Actuator Thrust Control for Clutch Engagement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing control devices for engagement mechanisms in vehicle power transmission systems face challenges in completing clutch engagement due to decreased actuator thrust, which can be caused by temperature changes or power supply issues, leading to incomplete engagement or prolonged operation times, and require larger actuators that increase cost and reduce mountability.
Innovation Solution
A control device that includes a controller to detect the actuator's operating state parameters, such as temperature and voltage, and adjusts the target differential rotation speed for engagement, allowing the engagement mechanism to operate reliably even with reduced thrust by controlling the differential rotation speed based on the detected parameters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the thrust of the actuator decreases due to temperature increase or power supply issues, then the engagement operation cannot be completed reliably, but increasing the actuator size increases cost and reduces mountability
Solution Approach 1:
The control device changes the differential rotation speed parameter based on actuator operating conditions. When actuator thrust is reduced (due to temperature or power supply issues), the controller lowers the differential rotation speed to a value lower than the predetermined speed, enabling reliable engagement with reduced thrust without requiring a larger actuator
Solution Approach 2:
The controller detects parameters indicating actuator operating state (temperature, power supply voltage) and uses this feedback to adjust the differential rotation speed. This closed-loop control ensures engagement reliability adapts to changing actuator capabilities without hardware changes
2Reliability
If the differential rotation speed is set to a predetermined value for complete engagement, then engagement can be completed under normal conditions, but engagement fails or takes excessively long when actuator thrust decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The differential rotation speed is made dynamic rather than fixed. The controller adjusts the speed based on real-time actuator state detection, allowing the system to adapt to changing conditions. When actuator thrust is sufficient, normal speed is used; when thrust decreases, speed is reduced to match the actuator's capability
Solution Approach 2:
The control device changes the operational parameter (differential rotation speed) based on detected actuator state. By lowering the speed parameter when thrust is reduced, the system maintains reliable engagement completion across varying actuator performance conditions
3Reliability
If a larger actuator is provided to ensure predetermined thrust output, then engagement reliability improves, but mountability and cost are degraded
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of increasing actuator size, the system changes the operational parameter (differential rotation speed) to match the actuator's actual thrust capability. This allows a compact actuator to achieve reliable engagement by operating at adjusted speeds rather than requiring an oversized actuator
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from actuator state detection (temperature, voltage) to determine appropriate differential rotation speed. This allows the compact actuator to operate reliably across its full capability range rather than being oversized for worst-case conditions
Data Source
AI summary
A control device includes: an engagement mechanism having a first engagement element and a second engagement element; and an actuator that generates a thrust that brings the first engagement element and the second engagement element close to each other when the engagement mechanism is engaged. The control device performs engagement with the thrust of the actuator when a differential rotation speed of the engagement mechanism is less than a predetermined value. In the control device, a parameter indicating an operating state of the actuator is detected, a target differential rotation speed is calculated in accordance with a value of the detected parameter, and the differential rotation speed is controlled to the calculated target differential rotation speed.