And Brake Control Patents (Class 477/71)
  • Patent number: 11895937
    Abstract: A slip determination system is provided that is capable of providing appropriate control information to a traveling vehicle when the traveling vehicle has proceeded to an area where a slip is likely to occur during automatic travel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuo Sakaguchi, Tomohiko Sano, Osamu Yoshida, Tetsuya Nakajima, Takashi Nakabayashi, Satoshi Maruo, Kazuhiro Takahara
  • Patent number: 11840236
    Abstract: A method in a control arrangement of a vehicle and a control arrangement for a vehicle for downshifting gears in an uphill slope are presented. The method comprises, when the vehicle is travelling in an uphill slope using an initial gear of the vehicle's automated manual transmission gearbox: simulating at least one speed profile for a downshift to, and a usage of, at least one gear; determining that a minimal speed of each one of the at least one simulated speed profile has a value indicating that the actual speed of the vehicle will be less than or equal to zero in the uphill slope; opening a clutch before is reduced to a value less than zero; activating at least one vehicle brake; shifting vehicle's automated manual transmission gearbox to a start gear; closing the clutch; and deactivating the at least one vehicle brake.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Scania CV AB
    Inventors: Anders Björkman, Richard Boström, Frank Mohr, Marcus Engman, Afram Kourie
  • Patent number: 11794743
    Abstract: At the time of starting a vehicle, if the vehicle is stopped even without an operation of braking the vehicle, a drive force to be generated before an actual start of the vehicle is limited to or below a predetermined maximum drive force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Michihiko Matsumoto, Yohei Nakamura, Toshiyuki Murata, Tetsuya Ikeda
  • Patent number: 11279358
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling the velocity of a vehicle includes a processor, a velocity sensor in communication with the processor, a throttle actuator in communication with the processor, and a brake actuator in communication with the processor. The processor is set either the throttle position of the vehicle via the throttle actuator or the brake pedal position of the vehicle via the brake actuator based whether the augmented acceleration is greater than or equal to a gear acceleration, whether the actual velocity is above a crawl speed, and a lookup table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Veoneer US, Inc.
    Inventors: Jon D. Demerly, Hsin-Hsiang Yang
  • Patent number: 11225245
    Abstract: To minimize a pedal operation of a driver and to provide convenience of driving by flexibly controlling a maximum creep speed during a creep driving in a traffic congestion section, a vehicle includes: a radar configured to obtain speed information of a preceding vehicle and distance information to the preceding vehicle; a sensor configured to acquire behavior information of the vehicle; a controller configured to determine whether or not the vehicle has entered the traffic congestion section based on the behavior information of the vehicle, to determine a safety distance and a surplus distance related to the preceding vehicle, to determine a maximum creep speed and a creep torque based on the surplus distance, and to control operation of at least one of a motor or an engine to transmit the creep torque to a wheel of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Seok Min Jeong
  • Patent number: 11180136
    Abstract: An autonomous parking apparatus incorporated into a vehicle including an internal combustion engine, a torque converter, a transmission, a detector detecting a creep torque acting on an axle, and a microprocessor. The microprocessor is configured to perform instructing a self-parking of the vehicle, determining whether it is necessary to perform a creep torque reduction control based on a creep torque detected when the self-parking is instructed, and controlling the transmission in accordance with a determination result in the determining. When it is determined that it is necessary to perform the creep torque reduction control, the microprocessor is configured to control the transmission so as to increase engaging force of engagement elements of the transmission or change speed stage of the transmission to high speed side than when it is determined that it is unnecessary to perform the creep torque reduction control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masayuki Sadakiyo, Hisashi Ishikawa, Tomoyuki Noguchi, Takashi Adachi
  • Patent number: 11136009
    Abstract: A park lock system for a vehicle transmission, includes a movable primary carrier, a secondary carrier, a rod, a first biasing member, an engagement carrier, and a first actuator. The movable primary carrier defines a primary internal space. The secondary carrier is located within the primary internal space and is movable relative to the primary carrier. The rod fixedly extends from the secondary carrier and includes a rod portion located outside of the primary internal space. The first biasing member is located within the primary internal space between the secondary carrier and the primary carrier. The engagement carrier is configured to receive the rod portion and includes a terminal portion operably connected to a pawl and a park lock wheel arrangement to lock and unlock the vehicle transmission. The first actuator is configurable in a first state or a second state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Frister, Martin Belley, Axel Hahn
  • Patent number: 10151386
