission
40: Vehicle Wheel
42: Clutch operating system

Claims (10)

A method (10) for operating a clutch (34) within a power train (32) of a vehicle, wherein torque transmission between a driving element (36) and a transmission (38) can be performed via the clutch (34), the transmission (38) has a plurality of gear stages, which can be manually engaged by a vehicle driver (12), the clutch (34) is operated by a clutch operating system (42) and assumes an open state or a closed state (16), and torque transmission is performed in the closed state, in a clutch operating method,
A clutch operating method (10), characterized in that when the vehicle is started, if the vehicle speed is less than or equal to the limit speed and the gear engaged by the driver is an inappropriate gear, torque transmission through the clutch (34) is stopped. A clutch operating method (10), characterized in that in the first paragraph, the clutch operating system (42) maintains the clutch (34) in an open state, thereby stopping torque transmission through the clutch (34). A clutch operating method (10) characterized in that the limit speed in claim 1 or claim 2 is 5 km/h or 4 km/h or 3 km/h or 2 km/h or 1 km/h. A clutch operating method (10) characterized in that in claim 1 or 2, the speed is determined by detection of the wheel rotation speed, and/or detection of the engaged gear is performed via a transmission sensor. A clutch operating method (10) characterized in that in claim 1 or claim 2, the unsuitable gear is one of a plurality of unsuitable gears including all gears other than the first gear, the second gear, and the reverse gear. A clutch operating method (10), characterized in that in claim 1 or 2, a warning signal is output to the driver (26) to notify the driver of inappropriateness of the gear, and the warning signal is an acoustic signal and/or an optical signal that can be heard by the driver. A clutch operating method (10) characterized in that, in claim 1 or claim 2, when changing to one engaged gear or to another engaged gear, the clutch (34) is in an open state. A method for operating a clutch (10), characterized in that in claim 1 or claim 2, the driving element (36) is an internal combustion engine and/or an electric motor, the transmission (38) is a manual transmission, and/or the clutch (34) is an automatic or semi-automatic clutch. A clutch operating method (10), characterized in that in claim 1 or claim 2, the clutch (34) is assigned to a clutch-by-wire system that transmits a clutch operating request of a driver to a clutch operating system (42) by operation of a clutch pedal by the driver. A clutch system (30) in a vehicle power train (32) having a clutch (34) for transmitting torque between a driving element (36) and a transmission (38) and a clutch operating system (42) for operating the clutch (34) so that the clutch takes an open or closed state.
A clutch system (30), characterized in that the clutch system (30) applies the method according to claim 1 or claim 2.

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