A method and system are provided for operating a lockup clutch of a torque converter of a motor vehicle. The torque converter includes a pump rotatably driven by a drive unit, a rotatable turbine fluidly coupled to the pump and configured to drive an input shaft of a transmission, and a lockup clutch selectively engageable to non-fluidically couple the pump to the turbine to transmit torque from the drive unit to the transmission. The operation of the lockup clutch is controlled by the system in response to detecting that the motor vehicle is coasting.

A power takeoff control system and method sense proximity of an operator to a power takeoff and control operation of the power takeoff based upon the sensed proximity.

A gardening appliance has a traction drive system with a clutch, an electric motor drive system and a user-triggerable signalling device. The clutch is designed to, as a result of forward rotation, automatically engage for forward drive of the gardening appliance and, as a result of backward rotation, automatically disengage for freewheeling of the gardening appliance. The electric motor drive system is designed to effect the forward rotation and the backward rotation of the clutch. A method of operating the appliance includes: a) in a user-triggered manner by way of a change in a signal state of the signalling device, operating the electric motor drive system in a running-down and/or braking operating mode in order to lower a motor rotational speed of the forward-rotating electric motor drive system; b) acquiring whether a back electromotive force caused by the electric motor drive system or a variable based on the back electromotive force satisfies a standstill criterion, wherein the standstill criterion is characteristic of an attainment of a standstill state of the electric motor drive system; and c) when the standstill criterion is satisfied, operating the electric motor drive system in a backward-rotation operating mode to effect the backward rotation of the electric motor drive system for disengaging the clutch for freewheeling of the gardening appliance.

A power takeoff control system and method sense proximity of an operator to a power takeoff and control operation of the power takeoff based upon the sensed proximity.

According to one embodiment, for example, a transfer control device controls a transfer that adjusts torque distribution to front wheels and rear wheels of a four-wheel vehicle and that includes a wet type multi-disc clutch and a piston. The transfer control device includes: a detector that detects, based on an output value of a sensor provided in the vehicle, whether a predetermined condition corresponding to a state immediately before ignition of the vehicle is turned ON is established; a controller that starts moving the piston when the detector detects that the predetermined condition is established, so that the multi-disc clutch is switched to a connected state from a disconnected state; and a storage that stores therein, while the piston is moved by the controller, information on a connection start state at which connection of the multi-disc clutch is started.

A dual-clutch transmission includes a hydraulic system for actuating hydraulic cylinders of the clutches and the shifting elements. The hydraulic system has a pressure accumulator providing an accumulated pressure in the hydraulic system, and control valves actuatable by a control unit and respectively arranged in pressure lines routed to the hydraulic cylinders of the clutches to adjust the hydraulic pressure applied to the clutches. Pressure sensors associated with the control unit detect the hydraulic pressure. The control unit activates a pressure reduction mode when detecting a long vehicle downtime, and the accumulated pressure can be reduced in the pressure reduction mode, in which the control unit continuously opens the control valve associated with one clutch. Additionally, the pressure sensor associated with the first clutch together with the control unit is integrated into a control circuit in which the first pressure sensor assumes the detection of the actual accumulated pressure value.

A gardening appliance has a traction drive system with a clutch, an electric motor drive system and a user-triggerable signalling device. The electric motor drive system effects forward rotation and backward rotation of the clutch. An operating method includes: a) in a user-triggered manner, operating the electric motor drive system in a running-down and/or braking operating mode to lower a motor rotational speed of the forward-rotating electric motor drive system; b) acquiring whether a back electromotive force caused by the electric motor drive system satisfies a standstill criterion, wherein the standstill criterion is characteristic of an attainment of a standstill state of the electric motor drive system; and c) when the standstill criterion is satisfied, operating the electric motor drive system in a backward-rotation operating mode to effect the backward rotation of the electric motor drive system for disengaging the clutch for freewheeling operation.