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:
Feb. 28, 1995
Filed:
Jul. 19, 1993
Daniel G Smedley, Farmington Hills, MI (US);
Eaton Corporation, Cleveland, OH (US);
Abstract
This invention provides automatic and reliable determination of the touch point of a clutch controlled by an automatic clutch actuation controller. This invention determines the touch point upon power-up while idling the engine, with the transmission in neutral and an input shaft brake applied. The clutch actuation controller gradually engages the clutch so that the measured transmission input speed matches a reference speed signal preferably between 40 and 60% of the idle speed. If the actuation is slow enough, this reliably provides the degree of clutch engagement at a small torque matching the braking torque which is the touch point. If there is no previous knowledge of the touch point, the clutch is applied at a fast rate and an approximate touch point is determined, then the clutch is positioned below the approximate touch point and is again applied at a slow rate to more accurately ascertain the touch point. If there is previous knowledge of the touch point, the clutch is positioned just below the old touch point and is applied at a slow rate to determine a new touch point. The new and old touch points may be combined to determine the updated touch point.