Abstract: A multimode clutch may be adapted for selectively connecting and disconnecting front and/or rear axles from respective internal combustion engine and electric motor powertrains connected to such front and rear driving axles in a through-the-road hybrid vehicle. For example, the engine may be part of a front axle driven powertrain connected to the front wheels, while the motor may be part of a separate rear axle driven powertrain connected to the rear wheels, or vice versa. By selective disconnection of an axle not being actively driven, a real time reduction in parasitic losses may be achieved, leading to higher overall operating efficiencies. The multimode clutch offers greater flexibility over the use of standard friction clutches; each multimode clutch may provide four distinct operational modes for accommodating a wide diversity of driving conditions. For example, bi-rotational freewheeling of the rear axle may occur whenever the motor is not in use.

Abstract: The selectable clutch may include a first actuator and a second actuator. Moreover, the selectable clutch may further include a first cam operatively associated with the first actuator and a second cam operatively associated with the second actuator. Furthermore, a first armature may be actuated by the first actuator and a second armature may be actuated by the second actuator such that the selectable clutch is configured to allow multiple modes of operation provided by a movement of the first and second cams according to different first and second armature positions.

Abstract: An actuation device having a piston is used to actuate a mechanical or friction clutch by means of differential pressure. Two sides of a piston are pressurized, and the relative pressure between the two sides is decreased or increased to move the piston in either direction. The position of the piston may be determined using position feedback, or with springs of known spring rates, two piston areas, and knowing the pressures of the two areas. The actuation device may be used with a selectable clutch to actuate an actuation cam, and may also have application with other clutches requiring the ability to achieve multiple positions and clutch modes.

Abstract: A forward/reverse planetary gearset (412) may be adapted to employ multi-mode clutch modules (426, 430) in lieu of using only traditional friction clutches (326, 330). Such arrangement may reduce parasitic drag as well as achieve reductions in physical size of the gearset housing (408). Use of multi-mode clutch modules (426, 430) may offer either of or both forward and reverse controls of the planetary gearset (412). Thus, in at least one arrangement a multi-mode clutch (426) may provide forward clutch control while a friction clutch (330) provides reverse clutch control. In another arrangement the friction clutch (326) may provide the forward clutch control, while the multi-mode clutch (430) provides the reverse clutch control for the gearset (412). Finally, both forward and reverse controls of the gearset (412) may be provided via multi-mode clutches (426, 430), thus entirely avoiding use of any friction clutches (326, 330) for forward or reverse control functions of the planetary gearset (412).

Abstract: A multi-pressure hydraulic control system (66, 166, 266) for use with a continuously variable automatic transmission (14) of a vehicle powertrain system (10) includes at least one pump (28) having a rotatable pump member (34), at least one inlet region (40) for receiving fluid to be pumped by the pump member (34), and at least one outlet region (42) for outputting fluid pumped by the pump member (34), and a switching valve (78, 178, 278) receiving at least two separate outputs (42) of fluid pumped by the at least one pump (28) for allowing the at least two outputs to be selectively combined and/or separated, the switching valve (78, 178, 278) having a valve member (79, 179, 279) being movable between at least three positions that produces fluid outputs having a first fluid pressure, a second fluid pressure, and a third fluid pressure to one or more portions of the continuously variable automatic transmission (14).

Abstract: A multi-pressure hydraulic control system (66, 166) for use with a dual clutch automatic transmission (14) of a vehicle powertrain system (10) includes a least one pump (28) including a rotatable pump member (34), at least one inlet region (40) for receiving fluid to be pumped by the pump member (34), and at least one outlet region (42) for outputting fluid pumped by the pump member (34), and a switching valve (78, 178) receiving at least two separate outputs of fluid pumped by the at least one pump (28) for allowing the at least two separate outputs to be selectively combined and/or separated, the switching valve (78, 178) having a valve member being movable between at least three positions that produces fluid outputs having at least three fluid pressures of a high fluid pressure, a medium fluid pressure, and a low fluid pressure to one or more portions of the dual clutch automatic transmission (14).

Abstract: A multi-pressure hydraulic control system (66) for use with a step-gear automatic transmission (14) of a vehicle powertrain system (10) includes at least one pump (28) having a rotatable pump member (34), at least one inlet region (40) for receiving fluid to be pumped by the pump member (34), and at least one outlet region (42) for outputting fluid pumped by the pump member (34), and a switching valve (78) receiving at least three separate outputs of fluid pumped by the at least one pump (28) for allowing the at least three separate outputs to be selectively combined and/or separated, the switching valve (78) having a valve member (79) being movable between at least three positions that produces fluid outputs having a high fluid pressure, a medium fluid pressure, and a low fluid pressure to one or more portions of the stepgear automatic transmission (14).

Abstract: A directional valve (78, 178) for use with a multi-pressure hydraulic control system (66, 166) of a vehicle powertrain system (10) includes a valve member (80, 180) receiving at least three separate outputs of fluid pumped by at least one pump (28) for allowing the at least three separate outputs to be selectively combined and/or separated, the valve member (80, 180) being movable between at least three positions that produces fluid outputs having fluid pressures of a high fluid pressure, a medium fluid pressure, and a low fluid pressure to one or more portions of the hydraulic control system (66, 166).

Abstract: The actuating mechanism for the selectable clutch module may include an actuator housing that defines an actuator chamber. At least one piston may be disposed within the actuator chamber and configured to move between at least a first piston position and a second piston position. An armature may be attached to the piston and a cam may be operatively associated with the armature. The actuating mechanism may further include an actuator spring disposed within the actuator chamber and positioned between the piston and an end of the actuator housing. A hydraulic pressure may be supplied to the actuating mechanism to move the piston between the at least first piston position and the second piston position.

