GB922468A - A driving arrangement for motor vehicles including an electromagnetic clutch - Google Patents

Abstract

922,468. Clutch control. ELEKTROMECHANIK G.m.b.H. June 10, 1960 [March 18, 1960], No. 20490/60. Addition to 921,898. Class 80 (2). In the automatic clutch control of the parent Specification, wherein an electromagnetic clutch 97 is energized above engine idling speed by a device 95 producing current dependent on the speed of an engine 94, clutch energization is also effected, for towed starting and engine braking, by an auxiliary device 91 which is driven by the clutch output shaft 98, or, as shown, by the output shaft 92 of a gear-box 93 and accordingly produces current dependent on vehicle speed. The device 95 is driven by worm gearing 100 from the engine shaft 102 and is connected to the battery 104 and the clutch 97 through lines 103, 96 respectively. The auxiliary device 91 comprises a generator, is driven through worm gearing 101, and feeds the clutch 97 via a line 91a and the device 95, or directly through a line 99 shown dotted. The current from the auxiliary device 91 rises gradually from zero speed for smooth clutch engagement during engine braking and towed starting. To initiate engine braking a small clutch energizing current is sufficient to accelerate the engine up to the response speed of the device 95; on the other hand, to tow-start the engine a larger clutch energizing current is required. The output current from the auxiliary device 91 is arranged to remain constant above predetermined speeds to avoid interfering with the control of the device 95, and to meet the different conditions of engine braking and towed starting this constant current is selected by a dashboard switch which varies saturation of the auxiliary device generator, or, by means of diodes, limits the voltage fed from the device 91 to the device 95.