Speed Responsive Control Patents (Class 477/154)
  • Patent number: 11946538
    Abstract: To detect the occurrence of slippage, a transmission health monitor integrates speed measurements for an engine shaft and a transmission shaft to determine a number of revolutions for each shaft. The monitor then uses a ratio of the revolutions adjusted for a transmission gear ratio to determine whether slippage has occurred. Based on the slippage, the monitor can determine a cumulative amount of wear on a clutch for each gear and track the rate of change of slippage over time to determine a rate at which wear is occurring. The monitor can also correlate slippage calculations with torque measurements to identify operating conditions at which slippage is occurring. The monitor uses the cumulative amount of slippage, the rate of change of slippage, and the operating conditions at which slippage is occurring to estimate a remaining lifespan for a clutch or indicate that a clutch should be repaired or replaced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Stanley Vernon Stephenson, Joe A. Beisel, Timothy Holiman Hunter
  • Patent number: 11932113
    Abstract: A drive device has an internal combustion engine connection configured for receiving driving power from an internal combustion engine and has an electric motor generator configured for outputting driving power to an electric motor generator connection. A coupling device is configured for coupling both the internal combustion engine connection and the electric motor generator connection to at least one power train connection that is configured for outputting driving power to a power train. The coupling device has a radially outer drive part and a coupling portion lying radially within the drive part, which coupling portion is configured for selectively connecting the drive part to the power train connection in a rotationally fixed manner. A power transmission portion is arranged on an outer circumferential surface on the radially outer drive part, which power transmission portion is configured for receiving driving power from the electric motor generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Otmar Full, Werner Pfau, Michael Staake
  • Patent number: 11773796
    Abstract: A method of maintaining a temperature of an aftertreatment system of a vehicle, the method including: operating, by a controller, a retarder reducing driving force of a propeller shaft of the vehicle in response to a retarder operation request signal; operating, by the controller, a jake brake device which discharges a fuel-air mixture compressed in an explosion stroke of the engine to an exhaust pipe and decreases revolutions per minute (RPM) of the engine or an exhaust brake device which blocks a discharge of the exhaust gas of the engine to a rear end of the exhaust pipe and decreases the RPM of the engine, in order to remove the output error value; and controlling, by the controller, the engine so that an amount of exhaust gas introduced into the aftertreatment system is decreased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Juhyun Kim, Jaeseok Shin, Jinhan Lee
  • Patent number: 11645215
    Abstract: A plurality of virtual processor threads are executed on the plurality of physical processor threads. In a data structure, information pertaining to a plurality of interrupt sources in the data processing system is maintained. The information includes a historical scope of transmission of interrupt commands for an interrupt source. Based on an interrupt request from an interrupt source, an interrupt master transmits a first interrupt bus command on an interconnect fabric of the data processing system to poll one or more interrupt snoopers regarding availability of one or more of the virtual processor threads to service an interrupt. The interrupt master updates the scope of transmission specified in the data structure based on a combined response to the first interrupt bus command. The interrupt master applies the scope of transmission specified in the data structure to a subsequent second interrupt bus command for the interrupt source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Florian Auernhammer, Wayne Melvin Barrett, David A. Shedivy
  • Patent number: 11415217
    Abstract: A device for a vehicle including: a memory configured to store mapping data including machine learning data defining a mapping that uses an estimation variable that is a variable indicating a vehicle operation status of the vehicle and a detection value of a sensor detecting an oil temperature of a power transmission device as input variables, and uses an element corresponding to the input variables as an output variable; and a processor configured to: acquire the input variables; use the mapping to acquire the element as the output variable of the mapping corresponding to the input variables; and determine based on the element whether the detection value becomes equal to or higher than a threshold value due to occurrence of an abnormality in the power transmission device or a mode of vehicle operation by the driver of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kota Fujii, Atsushi Tabata, Koichi Okuda, Ken Imamura
  • Patent number: 11408504
