Electric Friction Clutch Touch Point Detection for Plate Wear
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing friction clutches face challenges in precisely detecting the piston touch point and clutch touch point, leading to wear and potential breakdowns due to plate wear beyond their limits, affecting controllability and reliability.
Innovation Solution
An electric friction engagement device with a cam device and shift motor system that includes a drive cam, driven cam, and elastic biasing member to detect the piston touch point and clutch touch point through torque and current thresholds, enabling precise control of torque transmission states.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If friction plates are used until wear exceeds limit, then productivity is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to seizure risk
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of touch points (piston touch point and clutch touch point) during normal operation to establish baseline values. When wear occurs, the system compares current touch point positions against these baselines and warns before seizure occurs, enabling preventive maintenance rather than waiting for failure.
2Measurement precision
If touch point detection precision is improved, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical measurement systems with an electric actuator that drives the cam mechanism. The touch points are detected by monitoring the electrical signals (current, voltage, or position) from the actuator during cam rotation, rather than using mechanical sensors or gauges. This electrical detection method achieves high precision while reducing mechanical complexity.
3Measurement precision
If cam device is added for touch point detection, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cam device serves multiple functions: it controls the engagement/disengagement of the friction plates, and simultaneously enables touch point detection through its rotational movement. The same cam mechanism that actuates the clutch also provides the reference for measuring touch points, eliminating the need for separate detection mechanisms and reducing overall system complexity.
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
Precise detection of touch points ensures reliable operation by preventing wear-related breakdowns and maintaining clutch functionality, enhancing controllability and reliability.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic biasing member (27) provided between the first member (4) and the friction engagement portion (26), and elastically biasing the first friction plate (30) and the second friction plate (31) in a direction of pressing the first friction plate (30) and the second friction plate (31) against each other
Implementation Method 2
a friction clutch that transmits power through friction between opposing friction surfaces
Data Source
AI summary
The electric friction engagement device has a function of detecting a phase in a rotational direction of a drive cam when an output torque or current value of a shift motor begins to increase at a rate of increase equal to or greater than a first threshold value as a piston touch point and a function of detecting a phase in the rotational direction of the drive cam when the rate of increase becomes equal to or less than a second threshold value after exceeding the piston touch point as a clutch touch point.