Method to control clutch force in a clutch pack

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10087998-B2
Application number	US-201515527567-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 16, 2015
Priority date	Nov 19, 2014
Publication date	Oct 2, 2018
Grant date	Oct 2, 2018

Abstract

A method to estimate an amount of force in a clutch pack of a clutch actuation system. The method includes engaging an actuation motor to apply a set point force to the clutch pack and monitoring a position of the actuation motor when the set point force is applied. Additionally, the method includes determining one or more clutch clamping curves and one or more clutch releasing curves based on a relationship between the position of the actuation motor and an amount of torque applied by the actuation motor at position of the actuation motor. The method further includes modeling one or more frictional characteristics of the clutch actuation system and estimating an amount of clamping and releasing force within the clutch pack by using a control unit. The amount of torque applied to the clutch pack between the clutch clamping and releasing curves at the set point force is maintained.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method to estimate an amount of force in a clutch pack, comprising:
providing a clutch actuation system, wherein said clutch actuation system comprises a control unit, an actuation motor, a force translational device and a clutch pack;
operating said actuation motor to produce a motor torque to apply a set point force to said clutch pack;
monitoring a position of said actuation motor and said amount of motor torque being applied to said clutch pack by said actuation motor at said set point force;
determining one or more clutch clamping curves, wherein said one or more clutch clamping curves are determined based on a relationship between said position of said actuation motor and said amount of motor torque applied by said actuation motor at said actuator motor position;
determining one or more clutch releasing curves, wherein said one or more clutch releasing curves are determined based on a relationship between said position of said actuation motor and said amount of motor torque applied by said actuation motor at said actuator motor position;
modeling one or more frictional characteristics of said clutch actuation system by said control unit;
estimating an amount of clamping force and an amount of releasing force in said clutch pack by said control unit; and
maintaining said amount of motor torque applied to said clutch pack between said one or more clutch clamping curves and said one or more clutch releasing curves at said set point force.

2. The method to estimate an amount of force in a clutch pack of claim 1 , wherein said force translational device is a ball and ramp actuator that applies a force to actuate said clutch pack.

3. The method to estimate an amount of force in a clutch pack of claim 2 , wherein said actuation motor is connected to a reduction gear set to selectively rotate said ball and ramp actuator.

4. The method to estimate an amount of force in a clutch pack of claim 1 , wherein said clutch pack comprises an inner hub with a first plurality of clutch plates rotationally connected to an axle half shaft and an outer hub with a second plurality of clutch plates rotationally connected to a differential case.

5. The method to estimate an amount of force in a clutch pack of claim 1 , wherein said model of said one or more frictional characteristics of said clutch actuation system is based on one or more frictional coefficients of said actuation motor, said force translational device or said clutch pack of said clutch actuation system.

6. The method to estimate an amount of force in a clutch pack of claim 1 , wherein said model of said one or more frictional characteristics of said clutch actuation system is used to update a kiss point for said clutch pack.

7. The method to estimate an amount of force in a clutch pack of claim 1 , further comprising the step of estimating an acceleration and an inertia of said clutch pack of said clutch actuation system.

8. The method to estimate an amount of force in a clutch pack of claim 1 , wherein said estimation of said amount of clamping force in said clutch pack is based on

CF
BR

+

J
⁢

d
2

⁢

θ
clamp

dt
2

+
Tf

=

Tem
clamp

;

and
wherein said estimation of said amount of releasing force in said clutch pack is based on

CF
BR

+

J
⁢

d
2

⁢

θ
release

dt
2

-
TF

=

Tem
release

.

9. The method to estimate an amount of force in a clutch pack of claim 8 , further comprising the step of estimating an amount of force generated by said force translational device for every position of said clutch actuation system; and
wherein said estimation of said amount of force generated by said force translational device is based on

F
BR

=

1

2
⁢
c

⁢

(

Tem
clamp

+

Tem
release

-

J
⁡

(

d
2

⁢

θ
clamp

dt
2

+

d
2

⁢

θ
release

dt
2

)

)

.

Assignees

• Dana Automotive Systems Group

Inventors

• Goossens Stijn
• Versteyhe Mark R J
• Vyncke Thomas J

Classifications

• F16D2500/3024

  Pressure · CPC title

• F16D23/12

  Mechanical clutch-actuating mechanisms arranged outside the clutch as such (specific for combined clutches F16D21/00; mechanisms specific for synchronisation F16D23/02) · CPC title

• F16D2500/70404

  Force · CPC title

• F16D2500/1066

  Hybrid · CPC title

• F16D2500/3026

  Stroke · CPC title