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a vehicle includes a transmission, a brake pedal, and a controller. The controller is programmed to, in response to an upshift of the transmission, a driver-demanded torque being zero, and the brake pedal being released, command a first pressure, that is greater than zero, to an oncoming shift element associated with the upshift such that the oncoming shift element has a torque capacity of zero, in response to the brake pedal being applied during the upshift of the transmission, command a second, larger pressure to the oncoming shift element to increase the torque capacity to a non-zero value, and, in response to expiration of a threshold time from the brake pedal being applied, command a series of sequentially ramping pressures to the oncoming shift element to further increase the torque capacity and lock the oncoming shift element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mehran Namazkar, Stephen Michael Cicala, Cory Benson LaRoche, Benjamin Rupley, Spencer Johnson
  • Patent number: 11371214
    Abstract: A working machine includes a machine body, a prime mover, a traveling device mounted on the machine body, a traveling motor to provide a power to the traveling device and to switch between a first speed and a second speed higher than the first speed, a traveling pump to be driven by the prime mover and to supply operation fluid to the traveling motor, and a controller device including an automatic shifter to automatically shift the traveling motor to the first speed or to the second speed, a timer to count an elapsed time from the automatically shifting, and a shift prohibitor to prohibit the automatically shifting by the automatic shifter when the elapsed time counted by the timer is less than a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: KUBOTA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuji Fukuda, Ryota Hamamoto, Jun Tomita
  • Patent number: 11059475
    Abstract: An automatic transmission is arranged in a hybrid driveline employing an EV mode and an HEV mode, and establishes transmission ratio positions by engaging or disengaging frictional elements. A system or method includes: determining, based on a vehicle deceleration and a relationship between a requested transmission ratio position and an actual transmission ratio, whether or not interlocking is occurring, when the automatic transmission is in a state out of transmission shifting, wherein the interlocking is due to erroneous engagement of one of the frictional elements; and inhibiting the determination about interlocking, during a period from start of slip of a first frictional element of the automatic transmission to confirmation of convergence of slip of the first frictional element, in a situation that the first frictional element is slip-engaged for starting the engine in response to a request for mode transition from the EV mode to the HEV mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignees: JATCO LTD, NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masahiro Hamano, Yutaka Tohyama, Norihira Amano
  • Patent number: 10883566
    Abstract: In some embodiments of the present disclosure, an electric motor is used to generate correction torques to counteract unwanted torque pulses generated by an internal combustion engine during a cylinder deactivation mode. In some embodiments, the electric motor may be mounted to an accessory drive such as a power take-off mechanism or a front end accessory drive (FEAD). In some embodiments, the correction torques may be determined using an engine model. The correction torques help to reduce or eliminate noise, vibration, and/or harshness (NVH) during the cylinder deactivation mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: PACCAR INC
    Inventors: Michael D. Gerty, Uday Vadlamani, Kimberly D. McKinnon
  • Patent number: 10634071
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for controlling a power plant during use of a power take-off (PTO) device, wherein the responsiveness and stability of the controller are adjustable by an operator in the field. The use of setting maps allows fine tuning of controller responsiveness while also ensuring that expected performance would be achieved at any setting within the setting map. In some embodiments, a proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller is used to control engine speed, and gains for the proportional, integral, and derivative terms are obtained from setting maps based on a responsiveness setting chosen by a vehicle operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: PACCAR INC
    Inventors: Burton Edwin Waite, III, James David Castner, Charles Wayne Reinhardt Swart
  • Patent number: 10480647
    Abstract: A transmission control system and method involve receiving, by a controller and from a turbine shaft speed sensor, a rotational speed of a turbine shaft of an automatic transmission, receiving, by the controller and from an output shaft speed sensor, a plurality of rotational speeds of an output shaft of the transmission, determining, by the controller, a shift time modifier based on the turbine shaft speed and a gradient of the output shaft speed, modifying, by the controller, a shift time for a pedal-off downshift of the transmission based on the shift time modifier to obtain a modified shift time, and controlling, by the controller, the pedal-off downshift of the transmission based on the modified shift time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventors: Steven B Christ, Stephen Tokish, Quan Zheng
  • Patent number: 10443522