    Abstract: A control method for a vehicle with a DCT may include: a sensing step in which a controller senses a currently engaged gear of the vehicle, an inclination of a road, and a vehicle speed; a comparing step in which the controller compares a temperature of an odd-numbered clutch of the transmission with a set temperature when the currently engaged gear is a first gear, the inclination of the road is within a set range, and the vehicle speed is a set vehicle speed or less, after the sensing step; and an adjusting step in which the controller adjusts a shifting pattern to shift into a second gear when the temperature of the odd-numbered clutch is the set temperature or more, as the result of the comparing step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Woon Ki Cho
  • Patent number: 10017184
    Abstract: A method for releasing creep torque control of a vehicle before a stop includes a step of when creep torque is controlled for a shift before a stop of the vehicle, creep torque control is released in consideration of a current shift gear position if an actual creep torque value controlled during a shift becomes equal to a target creep torque value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jee Wook Huh, Gwang Il Du, Song Il Park, Kyoung Cheol Oh, Sung Deok Kim
  • Patent number: 9423022
    Abstract: Some embodiments relate to determining an estimated torque output by a vehicular transmission. A first controller determines a target gear number and an actual gear number during shifting between the gears of the transmission, the target gear number being equal to a value of a gear number to which the transmission is shifting, the actual gear number being equal to a value of a gear number from which the transmission is shifting. A second controller compares the target gear number to the actual gear number and retrieves a blended gear number if the target gear number is greater than the actual gear number, determines an approximate value for a gear ratio that decreases in proportion to a rate of decrease in torque output by the transmission based on the blended gear number, and estimates a value of the torque output by the transmission based on the determined gear ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Steve Turner, Randy Skiles
  • Patent number: 9387848
    Abstract: A method of controlling and regulating a transmission brake which, for the purpose of synchronization, determines a target rotational speed of a shaft to be synchronized on the basis of an actual rotational speed of a transmission shaft, and controls a transmission brake such that the determined target rotational speed is set for the shaft that is to be synchronized. The transmission brake also carries out additional functions. These functions require no, or only minimal, additional hardware complexity in a cost-neutral way, but considerably increase the functional and practical value of the transmission brake. The comfort and speed of shifting operations, the protection or, as the case may be, the detection of error states in sensors, a clutch, a main clutch or a motor control are improved, and undesirable transmission states avoided. It is also possible to account for and influence other conditions, such as the operation of ancillary devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Rainer Petzold, Mario Steinborn, Ulrich Reith, Wolfgang Groner, Rupert Kramer
  • Patent number: 9212709
    Abstract: A power transmission device for a vehicle equipped with a wet multiple disk clutch for disconnecting the power at the time of gearshift by using a clutch controller, wherein the amount of engagement where the clutch is half-engaged is learned maintaining precision. In the present invention, the clutch controller of the wet multiple disk clutch moves a clutch piston over the whole stroke thereof by using the working fluid for varying the amount of engagement at the start of learning the amount of engagement at a point where the clutch starts half-engaging and, immediately thereafter, the amount the clutch is half-engaged is detected. Upon moving the clutch piston, the working fluid present among the friction disks of the wet multiple disk clutch is drained and is replaced by the new working fluid avoiding detection error caused by the fluctuation in the temperature of the working fluid and eliminating unstable operation of the clutch piston caused by static friction of a large resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: ISUZU MOTORS LIMITED
    Inventor: Nobuyuki Iwao
  • Patent number: 9057440
    Abstract: When a synchronizing sleeve that is driven by an actuator in response to gear shift request is stroked from a release position to an engagement position, a differential rotation speed between an input rotation and an output rotation is calculated at stroke positions after a synchronization completion position; and when the said differential rotation speed is equal to or more than a predetermined threshold value, a damage determination index is calculated based on the said differential rotation speed. Further, when a cumulative value of the damage determination index accumulated for each gear position becomes equal to or more than a predetermined threshold value, the engagement operation of the gear position corresponding to the said cumulative value is disabled. This makes it possible to effectively determine the degree of damage when a gear whine occurs to a synchronized engaging device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Eiji Hanai, Katsuhisa Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8924115
