Patents by Inventor Balaram G. Sankpal

Balaram G. Sankpal has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 6449548
    Abstract: An automatic transmission ratio shift control system and method for a powertrain having a throttle-controlled engine and multiple-ratio gearing, torque flow paths through the gearing being established and disestablished by pressure-operated friction elements, an electronic controller for establishing torque transitions between the friction elements as ratio changes occur in the multiple-ratio gearing, the engine throttle being controlled by an electronic throttle control that is decoupled from the driver-controlled accelerator pedal, the transmission torque output being controlled by means of a friction element capacity control strategy including a feed-forward torque term determined by changes in commanded torque, the slip duration during a ratio change being controlled by means of closed-loop engine torque control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Pramod Kumar Jain, Balaram G. Sankpal, Bradley Dean Riedle, James M. Merner
  • Publication number: 20020111731
    Abstract: An automatic transmission ratio shift control system and method for a powertrain having a throttle-controlled engine and multiple-ratio gearing, torque flow paths through the gearing being established and disestablished by pressure-operated friction elements, an electronic controller for establishing torque transitions between the friction elements as ratio changes occur in the multiple-ratio gearing, the engine throttle being controlled by an electronic throttle control that is decoupled from the driver-controlled accelerator pedal, the transmission torque output being controlled by means of a friction element capacity control strategy including a feed-forward torque term determined by changes in commanded torque, the slip duration during a ratio change being controlled by means of closed-loop engine torque control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2001
    Publication date: August 15, 2002
    Inventors: Pramod Kumar Jain, Balaram G. Sankpal, Bradley Dean Riedle, James M. Merner
  • Patent number: 6299565
    Abstract: An automatic control strategy for use with a multiple-ratio transmission in an automotive vehicle driveline in which the crankshaft of an internal combustion engine is connected directly to torque input elements of multiple-ratio gearing without an intervening hydrokinetic torque converter. The strategy is adapted especially for use with a wet auto clutch to provide forward or reverse drive engagement during vehicle launch and during transient damping of driveline disturbances. The strategy makes it possible to control the clutches to achieve maximum vehicle acceleration by controlling the engine speed so that it operates at maximum torque throughout the useful engine speed range for any given engine throttle position. The entry and exit conditions for each drive mode are determined by the strategy so that optimum drive-away performance and optimum shift control, as well as soft clutch engagement and full clutch engagement, can be achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Pramod Kumar Jain, Balaram G. Sankpal, Hong Jiang
  • Patent number: 5157608
    Abstract: A control system for an automatic transmission for an automative vehicle having a torque converter and a combustion engine including a microprocessor that is adapted to establish optimum control pressure levels for fluid pressure operated clutch and brake servos that effect gear ratio changes wherein provision is made for adjusting system pressures to maintain ratio shift quality in accordance with variations in a plurality of control sensor inputs including vehicle deceleration during ratio shifting and changes in the rate of change of converter turbine speed wherein optimum servo pressures are maintained following a ratio shift and during a ratio shift as torque capacity of one servo is reduced in synchronism with a torque capacity increase for a companion servo.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1992
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Balaram G. Sankpal, John A. Daubenmier, Leonard J. Kurdziel, John F. Carnago, Woodrow Lewis, Jr., Roy S. Williams