A method for effecting efficient engagement of a clutch to interconnect an engine and an implement which monitors operational parameters of the engine and implement and determines from those operational parameters at least two ramp rates for the application of hydraulic pressure to the clutch. The hydraulic pressure is applied at a first ramp rate to the clutch for a first period and applied at a second ramp rate to the clutch for a second period. A determination is made from the relationship between the input and output speeds of the clutch whether the clutch is fully engaged. If it is not fully engaged, clutch pressure is released and the ramp rates are reevaluated and reset. They are then sequentially applied for the first and second periods. The process repeats until full engagement is achieved or a determination is made that full engagement cannot be achieved.

A system comprises a powertrain including an engine configured to output torque to a driveline, and an electronic control system operatively coupled with the powertrain. The electronic control system is configured to determine an engine torque value, and control a component of the driveline in response to the engine torque value. The engine torque value may account for an effect of air-fuel ratio (AFR) on engine torque. The engine torque value may account for an effect of charge transport delay on engine torque.

A method for effecting efficient engagement of a clutch to interconnect an engine and an implement which monitors operational parameters of the engine and implement and determines from those operational parameters at least two ramp rates for the application of hydraulic pressure to the clutch. The hydraulic pressure is applied at a first ramp rate to the clutch for a first period and applied at a second ramp rate to the clutch for a second period. A determination is made from the relationship between the input and output speeds of the clutch whether the clutch is fully engaged. If it is not fully engaged, clutch pressure is released and the ramp rates are reevaluated and reset. They are then sequentially applied for the first and second periods. The process repeats until full engagement is achieved or a determination is made that full engagement cannot be achieved.

A method of controlling a clutch for vehicle may include determining, by a controller, raised offset engine torque, when engine torque is raised to a reference torque or more in an engine idle state, and controlling, by the controller, the clutch based on the determined offset engine torque.

A system and method are provided for hybrid electric internal combustion engine applications. A motor-generator, a narrow switchable coupling and a torque transfer unit are arranged in the constrained environment at the front of an engine. The motor-generator is preferably laterally offset from the switchable coupling, which is co-axially-arranged with the engine crankshaft. The switchable coupling is an integrated unit in which a crankshaft vibration damper, an engine accessory drive pulley and a disengageable clutch overlap such that the axial depth of the clutch-pulley-damper unit is nearly the same as a conventional belt drive pulley and engine damper. The front end motor-generator system includes an electrical energy store that receives electrical energy generated when the coupling is engaged. When the coupling is disengaged, the motor-generator may drive the pulley portion of the clutch-pulley-damper to drive the engine accessories using energy from the energy store, independent of the engine crankshaft.

In an aspect, an electromechanical apparatus is provided, comprising an electromagnet, a magnetically permeable rotor, a drive, a current source, a current sensor and processing logic. The electromagnet includes a magnetically permeable housing and a wire coil disposed therein. The rotor spins and is disposed in the path of a magnetic circuit generated by the electromagnet. The drive rotates the rotor relative to the electromagnet housing. The rotor and electromagnet housing vary the reluctance therebetween as the rotor rotates. The current source applies a current to the electromagnet coil, wherein, during rotation of the rotor, fluctuations in the current result in the electromagnet coil due to the aforementioned varying reluctance are superimposed on the applied current. The current sensor senses fluctuations in current in the electromagnet coil. The processing logic reads the sensed current and determines the frequency of the fluctuations, which are correlated to rotor speed.

A system and method are provided for hybrid electric internal combustion engine applications. A motor-generator, a narrow switchable coupling and a torque transfer unit are arranged in the constrained environment at the front of an engine. The motor-generator is preferably laterally offset from the switchable coupling, which is co-axially-arranged with the engine crankshaft. The switchable coupling is an integrated unit in which a crankshaft vibration damper, an engine accessory drive pulley and a disengageable clutch overlap such that the axial depth of the clutch-pulley-damper unit is nearly the same as a conventional belt drive pulley and engine damper. The front end motor-generator system includes an electrical energy store that receives electrical energy generated when the coupling is engaged. When the coupling is disengaged, the motor-generator may drive the pulley portion of the clutch-pulley-damper to drive the engine accessories using energy from the energy store, independent of the engine crankshaft.

A vehicle heating system having a first viscous clutch and a pump and viscous clutch mechanism. The first viscous clutch has a first clutch input member. The pump and viscous clutch mechanism has a pump and a second viscous clutch. The pump includes a pump input member, while the second viscous clutch includes a second clutch input member. One of the pump input member and the second clutch input member is drivingly coupled to a portion of the first viscous clutch.

A method for learning a touch point of an engine clutch for a hybrid electric vehicle includes controlling a speed of an engine to have an idle speed. A fluid pipe of a clutch actuator is refilled with a working fluid by driving a driving motor in an idle control state of the engine, a speed of the driving motor is synchronized with the speed of the engine, and then the engine clutch is engaged. The engine clutch is released after the refill is performed, and the speed of the driving motor is decreased. A working fluid is applied so that the engine clutch is operated in an engagement direction by operating the clutch actuator, and a state change of the driving motor is detected. The touch point of the engine clutch is determined based on the state change of the driving motor.