DE2318042A1 - ELECTRICAL CONTROL FOR THE CLUTCH OF A MOTOR VEHICLE - Google Patents

Description

PATENT OFFICE TlEDTKE - BohLING - KlNNE

TEL. (0811) 53 96 53-fS Tcl.EX: 524 345 fpat OAdLE ADDRES ?: Germaniapatent Munich ^ O I W U t 4

8000 Munich 2

Bavariaring 4

P.O. Box 202403 April 10, 1973

B 5325

Nissan Motor Company, Limited Yokohama City, Japan

Electrical control for the clutch of a motor vehicle

The invention relates generally to a clutch control device for controlling or monitoring the clutch of a motor vehicle and in particular an electrical circuit for causing the disengagement of the Clutch under the most favorable engine conditions when shifting gears.

An electrical control device for disengaging a clutch usually has a manual switch, which is located in a gear shift lever, as well as a solenoid or other electromagnetic device, which is connected so that it operates the clutch unit. The latter device takes care of the disengagement and Engagement of the clutch either via direct mechanical

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Action or via an actuator of hydraulic or pneumatic design.

In such known clutch control devices, when the vehicle driver has one in the gearshift lever housed switch is operated to disengage the clutch, the switch is electrically closed and effected the desired result. Since the disengagement of the clutch depends on the operation of the manual switch by the driver, It sometimes happened that the driver accidentally touched the clutch control switch on the gear shift lever and was undesirable Disengagement of the clutch caused although the engine speed or torque is unsuitable for the switchover. Through this the engine may overspeed. Of course, the driver can determine the overwinding in a few moments and lift his hand off the clutch control switch; provided he did not check the engine speed before taking off his hand reduced to an appropriate level by the clutch control switch results when the clutch is engaged an undesirable shock at an excessively high engine speed.

According to the invention, an electrical clutch ' controller for controlling the engagement and disengagement of the clutch of an automotive power transmission system for Gangumsehaltvorgänge proposed that an electrical Energy source, a manually operable switch housed in a gear selector that is closed when an external force acts on him, a clutch actuation

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device in series with the energy source and the manually operable switch or manual switch is and has a device that responds to the engine operating states responds and between the manual switch and the clutch actuator seated, this device responsive to the engine operating conditions being operational an engine speed control member is connected and operated when the engine speed control member controls the engine speed controls to a predetermined lower level with the clutch actuator energized when simultaneously the manual switch is closed and the device responsive to the engine operating states is actuated.

The invention is illustrated in the following with the aid of a schematic Drawings explained in more detail.

Fig. 1 is a schematic view showing the general configuration of a clutch control device according to the invention according to a preferred • embodiment illustrated;

FIG. 2 shows, in a representation corresponding to FIG. 1, a section of the arrangement according to FIG Fig. 1, another embodiment of the affected portion is shown.

30 98 A 3 / (U6 7

Numeral 10 denotes an electromagnetic clutch actuator such as one Electromagnet or solenoid which is operatively connected to a clutch unit 12 and when energized the Clutch disengages. The electromagnetic clutch actuation device 10 forms the output device a circuit arrangement consisting of the clutch actuation device 10, a manually operated switch or Manual switch 14, which is housed in the gear shift lever 16, a main switch 18, an electrical one Energy source 20 and a switch 22, which will be described later, consists in that all these parts are connected in series, The hand switch 14 is constructed and arranged so that he

closes when the vehicle driver exerts a moderate force on the gear shift lever 16. -

Between the hand switch 14 and the electromagnetic Clutch actuator 10 is electrically included the switch 22 which is operable on a Linkage 24 is connected, which is operational between the Axis of the throttle valve 26 of an engine carburetor 28 and an accelerator pedal (not shown) is connected. The switch 22 closes when the throttle valve 26 is in a predetermined angular position range, which is a relatively low one Engine speed.

If the throttle valve is in this angular range corresponding to a low speed during operation,

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the switch 22 remains closed. If this management board is present and the driver presses the switch 14 on the gear change lever 16 to disengage the clutch, the manual switch I ¹ J closes so that when the main switch 18 is closed, the electromagnetic clutch actuator 10 is energized. Thus, the electromagnetic clutch actuation device 10 disengages the clutch either by direct mechanical action on the clutch unit 12 or via an additional hydraulic or pneumatic device.

From the above description it is clear that if the gear shift lever 16 is accidentally disengaged by the driver the clutch actuator 10 remains de-energized as long as the throttle valve 26 is in one position is located, in which the switch 22 is open list. It can therefore the disengagement of the clutch does not take place when the engine speed is too high in the invention. This arrangement also eliminates the possibility of a shock due to the clutch engaging if the engine speed is too high. This results in increased Life span of the coupling unit.

Figure 2 shows a further preferred embodiment of a portion of the first embodiment of the invention; a switch 22 is provided, which is arranged within the engine intake line downstream of the throttle valve 26 and is responsive to the level of negative pressure that prevails at this point where the switch is located, the

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Switch closes when the negative pressure is within a predetermined range corresponding to an engine speed suitable for switching. This arrangement Exercises the same function as the previously described arrangement in FIG. 1

The clutch control according to the invention can be used in any motor vehicle clutch where an electromagnetic force is used to operate the clutch, regardless of whether it is electromagnetic or is operated magnetically.

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Claims (5)

- Ί patent claims 1. Electrical control device for controlling the engagement and disengagement of the clutch of a motor vehicle power transmission system when changing gears, characterized by an electrical energy source (20), a manual ^{switch (I 1} I), which is housed in a gear selector element (16) and the is closed when an external force acts on the lever, by a clutch operating device (10) which is electrically in series with the power source and the manual switch, by a device responsive to the engine operating conditions, which is arranged between the manual switch and the clutch operating device, wherein the engine operating condition responsive device (22) is operatively connected to an engine speed controller (26; 28) and is actuated when that controller controls the engine speed to a predetermined low level, the clutch actuator being energized when the manual switch is closed and the device responsive to the engine operating conditions is actuated. 2. Electrical control device according to claim 1, characterized in that the clutch actuation device (lo) has an electromagnetic element. 3. Electrical control device according to claim 2, characterized in that the electromagnetic element 309843/04 67 is an electromagnet. 4. Electrical control device according to claim 1 to 3, characterized in that the on the engine operating states responsive device comprises a switch (22) which is below a predetermined degree of opening a The engine throttle valve (26) is closed. 5. Electrical control device according to claim 1 to 3, characterized in that the device responsive to the engine operating states has a switch (22 ¹ ) which is closed above a predetermined negative pressure downstream of the engine throttle valve. 309843/0467