Patents by Inventor Melissa Koenig

Melissa Koenig 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: 7155993
    Abstract: A dual clutch transmission for a motor vehicle having a synchronizer actuation interlock system includes two input shafts, a counter shaft, and a plurality of gear sets rotatively disposed on the shafts. The gear sets are adapted to be operatively engaged to and disengaged from their respective shafts. A plurality of synchronizers are disposed about the gear sets and the synchronizers are adapted to operatively engage and disengage the gear sets to and from their respective shafts. A plurality of hydraulically actuated shift actuators are each operatively connected to one of the plurality of synchronizers. Each shift actuator is adapted to cause its respective synchronizer to engage and disengage its respective gear sets to and from their respective shaft and further adapted to provide a hydraulic interlock that prevents an associated shift actuator on the same shaft from hydraulically actuating when the shift actuator is already engaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: Melissa Koenig, Graham Annear, William Vukovich
  • Publication number: 20060207655
    Abstract: An automatic transmission having a pressure regulator with flow force compensation. The pressure regulator includes a valve body having a valve bore and at least one inlet and at least one outlet adapted to provide fluid communication with a source of pressurized hydraulic fluid and a return to the source of pressure. A valve member is slidingly disposed within the valve body that includes at least one valve element having an outer diameter and a metering face. The metering face is adapted to control the flow of pressurized hydraulic fluid between the inlet and the outlet of the valve body. The metering face includes a flow force compensating annular void disposed adjacent to the outer diameter that is defined by a lead angle ? measured between the outer surface and a line intersecting the outer surface and tangential to the annular void.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2005
    Publication date: September 21, 2006
    Inventors: Xiaoning Xiang, Melissa Koenig, William Vukovich
  • Patent number: 7101306
    Abstract: A bi-directional overrunning clutch assembly employed in connection with a reduced capacity low friction clutch to provide low and reverse gears in a transmission. The clutch assembly including an inner race, an outer race, and engagement members supported therebetween. The inner race is operatively coupled to the transmission casing and the outer race is operatively coupled to the ring gear of the gear set as well as the inner race of the friction clutch assembly. The clutch assembly further includes at least one actuating cam. The actuating cam operates to actuate the engagement members to provide four separate modes of operation between the inner and outer races of the clutch assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher E. Blair, John M. Kremer, R. Keith Martin, Melissa Koenig, Brian Stefina
  • Publication number: 20060101933
    Abstract: A dual clutch transmission for a motor vehicle having a synchronizer actuation interlock system includes two input shafts, a counter shaft, and a plurality of gear sets rotatively disposed on the shafts. The gear sets are adapted to be operatively engaged to and disengaged from their respective shafts. A plurality of synchronizers are disposed about the gear sets and the synchronizers are adapted to operatively engage and disengage the gear sets to and from their respective shafts. A plurality of hydraulically actuated shift actuators are each operatively connected to one of the plurality of synchronizers. Each shift actuator is adapted to cause its respective synchronizer to engage and disengage its respective gear sets to and from their respective shaft and further adapted to provide a hydraulic interlock that prevents an associated shift actuator on the same shaft from hydraulically actuating when the shift actuator is already engaged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2004
    Publication date: May 18, 2006
    Inventors: Melissa Koenig, Graham Annear, William Vukovich
  • Publication number: 20060047397
    Abstract: Calibration data transfer systems are described for use in conjunction with, for example, automotive components such as but not limited to transmission systems. The systems employ devices, such as but not limited to barcode systems such as 2D barcodes, radio frequency identification devices (RFID), digital data storage systems such as CD-ROM's, and the like, to record and/or store data thereon. The data can include information, such as but not limited to solenoid calibration curve coefficients and the like. The data contained on these devices can be accessed by a data retrieval system, such as a scanner, and transferred, for example, to a transmission control unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2005
    Publication date: March 2, 2006
    Applicant: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Buchanan, William Vukovich, Melissa Koenig
  • Publication number: 20060006043
    Abstract: A hydraulic circuit for controlling the application of pressurized cooling fluid to the clutches of a dual clutch transmission including a cooling unit in fluid communication with a source of the pressurized cooling fluid and adapted to exchange heat from the cooling fluid with another media. The circuit also includes at least one regulator in fluid communication with the source of the pressurized cooling fluid and separately in fluid communication with the cooling unit, and with the clutches. The regulator is adapted to operatively provide the cooling fluid to the clutches. The circuit further includes at least one control actuator adapted to selectively control the regulator to provide a first variable predetermined amount of cooling fluid from the cooling unit to the clutches as primary cooling, and to provide a second variable predetermined amount of cooling fluid from the source to the clutches thereby supplementing the cooling fluid from the cooling unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2005
    Publication date: January 12, 2006
    Inventors: Melissa Koenig, Guenter Ebinger, Michael Jung
  • Publication number: 20060006042
    Abstract: A hydraulic circuit for controlling the application of pressurized cooling fluid to the clutches of a dual clutch transmission including a cooling unit in fluid communication with a source of the pressurized cooling fluid and adapted to exchange heat from the cooling fluid with another media. The circuit also includes at least one regulator in fluid communication with the source of the pressurized cooling fluid and separately in fluid communication with the cooling unit, and with the clutches. The regulator is adapted to operatively provide the cooling fluid to the clutches. The circuit further includes at least one control actuator adapted to selectively control the regulator to provide a first variable predetermined amount of cooling fluid from the cooling unit to the clutches as primary cooling, and to provide a second variable predetermined amount of cooling fluid from the source to the clutches thereby supplementing the cooling fluid from the cooling unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2004
