Abstract: Particularly in the case of electric motor vehicle drives using an hydrodynamic torque converter or appropriate coupling there is present the problem of proper and reliable operation of the vehicle condition control through the use of comparatively modest expenditure in equipment. This problem is solved by using a torque regulation with a torque control magnitude which is variable in accordance with controlled vehicle condition commands or an appropriate reference or set value, preferably through the use of a degree of filling control of the converter or the coupling as the positioning or adjusting element. When there is used an electric collector motor as the drive there is advantageously accomplished as a function of a threshold value of the degree of filling a change-over to an electrical field control.

Abstract: A device for automatically actuating a clutch arranged between the output shaft of the engine and the input shaft of a motor vehicle transmission comprises a servo coupled to the clutch for selectively actuating the clutch, a first detection device for measuring the speed of the engine output shaft, a second detection device for measuring the speed of the transmission input shaft, and a control device coupled to the servo means and to the first and second detection devices for controlling the servo as a function of the speeds of the engine shaft and transmission shaft and their second derivatives with respect to time.

Abstract: A pneumatic control system is disclosed for an automatic transmission for a vehicle of the type having a mechanical planetary gear train with hydraulically actuatable gear elements. A manual control valve dependent upon the position of the transmission gear select lever conveys a pressure medium, for actuating a gear shift element associated with the selected gear when said lever is moved to one of the forward gears of the transmission, through a pressure medium line connected between the manual control valve and the gear shift element. The control system comprises a main control valve dependent upon the position of the accelerator pedal for exhausting the fluid in the gear shift element for disengaging the gear shift element in operating states of the vehicle at least when the vehicle is stationary, the transmission gear select lever is moved to the drive position (D), and the accelerator pedal is released.

Abstract: Apparatus for automatic actuation of a clutch of an automobile with a manual shift transmission. A pneumatic servo motor controls clutch engagement. A control mechanism, for example a microprocessor, controls the servo motor as a function of accelerator pedal position and/or input and output clutch speeds during starts from stop (initial transmission input speed .perspectiveto.O). The rotation speed of the engine attains a prescribed value preassigned as a function of the accelerator pedal position. For each pedal position, signals to control valves cause the servo motor to vary clutch engagement based on the difference between prescribed and detected engine speeds. The signals can be pulse signals variable in frequency and/or duration by the control mechanism. During starting from stop, for pedal depressions above idle, the rotational speed of the engine remains below maximum tractive power for that pedal position.

Abstract: An automatic clutch system is provided for use in a motor vehicle and has a control mechanism which responds to the position of the accelerator pedal and which also responds to first and second rotation speed sensing means connected to the engine shaft and the transmission shaft. In a preferred embodiment, the automatic clutch system is provided with a control mechanism which operates in a first mode when the vehicle is starting from a standing position to engage the clutch in a manner which keeps the engine in a specified speed range, which depends on accelerator lever position. The control mechanism operates in a second mode when the vehicle is shifted between gears in order to engage the clutch in a manner which provides a constant time gradient for the shaft speed difference selected in accordance with accelerator pedal position.

Abstract: Apparatus for controlling the operation of a vehicle's gear box. The apparaus generates electrical signals which are proportional to the vehicle's speed, the speed of the vehicle's engine, and the position of the vehicle's throttle.These signals are used to compute which gear is to be engaged at any particular instant, and where necessary, gear selection signals are generated. The gear selection signals are used to actuate the vehicle's clutch, and to control solenoids which manipulate the gear box.

Abstract: Possible damage to a clutch caused by engagement or disengagement when the engine is running at a high speed is prevented by an engine-clutch control interlock system which prevents the clutch from being engaged or disengaged except when the engine is running at a speed below a nominal, selected idle speed. The system comprises an engine speed monitor which produces a speed signal indicative of whether the engine is running above or below the selected idle speed, a clutch control monitor which produces a signal indicative of whether or not a clutch actuator control signal is being generated and a clutch status monitor which produces a signal indicative of whether the clutch is engaged or disengaged. A clutch actuator signal is conducted to the clutch either to engage or disengage it only when the monitors indicate that a clutch control signal is being generated and the engine is running below the nominal idle speed.

Abstract: A control valve system for controlling the capacity of a hydraulic clutch in a power transmission mechanism wherein the clutch torque established by the hydraulic clutch will be nearly equal to the engine torque for the engine with which the transmission is used, thereby resulting in a smooth clutch engagement as a torque transmitting path is established from the engine to a driven member.

