Abstract: The hydraulically operated clutch elements of a powershift transmission have hold pressures and fast-fill times which are calibrated as a function of the rotation speed of an internal component of the transmission. The engine speed remains substantially constant and no or substantially no torque is transmittted to the output shaft of the transmission.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
February 18, 1997
Date of Patent:
December 1, 1998
Assignee:
Deere & Company
Inventors:
William Edward Reeves, Kevin Lee Vaughters, George William Detrick, III, Norval Thomas Gruver, Briton Todd Eastman
Abstract: The toroidal continuous variable transmission has a viscous clutch installed between the output disks to allow their rotation difference even when there is a difference in the transmission ratio between the two toroidal speed change units. If the transmission ratio difference increases, the viscous clutch causes the two units to synchronize with each other, thus preventing the two speed change units from remaining unequal in the transmission ratio. Further, when the transmission ratio difference between the two toroidal speed change units is small, the toroidal continuous variable transmission has a function to self-synchronize the two units. When the transmission ratio difference becomes large, the differential mechanism is activated to prevent seizure due to interlocking or slippage.
Abstract: Apparatus for controlling the amount of slip of a lock-up clutch of an automotive vehicle, which is provided in a fluid-operated power transmitting device such as a torque converter disposed between an engine and an automatic transmission, for direct connection of the engine and the automatic transmission, the apparatus including a pressure regulating valve for regulating a line pressure depending upon a load of the engine, a lock-up clutch slip control valve operable in a slip control mode for receiving the regulated line pressure and regulating a hydraulic pressure applied to the lock-up clutch to control the amount of slip of the lock-up clutch, a slip control mode detecting device for detecting an operation of the lock-up clutch slip control valve in the slip control mode, and a line pressure change restricting device for restricting an operation of the pressure regulating valve to restrict a change of the line pressure with a change in the engine during operation of the lock-up clutch slip control valve
Abstract: A control system of an automatic transmission includes a torque converter, a lock-up clutch for directly connecting input and output members of the torque converter, a pressure control valve which changes a hydraulic pressure to control an engaging force of the lock-up clutch, and a pressure regulator, disposed in an engaging passage, which supplies hydraulic pressure to engage a frictional element. The pressure regulator adjusts a primary pressure and produces an output hydraulic pressure corresponding to a control pressure introduced into a control port of the pressure regulator. A control pressure supply device is provided for introducing the control pressure, controlled by the pressure control valve, into the control port of the pressure regulator. The number of parts can be reduced without producing any inconvenience.
Abstract: A control system for an internal combustion engine for an automotive vehicle increases the output torque of the engine during an upshift of the automatic transmission so as to reduce a shock generated during the upshift. Time periods are measured over which respective speed clutches of the automatic transmission have been disengaged. The timing of increasing the output torque of the engine during the upshift of the automatic transmission is changed, based on one of the time periods measured over which one of the speed clutches of the automatic transmission to be selected for the upshift has been disengaged.
Abstract: An automatic transmission of an automotive vehicle is set into a neutral position in response to a command instructing gear shifting of the automatic transmission when release of an accelerator pedal of the vehicle is detected. The automatic transmission has a plurality of speed clutches. The opening of a throttle valve arranged in an intake passage of an internal combustion engine installed on the vehicle is controlled such that the rotational speed of an input side of one of the speed clutches to be selected for the gear shifting and the rotational speed of the one of the speed clutches becomes substantially equal to each other when the automatic transmission is held in the neutral position. The one of the speed clutches is engaged upon detection that the rotational speed of the input side thereof and the rotational speed of the output side thereof becomes substantially equal to each other.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 28, 1997
Date of Patent:
November 24, 1998
Assignee:
Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
Inventors:
Yoshiharu Saito, Kazutomo Sawamura, Tetsuya Ono
Abstract: The invention relates to a drive system for a motor vehicle, in particular for a construction machine. A hydrostatic transmission unit comprising a variable displacement pump (25), a variable displacement motor (1) and a feed pump (26), is connected downstream of a diesel motor (24). In order to change gears in a powershiftable planetary transmission unit (2), gear-shift valves (34, 40) are provided. A brake (14) can be operated by a brake switching valve (30). The brake switching valve (30) is connected via line sections (33, 39) to the gearshift valves. When the brake switching valve (30) is in one switching position, a reservoir (37) is filled with hydraulic fluid. When in another switching position, a connection is made between the reservoir and a brake pressure chamber (20). During normal running of the machine, the reservoir is filled constantly with hydraulic fluid. When the brakes are operated, an adjustable residual pressure always acts on the brake. The brake is designed for dynamic deceleration.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
January 2, 1997
Date of Patent:
November 24, 1998
Assignee:
ZF Friedrichshafen AG
Inventors:
Egon Mann, Helmut Eymuller, Eduard Heilig, Jurgen Legner
Abstract: Uncomfortable travel of a vehicle due to engine brake actions during the travel of the vehicle in traffic is prevented without using an one-way clutch within a transmission mechanism. An automatic transmission is composed of rotational elements that are braked at the time of establishing low stages, a brake that brakes the rotational elements, and control systems which control the oil pressure of the hydraulic servo in the brake. A band brake that creates differences in application forces, using self-energizing and deenergizing actions, serves as the brake, which is set to have an area in which the oil pressure during the drive is lower than the oil pressure during the non-drive, by setting the self-energizing direction as a direction of rotation of the rotational element during the drive and the deenergizing direction as an opposite direction of rotation of the rotational element during the non-drive.
