Hydraulic clutch actuator filling check method and apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2025069453-A1
Application number	US-202418775066-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 17, 2024
Priority date	Aug 23, 2023
Publication date	Feb 27, 2025
Grant date	—

Abstract

Provided is a method and apparatus for checking the oil filling of an electronic clutch provided in a vehicle transmission. This approach determines the presence of air inside a hydraulic cylinder or clutch tube based on the current value profile generated when a piston of a hydraulic actuator is driven, without a separate air detection device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method of bleeding air trapped in a hydraulic clutch, the method comprising:
checking a current value profile obtained when a piston in the hydraulic clutch is driven; and performing air bleeding based on a result of the checking the current value profile.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the performing air bleeding comprises checking a result value of the checking the current value profile, and performing air bleeding according to the result value.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the checking the result value comprises comparing the current value profile and a normal current value profile obtained under a normal condition, and determining that air is present if a maximum current value in the current value profile is less than a maximum current value in the normal current value profile.

4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising re-checking if the air bleeding is complete.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the checking the current value profile comprises checking a current value profile obtained when an operating stroke of an actuator of the hydraulic clutch is driven.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the performing air bleeding comprises:
measuring air bleeding performance time for which the air bleeding is performed; and re-checking the current value profile if the measured air bleeding performance time meets a predetermined time threshold.

7 . The method of claim 6 , further comprising:
checking a re-performance result value obtained after the re-checking the current value profile.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the checking the re-performance result value comprises:
determining that air is present if a maximum current value in the current value profile is less than a maximum current value under a normal condition.

9 . The check method of claim 7 , further comprising:
displaying a hardware (H/W) inspection request message on a display if a number of times of the re-checking is greater than or equal to a preset number, after the checking the re-performance result value, and performing air bleeding if the number of times of the re-checking is less than the preset number; and ending the checking the re-performance result value if it is determined that air is not present, and performing air bleeding if it is determined that air is present.

10 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform the method of claim 1 .

11 . An apparatus for bleeding air trapped in a hydraulic clutch, the apparatus comprising:
a check performing unit configured to check a current value profile obtained when a piston in the hydraulic clutch is driven; air bleeding performing unit configured to perform air bleeding based on a result of the checking the current value profile.

12 . The apparatus of claim 11 , further comprising a result value checking unit configured to check a performance result value obtained by the checking the current value profile, and
wherein the air bleeding performing unit is further configured to perform the air bleeding according to the result value.

13 . The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the air bleeding performing unit is further configured to compare the current value profile and a normal current value profile obtained under a normal condition, and determine that air is present if a maximum current value in the current value profile is less than a maximum current value in the normal current value profile.

14 . The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the check performing unit is further configured to re-check if the air bleeding is complete.

15 . The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the check performing unit is further configured to:
check a current value profile obtained when an operating stroke of an actuator of the hydraulic clutch is driven.

16 . The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the air bleeding performing unit is further configured to:
measure air bleeding performance time for which the air bleeding is performed; and if the measured air bleeding performance time meets a predetermined time threshold, re-check the current value profile.

17 . The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the check performing unit is further configured to:
check a re-performance result value after re-checking.

18 . The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the filling check performing unit is further configured to:
if it is determined that a maximum current value in the current value profile is less than a maximum current value under a normal condition, determine that air is present.

19 . The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the result value checking unit is further configured to:
display a hardware (H/W) inspection request message on a display if a number of times of re-checking is greater than or equal to a preset number, and command the air bleeding performing unit to perform the air bleeding if the number of times of re-checking is less than the preset number, wherein the air bleeding performing unit is further configured to: end the checking the re-performance result value if it is determined that air is not present, and perform the air bleeding if it is determined that air is present.

20 . A vehicle comprising the apparatus of claim 11 .

Assignees

• Hyundai Motor Co Ltd
• Kia Corp

Inventors

• Lee Dong Joo
• Kim Ho Sung
• Kam Jeong Heon
• Suh Hong Suk
• Park Sung Hoon

Classifications

• F16D2500/5014

  Filling the actuator cylinder with fluid · CPC title

• F16D2125/02

  Fluid-pressure mechanisms · CPC title

• G01M13/022

  Power-transmitting couplings or clutches · CPC title

• F16D25/12 Primary

  Details not specific to one of the before-mentioned types · CPC title

• F16D25/06

  in which the fluid actuates a piston incorporated in, {i.e. rotating with} the clutch (F16D25/02 takes precedence) · CPC title