Operating system for temperature-controlled automatic automotive clutch - has master-cylinder piston moved by actuator with movement transmitted hydraulically by pipe to slave-cylinder piston, latter disengaging clutch in opposition to return spring

摘要

The clutch is incorporated in the vehicle transmission system, the master-cylinder piston being moved by an actuator with the movement transmitted hydraulically by pipe to a slave-cylinder piston. The latter disengages the clutch in opposition to a return spring, while the master cylinder piston contains a non-return valve allowing fluid transfer from a compensating chamber to the master-cylinder working chamber. The actuator is so controlled that even at low temperatures movement of the master cylinder piston in the direction increasing the volume of the master-cylinder working chamber (27) the pressure generated by the return spring in this chamber is maintained. During this movement no flow of fluid takes place from the working chamber to the compensating one. Fluid temperature can be measured or computed, and at low temperatures the speed of movement of the master-cylinder piston can be reduced.