Fluid Pressure Control Patents (Class 477/50)
  • Patent number: 11447264
    Abstract: A power generation controller of an aircraft includes a low-temperature start-up control section and a power generation control section. When it is determined that an oil temperature of a hydraulic actuator configured to change an operation position of a speed change element of a hydraulic transmission satisfies a predetermined low-temperature condition when starting up an aircraft engine, the low-temperature start-up control section sets a power generator to a power non-generating state and controls the hydraulic actuator such that the speed change element is positioned at an acceleration side of a median in a speed change range. When it is determined that the oil temperature satisfies a predetermined low-temperature start-up completion condition, the power generation control section sets the power generator to a power generating state and controls the hydraulic actuator in accordance with a rotational frequency of the aircraft engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kenichi Nakashima, Satoshi Ootsuki, Shuma Kobayashi, Kippei Matsuda
  • Patent number: 10979662
    Abstract: A method and system for inhibiting shutdown of a mobile data recorder of a mobile digital audio/video recording (MDVR) system in a vehicle while a download is active. The method including identifying if a data download is currently in process and the vehicle is in an OFF powered state and ascertaining if at least one of whether the data download is complete, and a data network connection for conducting the download is not available, and executing a shutdown of the MDVR system. Otherwise, inhibiting shut down of the MDVR system, determining if a selected condition for maintaining the inhibiting is false and executing a shutdown of the MDVR system, and repeating the ascertaining, inhibiting, and determining.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: SEON DESIGN (USA) CORP.
    Inventor: Thomas J. Predmore, II
  • Patent number: 9371905
    Abstract: A torque sharing rate is set as a constraint of a motion equation of an automatic transmission by using a gear shift model in which gear shift target values are set by two values of a torque on a rotating member on an output shaft side and a rotation speed variation of a rotating member on an input shaft side. In addition, a first gear shift according to the gear shift control and a second gear shift that uses a gear shift model in which the gear shift target value is set using only the velocity variation of the rotating member on the input shaft side to enable a speedier gear shift than the first gear shift are selectively executed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Keisuke Ota, Yoshio Hasegawa, Seiji Masunaga
  • Patent number: 9014934
    Abstract: A method of controlling a pump for a hybrid transmission includes commanding a first line pressure of the transmission and deriving a first torque value—an open-loop torque value—from the first line pressure command, and commanding the pump to operate at the first torque value. The method monitors actual speed of the pump and derives a second torque value—a closed-loop torque value—therefrom. A third torque value is derived from the first and second torque values, and the pump commanded to operate at the third torque value. A first speed value may be derived from the first line pressure command, and the second torque value derived from the difference between the monitored and the first speed values. Deriving the third torque value may include a substantially-linear combination of the first and second torque values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Jy-Jen F. Sah
  • Patent number: 8958963
    Abstract: A method for controlling the pressure of hydraulic fluid supplied within a transmission of a work vehicle. The method may generally include receiving a signal associated with a load condition of the work vehicle, determining a desired pressure for the hydraulic fluid supplied within the transmission based on the load condition and controlling a valve such that hydraulic fluid is supplied within the transmission at the desired pressure, wherein the transmission includes an input shaft, a counter shaft and at least two driven shafts extending parallel to the input and counter shafts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventor: Yanming Hou
  • Patent number: 8892315
    Abstract: A method for controlling a continuously variable ratio transmission is described. The method may include controlling a continuously variable ratio unit (“variator”) having rotary input and output members through which the variator is coupled between an engine and a driven component, the variator receiving a primary control signal and being constructed and arranged to exert upon its input and output members torques which correspond directly to the control signal. The method may also include determining a target engine acceleration, determining settings of the variator's primary control signal and of an engine torque control for providing the required engine acceleration and adjusting the control signal and/or the engine torque control based on these settings, predicting a consequent engine speed change, allowing for engine and/or transmission characteristics, and correcting the settings of the control signal and engine torque based on a comparison of actual and predicted engine speeds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Torotrak (Development) Limited
    Inventors: Matthew Gibson Field, Stephen William Murray, Matthew Piers Burke
  • Patent number: 8855878
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling an accumulator in a transmission of a motor vehicle includes the steps of determining whether the motor vehicle has been turned off, sensing at least one operating condition of the motor vehicle, and comparing the at least one operating condition to a reference condition. If the at least one operating condition of the motor vehicle fulfills the reference condition and if the motor vehicle has been turned off then the accumulator is discharged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, LLC.