    Abstract: The disclosure describes, in one aspect, a control system for controlling a braking system. The control system includes a parking brake operatively to at least one wheel, a park brake override mechanism operatively associated with the parking brake, an inching pedal operatively coupled to a transmission, a shift lever operatively coupled to the transmission, at least one sensor operatively coupled to the parking brake to detect when the parking brake is engaged, at least one sensor operatively coupled to the inching pedal to detect a depression of the inching pedal, and at least one sensor operatively coupled to the shift lever for detecting at least one of a forward or reverse gear selection. The control system further includes a controller operatively coupled to the at least one sensors to receive corresponding signals and adapted to control the engagement of the parking brake when the inching pedal is depressed and the at least one of the forward or reverse gear selections is desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Mohammad Rahman, Mark Behn, Aaron Gnagey, James Roal, Kirk Shively, Cory Smith
  • Patent number: 8777807
    Abstract: A method for releasing a tooth-on-tooth position of an interlocking shift element (6) of a transmission (5) or an interlocking shift element between two transmissions, such that the tooth-on-tooth position is released by using an actuator, in particular by using a transmission brake (8) or a drive clutch (7), and when a tooth-on-tooth position to be released is recognized, then depending on a drive-side or input-side rotational speed of the interlocking shift element (6), depending on a synchronous speed of the same and as a function of the actuators (3, 7, 8) available for releasing a tooth-on-tooth position, at least one actuator is selected, by using which the drive-side or input-side speed of the interlocking shift element (6) is approximated to its synchronous speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Florian Schneider, Mario Steinborn
  • Patent number: 8775039
    Abstract: A motorized vehicle includes a transmission system and an inch/brake device providing at least two ranges of motion. An engagement force of the transmission system is provided in a first range of motion of the inch/brake device, and a braking force of the motorized vehicle is provided in a second range of motion of the inch/brake device. An accelerator device moves between two or more positions, wherein moving the accelerator device from one position to another position causes an amount of overlap between the first and second ranges of motion of the inch/brake device to vary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: NMHG Oregon, LLC
    Inventors: Chenyao Chen, Kristian Ressler
  • Patent number: 8758196
    Abstract: A method of controlling a transmission of a vehicle may include beginning synchronization between a speed shift gear of a target gear and an output shaft to shift gears from a current gear to a lower gear set as the target gear in response to deceleration of the vehicle, after the synchronization between the output shaft and an input shaft by the speed shift gear of the target gear has been completed, maintaining the synchronized state therebetween for a predetermined time period, and completing engagement with the target gear to complete the shifting of the gears after the maintaining of the synchronized state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Sung Yeol Kim, Seung Min Lee, Choung Wan Son, Seok Young Shin, Ju Hyun Nam, Sung Yop Lee, Kwang Min Won
  • Patent number: 8668622
    Abstract: A shift control method for an automated gearshift transmission arranged in a drivetrain of a motor vehicle, between a drive motor and an axle drive, which is provided with unsynchronized gear clutches and whose input shaft can be connected to the driveshaft of the drive motor by an automatically controllable separator clutch such that, for an upshift, the synchronization of the target gear takes place with the separator clutch disengaged by setting a substantially constant braking torque at a transmission brake in driving connection with the input shaft. In order to speed up the shift sequence, without additional design measures, as the input speed of the gear clutch of the target gear approaches its output speed, to complete the synchronization, the separator clutch is partially engaged and then disengaged again substantially simultaneously as the transmission brake is released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Bernd Dobele, Norbert Wiencek
  • Patent number: 8634987
    Abstract: A creep travel capability of an electric vehicle is secured when an abnormality occurs in a brake sensor. When an accelerator operation amount reaches 0% in a low vehicle speed region, a target creep torque is set, whereupon a motor-generator is controlled toward the target creep torque. The target creep torque is reduced as a brake pedal is depressed in order to suppress heat generation and the like in the motor-generator during vehicle braking. Hence, in an electric vehicle in which the target creep torque is varied in accordance with the brake operation amount, when an abnormality occurs (step S11) in a brake sensor for detecting a brake operation amount, a preset prescribed creep torque is employed as the target creep torque regardless of the brake operation amount (step S15). The prescribed creep torque is set at a required magnitude for securing the creep travel capability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Itaru Seta, Yosuke Ohtomo
  • Patent number: 8444528
    Abstract: A method of operating a drivetrain of a motor vehicle. The drivetrain comprises a transmission arranged between a drive assembly and an axle drive, such that an input shaft of the transmission is connected, via a controllable separator clutch, to the drive assembly and an output shaft of the transmission is connected to the axle drive, and such that the transmission comprises at least one shifting element formed as a claw clutch. To reduce the probability that a tooth-on-tooth position may occur in a shifting element formed as a claw clutch, a torque is applied thereto by at least one transmission-internal assembly and/or at least one transmission-external assembly so that a speed difference at the claw clutch approaches a predetermined nominal value, and engagement of the claw clutch is only started when the speed difference of the claw clutch reaches the nominal value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Martin Miller, Mario Steinborn, Jochen Breuer, Josef Bader, Andreas Graf, Thomas Hafen
