Clutch Control Patents (Class 701/67)
  • Patent number: 8989940
    Abstract: A powertrain system is configured to transfer torque to an output member. A method for controlling the powertrain system includes prioritizing a plurality of system torque constraint parameters. The system torque constraint parameters are sequentially applied in an order of descending priority. A feasible state for each of the sequentially applied system torque constraint parameters is determined. A solution set including the feasible states for all the sequentially applied system torque constraint parameters is determined, and employed to control operation of the powertrain system in response to an output torque request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Anthony H. Heap, Sean W. McGrogan
  • Patent number: 8989930
    Abstract: A powertrain system includes an internal combustion engine configured to transfer torque via a clutch to an input member of a hybrid transmission having torque machines configured to transfer torque thereto. Operation of the engine is controlled to facilitate a change in activation of a clutch between the engine and the input member of the hybrid transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Jy-Jen F. Sah, Anthony H. Heap, Lawrence A. Kaminsky
  • Patent number: 8989978
    Abstract: Methods and systems for controlling a vehicle powertrain that may be automatically stopped and started are presented. In one example, a method adjusts a position of a transmission clutch in response to battery current during engine cranking. The method may reduce clutch wear and improve vehicle launch from a stop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Felix Nedorezov, Hong Jiang, Alex O'Connor Gibson, Matthew John Shelton, Roger Lyle Huffmaster
  • Patent number: 8989971
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting and compensating for pressure transducer errors includes a valve for regulating operation of a hydraulic device, a pressure transducer for detecting a pressure output from the valve, and a microprocessor comprising logic for computing a pressure measurement error of the pressure transducer. The pressure transducer is configured to output a pressure reading representing the detected pressure. The pressure measurement error may be computed using a first pressure reading from the pressure transducer taken at an operating condition in which the actual output pressure of the valve is substantially known, together with the substantially known actual output pressure of the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: Mark L. Dell' Eva
  • Patent number: 8983744
    Abstract: An automatic shift apparatus includes a rotation shaft, a dog clutch gear shift mechanism, and a control unit. The control unit controls first moving speed to be faster than second moving speed on moving a sleeve in an engaged state engaged with one of a first clutch ring and a second clutch ring to a neutral position defined at a position between the first clutch ring and the second clutch ring where the first moving speed is a speed of moving the sleeve in the engaged state to a target position defined between the neutral position and the mentioned one of the first clutch ring and the second clutch ring the sleeve is engaged with and where the second moving speed is a speed of moving the sleeve from the target position to the neutral position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masahiko Komura, Yuuki Ohta, Kyosuke Mori
  • Publication number: 20150073672
    Abstract: A control apparatus is applied to a vehicle. The vehicle has an internal combustion engine and a variable inertia flywheel provided on an output shaft of the internal combustion engine. The control apparatus decreases supply current to the electromagnetic coil while controlling the internal combustion engine so that a torque of the internal combustion engine is reduced while maintaining power output from the internal combustion engine, in a case determining that temperature of the electromagnetic coil is higher than a first determination temperature when: the internal combustion engine is being operated; and a main body and a ring member of the variable inertia flywheel are being connected by the current supplied to the electromagnetic coil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2012
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takashi Kawai
  • Patent number: 8977455