    Inventors: Paul G. Otanez, Zhen J. Zhang
  • Patent number: 8725373
    Abstract: A control apparatus of an automatic transmission including a start intended operation detecting unit detecting a vehicle starting operation; and a clutch control unit engaging the clutch from the clutch disengaged state and the automatic speed change mechanism is placed in a neutral state, when the vehicle starting operation is detected. The clutch control unit includes an initial engagement control unit performing initial engagement control that starts frictional contact of the clutch by supplying hydraulic pressure to a hydraulic servo of the clutch, and a slip start control unit establishing a speed ratio of the automatic speed change mechanism at the start by slip-controlling the clutch after the initial engagement control is terminated, thereby increasing output shaft rotational speed of the automatic speed change mechanism without reducing the input shaft rotational speed of the automatic speed change mechanism to less than the input shaft rotational speed at the end of initial engagement control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Tsutsui, Yutaka Teraoka, Masatake Ichikawa, Shoji Omitsu
  • Patent number: 8600635
    Abstract: When a select lever is in a drive range, a microcomputer reads a value of an output voltage by a switch-operation-signal output circuit after detecting that both shift-up switch and shift-down switch are substantially simultaneously turned on, checks whether or not the output voltage by the switch-operation-signal output circuit is the output voltage indicating that the switch after a predetermined time has elapsed is in a normal condition, and only when the output voltage is such an output voltage, permits a manual mode of an automatic transmission and when the output voltage is not such an output voltage, cancels the manual mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi Wakita, Yoshiyuki Nagayama
  • Patent number: 8489296
    Abstract: In a controller for a belt-type continuously variable transmission including a hydraulic actuator that changes a groove width of a primary pulley, a hydraulic actuator that changes a groove width of a secondary pulley, and a belt clamping pressure control solenoid that controls the hydraulic pressure supplied to the hydraulic actuator of the secondary pulley, a mechanism calculates a transmission ratio between the primary pulley and the secondary pulley and determines whether or not there is belt slippage based on that calculated transmission ratio, and a mechanism determines normalcy of the belt clamping pressure control solenoid. The input torque when belt slippage has actually occurred, i.e., when a failure has been determined, is used as a condition when performing the normalcy determination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naoto Tanaka, Shinya Toyoda, Akira Hino, Yasunari Matsui
  • Patent number: 8483898
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a clutch set, a tank with fluid, an auxiliary battery, an electric fuel pump, and a controller. The electric fluid pump delivers some of the fluid from the tank to a designated oncoming clutch of the clutch set. The controller calculates a predicted flow value for the oncoming clutch during the shift event, and selectively controls the speed of the pump using the predicted flow value during the shift event. The controller controls the pump using an actual flow value when the vehicle is not executing a shift event, i.e., when holding torque. The speed of the electric fluid pump is increased to a first calculated speed determined using the predicted flow value when the shift event is initiated and before filling of the oncoming clutch commences, and is reduced to a second calculated speed determined using the actual flow value when the shift event is complete.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Ali K. Naqvi, Jy-Jen F. Sah
  • Patent number: 8393999
    Abstract: In a hydraulic control system for a transmission, line pressure Pl is adjusted in accordance with a second solenoid pressure Psls if the ratio of a first sheave pressure Pin with respect to a second solenoid pressure Psls is equal to or less than the gain ?. If not so, the line pressure Pl is adjusted in accordance with the first sheave pressure Pin. Consequently, the gain ? of the first sheave pressure Pin with respect to a first solenoid pressure Pslp at a first sheave pressure adjustment valve 16 and the gain ? of a second sheave pressure Pout with respect to the second solenoid pressure Psls at a second sheave pressure adjustment valve 17 can be individually set while the line pressure Pl can be suppressed to the substantially requisite minimum in the entire control region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yusuke Ogata, Ryoji Habuchi, Toshihiro Aoyama
  • Patent number: 8392077
    Abstract: A linear solenoid is configured with an electromagnetic coil and a label resistor that are integrated with each other; the label resistor has a resistance value corresponding to a correction coefficient based on the difference between the actual characteristic of the supply current vs. adjusted hydraulic pressure output of the electromagnetic coil and a standard characteristic; and data for correcting a characteristic variation in the command current vs. output current characteristic of an electromagnetic coil is preliminarily stored in a control module by use of an adjustment tool. When the operation is started, the resistance value of the label resistor is read and an output current corresponding to a utilized linear solenoid is supplied, so that a target adjusted hydraulic pressure is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Shozo Kanzaki, Fumiaki Arimai, Hiroyoshi Nishizaki
  • Patent number: 8306708
