An Automatic Dry Friction Clutch for Passenger Cars and Light Duty Trucks

The electronic control of a automatic friction clutch represents a novel element for the vehicle drive train, the characteristic of which is freely determinable. It presupposes servo-actuation with a low energy requirement. In the case under review pneumatic negative pressure is applied to the actuating element with the desired function being established in the central control unit as a function of the signals of a few sensors by way of the actuation of two-stage digital solenoid valves. The flexible, automatic clutch function makes for a wide range of applications from series drive trains right through to hybrid drive systems.