    Abstract: An engine idling control method for a construction machine includes setting, by an E-ECU, an initial engine RPM as a starting mode (S mode) by receiving a signal from a V-ECU at the time of an engine startup; receiving, by the E-ECU, a first instruction via an engine speed control switch in a state other than an automatic idle mode; activating the automatic idle mode when the first instruction is not input to a machine during a certain time period, and setting the engine RPM as the starting mode (S mode); deactivating the automatic idle mode when a second instruction is input to the machine via the engine speed control switch while the automatic idle mode is activated; and calculating, by the V-ECU, an actual torque required for a pump for starting the machine according to the second instruction when the automatic idle mode is deactivated, and sending the actual torque to the E-ECU.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: Volvo Construction Equipment AB
    Inventor: Seong-Cheol Park
  • Patent number: 10408287
    Abstract: A clutch-to-clutch transmission monitoring system for an automobile vehicle includes a control software generating a control signal. A monitor is in communication with the control software. A pre-compute monitor is in communication with the control software. The pre-compute monitor also receives the input data and outputs an operating threshold signal to the control software. The operating threshold signal defines allowed operating bounds for at least one component in communication with the monitor. A post-compute monitor is in communication with both the control software and the pre-compute monitor. The post-compute monitor receives both the control signal and the operating threshold signal. The post-compute monitor compares the control signal to the operating threshold signal to identify if the control signal violates the allowed operating bounds defined by the pre-compute monitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Scott D. Biggs, Ronald F. Lochocki, Jr., Brian W. Hanselman, Greg J. Perantoni
  • Patent number: 10260576
    Abstract: A system for controlling transmission shifting includes a controller that receives a shift request signal and determines if a clutch has been unapplied for more than a predetermined time. With a yes determination, a maximum fill time value for hydraulic fluid to be applied to a clutch control circuit is determined, the maximum fill time value being a function of time the clutch has been unapplied and temperature. A signal indicative of an amount of engine RPM flare after the transmission executes the requested shift is received and a modified maximum fill time value is determined as a function of this flare. The modified maximum fill time value is stored as a replacement for the maximum fill time value for use with a subsequent transmission shifts using this clutch, and reduces an amount of air in the control circuit and an amount of flare with subsequent transmission shifts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventors: Nathan J Saliga, Rahul Rangarajan, Jeffrey E Ross
  • Patent number: 10247302
    Abstract: A control apparatus of an automatic transmission includes an electric hydraulic pump including a motor and a pump, an actuator for engaging or releasing a friction element by controlling a hydraulic pressure discharged from the pump, and a transmission control unit (TCU) for correcting a control signal to control the actuator depending on a dynamic characteristic coefficient of the friction element and the actuator during shifting when outputting the control signal to the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Taehwan Wi, Chang Wook Lee, Dokyung Yim, Chong Tae Yang
  • Patent number: 10124693
    Abstract: A battery pack includes a battery, a battery management system (BMS), and an inertia sensor. The battery includes at least one battery cell to supply electricity to a load. The BMS monitors voltage and current states of the battery and to control charge and discharge operations of the battery. The BMS determines a moving state of the load based on inertia information from the inertia sensor and outputs a control signal to interrupt flow of a discharge current of the battery when the discharge current is equal to or greater than a first critical current value for a preset time period and the load is determined to be stationary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: SAMSUNG SDI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Youngdong Seo, Seotaek Oh
  • Patent number: 9663107
    Abstract: A launch control method for a vehicle with a dry-type clutch includes: determining a target engine speed corresponding to an operation amount of an accelerator pedal of the vehicle when vehicle launch is started by operation of the accelerator pedal; calculating a feedforward component which is part of the torque to control the clutch using a rate of change over time of the target engine speed and a current engine torque; calculating a feedback component which is part of the torque to control the clutch based on a difference between the target engine speed and the current engine speed; calculating a compensation torque using a current engine torque and an estimated clutch torque which is estimated to be currently transferred by the clutch; and controlling a clutch actuator to drive the clutch with a sum of the feedforward component, the feedback component, and the compensation torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Jin Sung Kim
  • Patent number: 9568094
