The present invention relates to activation control devices for clutch packs of hydraulic double clutches.
Hydraulic double clutches are used for double clutch transmissions, and comprise first and second pressure lines leading from an oil pressure source via respective filling valves in each pressure line to first and the second clutch packs, respectively.
It is an object underlying the present invention to provide an activation control device having improved and/or safer operating characteristics.
The activation control device according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises a draining valve in each of the pressures lines between the filling valve and the clutch pack. This provides the advantage of minimizing pressure drop upon draining, and provides a redundant control option in case of valve failure. Therefore, as both pressure lines comprise one valve primarily intended for supplying oil to the clutch packs and thus controlling the clutch pressure, and another valve for the purpose of shortening the reaction time of the entire activation control device, torque transmission can be optimized.
In some embodiments, the filling valve is a proportional pressure reducing valve. Also in some embodiments, the draining valve is preferably an on-off 3/2 valve.
In some embodiments, the diameter of the spool of the draining valve is bigger than the diameter of the spool of the filling valve.
Furthermore, in some embodiments the draining valves have a symmetric spool design, whereas the filling valves have an asymmetric spool design. However, in other embodiments, both valve types have the same spool design.
Further features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the single FIGURE of the drawings.
The accompanying drawing is a schematic view of an activation control device for clutch packs of a hydraulic double clutch.
The accompanying drawing is a schematically simplified depiction of an activation control device 1 for clutch packs (represented by arrows K1 and K2) of a hydraulic double clutch used with a double clutch transmission (not shown).
The activation control device 1 comprises a first pressure line 2 equipped with a filling valve 3, and a draining valve 7 downstream of the filling valve 3. Therefore, the draining valve 7 is disposed between the filling valve 3 and the clutch pack K1.
Furthermore, a second pressure line 4 in parallel is provided with a filling valve 5 and a draining valve 6 downstream of filling valve 5, so that the draining valve 6 is disposed between filling valve 5 and the clutch pack K2.
The pressure lines 2 and 4 are connected to an oil pressure source not shown in the FIGURE.
The connections of the valve terminals P, T, A to the pressure lines 2 and 4 can be understood with reference to the accompanying FIGURE.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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05009008 | Apr 2005 | EP | regional |
This is a continuation of PCT/EP2006/003825 filed on Apr. 25, 2006, and claims priority to European patent application no. 05009008.3 filed on Apr. 25, 2005. The entire contents of both earlier-filed applications are incorporated herein by reference.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20090131219 A1 | May 2009 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | PCT/EP2006/003825 | Apr 2006 | US |
Child | 11924392 | US |