  • Patent number: 8398516
    Abstract: A method for controlling a coast down downshift that is produced in an automatic transmission by disengaging an off-going control element and engaging an oncoming control element, including the steps of determining a first desired pressure magnitude of the off-going control element and a first desired pressure magnitude of the oncoming control element, executing the current downshift using said first desired pressure magnitudes, determining during execution of the current downshift corrections of said first desired pressure magnitudes that occur during the current downshift, determining a second desired pressure magnitude of the off-going control element and a second desired pressure magnitude of the oncoming control element, using said corrections and the second desired pressure magnitude to determine a subsequent desired pressure magnitude of the off-going control element and a subsequent desired pressure magnitude of the oncoming control element, and executing a downshift using said subsequent desired pres
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mark A. Smith, Douglas R. Cecil, Michael Tarrant, Vince P. LaVoie
  • Publication number: 20120316029
    Abstract: A method for controlling a vehicle on an uphill incline includes automatically shifting a transmission to first gear, automatically stopping the engine, using wheel torque to maintain a one-way clutch engaged and to hold a transmission component against rotation, preventing vehicle rollback by automatically engaging a target gear and tying-up the transmission automatically restarting the engine, and automatically reengaging first gear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2011
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Felix Nedorezov, Hong Jiang, Davor D. Hrovat, Steven G. Thomas, Alex O. Gibson, Roger L. Huffmaster
  • Patent number: 8282530
    Abstract: When the driver makes a request for switching the shift range to the P range despite that the vehicle has not yet stopped completely, the wheel cylinder pressure is maintained at a brake hold pressure Ph for a while, rather than switching the shift range to the P range immediately. At this time, more specifically, the wheel cylinder pressure is maintained at the brake hold pressure Ph for a brake hold duration ?t within which the vehicle is estimated to stop, and when the brake hold duration ?t has passed, the shift range is switched to the P range. After the lock mechanism is actuated to establish the P range, the wheel cylinder pressure is gradually reduced from the brake hold pressure Ph at a given pressure reducing gradient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takayuki Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 8206263
    Abstract: In order to attain a stable traction control regardless of an inertia change in a driving system, when a driving force transmitted from driving wheels to a road surface is lowered by a certain quantity by torque control, the driving force is lowered according to a transmission torque capacity of a clutch element for connecting and disconnecting a power source and the driving wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Haruhisa Tsuchikawa
  • Publication number: 20120129652
    Abstract: A method for controlling an inching procedure of a motor vehicle, which has at least one friction clutch arranged between a drive unit and a transmission. The torque of the clutch is specified by a control unit and set by a clutch actuator. If the brake and load lever are not actuated, a multi-stage is started by an torque set by the clutch. To perform the process, the torque is increased up to a specified maximum limit to reach a specified speed in a first stage. A specified time period is waited in a second stage if the specified speed does not reached the maximum limit. The torque is increased by a specified value in a third phase if the specified speed is not reached, and the torque is reduced in a fourth stage and a driver warning is output if the specified speed again is not reached.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2012
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Applicant: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KG
    Inventor: Michael REUSCHEL
  • Patent number: 8180545
    Abstract: A method for controlling braking in a vehicle having a brake pedal includes the steps of obtaining a first measure of braking intent based on movement of the brake pedal, obtaining a second measure of braking intent based on a force applied to the brake pedal, controlling the braking based on the first measure provided that a transition parameter is less than a first predetermined value, controlling the braking based on the second measure provided that the transition parameter is greater than a second predetermined value, and controlling the braking based on the first measure and the second measure provided that the transition parameter is greater than the first predetermined value and less than the second predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Patrick J. Monsere, Jon K. Logan, Danny Y. Mui, Margaret C. Richards, Kevin S. Kidston
  • Patent number: 8079934