Abstract: An actuating mechanism for adjusting the swashplate angle in a Stirling cycle engine. A stationary mounted motor is used to drive one member of a planetary gear set. The motion of this member is transmitted through a second planetary gear set to a member connected to the swashplate. In one embodiment, a worm gear powered by a stationary mounted electric motor drives a moveable rear ring gear. The movement of the rear ring gear is transmitted through three rear planet gears and a common sun gear to produce relative movement in a front planet gear carrier. The relative movement of the front planet gear carrier is transmitted through a bevel gear to the swashplate. This embodiment allows the off-line production of swashplate actuator subassembly cartridges that can quickly be journalled to the drive shaft, joined to and properly phased with respect to the swashplate and meshed with a worm gear connected to the stationary electric motor during the assembly of a Stirling engine.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 28, 1996
Date of Patent:
November 17, 1998
Assignee:
Stirling Thermal Motors, Inc.
Inventors:
Lubomyr O. Hewko, David Bryan Hanes, Randall Robert Gaiser
Abstract: A method and an apparatus for transmitting torque in a motor vehicle having an automatically-shifted transmission, which uses a friction clutch rather than a known hydrodynamic converter to transmit torque. An electronic control system controls the friction clutch automatically.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 16, 1996
Date of Patent:
November 17, 1998
Assignee:
Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
Abstract: A method for controlling a damper clutch when a vehicle having an automatic transmission requires increased power. For example, when accelerating while driving uphill, the present invention disengages a damper clutch. This advantage is obtained by identifying a power increase region on the damper clutch engaged region of operation such that the damper clutch is disengaged. The method for controlling the damper clutch includes a step of generating engine signal indicative of engine rpms and throttle position. A control signal is developing such that control of the damper clutch is based upon the generated engine signals.
Abstract: A hydromechanical transmission receives split power inputs from a vehicle engine, one split input driving a hydrostatic power unit and the other split input driving a mechanical power input. The infinitely variable hydrostatic power output is combined in the mechanical power unit with multiple ratios of its split input power to achieve multiple ratios of hydromechanical output power for smoothly propelling a vehicle from rest through multiple transmission ranges to maximum speed, with synchronous shifting between ranges. The hydromechanical transmission is particularly applicable to off-road vehicles, such as agricultural tractors.
Abstract: A planetary gear arrangement has one or more planetary gear sets each having a carrier assembly in which a plurality of pinion gears are rotatably mounted on pins supported in a carrier housing. An annular lube dam is attached to the carrier housing and includes a first and second annular sidewall portions extending radially inward and joined by an axial wall portion. The radially innermost sidewall portion directs lubrication fluid to the support pins for delivery to the pinion gears. The axial wall engages notched portions on the pins to ensure the angular orientation of the lube passages formed in the pins. The outermost annular wall portion provides a thrust washer bearing surface between the carrier assembly and an adjacent transmission component to support relative rotation therebetween.
Abstract: A planetary gear assembly for a transmission is disclosed having a carrier with two spaced apart plates. A plurality of cylindrical axles extend between and are secured to the plates so that these axles are spaced apart and generally parallel to each other. A gear having an inner cylindrical surface is coaxially disposed around each axle. Furthermore, a tubular cylindrical ceramic sleeve is positioned between the outer surface of each axle and the inner cylindrical surface of each gear. The cylindrical sleeve serves as a bearing between the shaft and its associated gear.