Abstract: A drive coupling for selectively disengaging a driving shaft and a driven shaft upon rotation of the driving shaft in one direction. The coupling comprises a pair of one-way clutches and a one space ratchet means so arranged to couple the shafts when the driving shaft is rotating in the normal direction and to uncouple the shafts upon the opposite rotation of the driving shaft. The coupling device is capable of remote operation as by reversing the current flow to the motor.Such a device provides a convenient means for coupling and uncoupling pump stages in a submersible pump thus permitting adjustment of the performance of the pump by the addition or subtraction of pump stages without pulling the entire assembly from the well.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a control apparatus for an oil pressure operated transmission in an automotive vehicle. The apparatus comprises a transmission with at least two stages of low speed and high speed forward driving trains and it is so arranged that, in an automatic shift range of a manual valve connected through first oil passage to an oil pressure source, low speed and high speed oil pressure clutches are selectively supplied with pressure oil through a shift valve in communication with the manual valve through a second oil passage. In a hold range of the manual valve, the valve is interposed between the low speed oil pressure clutch and the shift valve means for dividing the oil passage into third oil passage on its upstream side and fourth oil passage on its downstream side, having no communication between third and fourth passage and establishing a communication between fourth and first oil passage without through the shift valve means.

Abstract: Disclosed is a torque transmitting and blocking device which includes a cylindrical drum, a pair of arcuate shoes positioned within the drum, and a spanner bar extending between the shoes to one side of the axis of the drum. On the other side of the drum axis the shoes are displaceable toward each other, and may conveniently be lightly biased apart. The shoes have surfaces, which may include holes, lateral or transverse projections, or the ends of the shoes, through which rotative forces may be transmitted from sources external of the drum and through which the shoes may retransmit such forces. Application of a rotational force through such a surface into a shoe in a direction tending to displace the shoes toward each other results in rotation of the shoes and bar within the drum, and consequent transmission of torque, if desired, out of the drum through another shoe surface.

Abstract: A knob assembly comprising a cup-shaped knob shell having therein a coaxial pair of oppositely wound coil springs disposed for binding engagement with a surrounding wall of a race and having respective terminal end portions engaging an encircled portion of an axially rotatable bushing which is provided with fastening means for rotatably engaging an axially inserted shaft, the springs having other terminal end portions engaged by respective oppositely rotatable lever arms mounted on the bushing and having end portions aligned with axially spaced projections of the knob shell, whereby axial movement of the shell causes the projections to pivot the lever arms in opposite angular directions to release the coil springs windingly from binding engagement with the wall of the race and permit rotation of the bushing and engaged shaft in response to rotary movement of the knob shell.

Abstract: A device for temporarily holding fast a free circular element with respect to a fixed circular element having circular segments with tangential ramps and a rigid ring with rollers axially rotatable thereon for local thrust against the ramps to cause locking of the free circular element with respect to the fixed circular element. Clevises bearing axial grooved rollers riding on the rigid ring, with the clevises connected to the segments by springs, providing an elastic restoring force to release the free circular element with respect to the fixed circular element.

Abstract: As a clutch between a motor and a vehicle transmission is progressively engaged through the region of slipping engagement, the jolt effect produced is measured and at the same time the jolt effect that would be produced if the clutch were at once grippingly (fully) engaged is predicted. The higher of the respective measured and predicted jolt effects is subtracted from a signal representing maximum permissible jolt, and the resulting difference is used as the input of a three-term (PID) controller, the output of which produces a displacement of an electrically actuatable clutch control member. The controller and control member are so designed that when the controller is shut off, the clutch goes at once into full engagement. The circuit compares motor speed with transmission input speed in order to shut off the controller when these two speeds are equal, thus fully engaging the clutch, and also to shut off at the same time the jolt-measuring and predicting circuits.

Abstract: A device comprising a motor housing communicating with a pressure source and with the atmosphere through a traversable valve member operatively interlinked with the engine crankshaft, a link accommodated in the hollow space of the housing traversably in response to a pressure variation therein and operatively interconnected with the actuator of the clutch, a magnet for operating the valve member to disengage said clutch. Said operative association of said traversable member with the engine crankshaft is effected through an electric crankshaft speed transmitter and a transducer unit to convert the frequency of a signal from said electric transmitter into a current magnitude, the input of said unit being electrically connected to said electric transmitter and the output thereof, to the coil of said magnet, the armature of which is interconnected with the valve member. The construction of the device is simple, which enables the device to be located practically at any suitable place of a transport vehicle.