    Abstract: A power transmission apparatus includes a drive shaft, a driven shaft, a first transmission device, a first one-way power transmission mechanism, a second transmission device, a second one-way power transmission mechanism, and a controller. The first transmission device is to change power of the drive shaft. The first one-way power transmission mechanism is to transmit power changed by the first transmission device only in one direction to the driven shaft. The second transmission device is to change power of the driven shaft. The second one-way power transmission mechanism is to transmit power changed by the second transmission device only in one direction to the drive shaft. The controller is configured to change ratios of the first transmission device and the second transmission device. The controller is configured to make the ratio of the first transmission device larger than the ratio of the second transmission device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Kodo, Tsunehiro Kobayashi, Mitsuhiro Iwadare
  • Patent number: 8977458
    Abstract: A twin clutch controlling apparatus wherein a clutch lever is operated during a deceleration operation in which an auto mode (Auto) is selected, then a shift down action from a gear position “N-2” at which a driving force can be transmitted only by one of an odd number stage side clutch CL1 and an even number stage side clutch CL2 to another position “1-2” at which the transmission gear for transmitting a driving force is switched in response to switching control of the clutch is carried out in response to the operation of the clutch lever. After the shift down action, if re-connection of the clutch is to be carried out by the clutch lever, then the clutch (CL1, CL2) on the side to be driven in response to a manual operation clutch capacity arithmetic operation value (tqc1tmt) is determined in response to a vehicle speed V.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Nedachi, Hiroyuki Kojima, Kazuyuki Fukaya, Kazuhiko Nakamura, Satoshi Honma, Yasuyuki Mori
  • Patent number: 8977457
    Abstract: A vehicle powertrain includes an engine, transmission, torque converter assembly, and controller. The controller includes recorded lumped inertia models of the powertrain and instructions for executing a clutch-to-clutch shift using these models. The models collectively reduce powertrain dynamics to two or three degrees of freedom. The controller executes a method to estimate clutch torques using the models. The models may include a first primary inertia block describing engine inertia and inertia of a torque converter pump, and a second primary inertia model describing the inertia of the turbine and transmission as reflected to the input member. The second primary inertia model includes bulk inertia models for each fixed gear state and each possible shift maneuver. The controller derives a required output torque value as a closed-loop target value using the lumped inertia models and a requested input torque, and uses the estimated clutch torque to achieve the target value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Darrell Lee Robinette, Daniel N. Wehrwein, Jeremy V. Horgan
  • Patent number: 8972135
    Abstract: A control device of an FR hybrid vehicle is provided with: a drive source that contains at least an engine (Eng); and a second brake (B2) that is fastened when a D range is selected. In the range of starting of fastening control of the second brake (B2), when the parameters (rate of input rotational frequency change and amount of motor torque change) that change along with the rotational fluctuation of the engine (Eng) become at least a predetermined threshold, it is judged that the second brake (B2) has started fastening. When in a state wherein the rotational fluctuations of the engine (Eng) can be determined to be large, the absolute value of the predetermined threshold is set to a value that is larger than when in a state wherein the rotational fluctuations of the engine (Eng) can be determined to be small.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignees: JATCO Ltd, Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiromichi Akebono, Hiroki Matsui
  • Patent number: 8972134
    Abstract: A method of searching for the touch point of a clutch includes a gear release determination step of determining whether the gear of a non-drive shaft has been released after a change of speed, a clutch operation step of, if the gear has been released, engaging a clutch connected to the non-drive shaft up to a current touch point, and a learning step of determining and learning the propriety of the current touch point depending on changes in the speed of the non-drive shaft after the clutch operation step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corp.