    Abstract: Provided is a control device of an automatic transmission, by which a supercharger can be prevented from becoming high in temperature and deteriorating in durability. An automatic transmission is connected to an engine (1) in which a supercharger (2) is mounted and has a manual mode to manually select a desired gear ratio from a plurality of fixed gear ratios. A control device includes a manual mode detection unit, a temperature judgment unit (31) and a gear ratio changeover unit (43) arranged such that, when the manual mode detection unit detects that the automatic transmission is in the manual mode and when the temperature judgment unit judges that the temperature of the supercharger is higher than or equal to a predetermined value, the gear ratio changeover unit changes the gear ratio of the automatic transmission to a higher gear ratio and thereby lowers the rotation speed of the engine (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignees: JATCO LTD, NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hironori Miyaishi
  • Patent number: 9499164
    Abstract: A hybrid electric vehicle includes an engine, an electric motor, a transmission gearbox, and a clutch selectively coupling the engine to the electric motor. Engine speed can drop dramatically when operating at high speeds during a scheduled shift event in the gearbox. To reduce the effects felt by the engine speed change, at least one controller is provided and programmed to slip the clutch when locked in response to a drive torque, estimated to be present upon completion of an anticipated shift event, exceeding available negative torque, such as regenerative torque and engine braking torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Felix Nedorezov, Kenneth Jahr, Alexander O'Connor Gibson, Todd McCullough, Adam Nathan Banker
  • Patent number: 9404572
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine, a transmission having a position-controlled clutch with a synchronizer sleeve and a synchronizer fork, an input member with an input speed, and an output member with an output speed, and a controller. The controller is programmed to register a slip-away condition when the input speed falls within a calibrated speed band and the output speed remains below a calibrated threshold speed. In response to the registered slip-away condition, the controller records a diagnostic code indicative of the synchronizer sleeve being disengaged, changes an engaged position of the synchronizer sleeve by a calibrated amount to thereby adapt the engaged position, and commands the clutch to disengage and the fork to move to a neutral position after increasing the engaged position. The controller also moves the synchronizer sleeve toward the adapted engaged position and applies the clutch when the synchronizer sleeve attains the adapted engaged position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Jay Weingartz, Colin Hultengren, Glenn W. Hoefflin
  • Patent number: 9273623
    Abstract: A drive system for an automobile includes a combustion engine, a friction clutch, a multistep gearbox, a controller for controlling the combustion engine based on load lever position, clutch position, gear input shaft rotation speed, gear output shaft rotation speed, engaged gear stage, vehicle speed and/or vehicle acceleration, with a sensor connected with the controller determining a position of the friction clutch. A method for controlling this combustion engine includes the steps of receiving or generating with the controller information about a gear stage change, a clutch position change, a predetermined minimum vehicle speed and-or a predetermined maximum vehicle acceleration, and adjusting the rotation speed of the combustion engine in response to the received or generated information. This approach provides a particularly smooth and comfortable gear stage change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventor: Tobias Attensperger
  • Patent number: 9182013
    Abstract: A power-shiftable transmission, in particular an automatic transmission for a vehicle, which comprises a plurality of frictional shifting elements and at least one interlocking shifting element (A, B, C, D, E) and a plurality of gearwheels which can be engaged in a power flow by the shifting elements (A, B, C, D, E). In order to engage a gear step, at least two associated shifting elements (A, B, C, D, E) are engaged and at least one interlocking shifting element (B), as a shifting element (B) to be engaged, is associated with a gear step to be engaged with a supporting gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Gerhard Gumpoltsberger, Bernhard Sich, Matthias Reisch, Manuel Goetz, Mark Mohr, Ralf Dreibholz, Peter Ziemer, Gert Bauknecht
  • Patent number: 9151383
    Abstract: A method for interactive transmission garage shifts includes receiving a request for a transmission garage shift; controlling the transmission to bring the vehicle to a stop state based on determining that the vehicle is rolling backwards on a grade above a predetermined grade threshold and at a speed below a predetermined speed threshold; controlling an electric park brake (EPB) to hold the vehicle at the stop state; controlling the transmission to engage a dog clutch so as to place the transmission in a forward drive gear; and controlling the EPB to i) deactivate if the dog clutch is determined to be engaged, or ii) maintain activation to maintain the vehicle at the stop state if the dog clutch is determined to be disengaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventors: Joseph B. Adams, Changwei Cao, Jason P. Frisch, David D. Dicks, Richard G. Mayer, Joseph J. Sobczak, William Mayhew, Raymond J. Tessier, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9086141