Abstract: The selectable clutch may include a first actuator and a second actuator. Moreover, the selectable clutch may further include a first cam operatively associated with the first actuator and a second cam operatively associated with the second actuator. Furthermore, a first armature may be actuated by the first actuator and a second armature may be actuated by the second actuator such that the selectable clutch is configured to allow multiple modes of operation provided by a movement of the first and second cams according to different first and second armature positions.

Abstract: An actuation device having a piston is used to actuate a mechanical or friction clutch by means of differential pressure. Two sides of a piston are pressurized, and the relative pressure between the two sides is decreased or increased to move the piston in either direction. The position of the piston may be determined using position feedback, or with springs of known spring rates, two piston areas, and knowing the pressures of the two areas. The actuation device may be used with a selectable clutch to actuate an actuation cam, and may also have application with other clutches requiring the ability to achieve multiple positions and clutch modes.

Abstract: A multimode clutch may be adapted for selectively connecting and disconnecting front and/or rear axles from respective internal combustion engine and electric motor powertrains connected to such front and rear driving axles in a through-the-road hybrid vehicle. For example, the engine may be part of a front axle driven powertrain connected to the front wheels, while the motor may be part of a separate rear axle driven powertrain connected to the rear wheels, or vice versa. By selective disconnection of an axle not being actively driven, a real time reduction in parasitic losses may be achieved, leading to higher overall operating efficiencies. The multimode clutch offers greater flexibility over the use of standard friction clutches; each multimode clutch may provide four distinct operational modes for accommodating a wide diversity of driving conditions. For example, bi-rotational freewheeling of the rear axle may occur whenever the motor is not in use.

Abstract: A number of variations include an accumulator constructed and arranged to store pressurized hydraulic fluid and a thermal containment device surrounding at least a portion of the accumulator constructed and arranged to reduce the loss of heat from hydraulic fluid stored in the accumulator.

Abstract: A transmission control module comprises an actuation module and a flare control module. The actuation module controls actuation of a friction device used in shifting from a first transmission ratio to a second transmission ratio. The transmission ratio is based on an input speed of a transmission divided by an output speed of the transmission. The first transmission ratio is greater than the second transmission ratio. The flare control module selectively generates an engine torque reduction request when a measured transmission ratio is greater than a threshold during a shift from the first transmission ratio to the second transmission ratio.

Abstract: A forward/reverse planetary gearset (412) may be adapted to employ multi-mode clutch modules (426, 430) in lieu of using only traditional friction clutches (326, 330). Such arrangement may reduce parasitic drag as well as achieve reductions in physical size of the gearset housing (408). Use of multi-mode clutch modules (426, 430) may offer either of or both forward and reverse controls of the planetary gearset (412). Thus, in at least one arrangement a multi-mode clutch (426) may provide forward clutch control while a friction clutch (330) provides reverse clutch control. In another arrangement the friction clutch (326) may provide the forward clutch control, while the multi-mode clutch (430) provides the reverse clutch control for the gearset (412). Finally, both forward and reverse controls of the gearset (412) may be provided via multi-mode clutches (426, 430), thus entirely avoiding use of any friction clutches (326, 330) for forward or reverse control functions of the planetary gearset (412).

Abstract: In a parallel hybrid vehicle having and internal combustion engine and an electric motor operatively connected to a transmission shaft, a multimode mechanical clutch selectively couples an output shaft of the internal combustion engine to the transmission shaft. The multimode clutch has a two-way unlocked mode where the output shaft and transmission shaft can rotate independently in either direction, and a one-way locked, one-way unlocked mode where the shafts are locked to rotate together in one direction and unlocked for independent rotation in the opposite direction. The clutch may also have a two-way locked mode where the shafts rotate together in both directions. Pawls may be provided to engage and disengage as needed to execute the modes of the multimode clutch actuator.

Abstract: In a parallel hybrid vehicle having and internal combustion engine and an electric motor operatively connected to a transmission shaft, a multimode mechanical clutch selectively couples an output shaft of the internal combustion engine to the transmission shaft. The multimode clutch has a two-way unlocked mode where the output shaft and transmission shaft can rotate independently in either direction, and a one-way locked, one-way unlocked mode where the shafts are locked to rotate together in one direction and unlocked for independent rotation in the opposite direction. The clutch may also have a two-way locked mode where the shafts rotate together in both directions. Pawls may be provided to engage and disengage as needed to execute the modes of the multimode clutch actuator.

Abstract: A transmission control system for regulating operation of an automatic transmission of a vehicle includes a first module that provides a predetermined shift schedule including upshift and downshift lines and a second module that offsets each of the upshift and downshift lines by an offset amount to provide modified upshift and downshift lines when a deceleration of the vehicle exceeds a threshold deceleration. A third module regulates operation of the automatic transmission based on the modified upshift and downshift lines.

Abstract: A transmission control module comprises an actuation module and a flare control module. The actuation module controls actuation of a friction device used in shifting from a first transmission ratio to a second transmission ratio. The transmission ratio is based on an input speed of a transmission divided by an output speed of the transmission. The first transmission ratio is greater than the second transmission ratio. The flare control module selectively generates an engine torque reduction request when a measured transmission ratio is greater than a threshold during a shift from the first transmission ratio to the second transmission ratio.

Abstract: A transmission control system for regulating operation of an automatic transmission of a vehicle includes a first module that provides a predetermined shift schedule including upshift and downshift lines and a second module that offsets each of the upshift and downshift lines by an offset amount to provide modified upshift and downshift lines when a deceleration of the vehicle exceeds a threshold deceleration. A third module regulates operation of the automatic transmission based on the modified upshift and downshift lines.