    Inventors: Young Min Yoon, Sung Hyun Cho, Joung Chul Kim, Seung Sam Baek
  • Patent number: 8972128
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a brake pedal, engine, transmission, and controller. The transmission includes an input member and an input clutch responsive to position control signals. The controller has multiple control modules, each outputting a corresponding torque command. One module is a creep control module which outputs a calibrated creep torque. Intervention logic independently monitors the torque commands during a creep maneuver, with control actions executed when predetermined conditions are present. The torque command from the creep controller determines the position control signals of the input clutch during the creep maneuver, and creep torque is set to zero whenever the brake pedal is sufficiently applied. A transmission assembly includes the input member, input clutch, and controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Ronald F. Lochocki, Jr., Brian Hanselman
  • Patent number: 8972133
    Abstract: A method for detecting the clutch condition in engine-powered vehicles. To ensure a reliable detection of the clutch condition even in extreme driving situations, the engine torque of at least one vehicle engine is increased or reduced automatically by pulses and the response of the engine to the torque pulse is evaluated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Ulrich Goennenwein, Muhammad Rauf Hameed, Ruediger Poggenburg
  • Publication number: 20150057901
    Abstract: A method for controlling power take-off in a motor vehicle (100; 110): the vehicle having a driveline with a clutch configuration (237), automatic gearbox (240), throttle (270) to control engine (230) speed and a power take-off function (220), the method including the steps of: confirming whether operation of the power take-off function (220) is requested; whether the clutch configuration (237) in the driveline is open; and if the operation of the power take-off function (220) is requested and the clutch configuration (237) in the driveline is open, activating (s440) a power take-off mode, in which the clutch configuration (237) is kept in an open position, even if the speed of the engine (230) is changed via the throttle (270).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Inventors: Per Sundholm, Simon Wretblad, Magnus Eriksson
  • Patent number: 8965650
    Abstract: The method can control an automatic transmission and includes the following steps: (a) determining, via a controller, an initial gear ratio of the automatic transmission based on a gear shift map while the vehicle is solely driven by an electric motor-generator; (b) identifying a plurality of potential clutches of the automatic transmission based on the initial gear ratio; (c) determining a temperature of a transmission fluid; (d) determining which of the potential clutches has a largest fill time in order to identify at least one of a plurality of target clutches; (e) determining, via the controller, a target gear ratio of the automatic transmission based on at least one identified target clutch; (f) transferring sufficient transmission fluid to at least one identified target clutch to reach a pressure threshold in the target clutches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Paul Otanez, Randall B. Dlugoss
  • Patent number: 8965649
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an internal combustion engine, an engine control module (ECM) programmed to estimate engine torque as a function of throttle request, and a transmission assembly. The transmission assembly includes a plurality of gear sets and clutches, including an offgoing clutch and an oncoming clutch for a power downshift, and a transmission control module (TCM). The TCM includes a processor and memory on which is recorded a shift line for the downshift, and instructions for executing the downshift. The TCM communicates an estimated throttle level at the shift line to the ECM, receives an estimated engine torque for the estimated throttle level at the shift line from the ECM, and decreases offgoing pressure to the offgoing clutch to a threshold pressure level prior to executing the downshift. The TCM then decreases the offgoing clutch pressure to a calibrated pressure at the shift line to execute the downshift.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Todd Thor
  • Patent number: 8961364
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling a vehicle having an electric traction motor coupled to a transmission by a clutch include modifying torque transmitted to the driveline by modifying the clutch apply pressure in response to a difference between rotational speed of a driveline component and a filtered rotational speed of the driveline component to reduce driveline oscillation when the clutch is unlocked. The clutch pressure may be modified in response to a vehicle event that may otherwise induce driveline oscillations, such as a transmission ratio change or regenerative braking, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Bernard D. Nefcy, Marvin Paul Kraska, Daniel Scott Colvin, Seung-Hoon Lee
  • Patent number: 8965616
    Abstract: Systems and methods for improving operation of a hybrid vehicle are presented. In one example, driveline gear lash gear tooth to gear tooth impact may be reduced via adjusting operation of an electric machine. For example, gear tooth to gear tooth impact may be reduced by operating the electric machine in a speed control mode to manage torque during driveline torque transition from a negative torque to a positive torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Alex O'Connor Gibson, Jeffrey Allen Doering, Dennis Craig Reed, Gregory Michael Pietron, James William Loch McCallum
