GB1324441A - Automatic vacuum operated clutch control device - Google Patents

Abstract

1324441 Clutch control F HAUBOURDIN and R ROLLAND 3 Aug 1970 [4 Aug 1969 14 March 1970] 37328/70 Heading F2L In a vacuum-operated clutch control for a motor vehicle wherein an electromagneticallyoperated valve 12 selectively connects a servochamber 9 to a vacuum supply 14 or to an air intake 15, gradual clutch engagement is obtained by controlling the flow of air into the air intake in response to accelerator pedal position. Air is drawn into the intake 15 through a duct 36 in a block 16 pivoted at 20 to a lever 21 which pivots about an axis 22 and is connected by a rod 24 to a diaphragm 1 of the servo-chamber 9. The flow of air into the duct 36 is controlled by a valve plate 39 pivotally connected at 28 to a lever 29 which is connected by a linkage 42, 43, 44 to an accelerator pedal controlled lever 46. A spring 31 acts between the levers 21, 29 to bias the latter clockwise. An adjustable stop 41 limits clockwise movement of the lever 29 and thus permits rapid initial light clutch engagement. Rapid clutch engaging movement of the diaphragm 1 is permitted until the block 16 abuts the valve plate 39 to close the inlet duct 36. Thereafter accelerator pedal depression moves the valve plate 39 right to open the duct 36 and permit further rightward clutch engaging movement of the diaphragm 1. The rate of clutch engagement is thus dependent upon the rate of accelerator pedal depression. When the clutch is fully engaged a guide rod 26 fast with the valve plate 39 and passing through a hole in the block 16, is engaged by the diaphragm 1 to lift the valve plate 39 off the duct 36. In Figs. 6 and 9 (not shown), the diaphragm abuts an additional rod adjustably connected to the valve plate to lift the latter off the duct at full clutch engagement. The electromagnetically operated valve 12 is normally biased by a spring 45 to the position in which it connects the servo-chamber 9 to the air intake 15. On energization of a solenoid 17 the valve 12 moves up against the bias of the spring 45 to connect the servochamber 9 to the vacuum supply 14. The vacuum supply may be provided by engine manifold depression or by an engine-driven vacuum pump. Electric control circuit.-Below a predetermined vehicle or engine speed the solenoid 17 is energized when a switch 19 is closed by releasing the accelerator pedal. Above the predetermined vehicle or engine speed a switch 19<SP>3</SP> in series with the switch 19 is opened to prevent energization of the solenoid 17 when the accelerator pedal is released. During gear-shift the solenoid 17 is energized by closure of a gearshift lever switch 19<SP>2</SP>. A switch 19<SP>4</SP> in series with the switch 19 is opened to permit clutch engagement when the gear-shift lever is in the neutral position. An additional air intake valve (58), Fig. 11 (not shown), is biased to an open position by a spring and is closed below the predetermined vehicle or engine speed by energization of a solenoid 57.