The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 03, 1995
Filed:
Jan. 18, 1994
James Slicker, West Bloomfield, MI (US);
Joseph S Mazur, Livonia, MI (US);
Michael T Breen, Garden City, MI (US);
Eaton Corporation, Cleveland, OH (US);
Abstract
A friction clutch coupling an engine and a gear transmission of a vehicle is controlled by a microprocessor based circuit using logic which defines operating modes according to engine and clutch conditions. During the time of clutch closure, when the vehicle is starting from rest in a startup or launch mode, the throttle or other engine control signal is restrained from quickly responding to the accelerator pedal. This avoids engine overspeeding which results from generating high torque before sufficient clutch capacity has been achieved. The control signal is developed as a function of the pedal position under control of throttle logic which, in turn, is dependent on clutch operating modes defined by the clutch logic. The clutch operating modes are four modes for automatic clutch operation comprising touch point approach mode which prohibits a throttle signal during initial clutch movement, creep mode or startup mode after touch point occurs, and lockup mode for completing clutch closing when low clutch slip is attained. A non-automatic mode is entered before the accelerator pedal is depressed or when engine stall conditions are detected.