  • Patent number: 8958963
    Abstract: A method for controlling the pressure of hydraulic fluid supplied within a transmission of a work vehicle. The method may generally include receiving a signal associated with a load condition of the work vehicle, determining a desired pressure for the hydraulic fluid supplied within the transmission based on the load condition and controlling a valve such that hydraulic fluid is supplied within the transmission at the desired pressure, wherein the transmission includes an input shaft, a counter shaft and at least two driven shafts extending parallel to the input and counter shafts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventor: Yanming Hou
  • Patent number: 8958965
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a first disconnect disposed between a prime mover of the vehicle and a certain one of the vehicle drive wheels. The first disconnect is operable to connect and disconnect the prime mover to and from the certain one of the drive wheels. A second disconnect is disposed between the powertrain and the certain one of the drive wheels, and is operable to connect and disconnect the certain one of the drive wheels to and from the powertrain when the first disconnect is engaged. A control system and method are configured to control operation of at least the first and second disconnects. Through selective control of the disconnects, the system can be automatically placed in a four-wheel-drive mode based on predetermined criteria, or the desirability of the four-wheel-drive mode can be indicated to the vehicle operator in a passive version of the control system and method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: William Paul Perkins, Scott Howard Gaboury, Steven A. Daleiden
  • Publication number: 20150046051
    Abstract: A start request detection unit detects a start request for a vehicle. A hydraulic pressure control circuit controls torque transmitted by a lock-up clutch by controlling an engagement force of the lock-up clutch. A rotation speed detection unit detects an output rotation speed of a torque converter. An engagement control unit issues an instruction to the hydraulic pressure control circuit such that the lock-up clutch is placed in slip engagement and is able to transmit the torque when the following conditions are both satisfied: a predetermined time period has elapsed since detection of the start request by the start request detection unit; and the output rotation speed has increased to a predetermined rotation speed or higher.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2013
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Applicants: JATCO LTD, NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takateru Kawaguchi, Akito Suzuki, Aki Hayakawa, Yasuhiro Endo, Hiroshi Sekiya
  • Publication number: 20150046050
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and device for changing from a coasting or free-rolling mode of a motor vehicle with an internal combustion engine and an automatic clutch, which is disengaged during the coasting or free-rolling mode, to a fuel cut-off mode, in which the clutch is engaged, wherein before engagement of the clutch the internal combustion engine is brought to a revolution rate at which the engagement of the clutch induces no or only small changes in revolution rate in the drive train, and whereby the fuel supply to the internal combustion engine is reduced following engagement of the clutch. Under one or more predetermined conditions the increase of the drag torque of the internal combustion engine acting on the motor vehicle during the changeover from coasting or free-rolling mode to fuel cut-off mode takes place so slowly that the change is not usually noticed by the driver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2013
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Inventors: Urs Christen, Ian Oldknow, Erik Alpman, Rainer Busch
  • Patent number: 8948989
    Abstract: A dual clutch automated manual transmission includes a first clutch and a second clutch, and a clutch torque capacity command value for a plurality of clutch actuators arranged to drive the first clutch and second clutch based on operation of a by-wire type of clutch lever, wherein the clutch torque capacity of the plurality of clutches is controlled. An operator can adjust a driving force by manually operating the clutch in the transmission in which a clutch operation is controlled automatically, such as an automatic transmission system, automated manual transmission system, or dual clutch automated manual transmission system, thereby improving drivability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tetsushi Saitoh
  • Patent number: 8942900
    Abstract: An automotive electronic control system configured to control the powertrain to stop the internal combustion engine and disengage the drive line, which results in the motor vehicle entering a freewheel running condition with the internal combustion engine off. The control system is further configured to control the drive line during an internal combustion engine run-down after the motor vehicle enters the freewheel running condition, to cause a gear to engage for inertial cranking of the internal combustion engine before the internal combustion engine leaves a self-sustaining operating condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: C.R.F. Società Consortile per Azioni
    Inventors: Roberto Finizio, Alessandro Polimeno
  • Patent number: 8938327
