Clutch Shutdown Control for Heavy Vehicle Noise and Vibration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Heavy vehicles experience noise and vibrations during engine shutdown due to the connected engine and Automated Mechanical Transmission (AMT), which causes wear on the clutch release bearing and discomfort.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that uses an engine speed sensor and transmission speed sensor, along with an electronic control unit to disengage and reengage the clutch, actively slowing down the transmission input shaft if it rotates longer than the engine, thereby reducing vibrations and noise by disconnecting the driveline during shutdown.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the clutch is engaged during engine shutdown to prepare for long-term parking, then clutch wear is reduced, but vibrations and noise are transferred to the transmission
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary disengagement of the clutch before the engine comes to a complete stop during shutdown. This anticipatory action prevents the transmission from being exposed to vibrations and noise, while the clutch is quickly re-engaged after shutdown to minimize wear, thus resolving the contradiction between durability and vibration reduction.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the clutch is disengaged during engine shutdown to reduce vibrations, then noise and vibrations are reduced, but clutch wear increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically controls the clutch engagement state based on real-time engine speed and shutdown status. The clutch is disengaged only during the brief shutdown transition period when vibrations occur, and re-engaged immediately afterward. This dynamic adjustment minimizes both vibration exposure and clutch wear time, resolving the contradiction between noise reduction and durability.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the transmission input shaft rotates for extended period after engine shutdown, then vibrations are reduced, but energy is wasted and component wear increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback from sensors monitoring engine speed, transmission speed, and shutdown status to control the clutch actuator. When the engine shuts down and the transmission input shaft continues rotating, the feedback signal triggers clutch re-engagement to bring the shaft to a controlled stop, preventing energy waste and unnecessary wear while maintaining vibration reduction benefits.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for controlling a clutch in a heavy vehicle including an internal combustion engine and an automated mechanical transmission, where the engine is running, the clutch is engaged and the transmission is in neutral, including an electronic control unit adapted to receive a request to shut down the engine, to disengage the clutch of the transmission, and to shut down the engine, where the electronic control unit is adapted to reengage the clutch when the rotation of the engine and the rotation of the transmission input shaft is zero, and to actively slow down rotation of the transmission input shaft by the use of a brake device if the stop time for the transmission input shaft exceeds a predefined time interval. The advantage of the invention is that vibrations and noise are reduced during shut down of the engine.