Abstract: A marine propulsion engine control system wherein the control includes an arrangement for slowing the speed of the engine by disabling certain cylinders in the event of an abnormal engine running condition. Also, an arrangement is provided for slowing the speed of the engine if a change speed transmission for driving the propulsion shaft by the engine offers more than a predetermined resistance to shifting. The controls are interrelated so that the engine protection control predominates. That is, if the engine is in protection control mode and the operator attempts a shift and more than a predetermined resistance is felt, the shift control routine will not be initiated to effect any additional engine speed reduction. In addition, when the engine speed is reduced, fuel is continued to be supplied by the fuel injectors to avoid backfiring, stalling, and uneven running. When rapid deceleration is called for the spark advance is rapidly retarded but fuel injection amount is gradually decreased.
Abstract: A retaining cap for an arm of a differential frame in an interaxle differential assembly removably secures a pinion gear on the arm between a central hub of the frame and the retaining cap, without the cap being supported by a frame structure. The retaining cap has female threading which engages male threading on the distal portion of the arm. An effective amount of a thread locking compound is applied to the threading prior to engagement.
Abstract: A differential apparatus includes a differential casing, a pair of output side gears, a pair of output shafts connected to the output side gears, four pairs of long and short accommodating bores formed in the differential casing and long and short pinion gears accommodated in the accommodating bores. In arrangement, these pairs of accommodating bores are divided equally in the circumferential direction of the differential casing. The output shafts are prevented from slipping out of the differential casing by C-shaped clips. These accommodating bores are arranged so that, between two neighboring pairs of accommodating bores in the circumferential direction, the short accommodating bore in the one pair adjoins the short accommodating bore of the other pair. The differential casing is provided with an elongated hole which substantially bridges the adjoining short accommodating bores.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 29, 1997
Date of Patent:
October 20, 1998
Assignee:
Tochigi Fuji Sangyo Kabushiki Kaisha
Inventors:
Masao Teraoka, Takayuki Wakaizumi, John J. Schoeberle
Abstract: There are disclosed a method of and an apparatus for regulating the operation of a friction clutch or another torque transmission system in the power train of a motor vehicle. The regulation is such that the operator of the vehicle is informed of a prevailing or impending condition which entails or is about to entail damage to the system or to the entire power train. Such situation can arise in response to excessive and/or prolonged slip of abutting friction surfaces in a friction clutch, overheating of one or more parts of the system for any other reason(s), as a result of improper selection of the transmission speed for starting of the vehicle and/or due to excessive wear upon the friction linings and/or other parts. The remedial undertaking can include such regulation of the system that the ride become uncomfortable to the occupant(s) of the vehicle and/or automatic elimination of the cause(s) of unsatisfactory torque transmission.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
January 24, 1996
Date of Patent:
October 20, 1998
Assignee:
Luk Getriebe-Systeme GmbH
Inventors:
Robert Fischer, Thomas Jager, Martin Zimmermann
Abstract: A power transmission has a pair of meshing gear input power paths and a planetary gearset output power path. The meshing gear input power path includes two pair of ratio gears and two pair of transfer gears. The power flow through the meshing gear input power path is drivingly connectible with two members of the planetary gearset. One power path from the input meshing gear is directed to the sun gear through a first transfer gear set and to the carrier assembly through a second transfer gear set and a one-way clutch during first and second ratios. During a third ratio, a direct input path to the carrier and a path through both transfer gearsets is provided. During a fourth and fifth ratio, the direct carrier input path, the meshing gear input paths and the transfer gearset input paths are utilized. Two reverse ratios are accommodated by grounding the carrier and inputting the sun gear through the ratio gear power paths and the first transfer gearset.
Abstract: A kinematic arrangement of a multiple-speed automatic transmission for an automotive vehicle includes three simple planetary gear units, hydraulically actuated clutches and brakes applied and released selectively, and an overrunning clutch that produces a one-way drive connection between the sun gear of the first gear unit and a nonrotating member, such as the transmission casing. Each planetary gear unit includes a sun gear, a ring gear surrounding the sun gear, a carrier, and a set of planet pinions in continuous meshing engagement with the sun gear and ring gear and rotatably supported on the carrier.