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an engine stall prevention system for industrial vehicles. The engine stall prevention system includes a transmission, which is configured such that a hydraulic shuttle valve for performing forward and reverse switching without requiring the operation of a clutch pedal, and a control unit for controlling the shuttle valve. The control unit receives a brake pedal operation signal from a brake detection unit for detecting the operation of a brake pedal, detects the traveling state of a vehicle using a traveling detection unit, determines whether the speed and engine RPM of the vehicle are equal to or less than respective preset values, and performs automatic control such that the shuttle valve enters a neutral state or a half-clutch state if it is determined that the vehicle speed is greater than the corresponding preset value and the engine RPM is equal to or less than the corresponding preset value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Daedong Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Byung Woo Gam
  • Patent number: 8070652
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for overcoming tooth butt conditions (ZaZ) when engaging gears in transmissions. A sensitive adjustment of the clutch to apply torque for rotating the drive shaft of the transmission in order to overcome tooth butt conditions has certain limits because of the proportion of the power required and desired for making said sensitive adjustment. This may cause unpleasant jerking of the vehicle or a clearly audible locking noise of the involved positively connected elements and undesired mechanical stress to said elements. The method according to the present invention provides a remedy due to the fact that during each shifting process, regardless of the occurrence of a tooth butt condition, the clutch is brought into a position allowing minimum predetermined torque transmission to the drive shaft of the transmission, and this torque is supported on a transmission brake, which is often already available.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Bernd Doebele, Norbert Wiencek
  • Publication number: 20110237389
    Abstract: A power transmitting apparatus, such an automotive transmission, adapted to properly select transmission of or cutting-off of a driving force of the driving source to or from the wheels of a vehicle can include a torque converter having a torque amplifying function. A clutch mechanism can include a first clutch device configured to transmit the driving force to the wheels through the torque converter and a second clutch device configured to transmit the driving force without passing through the torque converter. A selecting device can control the first clutch device or the second clutch device in accordance with conditions of the vehicle including starting from a stop. An input-side measuring device can be used to measure an input-side rotational speed of the first clutch device and an output-side measuring device can be used for measuring an output-side rotational speed of the first clutch device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2011
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA F.C.C.
    Inventors: Tatsuyuki Ohashi, Shouji Asatsuke, Akio Oishi, Ryouhei Chiba, Jun Ishimura, Keiichi Ishikawa
  • Publication number: 20110021315
    Abstract: A shift control method for an automated gearshift transmission arranged in a drivetrain of a motor vehicle, between a drive motor and an axle drive, which is provided with unsynchronized gear clutches and whose input shaft can be connected to the driveshaft of the drive motor by an automatically controllable separator clutch such that, for an upshift, the synchronization of the target gear takes place with the separator clutch disengaged by setting a substantially constant braking torque at a transmission brake in driving connection with the input shaft. In order to speed up the shift sequence, without additional design measures, as the input speed of the gear clutch of the target gear approaches its output speed, to complete the synchronization, the separator clutch is partially engaged and then disengaged again substantially simultaneously as the transmission brake is released.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2009
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Bernd Dobele, Norbert Wiencek
  • Publication number: 20100298092
    Abstract: In order to attain a stable traction control regardless of an inertia change in a driving system, when a driving force transmitted from driving wheels to a road surface is lowered by a certain quantity by torque control, the driving force is lowered according to a transmission torque capacity of a clutch element for connecting and disconnecting a power source and the driving wheels
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Applicant: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Haruhisa Tsuchikawa
  • Publication number: 20100285921
    Abstract: A method of operating a drivetrain of a motor vehicle. The drivetrain comprises a transmission arranged between a drive assembly and an axle drive, such that an input shaft of the transmission is connected, via a controllable separator clutch, to the drive assembly and an output shaft of the transmission is connected to the axle drive, and such that the transmission comprises at least one shifting element formed as a claw clutch. To reduce the probability that a tooth-on-tooth position may occur in a shifting element formed as a claw clutch, a torque is applied thereto by at least one transmission-internal assembly and/or at least one transmission-external assembly so that a speed difference at the claw clutch approaches a predetermined nominal value, and engagement of the claw clutch is only started when the speed difference of the claw clutch reaches the nominal value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2010
    Publication date: November 11, 2010
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Martin Miller, Mario Steinborn, Jochen Breuer, Josef Bader, Andreas Graf, Thomas Hafen
  • Patent number: 7811199