    Abstract: Systems and methods for improving operation of a hybrid vehicle are presented. In one example, a method for transitioning between regenerative braking and engine braking is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Allen Doering, Alex O'Connor Gibson, Dennis Craig Reed, Adam Nathan Banker, David Oshinsky
  • Patent number: 8938341
    Abstract: A method for controlling a clutch of an automatic transmission for improvement of fuel efficiency may include determining whether external driving conditions of a vehicle meets coasting conditions, determining a clutch slip control time and an amount of clutch slip torque according to internal driving conditions of the vehicle, performing slip control on a clutch that works at each step of the automatic transmission using the determined clutch slip control time and torque, wherein an engine brake torque transmitted to a final output shaft of the automatic transmission may be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Jae Woong Hwang, Yong Wook Jin, Wan Soo Oh
  • Publication number: 20150019095
    Abstract: A 2-speed transmission clutch learning method for a hybrid electric vehicle may include detecting whether the 2-speed transmission clutch may be operated through an actuator by driving a motor, learning an open position, a slip position, and a lock-up position of the 2-speed transmission clutch by detecting the amount of driving current and the rotation speed of the motor for the operation of the 2-speed transmission clutch, and storing learning values of the open position, the slip position, and the lock-up position of the 2-speed transmission clutch into a memory area, and controlling the operation of the 2-speed transmission clutch by applying the learning values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2013
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Applicants: Kia Motors Corporation, Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Seung Ki Kong, Ki Nam Kim, Sanghyun Jeong, Jaeshin Yi, Chulmin Ahn
  • Patent number: 8935439
    Abstract: An oil pressure control system of an automatic transmission for a vehicle includes a lock-up clutch, a TC regulator valve, an LC control valve, an LC shift valve, an oil cooler, a control area determination device, a torque transmission capacity calculator, a high load state determination device, and an oil pressure controller. The oil pressure controller is configured to control a TC regulator pressure outputted by a TC regulator valve, so that a torque transmission capacity of a lock-up clutch is greater than a reference torque transmission capacity calculated by the torque transmission capacity calculator, if a control area determined by the control area determination device is a complete engagement area and the high load state determination device determines that an operational state is in a high load state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroki Murasawa, Satoru Miyata, Akihiro Shibahara
  • Patent number: 8935062
    Abstract: A vehicle transmission device includes an input member coupled to a combustion engine and a rotary electric machine; an output member coupled to wheels; a speed change mechanism with a plurality of friction engagement elements and that provides a plurality of shift speeds; and a control device that controls the speed change mechanism. When a during-regeneration downshift is performed while the rotary electric machine is outputting regenerative torque, the control device sets a target increase capacity, which is a target value of a transfer torque capacity of an engagement-side element to be engaged after an increase, increases the transfer torque capacity of the engagement-side element to the target increase capacity over a predetermined torque capacity increase period, and decreases a transfer torque capacity of a disengagement-side element, which is to be disengaged, over a predetermined torque capacity decrease period that at least partially overlaps the torque capacity increase period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuaki Inagaki, Hiroya Ueno, Shigekazu Hase, Nobuhiro Iwai, Hiroshi Tsutsui
  • Patent number: 8930099
    Abstract: In a control apparatus for an automatic transmission, it is configured to calculate a change amount (?NC estimation value) of an output rotational speed of the transmission (S10); calculate an average (I phase initial average G) of the change amount of the output rotational speed over a predetermined period of an initial inertia (I) phase of shifting; calculate an average (after-shift average G) of a vehicle acceleration after the completion of the shifting, assuming that the change amount of the output rotational speed indicates the vehicle acceleration G; calculate a difference (I phase initial G) between the average of the change amount of the output rotational speed and the average of the vehicle acceleration; incrementally and decrementally correct the desired value of the transmission torque of the frictional engaging element such that the calculated difference falls within a predetermined range; and control supply of hydraulic pressure to the frictional engaging element such that it becomes the correct
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasushi Inagawa, Shintaro Kameda, Atsuhiro Saeki, Takahiro Matsuda, Hidekazu Araki, Hiroyuki Okuda, Yuji Yasui
  • Patent number: 8930098
