Automated Clutch Actuator Position Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing control systems for automated clutches with hydraulic actuating systems driven by electric motors, relying on incremental displacement sensors, fail to accurately determine the actuator position, leading to potential safety-critical positional changes and torque displacement issues due to operational slip in threaded spindles.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an absolute displacement sensor on the power take-off side of the threaded spindle, combined with incremental displacement sensors, to provide a more accurate position signal for clutch control, allowing for reliable detection of actuator position and avoidance of positional deviations, while maintaining cost-effectiveness through the use of lower-resolution sensors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If incremental displacement sensors are used for measuring actuator position, then the device complexity is reduced and cost is lowered, but the measurement precision deteriorates due to operational slip in threaded spindles causing positional drift
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines incremental displacement sensors (for high-resolution relative position measurement) with an absolute displacement sensor (for drift-free absolute position reference) into a unified sensor system. This merging allows the system to achieve both high measurement precision and immunity to operational slip by fusing data from both sensor types, resolving the contradiction between measurement accuracy and device complexity.
2Reliability
If absolute displacement sensor is added to the system, then the reliability of position detection is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control device acts as an intermediary that processes and fuses signals from both incremental and absolute displacement sensors. It uses the absolute sensor as a reference to correct drift in incremental measurements, thereby improving reliability without requiring the actuator design itself to become more complex. The control unit mediates between the two sensor types to achieve reliable position detection.
3Loss of information
If incremental displacement measurement is used for commutating the electric-motor actuating drive, then the ease of operation is maintained, but the loss of information occurs due to unnoticed positional changes during operation
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by continuously comparing the position information from incremental sensors with the absolute position reference. When drift or unnoticed positional changes are detected, the control device uses feedback from the absolute sensor to correct the position information, preventing loss of information while maintaining the simplicity of incremental commutation for ease of operation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The combined position signals from incremental and absolute displacement sensors enhance the accuracy of clutch torque control, prevent positional drifting, and reduce the risk of safety-critical situations by ensuring precise actuator positioning and clutch operation.
Implementation Method 1
incremental displacement sensors that count distance increments and can thus detect relative clutch travel
Implementation Method 2
an absolute displacement sensor is provided for detecting the position of the actuator
Implementation Method 3
The threaded spindle is preferably a planetary roller spindle that is used to convert a rotary driving movement of the electric-motor actuating drive into a longitudinal movement of the actuator
Implementation Method 4
Hydraulic clutch actuating systems, including an actuator, a master cylinder, a slave cylinder and a clutch
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a control device and to a method for controlling an automated clutch, which includes a hydraulic clutch actuating system, which has a hydrostatic actuator, which is driven by and electric-motor actuating drive having an incremental displacement sensor in such a way that the actuator moves in a translatable manner. The invention includes an absolute displacement sensor, which detects the actuator position.