    Publication date: January 12, 2006
    Inventor: Melissa Koenig
  • Publication number: 20050245346
    Abstract: A bi-directional overrunning clutch assembly employed in connection with a reduced capacity low friction clutch to provide low and reverse gears in a transmission. The clutch assembly including an inner race, an outer race, and engagement members supported therebetween. The inner race is operatively coupled to the transmission casing and the outer race is operatively coupled to the ring gear of the gear set as well as the inner race of the friction clutch assembly. The clutch assembly further includes at least one actuating cam. The actuating cam operates to actuate the engagement members to provide four separate modes of operation between the inner and outer races of the clutch assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2004
    Publication date: November 3, 2005
    Inventors: Christopher Blair, John Kremer, R. Keith Martin, Melissa Koenig, Brian Stefina
  • Patent number: 6953417
    Abstract: A method of controlling the hydraulic actuation of the clutches and the synchronizers in a dual clutch transmission in the event of a clutch or synchronizer fault. The method includes the steps of determining which clutch is faulted when a clutch-on fault is detected, then commanding an interruption of engine torque to the faulted clutch and a neutralization of all synchronizers of the same axis shaft as the faulted clutch. The method further senses if a synchronizer actuator-on fault has occurred, then determines which synchronizer is faulted if an actuator-on fault has is detected. The method steps further include preventing the further actuation of the other synchronizers on the same axis shaft as the faulted actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2005
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventor: Melissa Koenig
  • Patent number: 6909955
    Abstract: A method of controlling the timing of the shift events of a dual clutch transmission that includes the steps of sensing the current output speed of the transmission, determining the time required to complete each possible shift event within the transmission, and determining an output speed modification value for each possible shift event. The method also includes the steps of determining a modified shift point output speed for each possible shift event by summing the determined output speed modification value with a predetermined shift pattern output speed, and commanding the shift when the current output speed reaches the determined modified shift point output speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2005
    Assignee: BorgWarner, Inc.
    Inventors: William Vukovich, Melissa Koenig, Artur Wirch
  • Patent number: 6898992
    Abstract: A method of controlling the engagement force of the synchronizers of a dual clutch transmission having a plurality of synchronizers to selectively engage and disengage various gear sets, and a plurality of shift actuators adapted to move the synchronizers. The method includes the steps of initiating a control routine to pressurize a shift actuator to move a synchronizer to a predetermined engagement position and determining the necessary level of force required to move the desired shift actuator to the predetermined engagement position such that the engagement movement is effected without excessive force. The method also includes the steps of determining the hydraulic pressure that corresponds to the determined level of force and varying the amount of available hydraulic line pressure delivered to the shift actuator such that the delivered pressure is the amount that corresponds to the determined level of force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2005
    Assignee: BorgWarner, Inc.
    Inventors: Melissa Koenig, Darren Firth, Mark Buchanan
  • Publication number: 20050107214
    Abstract: A method of controlling the hydraulic actuation of the clutches and the synchronizers in a dual clutch transmission in the event of a clutch or synchronizer fault. The method includes the steps of determining which clutch is faulted when a clutch-on fault is detected, then commanding an interruption of engine torque to the faulted clutch and a neutralization of all synchronizers of the same axis shaft as the faulted clutch. The method further senses if a synchronizer actuator-on fault has occurred, then determines which synchronizer is faulted if an actuator-on fault has is detected. The method steps further include preventing the further actuation of the other synchronizers on the same axis shaft as the faulted actuator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2003
    Publication date: May 19, 2005
    Inventor: Melissa Koenig
  • Patent number: 6887184
    Abstract: A method of controlling the clutches of a dual clutch transmission during a two-gear positive downshift, wherein the first clutch drives an initial gear and the final gear and the second clutch drives an intermediate gear. The torque transfer across each clutch is controlled so that the torque output of the transmission will be linearly changed over from the first clutch to the second clutch to cause the engine to track a target engine speed profile. The method changes over the gears driven by the first clutch from the initial gear to the final gear as the engine continues to tracks the target speed. The torque transfer across each clutch is controlled so that the torque output will be linearly changed back from the second clutch to the first clutch in an inversely proportional rate to continue to cause the engine to track the target engine speed profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Assignee: BorgWarner, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Buchanan, Melissa Koenig
  • Patent number: 6883394
    Abstract: A method of controlling the positioning of the synchronizers of a dual clutch transmission having a plurality of synchronizers to selectively engage and disengage various gears sets, and a plurality of shift actuators adapted to move the synchronizers. The method includes the steps of initiating a control routine to move a synchronizer to a full engagement position with a gear set and monitoring the positions of all engaged synchronizers. The method also includes reinitiating the control routine to move a synchronizer back into the full engagement position when any engaged synchronizer slips out to a minimum engagement position. Further, the method includes initiating a control routine to move a synchronizer to a neutral position and monitoring the position of all disengaged synchronizers. Also, reinitiating the control routine to move a synchronizer back to the neutral position when any disengaged synchronizer drifts beyond a pre-determined neutral hysteresis position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: BorgWarner, Inc.