    Abstract: A clutch control device of a hybrid vehicle includes a battery, a generator, a motor, a motor shaft connected with a driving shaft of the vehicle by using electricity from the generator or the battery, an engine which drives the generator and the vehicle, a clutch, and a control unit. The control unit changes an engaged state of the clutch between the motor shaft and an engine shaft of the engine to a released state and changes an engine driving state of the hybrid vehicle, in which the hybrid vehicle is driven by the engine, to a motor driving state of the hybrid vehicle in which the hybrid vehicle is driven by the motor, when a vehicle velocity of the hybrid vehicle is the change vehicle velocity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yukihiro Nissato
  • Publication number: 20150006049
    Abstract: A vehicle control device is applied to a vehicle having a driving mechanism for transmitting a driving force to a plurality of wheels, a braking mechanism having an electronic parking brake for generating a parking brake force for at least one of the plurality of wheels, and a coupling state control mechanism for controlling state of coupling of the plurality of wheels. The vehicle control device determines whether the electronic parking brake is in a lock stuck state in which the parking brake force cannot be canceled. When at least one of the plurality of wheels is in the lock stuck state, the vehicle control device exercises stuck state special control to loosen or cancel state of coupling between a wheel determined to be in the lock stuck state and a wheel determined to be not in the lock stuck state by controlling the coupling state control mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2013
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takashi Watanabe, Shinsuke Yamamoto
  • 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: 8924107
    Abstract: A control device for an automatic transmission mounted on a vehicle to establish a plurality of shift speeds by engaging engagement elements that need to be engaged for each shift speed. The control device includes a target shift speed setting device, a during-travel neutral control device and a prediction control device. The prediction control device takes action when a predicted prechange time becomes equal to or less than a predetermined time while the automatic transmission is in the neutral state, the predicted prechange time being a time predicted on the basis of variations in vehicle speed and being a time before implementation of a change of the target shift speed that involves changing the particular engagement element from a disengaged state to an engaged state in order to maintain the neutral state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masatake Ichikawa, Yutaka Teraoka, Hiroyasu Amano
  • Patent number: 8924112
    Abstract: A start control device and a start control method of a vehicular power transmission system including a lock-up clutch and a start clutch are provided in which start-time lock-up slip control is performed, and neutral control is performed. When the start-time lock-up slip control is additionally executed during cancellation of the neutral control, the gradient of an output rotational speed of the hydraulic power transmission which is changed, through engagement of the start clutch, toward an input rotational speed of the automatic transmission at the time of completion of engagement of the start clutch is controlled, using at least one of a start clutch pressure that is increased so as to engage the start clutch, and a lock-up clutch pressure that is increased so as to bring the lock-up clutch into slip engagement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsushi Ayabe, Tomohiro Asami, Hidenori Saito
  • Patent number: 8924062
    Abstract: Systems and methods for improving operation of a hybrid vehicle are presented. In one example, a method for transitioning between regenerative braking and providing positive torque to a driveline is presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Dennis Craig Reed, Alex O'Connor Gibson, Jeffrey Allen Doering, Adam Nathan Banker, Seung-Hoon Lee
  • Publication number: 20140379232
    Abstract: A control device of a hybrid vehicle includes an engine, an electric motor outputting power for running and power necessary for starting the engine, a connecting/disconnecting clutch connecting/disconnecting a power transmission path between the engine and the electric motor, and an automatic transmission making up a portion of a power transmission path between the electric motor and drive wheels, the automatic transmission having a plurality of gear stages alternatively formed including a gear stage using a one-way clutch as an engaged engagement element, the control device of a hybrid vehicle engages the connecting/disconnecting clutch to start the engine during motor running for running by using only the electric motor with the connecting/disconnecting clutch released.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2011
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nobufusa Kobayashi, Toshio Sugimura
  • Patent number: 8918259
    Abstract: A splitting of drive torque between front and rear wheelsets includes an actuator to split the torque between the wheelsets, an electronic unit controlling switching of the actuator into a coupled or uncoupled mode, a mechanism electrically powering the electronic unit, and sensors. The electronic unit can make the system adopt: an active operation in which a control signal is generated and the temperature of the actuator is estimated; and a sleep mode in which the temperature of the actuator is not estimated; the switch to sleep mode being authorized: only when the engine is stopped, and if the actuator temperature is below or equal to a threshold or a maximum time period has elapsed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: RENAULT s.a.s.