    Abstract: A method for operating a multi-speed automatic transmission of a motor vehicle. The automatic transmission has multiple shift elements for transmitting torque and/or power. When in forward and reverse gears, a first number of shift elements are engaged, and a second number of shift elements are disengaged. To improve the shift speed of successive upshifts and/or successive downshifts which are implemented in an overlapped manner, during a first upshift and/or downshift, at least one shift element, necessary for a successive second upshift and/or downshift, is prepared during the first upshift and/or downshift such that when the first upshift and/or downshift reaches a synchronous point, immediate implementation of the successive second upshift and/or downshift is possible. Depending on a gear change to be implemented, the first upshift and/or downshift from a current gear to a desired gear is preferably implemented as a multiple shift rather than a single shift.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Christian Popp, Klaus Steinhauser, Gerald Klein
  • Patent number: 7739020
    Abstract: A driving motor drives power-consuming devices and, via a clutch device, driving wheels as well. Upon actuation of a brake pedal, an electronic controller determines an input torque of the clutch device and disengages the clutch device when the brake pedal has reached a defined value that is dependent upon the input torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Jürgen Legner
  • Patent number: 7632210
    Abstract: A control device for an automatic transmission includes: a control portion that executes a neutral control to release the friction engagement element if a progressing position of the automatic transmission is selected, and a state of the vehicle satisfies a certain condition; a detection portion that detects degree of deceleration of the vehicle before the neutral control is executed; and a releasing portion for releasing the friction engagement element to be in a released or semi-released state in accordance with a shift of the automatic transmission if the degree of deceleration is greater than a predetermined degree.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naotaka Kakisaka, Mitsuharu Ito
  • Patent number: 7632211
    Abstract: A shift control method of a range group transmission with a multi-speed main transmission, which connects with a drive motor, via a clutch (K) and an input shaft. A transmission brake optionally engages the input shaft. At least a two range group is located downstream of the main transmission. A range change shift is accomplished by changing a gear of the main transmission and the range group. The shifting sequence is accelerated by: reducing motor torque and disengaging the clutch (K); disengaging a previous range group gear; synchronizing a new range group gear; disengaging a previous main transmission gear; engaging the new range group gear; synchronizing a new main transmission gear; engaging the new main transmission gear; and engaging the clutch (K) and increasing the motor torque, such that synchronization of the new gear occurs by influencing the input shaft of the main transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Groner, Andelko Vesenjak, Thomas Hafen
  • Publication number: 20090305844
    Abstract: A method for controlling a creeping process of a motor vehicle with an internal combustion engine, a torque converter with a pump shell driven by the internal combustion engine and a turbine shell driving an automated transmission and a separation clutch disposed in the torque flow between the internal combustion engine and the torque converter, wherein a creeping process is initiated when a gas pedal for driver control of the internal combustion engine and a brake pedal are not actuated and a driving velocity of the motor vehicle is less than a predetermined value. In order to be able to perform the creeping process with converter slippage and also with slippage of the separation clutch a creep torque transmitted through the separation clutch is adjusted as a function of the slippage of the torque converter for initiating the creeping process and during the creeping process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2009
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Applicant: LUK LAMELLEN UND KUPPLUNGSBAU BETEILIGUNGS KG
    Inventor: Markus Klump
  • Patent number: 7593801
    Abstract: In a method for controlling a speed of a vehicle, when an actual speed of the vehicle exceeds a predefined setpoint speed by more than a first predefined speed difference, a service brake of the vehicle is activated. In the method, the first predefined speed difference has a value greater than zero. Also, when the actual speed exceeds the setpoint speed by a second predefined speed difference, which is smaller than the first predefined speed difference, an idle speed control can be activated and a torque request of activated ancillary components can be reduced. Further, when the actual speed exceeds the setpoint speed by a sixth predefined speed difference, which is smaller than the first predefined speed difference, an ancillary component can be activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Erwin Lock, Christian Muehlbauer, Mario Kustosch
  • Patent number: 7529607
    Abstract: A method for controlling selection of an automatic transmission gear ratio with staged ratios or constant variation for a vehicle including a control for preventing/allowing extension of the gear ratio or for controlling a shortening the transmission gear ratio if, at a current engine speed, the power is insufficient for maintaining the vehicle speed. The method prevents extension of the transmission gear ratio if the power available after the extension is insufficient for maintaining the vehicle speed; otherwise allowing extension of the transmission gear ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: Renault S.A.S.
