A clutch mechanism includes a control member. The control member is adapted to receive motive power and includes a first dry clutch member and a first viscous clutch member. The clutch mechanism further includes an output member that includes a second dry clutch member and a second viscous clutch member. The first and second dry clutch members form a dry clutch and the first and second viscous clutch members form a viscous clutch. The clutch mechanism further includes an actuation arm coupled to at least one of the control and output members. The actuation arm is selectively controllable to effect relative movement of the control and output members such that one of the dry and viscous clutches is selectively engaged.

A rotational system can include a shaft assembly rotationally coupling a first rotor, a second rotor, and a fluid pump. A fluid circuit can include the fluid pump that can be configured to motivate a working fluid through the fluid circuit. A pressurizing valve can be disposed downstream of the fluid pump wherein the rotational system can be configured to rotationally decouple the first rotor from the second rotor by closing the pressurizing valve. The pressurizing valve can be actuated by a controller. A method can include raising a pressure differential across a fluid pump driven by a shaft assembly thereby applying an increased braking torque to the shaft assembly. The pressure differential can be raised by actuating a valve in hydraulic communication with the fluid pump. The shaft assembly can rotationally couple a first rotor with a second rotor, and increasing the braking torque can decouple the rotors.

An actuator assembly having an outer section and an inner section that are moveable relative to each other has a clutch assembly mounted on the outer section. The clutch includes a clutch housing, a clutch motor, and a plurality of pins. The clutch housing is rotatable between an engaged position and a disengaged position. The clutch motor is coupled to the clutch housing and is configured to rotate the clutch housing between the engaged position and the disengaged position. The pins are disposed within, and extend radially inwardly from, the clutch housing, and each pin is movable between an extended position and a retracted position. When the clutch housing is rotated into the engaged position, the pins are moved to, and retained in, the extended position, and when the clutch housing is rotated into the disengaged position, the pins are movable to the retracted position.

A vehicle includes a clutch to couple a motor and transmission, and a controller that, in response to a regenerative braking request and a temperature being within a first range, partially capacitizes the clutch for regenerative torque transfer therethrough with slip, and in response to another regenerative braking request and the temperature being within a second range less than the first, fully capacitizes the clutch prior to regenerative torque transfer therethough to preclude slip.

Variator (20) and forward clutch (Fwd/C) disposed in series are provided between engine (1) having starter motor (15) and driving wheel (7). Sailing stop control that, on the basis of satisfaction of sailing entering condition, interrupts power transmission by frictional engagement element (Fwd/C), stops engine (1) and performs coast-travel is performed. When sailing entering condition is satisfied, coast-travel is started with rotation stop timing of variator (20) being delayed with respect to rotation stop timing of engine (1). When accelerator pedal depression operation intervenes after start of coast-travel, engine (1) is restarted by starter motor (15). When judged that input and output rotation speeds of frictional engagement element (Fwd/C) become synchronization rotation speed after restart of engine (1), frictional engagement element (Fwd/C) is reengaged. Shift response from coast-travel to normal travel is therefore improved at change-of-mind at which sailing quitting condition is satisfied during progress of automatic stop of engine.

A method for the transmission and damping of a mean torque with a superposed alternating torque in an arrangement having an input and an output. The mean torque and superposed alternating torque are transmitted along a path from the input to the output. A slip arrangement is provided in the torque path between the input and the output for transmitting mean torque and superposed alternating torque and for generating a speed slip between an input speed and an output speed in the path. The slip arrangement provides a maximum of an external activation of the speed slip in the area of the maxima of at least one periodic oscillation component of the alternating component and provides a minimum of an external activation of the speed slip in the area of the minima of at least one periodic oscillation component of the alternating component.

A clutch control device includes an engine, a gearbox, a clutch device configured to disconnect and connect power transmission between the engine and the gearbox, a clutch actuator configured to drive the clutch device and vary a clutch capacity, an engine rotational number sensor configured to detect an engine rotational number, a throttle opening angle sensor configured to detect a throttle opening angle, and a controller configured to calculate a control target value of the clutch capacity, wherein the controller calculates an estimated engine torque and causes the clutch device to change a slip clutch capacity according to the estimated engine torque.

A method for transmission of and damping of a mean torque with a superposed alternating torque in a torque transmission arrangement for a powertrain of a motor vehicle having an input and an output. The mean torque with the superposed alternating torque is transmitted along a torque path from the input the output. The input rotates at an input speed and the output rotates at an output speed. A slip arrangement is provided in the torque path between the input and the output for generating a speed slip. The slip arrangement provides a maximum of an external activation of the speed slip in the area of a maxima of at least one periodic oscillation component of an alternating component and provides a minimum of an external activation of the speed slip in the area of a minima of at least one periodic oscillation component of the alternating component (new).

A clutch control device and a clutch control method are capable of preventing progress of wear and damage of a pneumatic clutch actuator. The clutch control device that controls the operation of a pneumatic clutch actuator to disconnect a clutch is characterized by setting a stroke amount of a piston corresponding to a disconnection position of the clutch as a final target stroke amount, setting other stroke amounts different from the final target stroke amount as intermediate target stroke amounts, and controlling the operation of the piston in a stepwise manner such that an actual stroke amount of the piston is matched with the intermediate target stroke amounts and is thereafter matched with the final target stroke amount, thereby disconnecting the clutch.

A system for selectively engaging and disengaging a drive shaft from an electric vehicle drive system includes a clutch device connected to the vehicle drive system, the vehicle drive system including an electric motor connected to a transmission system connecting the drive system to the drive shaft. The transmission system includes a first transfer gear connected to a second transfer gear by a transfer shaft, the second transfer gear is connected to the drive shaft, and the clutch device is disposed at the transfer shaft. The system also includes an actuator configured to control the clutch device to selectively engage the electric motor with the drive shaft, and to selectively disengage the electric motor from the drive shaft.