    Inventors: Pascal Febrer, Francois Foussard, Stephane Guegan, Alessandro Monti
  • Patent number: 8914186
    Abstract: A method of controlling thermal loading in a multi-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT) that is paired with an internal combustion engine in a vehicle is provided. The method includes detecting operation of the vehicle and ascertaining a degree of thermal loading on the DCT. The method also includes selecting a remedial action corresponding to the ascertained degree of thermal loading. Additionally, the method includes activating the selected remedial action such that the thermal loading on the DCT is reduced. A vehicle having a DCT, an internal combustion engine, and a controller configured to control thermal loading in the DCT is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Xuefeng Tim Tao, John William Boughner, Alfonso G. Hysko, Jonathan P. Kish, Matthew D. Whitton, Fei An, Steven P. Moorman
  • Patent number: 8909446
    Abstract: A twin clutch controlling apparatus includes an ATM control unit for controlling a shift actuator and a clutch actuator and a shift pedal P for carrying out shifting request to the ATM control unit. When a shifting request by the shift pedal P is issued, the ATM control unit drives the shift actuator to change over the shift stage to a next stage gear irrespective of an operational amount of a clutch lever L and then causes the manual operation clutch capacity arithmetic operation value (tqcltmt) to correspond to a clutch capacity corresponding to the next stage gear using an operational amount of the clutch lever L that exceeds a predetermined value as a trigger. If a predetermined period of time elapses while the clutch lever L is not operated, then the shifting request is an erroneous operation and the shift stage is returned to an original gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kojima, Yoshiaki Tsukada, Kazuyuki Fukaya, Yoshiaki Nedachi, Yasuyuki Mori, Satoshi Honma, Kazuhiko Nakamura
  • Patent number: 8903584
    Abstract: The disclosed vehicle, control method, and program lead to improved fuel consumption, durability, and stability. When the vehicle starts to move, a clutch control performs controls so as to set the clutch to a half clutch state, in which a part of the motive force is transmitted, and thereafter to a connected state, in which the entire motive power is transmitted. When the clutch is the half clutch state, an electric motor control unit controls an electric motor to generate an assist torque when the vehicle starts to move equal to the difference between the torque requested by the driver and the idling torque generated when the engine is idling. The disclosed invention can be applied to hybrid vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Hino Motors, Ltd.
    Inventor: Masahiro Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8903581
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for starting an engine in a hybrid vehicle being driven by an electric motor is disclosed. The motor is operably configured to deliver mechanical power through an automatic transmission to at least one vehicle drive wheel to cause an acceleration of the vehicle. The method involves coupling the engine to the motor to cause an inertial load on the motor thus causing the motor to decelerate to a reduced rotational speed to provide a starting torque to the engine for starting the engine, and causing the automatic transmission to change gear ratio to a target gear ratio associated with the reduced rotational speed while causing the motor to decelerate, the motor being operable to deliver increased torque at the reduced rotational speed, thereby generally maintaining the acceleration of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Conversant Intellectual Property Management Inc.
    Inventor: Nicolas Louis Bouchon
  • Patent number: 8903583
    Abstract: The occurrence of shock and the occurrence of the feeling of losing speed can be prevented. When the clutch is engaged from the state in which the clutch is disengaged and a vehicle is being driven by only the power of an electric motor, an electric motor control unit controls the electric motor so that the torque of the electric motor is decreased at a rate determined according to the torque requested by the driver. During the period in which the torque of the electric motor is decreased at the above rate, a clutch control unit controls the engagement of the clutch so that the clutch is engaged after being set to a half-engaged clutch state in which part of the power is transmitted. The present invention is applicable to hybrid vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Hino Motors, Ltd.