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine and transmission having gear sets, an input member that is continuously connected to the engine and a gear set, a binary clutch assembly, a speed sensor, and a controller. The binary clutch assembly includes a freewheeling element holding torque in one rotational direction, and also a selectable one-way clutch (SOWC) portion holding torque in two rotational directions when applied. The controller executes a method to transmit a first binary clutch command to the binary clutch assembly and thus apply the SOWC portion at vehicle launch, and calculates, via the processor, an acceleration value of the vehicle using the measured speed. The controller also selects a shift apply point of the binary clutch assembly as a function of the calculated acceleration value, and transmits a second binary clutch command to the binary clutch assembly to release the SOWC portion at the selected shift apply point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Vijay A. Neelakantan, John E. Marano, Randall B. Dlugoss
  • Patent number: 9062761
    Abstract: A computer-implemented shifting method for a vehicle is described. The method is based upon, at least in part, identifying a reference output torque at an output shaft associated with a transmission of the vehicle. The method includes reducing a torque capacity of an off-going output clutch from a starting capacity and determining a torque load for the off-going output clutch. The method includes maintaining a first transition torque capacity during a first transition period after the determining of the torque load, and increasing a torque capacity of the on-coming output clutch to a second transition torque capacity. The method includes maintaining the second transition torque during a second transition period. The method includes reducing the torque capacity of the off-going output clutch to a first final torque capacity and increasing the torque capacity of the on-coming output clutch to a final torque capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: Ronald D. Bremner
  • Patent number: 8788159
    Abstract: A method for controlling pressure applied to a displaceable piston in a cylinder, piston displacement actuating a control element of an automatic transmission during a gearshift, includes determining whether piston displacement exceeds a free length of an isolation spring located between the piston and a friction plate of the control element; calculating the pressure using A the cross-sectional area of the piston; K a coefficient of a return spring extending between the piston and a reference position in the cylinder; x the piston displacement; F0 a pre-load of the return spring; xfree the free length of the isolation spring; and Kis a coefficient of the isolation spring; and applying the calculated pressure to the piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gregory Michael Peitron, Sarah M. Thornton, Diana Yanakiev, James William Loch McCallum, Anuradha Annaswamy
  • Patent number: 8752443
    Abstract: A gear selector apparatus for a transmission having a first gear and a second gear selectively engageable to a shaft through a synchronizer. The gear selector apparatus includes a hydraulic actuator, a gear selection fork engaged with the actuator, a guide bar fixed for common movement to the gear selection fork, a detent mechanism disposed in contact with a first edge of the guide bar, a position sensor disposed in contact with a second edge of the guide bar, a first and a second pressure control valve in communication with the hydraulic actuator, a controller in electrical communication with the position sensor and the first and second pressure control valve. The controller includes a control logic sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, LLC
    Inventors: Shushan Bai, Vijay A. Neelakantan, Paul G. Otanez
  • Patent number: 8744653
    Abstract: A control apparatus for controlling a transmission apparatus that includes: an input member that is drivably connected to a rotating electrical machine being capable of generating regenerative torque based on an engine and a deceleration request of a vehicle; an output member that is drivably connected to wheels; and a speed change mechanism that has a plurality of friction engagement elements that are controlled to be engaged and released so as to switch a plurality of shift speeds, and that shifts a rotation speed of the input member at one of gear ratios set for the shift speeds and outputs the shifted speed to the output member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigekazu Hase, Hiroya Ueno, Kohei Tsuda, Eiji Moriyama, Hiroshi Tsutsui
  • Patent number: 8731788
    Abstract: A velocity profile can be used in conjunction with vehicle operating condition data to determine a gear shift schedule that mitigates the amount of service brake effort required to slow a vehicle by making optimal use of engine speed, friction and engine brakes. The gear shift point drives the engine to a higher operating speed and greater frictional torque, slowing the vehicle, which can then coast to a desired speed. The gear shift point can be timed to minimize fuel consumption during the maneuver. Thus, a vehicle downshift event is created based on the transmission gear recommendation. The benefit is increased freight efficiency in transporting cargo from source to destination by minimizing fuel consumption and maintaining drivability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Cummins Intellectual Property, Inc.