    Inventor: Olivier Aubert
  • Publication number: 20090111646
    Abstract: A hydraulic control system of an eight-speed automatic transmission for a vehicle. Four clutches and two brakes can by independently controlled by six proportional control solenoid valves by employing pressure control valves and pressure switching valves.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2007
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Inventor: Jae Hee Hong
  • Publication number: 20090082173
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for controlling an automatic transmission, the automatic transmission (100) comprising a single-stage planetary gear train (110) in combination with a two-stage planetary gear train (120), and provision being made for a brake band (B1) assigned to the large sun gear of the two-stage planetary gear train (110) and a brake coupling (B2) assigned to the planet carrier of the two-stage planetary gear train (120). In order to reduce idling vibrations, the brake band (B1) and the brake coupling (B2) are actuated simultaneously for at least some of the time during an operating state in which the internal combustion engine is idling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2008
    Publication date: March 26, 2009
    Inventor: Martin Bastiaan Taal
  • Patent number: 7507181
    Abstract: A method and device for determining a driving torque correction factor for compensating the driving torques of a drive unit including a first drive device and a second drive device, both of which act with their driving torque on a common drive shaft. The method includes specifying and setting a desired driving torque for one of the two drive devices, adjusting a brake torque for the other of the two drive devices to a brake torque value, which is equivalent to the value of the actual driving torque (that occurs on the basis of the desired driving torque) of one of the two drive devices, and determining the correction value as a function of the specified desired driving torque of the one drive device and as a function of the brake torque value of the other drive device, the brake torque value being adjusted at the time of the compensation of the torques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Marcel Fenkart, Juergen Gebert, Oliver Grohe, Stephan Peuckmann, Stefan Schinagl
  • Publication number: 20080210509
    Abstract: A method and device for determining a driving torque correction factor for compensating the driving torques of a drive unit including a first drive device and a second drive device, both of which act with their driving torque on a common drive shaft. The method includes specifying and setting a desired driving torque for one of the two drive devices, adjusting a brake torque for the other of the two drive devices to a brake torque value, which is equivalent to the value of the actual driving torque (that occurs on the basis of the desired driving torque) of one of the two drive devices, and determining the correction value as a function of the specified desired driving torque of the one drive device and as a function of the brake torque value of the other drive device, the brake torque value being adjusted at the time of the compensation of the torques.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2008
    Publication date: September 4, 2008
    Applicant: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengsellschaft
    Inventors: Marcel Fenkart, Juergen Gebert, Oliver Grohe, Stephan Peuckmann, Stefan Schinagl
  • Patent number: 7399256
    Abstract: A transmission having plural clutches includes a first clutch for connecting and disconnecting transmission of driving force to a first input shaft including a driving gear configured to be engaged with a driven gear provided at an output shaft of the transmission driven by a driving force generating device, a second clutch operating independently from the first clutch for connecting and disconnecting transmission of driving force to a second input shaft including a driving gear configured to be engaged with a driven gear provided at the output shaft, a driving force detection device for detecting driving force, a slip detection device for detecting physical quantity related to a slip of a driving wheel, and a device for controlling the second clutch for importing the physical quantity related to the slip and the driving force and for controlling engagement ratio of the second clutch where the first clutch is engaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Assignee: Aisin AI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshio Tanba, Shiro Ogami
  • Patent number: 7381147
