Raicam Clutch Limited

Mihails Milehins

Benjamin Chetwood Struve

A vehicle having a clutch which connects an engine with a driveline which includes a multi-ratio gearbox, the clutch having an actuator which can be operated by a vehicle driver to engage and disengage the clutch, the actuator also having a control system arranged to move the clutch between fully engaged and fully released positions through a range of positions allowing variable levels of clutch slip in order to automatically reduce torsional vibrations in the driveline. The control system is configured to recognize a plurality of predetermined Vehicle Operation Modes defined by the combination of a Clutch Slip Status criterion as hereinbefore defined with one or more of the hereinbefore defined operating criteria of Manual Clutch Position Control Input Interface Status, Release Bearing Position Status and Slip Velocity Demand Status and, dependent on the recognized Vehicle Operation Mode, the control system applies a different clutch control strategy to achieve the required level of clutch slip to damp vibration in the driveline and provide transition between the different Vehicle Operation Modes without exciting an uncomfortable level of vibration in the driveline.

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Leamington Spa, United Kingdom

Mihails Milehins