For the operation of a gearless clutch-controlled differential unit with a first clutch and a second clutch, without abandoning the possibility of assigning different torques to the clutches, it is provided that a control variable originally generated by a control variable unit is supplied to the first clutch unchanged while the control variable is supplied to the second clutch subject to the intermediate connection of an individual control element. The first and second clutches have clutch characteristics that are distinct from one another.

A method for mitigating clunk in a driveline of a vehicle system during a declutch event includes determining a current torque request of a prime mover based on an accelerator pedal position of an accelerator pedal of the vehicle system. The method includes determining a clutch pedal position and determining, via a controller, a clutch pedal speed based on a change of the clutch pedal position over time. The method further includes modifying, via the controller, the current torque request to obtain a modified torque request based on the clutch pedal position and the clutch pedal speed such that a stored potential energy in the driveline is minimized by a time that the clutch pedal of the vehicle system is disengaged during the declutch event.

A method for mitigating clunk in a driveline of a vehicle system during a declutch event includes determining a current torque request of a prime mover based on an accelerator pedal position of an accelerator pedal of the vehicle system. The method includes determining a clutch pedal position and determining, via a controller, a clutch pedal speed based on a change of the clutch pedal position over time. The method further includes modifying, via the controller, the current torque request to obtain a modified torque request based on the clutch pedal position and the clutch pedal speed such that a stored potential energy in the driveline is minimized by a time that the clutch pedal of the vehicle system is disengaged during the declutch event.

A driving force transmission control apparatus includes: a driving force transmission device that includes an electromagnetic clutch mechanism configured to generate a frictional force between clutch plates by energization of an electromagnetic coil and transmits a driving force by actuating the electromagnetic clutch mechanism; and a control device that controls the driving force transmission device. The control device includes a storage unit storing a hysteresis value representing the difference between a current value required to transmit a predetermined torque when an energization current to the electromagnetic coil is gradually increased and a current value required to transmit the predetermined torque when the energization current is gradually reduced, a torque command value calculator that calculates a torque command value, and a current command value calculator that calculates a current command value representing a target value of a current to be supplied to the electromagnetic coil based on the torque command value and the hysteresis value.

A transmission for an energy storage and recovery system comprises a variable slip transmission and a clutch arranged to transmit drive while slipping. The level of torque transmitted through the slipping clutch is dependent on the clutch force but is independent of the clutch slip speed. Preferably the clutch is provided by a plurality of clutches connected in parallel in a range extender. When drive is transferred between clutches in parallel, the clutch forces of both clutches are controlled to maintain the total torque transmitted by the clutches. This reduces torque fluctuations at the energy source/sink during clutch transfer. Where there are two slipping clutches in series, one clutch is controlled to provide the required torque and the other clutch is controlled in response to a clutch slip speed. This helps to control the speed of rotation of the mass between the clutches.

A clutch control method is provided for a four-wheel-drive vehicle in which the main drive wheels are connected to a drive source, and the auxiliary drive wheels are connected via a friction clutch to the drive source. When the vehicle starts off due to an accelerator depressing operation, the friction clutch is engaged to distribute, a drive torque from the drive source to the main drive wheels and the auxiliary drive wheels. In this clutch control method, when the vehicle switches from a traveling state to a stopped state while maintaining in a travel shift position, a control is preformed to apply initial torque as an engagement torque control of the friction clutch while the vehicle is stopped. A magnitude of the initial torque is set to a magnitude that maintains a drive-system torsion state by transmitting torque to an auxiliary-drive-wheel drive system before the vehicle is stopped.

A method for controlling engagement of a power take-off (PTO) clutch of a work vehicle may generally include transmitting, by a computing device, a control signal associated with initiating engagement of the PTO clutch, determining a clutch slippage energy generated during engagement of the PTO clutch due to clutch slippage and, while the PTO clutch is getting engaged, calculating a clutch engagement time remaining until engagement of the PTO clutch is completed based on the clutch slippage energy and a maximum clutch engagement energy associated with the PTO clutch. In addition, the method may include determining a torque command for controlling engagement of the PTO clutch as a function of the remaining clutch engagement time and controlling the engagement of the PTO clutch based on the torque command.

A transmission for an energy storage and recovery system is disclosed. A variable slip transmission and a clutch arranged to transmit drive while slipping. The level of torque transmitted through the slipping clutch is dependent on the clutch force but is independent of the clutch slip speed. Preferably the clutch is provided by a plurality of clutches connected in parallel in a range extender. When drive is transferred between clutches in parallel, the clutch forces of both clutches are controlled to maintain the total torque transmitted by the clutches. This reduces torque fluctuations at the energy source/sink during clutch transfer. Where there are two slipping clutches in series, one clutch is controlled to provide the required torque and the other clutch is controlled in response to a clutch slip speed. This helps to control the speed of rotation of the mass between the clutches.

A method ascertains a characteristic variable of a clutch installed in a drive train of a vehicle for transmitting a transmission torque between a clutch input and a clutch output. A first electric motor is connected to the clutch input and to an internal combustion engine and can assume generator operation, during which it is driven by the internal combustion engine. A second electric motor is connected to the clutch output. The clutch input can have a first rotational speed and the clutch output can have a second rotational speed. The transmission torque during generator operation is ascertained by activating the clutch to adopt a slipping state and in doing so by setting a predefined rotational speed difference between the first and second rotational speed. The clutch input torque present at the clutch input is then ascertained and the transmission torque is determined depending on the clutch input torque.

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.