    Inventors: Vivek A. Sujan, Phani Vajapeyazula, Kenneth Follen, An Wu, Barty L. Moffett, Howard R. Frost
  • Patent number: 8500601
    Abstract: A method of operating a transmission of a vehicle drive train with at least one drive machine. The transmission is formed with at least one interlocking shift element and a plurality of frictional shift elements in order to obtain various gear ratios. During an engaging process of the interlocking shift element, starting from a disengaged operating condition, in which halves of the interlocking shift element are out of engagement, to an engaged operating condition, in which the shift element halves are interlocked in a rotationally fixed manner, when interlock between the shift element halves is obstructed, a rotational speed difference is produced at least temporarily between the shift element halves, at which the interlock in the area of the interlocking shift element can be engaged. To produce the speed difference between the shift element halves, the transmission capacity of at least one frictional shift element is increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Jorg Arnold, Klaus Steinhauser, Valentine Herbeth, Christian Popp
  • Patent number: 8437928
    Abstract: A method for operating a multi-step automatic transmission arranged in a drive train of a vehicle with a combustion engine. When downshifting from the third gear ratio to a second gear ratio, higher inertia must be shifted than when shifting from the third gear ratio to the first gear ratio. Upon a demand for a coasting downshift from the third gear ratio to the second gear ratio or to the first gear ratio with no performance demand on the combustion engine, the coasting downshift to the second gear ratio is not executed and the first gear ratio is engaged when the requirements for downshifting to the first gear ratio are met.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Christian Popp, Reinhard Vollmar
  • Patent number: 8392076
    Abstract: In a control of a vehicular automatic transmission, an engaging device provided in a power transmission path between an engine and driving wheels is brought into a slipping state or a release state when a certain neutral control condition is satisfied while a shift lever is placed in a running position, the engaging device is engaged so as to increase a torque transmission capacity thereof when a certain neutral control cancellation condition is satisfied during neutral control under which the engaging device is in the slipping state or the release state, and an engaging pressure of the engaging device is held at a constant pressure level for a given period of time when an accelerator pedal is depressed while the engaging device is engaged so as to increase the torque transmission capacity thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nobufusa Kobayashi, Yoshio Hasegawa, Naoto Komeno, Norihiro Tsukamoto
  • Patent number: 8370036
    Abstract: An automatic transmission calculates a current thermal load state of the frictional element, predicts (S24, S31), prior to the start of the shift, a heat generation amount of the frictional element if the shift is performed in the first shift mode, predicts (S25, S32) a thermal load state of the frictional element upon shift completion on the basis of the current thermal load state of the frictional element and the predicted heat generation amount, and either performs (S28, S38) the shift in a second shift mode, in which a heat generation amount is lower than that of the first shift mode, or prohibits (S39) the shift when the predicted thermal load state upon shift completion is inside a predetermined region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: JATCO Ltd
    Inventors: Tomomasa Ikeda, Hiroki Kawakami
  • Patent number: 8216111
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling torque includes a first torque transmitting mechanism and a second torque transmitting mechanism. The first torque transmitting mechanism is engageable to achieve a first gear ratio of the transmission. The second torque transmitting mechanism has an apply chamber that is pressurized at a first pressure level to achieve a first engaged position and is pressurized at a second pressure level to achieve a second engaged position. The first pressure level is less than the second pressure level and the second engaged position achieves a second gear ratio of the transmission. A controller is in communication with the first and second torque transmitting mechanisms. The controller includes a control logic for pressurizing the apply chamber of the second torque transmitting mechanism to the first pressure level if the first operating condition has exceeded a threshold operating condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Matthew Pruski, Gabriel Gibson, Steven B. Christ
  • Patent number: 8214117
    Abstract: A driving force controlling apparatus includes a driving force controller configured to determine a state of a road surface. A driving force controller is configured to control a driving force of a vehicle based on the road surface state. A rear-wheel speed sensor is configured to detect a rear-wheel speed. A low-friction-coefficient road surface determining device is configured to determine whether the road surface is a low-friction-coefficient road surface using the rear-wheel speed on a predetermined condition. A determination prohibition device is configured to prohibit the low-friction-coefficient road surface determining device from determining whether the road surface is a low-friction-coefficient road surface, if (a) the rear-wheel speed sensor is abnormal, or if (b) a predetermined time has elapsed from when a shift range is changed from a reverse range to a drive range and/or (c) a gear position has become greater than or equal to a predetermined gear position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yutaka Ishikawa, Makoto Kobayashi, Takahito Fujita
  • Patent number: 8140231
