Automatic Clutch Torque Control via Brake Intervention

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Solution Overview

Problem

Automatic clutch vehicles experience driver discomfort due to abrupt changes in driving force and torque during low-speed operations, particularly when switching between clutch engagement and disengagement states, leading to an uncomfortable driving experience.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of an automatic clutch vehicle system that includes a brake controller, rotational speed sensors, and vehicle speed sensors to detect low-speed conditions and adjust clutch engagement, using a variable capacity clutch and engine control to manage torque, and applying brake control to mitigate torque changes, thereby reducing driver discomfort.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If automatic clutch control is implemented to transmit driving force smoothly, then clutch engagement smoothness is improved, but driver discomfort due to abrupt driving force changes at low speeds worsens

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveclutch engagement smoothnessVSAvoiddriver discomfort

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The brake controller applies brake force to the driving wheel before or during clutch engagement to counteract the abrupt driving force change. By preemptively applying a counteracting force (brake), the system prevents the harmful effect (driver discomfort) from occurring when the clutch engages at low speeds

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Solution Approach 2:

The brake device acts as an intermediary element between the clutch and the driving wheel. It mediates the torque transmission by absorbing or counteracting sudden torque changes during clutch engagement, thereby protecting the driver from discomfort while maintaining smooth clutch operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If clutch control amount is increased to compensate for product variability and friction increase, then clutch engagement reliability is improved, but abrupt driving force changes worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveclutch engagement reliabilityVSAvoidabrupt driving force changes

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system converts the harmful effect of clutch control variations (which cause abrupt driving force changes) into a beneficial outcome by using the brake device to counteract these variations. The brake controller detects driving wheel rotational speed and applies brake force to neutralize the harmful torque fluctuations, transforming an unreliable clutch behavior into a smooth driving experience

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Data Source

PatentUS10099687B2Automatic clutch vehicle

Publication Date: 2018.10.16 HONDA MOTOR CO LTD

AI summary

It is preferable to reduce an uncomfortable feeling arising from an abrupt driving force generated in an automatic starting clutch in an automatic clutch vehicle. When an automatic clutch operating device is about to automatically engage a starting clutch, a brake controller drives a brake actuator to forcibly actuate a brake device, thereby braking a driving wheel WR. Here, a brake pressure to be applied to the driving wheel WR can be set as a brake pressure such as to change an expected driving torque which is accompanied by an uncomfortable feeling in the absence of control by the brake controller into a norm driving torque which is not accompanied by the uncomfortable feeling, taking into account the clutch capacity and an engine control output.