Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Magneti Marelli Powertrain USA

John G Fowler

Joseph F Kucharski

Timothy L Sargent

Michael B Peppard

Michael William Brylinski

A powertrain includes an engine, a transmission, and one or more accessories, such as an alternator or an air conditioning compressor, all operating based on commands from a controller. The controller is programmed to coordinate commands to the transmission with commands to the accessories to mitigate the impacts of transmission state changes. The accessory drive torque may be adjusted to compensate for the torque required to change the speed of a transmission internal shaft. The accessory effective inertia may be adjusted to maintain a powertrain natural frequency so that active damping can be maintained throughout a transmission state change event.

Coordinated control of transmission and accessories

During state transitions, a clutch actuator position command includes an oscillating component called a dither. This dithering helps avoid jumps in the actuator position due to friction when the commanded position is changed gradually. Also, dither during a transition from fully released to slipping causes the natural frequency of the system to change gradually rather than abruptly. This permits use of another slipping clutch for active damping based on a measured oscillation.

Clutch control using dither

The present invention discloses an ergonomic manual clutch actuator assembly, and a method for providing the manual clutch actuator assembly, for a straddle-type vehicle or the like. The assembly includes a manual clutch lever pivotally mounted to a handlebar for drawing a clutch cable connected to a clutch actuator mechanism. The clutch actuator mechanism is provided within the housing of the vehicle for cooperating with a distal end of a clutch shaft for disengaging a clutch when the cable is drawn. The clutch actuator assembly requires a first predefined force to pivot the clutch lever away from a normal extended position. A second predefined force, being greater than the first force, is required to further pivot the clutch lever to an intermediate position. Also, a third predefined force is required to maintain the clutch lever in a retracted position, the third force is less than the second force.

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Livonia, MI, United States of America

John G Fowler