    Inventor: Tomohiko Araki
  • Publication number: 20140350810
    Abstract: A transmission and control method are disclosed which ensure proper stroke pressure and minimize torque transients during a shift event. The transmission includes a clutch having a torque capacity based on a fluid pressure, a torque sensor adapted to measure a torque value that varies in relationship to the torque capacity, and a controller. The method includes varying the fluid pressure around a predetermined value, measuring a resulting torque difference with the torque sensor, and adjusting a clutch control parameter if the resulting torque difference is less than a threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2014
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Inventors: Gregory Michael Pietron, Yuji Fujii, Joseph F. Kucharski, Nicholas Joseph Witte, Stephen Michael Cicala, Bradley Dean Riedle, Diana Yanakiev, Nimrod Kapas, Davorin David Hrovat
  • Publication number: 20140350809
    Abstract: A vehicle driving device includes: a clutch that is provided between a driving shaft of an engine and an input shaft of a manual transmission and that connects the driving shaft and the input shaft to each other or disconnects the driving shaft and the input shaft from each other; a clutch torque changing unit that changes clutch torque between the driving shaft and the input shaft; a collision possibility determination unit that determines a possibility of collision between an obstacle and a host vehicle; and a collision avoidance unit that gives an instruction to the clutch torque changing unit so as to avoid collision with the obstacle when the collision possibility determination unit determines that there is a possibility of collision with the obstacle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2014
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Daisuke TAMARU
  • Patent number: 8897980
    Abstract: A method of estimating transmission torque of a dry clutch, may include a) slowly releasing a dry clutch until a slip of the dry clutch occurs, b) acquiring and storing stroke of an actuator and torque of an engine at a starting time point at which the slip of the dry clutch occurs at step a), and c) determining the stroke of the actuator and the transmission torque of the dry clutch at the starting time point at which the slip of the dry clutch occurs, by using the stroke of the actuator and the torque of the engine stored at step b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corp.
    Inventors: Young Min Yoon, Seung Sam Baek, Sung Hyun Cho, Ho Young Lee, Joung Chul Kim
  • Patent number: 8897976
    Abstract: A transmission includes a transmission output speed (TOS) sensor providing a signal indicative of an output speed of the transmission. A controller estimates an actual torque output of the transmission and determines, in real time, a first TOS acceleration based on the signal provided by the transmission output speed sensor and a second TOS acceleration based on the actual torque estimation. The first and second accelerations are compared and a torque transient trigger is activated when the divergence exceeds a threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Lister, Christopher Rhoades, Michael Beyer, Michael Barngrover
  • Patent number: 8897979
    Abstract: A method of determining temperatures for a dry dual clutch mechanism includes one or more steps, such as determining a first heat input from a first clutch and determining a second heat input from a second clutch. The second clutch is separated from the first clutch by a center plate. The method also includes determining a housing air temperature of housing air within a bell housing case of the dry dual clutch mechanism. A thermal model is applied with the determined first heat input and second heat input. The thermal model includes temperature states for at least the first clutch, the second clutch, and the center plate. From the thermal model, the method determines at least a first clutch temperature and a second clutch temperature. The method includes executing a control action with the determined first clutch temperature and second clutch temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Kumaraswamy V. Hebbale, Farzad Samie
  • Publication number: 20140343812
    Abstract: An engine control system of a vehicle includes a starter control module and an abort module. When a clutch pedal is depressed and a user activates an ignition system, the starter control module engages a starter motor with an engine and applies current to the starter motor. The abort module selectively generates an abort signal when the clutch pedal is released. The starter control module disengages the starter motor and disables current flow to the starter motor when the abort signal is generated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2013
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Rafat F. Hattar, J. Michael Gwidt, Bradford W. Bur
  • Patent number: 8892321
    Abstract: A clutch controlling apparatus includes a shift change transmission having a plurality of gear trains between a main shaft on an input side and a countershaft on an output side. A clutch controls transmission of power between the shift change transmission and an engine between engagement an disengagement. The clutch controlling apparatus automatically controls the clutch upon shift change of the shift change transmission. An input power ratio is calculated as a ratio between a rotation of the engine and a rotation of the countershaft. If the input/output power ratio exceeds a predetermined value in a direction of a rise of the rotation of the engine during shift change of the shift change transmission, a target control amount of the clutch is corrected in a clutch engagement direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Nedachi, Hiroyuki Kojima