POWERTRAIN OF A VEHICLE AND A METHOD OF OPERATING A POWERTRAIN OF A VEHICLE FOR CLUTCH PROTECTION

摘要

A powertrain of a vehicle includes, but is not limited to a prime drive coupleable to a multi-speed transmission by actuation of one or more clutches and a system for operating the powertrain for clutch protection. The system includes, but is not limited to an estimator for estimating the thermal load on the clutch from drive resistance of the vehicle and the torque deliverable by the prime drive at a sensed position of the throttle and an apparatus for increasing the torque delivered by the prime drive to above the estimated torque at the sensed position of the throttle to reduce the thermal load on the clutch if the estimated thermal load on the clutch is higher than the predetermined threshold.