    Abstract: A method and a device for controlling functions of an occupational vehicle (1) comprising a driving motor (2), a clutch (3), a service brake (13, 14) that acts upon the wheels (11, 12) of the vehicle, a working device (21), and a hydraulic pump (15) which supplies the actuators (32) of the clutch (3), the service brake (13, 14), and the actuators (19, 20) of the working device (21) with pressure, via hydraulic pressure pipes. In order to reduce the fuel consumption, distribute in an optimal and user-relevant manner, the hydraulic pressure generated by the pump (15), and facilitate operation of such a vehicle, the clutch (3) is automatically opened and the service brake (13, 14) is automatically closed when the load acting upon the working device (21) of the vehicle exceeds a preset threshold or is actuated so as to exceed the threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Hans Höfler
  • Publication number: 20080026906
    Abstract: A shift control method of an automatic transmission that controls a shift from an nth shift speed, achieved by engagement of first and second friction elements, to an (n?3)th shift speed, achieved by engagement of third and fourth friction elements. The method includes releasing the first and second friction elements and engaging the third and fourth friction elements. Release control of the second friction element begins after release control of the first friction element begins. Engagement control of the fourth friction element begins after an engagement control of the third friction element begins.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2007
    Publication date: January 31, 2008
    Inventor: Byeong Wook Jeon
  • Publication number: 20080026905
    Abstract: A lock-up clutch control method and apparatus controls a lock-up state of a torque converter interposed between a drive unit and a transmission on a vehicle. Data indicative of the operating condition of an antilock braking system can be provided as input to the control method and apparatus and affect the lock-up state of the torque converter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2006
    Publication date: January 31, 2008
    Inventor: Michael Thomas Dickinson
  • Publication number: 20070287582
    Abstract: A method for operation of a drivetrain including a drive motor and an automatic transmission having at least five shift elements, of which, at least three shift elements are engaged in each forward and reverse gear and the other shift elements are disengaged. Two successive shifts are accomplished by two overlapped single gear shifts such that a) during the first shift, a first shift element is engaged or disengaged while a second shift element is disengaged or engaged; b) during the first shift, second and third shift elements are prepared for either engagement or disengagement, and c) during the first and the second shifts at least one fourth shift element is kept engaged or nearly engaged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2007
    Publication date: December 13, 2007
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Klaus Steinhauser, Christian Popp
  • Publication number: 20070287583
    Abstract: A method for operating a multi-speed automatic transmission of a motor vehicle. The automatic transmission has multiple shift elements for transmitting torque and/or power. When in forward and reverse gears, a first number of shift elements are engaged, and a second number of shift elements are disengaged. To improve the shift speed of successive upshifts and/or successive downshifts which are implemented in an overlapped manner, during a first upshift and/or downshift, at least one shift element, necessary for a successive second upshift and/or downshift, is prepared during the first upshift and/or downshift such that when the first upshift and/or downshift reaches a synchronous point, immediate implementation of the successive second upshift and/or downshift is possible. Depending on a gear change to be implemented, the first upshift and/or downshift from a current gear to a desired gear is preferably implemented as a multiple shift rather than a single shift.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2007
    Publication date: December 13, 2007
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Klaus Steinhauser, Christian Popp, Gerald Klein
  • Patent number: 7153235
    Abstract: The present invention provides a running control device for an industrial vehicle that has superior driving operability and that allows easy starting and stopping on road surfaces that have sloped or stepped surface. The running control device for an industrial vehicle includes an engine, a sensor that detects an operation amount of an accelerator member, a transmission that has a forward clutch and reverse clutch, a brake that applies braking to the vehicle, and a controller. The controller simultaneously controls the engine revolutions, the engaging force of the forward clutch and reverse clutch and the braking force of the brake in accordance with the operation amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignees: Komatsu Forklift Co., Ltd., Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventors: Masayuki Takamura, Takeo Kato, Takayuki Mori