    Abstract: In an abnormal-period automatic shift control apparatus of an automated manual transmission (AMT), a controller includes a first state detecting section configured to detect whether the AMT is in a first state where the AMT is thrown into a shift stage during an engine starting period, and a second state detecting section configured to detect whether the AMT is in a second state where a clutch failure that an automatic clutch, employed in the AMT for engine power transmission, remains engaged undesirably, occurs. Also provided is a neutral-range-period abnormality countermeasure section configured to inhibit a supply of working oil from an engine-drive oil pump, serving as a working medium for automatic-clutch engagement-and-disengagement control and automatic gear shifting, for preventing an automotive vehicle from beginning to move, while a selected operating range is a neutral range, under a condition where the first and second states occur simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Makoto Futamura
  • Patent number: 8126621
    Abstract: In an engine load control device of a work vehicle, an output of an engine is transmitted to a hydraulic actuator via a variable displacement type hydraulic pump. A controller is configured to calculate, based on a target rotational speed of the engine detected by a target rotational speed detecting portion and an actual rotational speed of the engine detected by an actual rotational speed detecting portion, a variation rate per unit time of a difference between the detected results, and to adjust the maximum absorbing torque of the hydraulic pump according to the magnitude of the variation rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventors: Shotaro Ishii, Akira Fukushima
  • Patent number: 8068965
    Abstract: A control apparatus for a shift-position changing mechanism that changes the shift positions of an automatic transmission mounted in a vehicle using a rotational force of an actuator based on a signal corresponding to the state of an operation member, including: a mechanism that generates a rotational force for moving the actuator toward a rotation stop positional-range corresponding to the shift position, based on a rotation stop position of the actuator; a detection unit that detects a rotation amount of the actuator; a control unit that controls the actuator based on the signal and the detected rotation amount; and a learning unit that learns the rotation stop positional-range corresponding to the shift position, based on an amount by which the actuator has been rotated since a control over the actuator executed by the control unit is stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideki Kubonoya, Masato Kaigawa, Keiji Hoshino, Shigeru Kamio
  • Patent number: 8055415
    Abstract: The invention essentially relates to a method for blocking wheels of a vehicle when stopped in which a transmission device (1) is placed between an output (2) of a heat engine (3) and a wheel (5) axle shaft (4). This device (1) comprises an input shaft (13) connected to the output (2) of the engine (3), an output shaft (31) connected to the wheel axle shaft (4), and at least one electrical machine (6, 7). The device also comprises a mechanical assembly (12) interconnecting the input shaft (13), the output shaft (31) and the shaft (8, 9) of the machine. This assembly (12) is connected to a bridge (15) that, in turn, is connected to the wheel (5) axle shaft (4). The invention provides that, in order to block the wheels when the vehicle is stopped and to limit an observable torque on the elements of the assembly (12), the wheel axle shaft is blocked by the mechanical assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Peugeot Citroen Automobiles SA
    Inventors: Serge Belmont, Olivier Boury, Sebastien Besnard
  • Patent number: 7925407
    Abstract: The adjustment method includes an estimation step in which valve characteristics of the linear solenoid valves fitted to the hydraulic control circuit are measured, and estimated linear valve characteristics of the linear solenoid valves in isolation state are estimated based on the measured valve characteristics using predetermined correlations; and a correction value output step in which estimated linear piston-end pressures of the hydraulically-driven friction engagement elements immediately before the hydraulically-driven friction engagement elements are engaged are calculated based on the estimated linear valve characteristics, and the correction values that are applied to the control command values to adjust the drive currents supplied from the valve control unit to the linear solenoid valves are calculated based on differences between the estimated linear piston-end pressures and nominal piston-end pressures, and then output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masami Kondo, Masaharu Tanaka, Takayuki Kawakami, Naoto Moriya
  • Patent number: 7914417
    Abstract: A shift control method and apparatus of an automatic transmission for controlling a shift from one speed, achieved by engagement of a first and a second frictional element, to another speed, achieved by engagement of a third and a fourth frictional element. The method includes detecting a rotation speed of a turbine, detecting a rotation speed of at least one operating member of at least one planetary gear set of the automatic transmission, and controlling the shift according to the rotation speeds of the turbine and the operating member. The control includes overlapping a first shift, from the one speed to an additional speed, with a second shift, from the additional speed to the other speed. The additional speed has a gear ratio that is near a gear ratio of the one speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Jin Soo Lee
  • Patent number: 7833128
    Abstract: An ECU executes a program including detecting an engine speed; detecting a turbine speed; calculating a slip revolution speed of a torque converter as; calculating a hydraulic pressure control value based on the slip revolution speed and a map; and outputting a hydraulic pressure control signal to a linear solenoid. The map is set such that the hydraulic pressure control value is smaller as the slip revolution speed increases in positive values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuaki Nakamura, Hiromichi Kimura, Koji Oshima, Tomohiro Asami, Takahiro Kondo
  • Patent number: 7747372
    Abstract: Systems and methods for user control of vehicular transmission shift points. In one embodiment, a user may control a transmission shift point by adjusting a selector having non-discrete selectable positions. Such selector may generate a signal indicative of its position to a transmission controller. The transmission controller may receive the signal from the selector and determine at least one transmission shift point based upon the selector position. The transmission controller may thereby control the transmission to effectuate a gear change when the shift point is achieved. In some embodiments, the selector may comprise a rotary potentiometer, a rotary encoder, an inline potentiometer, an inline encoder or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth Michael Mathis