Abstract: A noiseless ratchet drive mechanism comprises one first element with a band shell for cylindrical friction drive engagement fixed on each side. Adjacent to this first element on each side disposed a second element coaxial with the first on a shaft. This second element consists of a disc member with a plurality of integral links, and each link is connected with a second link with its one end passing through a hole in a band ring which forms the rim of the second element. To the second link is fixed an arced brake which engages the inside of the shell for friction engagement with the first element. The turning of the second element in one direction engages the first element in friction drive while the turning of the second element in the opposite direction disengages the friction engagement.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling an automatically operated clutch assembly for use with a manually operated power transmission system of an automotive driveline, comprising a fluid operated actuating mechanism for the clutch assembly and an electric control arrangement for operating the clutch actuating mechanism in a manner to drive the clutch assembly at different velocities responsive to various operational conditions of the vehicle when the clutch assembly is to be coupled for starting the vehicle from a halt or making shift between transmission gear positions.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling an automatically operated clutch assembly for use with a manually operated power transmission system of an automotive driveline, comprising a fluid operated actuating mechanism for driving the clutch assembly between fully coupled and fully uncoupled conditions. A valve arrangement for controlling the operation of the clutch actuating mechanism and an electric control circuit for controlling the valve arrangement on the basis of signals representative of the vehicle speed and opening degree of the throttle valve in the mixture supply system of the engine. The control circuit is operative to control the valve arrangement so that the clutch actuating mechanism drives the clutch assembly at stepwise varying velocities in response to variation in the throttle valve opening degree when the clutch assembly is in a partially coupled condition.

Abstract: A controlled power clutch in which a series of signals are developed to represent engine speed, engine acceleration and throttle position, as well as a signal representing the heat buildup within the clutch over a period of time. The clutch has substantially conventional mechanical components. The clutch includes a control means for controlling the engagement of the mechanical clutch elements and particularly to control the amount of partial engagement in the transition from the clutch being completely disengaged to being completely engaged, the amount of partial engagement being adjusted in response to throttle position and acceleration of the drive shaft.

Abstract: A control apparatus provided with an electromagnetic valve assembly to selectively change the variation rate of a fluid pressure to actuate the clutch in dependence on the degree of opening of the throttle valve for the vehicular engine, a pulse-generating logic circuit governs the operational sequence of the electromagnetic valves, and a temperature sensor which includes a reed relay located close to the clutch, a permanent magnet attached to the flywheel of the clutch and a heat-sensitive element capable of varying the magnetic flux density passing through the reed relay when the temperature of the clutch disc exceeds a predetermined temperature.

Abstract: Clutch apparatus having a drum having an inner annular clutching face adapted to be secured to the crank shaft of an engine for rotation therewith. A hollow drive shaft centered within the drum carries a plurality of radially movable clutch shoes which are normally urged inwards to a disengaged position by means of an annular tension spring and are moved radially outwards against the tension spring by means by a linearly movable conical wedge which is grooved to accept round-ended stems extending from each of the clutch shoes and which is normally spring-urged into engagement with the shoe stems to move the shoes into clutching engagement with the drum against the action of the coil spring. The conical wedge is operatively connected to a piston which rides in the hollow drive shaft into which a pressurized fluid is injected to operate the piston and move the wedge out of engagement with the shoe stems to enable the tension spring to move the shoes radially inwards out of engagement with the clutch drum.

Abstract: An apparatus for actuating an automatically operated clutch for use in the driveline of an automotive vehicle. Such apparatus being operative to drive the clutch to disengage when shift is being made in the transmission with the accelerator pedal kept depressed and also being operative, in response to vehicle speed, for enabling the clutch to be engaged at a moderate rate when the vehicle speed is higher than a predetermined level. The apparatus is responsive to movement of the accelerator pedal for enabling the clutch to be engaged at a rate varying with the depth to which the accelerator pedal is depressed, and also for enabling the clutch to be driven toward an engaged condition rapidly for a certain period of time slightly before the clutch is first brought into engagement.