    Inventors: Melissa Koenig, Darren Firth, Mark Buchanan
  • Publication number: 20050029068
    Abstract: A method of controlling the engagement force of the synchronizers of a dual clutch transmission having a plurality of synchronizers to selectively engage and disengage various gear sets, and a plurality of shift actuators adapted to move the synchronizers. The method includes the steps of initiating a control routine to pressurize a shift actuator to move a synchronizer to a predetermined engagement position and determining the necessary level of force required to move the desired shift actuator to the predetermined engagement position such that the engagement movement is effected without excessive force. The method also includes the steps of determining the hydraulic pressure that corresponds to the determined level of force and varying the amount of available hydraulic line pressure delivered to the shift actuator such that the delivered pressure is the amount that corresponds to the determined level of force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2003
    Publication date: February 10, 2005
    Inventors: Melissa Koenig, Darren Firth, Mark Buchanan
  • Patent number: 6832978
    Abstract: A method of controlling the torque transferred across each clutches of a dual clutch transmission during a gear shift. The method includes the steps including determining when a shift has been commanded, sensing the speed of the driven member of the off-going clutch, determining the desired clutch torque and slip profile for the changeover of the clutches, and sensing the speed of the driven member of the on-coming clutch to determine a target engine speed profile. The method simultaneously controls the torque transfer across each clutch by linearly decreasing the torque transferred across the off-going clutch while linearly increasing the torque transferred across the on-coming clutch in an inversely proportional rate. Finally, the pressure applied to the on-coming clutch is varied, to cause the engine to continue to track the target engine speed profile so that vehicle speed is maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2004
    Assignee: BorgWarner, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Buchanan, Russell Lemon, Melissa Koenig
  • Patent number: 6832674
    Abstract: A bi-directional overrunning clutch assembly including an inner race, an outer race, and engagement members supported therebetween. The clutch assembly further includes at least one actuating cam. The actuating cam operates to actuate the engagement members to provide four separate modes of operation between the inner and outer races of the clutch assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2004
    Assignee: BorgWarner, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher E. Blair, John M. Kremer, R. Keith Martin, Melissa Koenig, Brian Stefina
  • Patent number: 6830531
    Abstract: Pursuant to the control strategy of the present invention, torque load may be shared between the low/reverse friction clutch and a one-way clutch to effect low and reverse gear ratios in a transmission. This may be accomplished by engaging the friction clutch during vehicle launch and keeping it engaged until the peak torque has passed. Once the peak torque has been passed, the load capacity of the friction clutch can be reduced to zero. In this operational mode, the one-way clutch is acting to support the remaining drive torque. Thus, with only the one-way clutch carrying a load at the time of the up-shift from first to second gear, a non-synchronous shift can be affected. In this way, the control strategy acts to share the torque load between the low/reverse brake and the low one-way clutch, thereby allowing a reduced capacity, lower spin-loss one-way clutch design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: BorgWarner, Inc.
    Inventors: Melissa Koenig, R. Keith Martin, John M. Kremer
  • Patent number: 6819997
    Abstract: A method of controlling the pressure applied to the engaged clutch of a vehicle having a dual clutch transmission to control the torque transferred across the engaged clutch thereby providing engine speed control for each gear based on the engine throttle position. The method includes the steps of determining the engine throttle position, determining the currently engaged gear of the transmission, and sensing the speed of the clutch. An engine stall speed is selected for the current gear and engine throttle position from a look-up table, and then a target engine speed based on the engine stall speed and the clutch speed is continuously redetermined, the clutch speed increasing in response to the increasing engine speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2004
    Assignee: BorgWarner, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Buchanan, Russell Lemon, Melissa Koenig
  • Patent number: 6790159
    Abstract: A method of controlling the torque transferred across the engaged clutch of a vehicle having a dual clutch transmission to provide predetermined engine acceleration for each gear based on the engine throttle position and subsequent changes of clutch speed that are in response to operatively varying the torque transferred across the engaged clutch as the engine accelerates to a predetermine speed based on the throttle position. The method includes the steps of determining the engine throttle position, determining the currently engaged gear of the transmission, and sensing the speed of the driven member of the engaged clutch. Then, a target engine speed is determined based on the engine throttle position, the currently engaged gear, and the clutch speed. The torque transferred across the engaged clutch is then continuously varied to cause the engine to accelerate toward the target engine speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: BorgWarner, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Buchanan, Russell Lemon, Melissa Koenig