  • Patent number: 7706949
    Abstract: A method and system for executing a shift from a first fixed gear to a second fixed gear in a powertrain system comprising a two-mode, compound-split, electro-mechanical transmission operative to receive a speed input from an engine is described. It includes deactivating an off-going clutch, and generating a time-based profile for rotational speed of an oncoming clutch. The input speed is controlled based upon the rotational speed of the oncoming clutch and an output of the transmission. The oncoming clutch is actuated, preferably when the input speed is synchronized with a rotational speed of an output shaft of the transmission multiplied by a gear ratio of the second fixed gear, preferably after a predetermined elapsed period of time in the range of 500 milliseconds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Jy-Jen F. Sah, Anthony H. Heap
  • Publication number: 20090163320
    Abstract: A shift control system of an automatic transmission and a method thereof include controlling the off-going and on-coming clutches according to hydraulic pressures of the off-going and on-coming clutches calculated based on a flare amount when a flare occurs, controlling the on-coming clutch according to hydraulic pressure of the on-coming clutch calculated based on a shifting time interval when the flare does not occur and the shifting time interval is smaller than or equal to a predetermined time interval, and controlling the off-going and on-coming clutches according to hydraulic pressures of the off-going and on-coming clutches calculated based on an excess rate of change of a turbine speed when the shifting time interval is larger than a predetermined time interval.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2009
    Publication date: June 25, 2009
    Applicant: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventor: Hyun Soo SHIM
  • Patent number: 7381151
    Abstract: A power-on 2-3 upshift control method for an automatic transmission comprises: determining whether a power-on 2-3 upshift condition exists; extracting an initial hydraulic pressure control duty and hydraulic pressure control duty depending on an input torque from a map table for an on-coming friction element and an off-going friction element, if it is determined that the power-on 2-3 upshift condition exists, and performing a shift control for the upshift; and completely releasing a hydraulic pressure of the off-going friction element at a point at which a hydraulic pressure for the on-coming friction element is capable of tolerating a turbine torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Hyun Soo Shim
  • Patent number: 7326149
    Abstract: A converterless, multiple-ratio transmission and shift control method wherein smoothness of power-on upshifts and downshifts and power-off upshifts and downshifts is achieved by closed loop control of slip speed and friction element actuating pressure for an oncoming friction element, the data used during the closed loop control including speed sensor information for multiple friction elements during upshift and downshifts events.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Marvin Kraska, Walt Ortmann
  • Patent number: 7292922
    Abstract: A transmission control system includes a first gear engagement element that receives fluid and engages a first gear. An electromagnetic actuator selectively interrupts fluid flow to the first gear engagement element based on a duty cycle of a control signal. A control module adjusts the duty cycle so that a fluid flow rate continuously decreases as the first gear engagement element produces a first torque sufficient to hold the first gear. The flow rate is based on a first estimated volume of the fluid necessary for the first gear engagement element to produce the first torque. The control module computes a current volume of the fluid when the first gear engagement element produces the first torque. The control module adjusts a value of the first estimated volume for subsequent transmission control when a difference between the current volume and the first estimated volume is greater than a predetermined volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Chrysler LLC
    Inventors: Gang Chen, Aaron Pfadt
  • Patent number: 7291092
    Abstract: In shift control apparatus and method for an automatic transmission in which an engine speed is inputted, and a shift change in a shift stage of the automatic transmission is performed to make a gear shift, a shift revolution synchronization control in synchronization with the engine speed is performed and, in a case where the gear shift is made under a driving state in which there is a possibility of an occurrence of a shift shock, an engagement section which performs a power transmission under a presently selected shift stage is gradually released and another engagement section which enables a power transmission through the next selection scheduled shift stage is gradually engaged without an execution of the shift revolution synchronization control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuzuru Tohta, Kenichiro Murakami
  • Patent number: 7247127
    Abstract: A method for shifting gears of a transmission of a vehicle, which, during a shift, a first shift element opens and a second shift element closes. To increase the spontaneity and reduce the shifting frequency a downshift from a first gear to a second gear is interrupted without delay and the first gear returned to when an interruption criterion is recognized. The interruption criterion is established when the driver upshifts before a current transmission input speed deviates from a synchronous speed of the first gear or before a time interval, which begins when the speed deviates from the synchronous speed of the first gear, has exceeded a predefined, time-related limit value or before the current transmission input speed has deviated from a synchronous speed of the first gear by a predefined, speed-related limit value or before a pressure of the first shift element falls below a pressure-related limit value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Christian Popp, Klaus Steinhauser