    Abstract: A control device for a vehicular automatic transmission which can realize a shifting with quickened response with suppressing a turbine blow-up during the shifting is provided. When a response in hydraulic pressure control by a hydraulic pressure control circuit 42 fails to satisfy a preset predetermined determining criterion, a shifting response is prevented from improving, in comparison to a case where the determining criterion is satisfied. Under a relatively low response of the hydraulic pressure control by the hydraulic pressure control circuit 42 due to air mixture to working oil, a control to inhibit a high-response shifting or the like is performed, so that a turbine blow-up caused by a delayed response of hydraulic pressure can be prevented. Thus, the control device for the vehicular automatic transmission can be provided, which can realize the shifting with quickened response, with suppressing the turbine blow-up during the shifting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Keisuke Ota, Hitoshi Matsunaga, Koji Oshima
  • Patent number: 8296024
    Abstract: The described system and method allow a controller to calibrate a transmission variator of a continuously variable transmission for torque control by obtaining static and dynamic qualities and parameters of the variator through an automated calibration procedure. The system and method employ a pair of transmission mode configurations and operational configurations in combination to obtain system-specific information. In this way, the system is able to calibrate out the system variations to provide effective feed forward torque control of the continuously variable transmission. In an embodiment, a first calibration operation is performed while the transmission is neutralized and a second calibration operation is performed while the transmission is engaged in a mode providing a fixed variator output speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Stoller, Chad Brickner, Brian Lister
  • Patent number: 8287409
    Abstract: A hydraulic control system of continuously variable transmission includes: a first sheave pressure regulating valve (17) that regulates a line pressure (Pl), which is used for hydraulic control as a source pressure, to obtain a first sheave pressure (Pin); a fail-safe valve (19) that selects and outputs any one of the first sheave pressure (Pin) or a fail-safe hydraulic pressure (second sheave pressure Pout) that is applied to a drive pulley (21) at the time of a failure due to an excessive first sheave pressure (Pin) to the drive pulley (21); and a first regulator valve (12) and a second regulator valve (13) that regulate the line pressure (Pl). An output pressure (Psf) of the fail-safe valve (19) is supplied to the first and second regulator valves (12 and 13) in a feedback manner as a drive pulley (21) side hydraulic pressure to thereby regulate the line pressure (Pl).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yusuke Ogata, Toshihiro Aoyama
  • Patent number: 8241179
    Abstract: A hydraulic control apparatus of a continuously variable transmission of a hybrid vehicle may include a D-N control valve that converts a state, in which a hydraulic pressure is supplied from a line regulator valve to a solenoid feed valve through a second regulator valve according to changes of a driving pulley control pressure and a clutch lubrication control pressure with respect to driven pulley control pressure, and a state, in which the hydraulic pressure from the line regulator valve is directly supplied to the solenoid feed valve, into each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Yonguk Shin
  • Patent number: 8226529
    Abstract: A sensor is placed in proximity to a chain of a continuously variable transmission, and a pulse is output by detecting pins. Moreover, there is provided a control section that determines theoretical speed of the chain from numbers of input and output rotations of the continuously variable transmission; that determines actual speed of the chain from an output from the sensor; that determines slippage from the speeds; and that controls clamping force of the continuously variable transmission so as to make slippage close to a reference value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventors: Yves Rothenbuhler, Shigeo Kamamoto
  • Patent number: 8202197
    Abstract: A hydraulic pressure control apparatus includes a primary regulator valve that regulates a pressure discharged from an oil pump to form a line pressure that is used as an original pressure for a hydraulic pressure that is supplied to each element, and a secondary regulator valve that regulates a hydraulic pressure downstream of the primary regulator valve to form a secondary pressure. Two pilot pressures (first modulator hydraulic pressure, control hydraulic pressure from a duty solenoid) are supplied to the secondary regulator valve. The secondary regulator valve is configured in such a manner that when one of the pilot pressures changes, a change in the one of the pilot pressures is absorbed by the other pilot pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yusuke Ogata, Toshihiro Aoyama
  • Patent number: 8192326
    Abstract: Rotation-stop determining portion queries as to whether the first rotary element is lowered in a rotation speed to be stopped during an engine drive mode. If the answer is YES and differential-portion rotation speed determining portion makes a positive determination, then engaging-element control-executing portion executes engaging element control. This allows a third rotary element of the differential portion, connected to drive wheels via an engaging element of an automatic shifting portion, to approach a state available to freewheel. This prevents a second rotary element and a first electric motor from reaching high-speed rotations caused by a decrease in rotation speed of the first rotary element in a stop direction and a differential action of the differential portion. This enables the prevention of a durability decrease of a power distributing mechanism and the first electric motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenta Kumazaki, Tooru Matsubara, Atsushi Tabata, Masakazu Kaifuku
  • Patent number: 8170762
    Abstract: A method for controlling a hydraulic flow within a powertrain comprising an electromechanical transmission mechanically-operatively coupled to an engine adapted to selectively transmit power to an output, wherein the transmission utilizes a hydraulic control system serving a number of hydraulic oil consuming functions includes monitoring minimum hydraulic pressure requirements for each of the functions, determining a requested hydraulic pressure based upon the monitoring minimum hydraulic pressure requirements and physical limits of the hydraulic control system including a maximum pressure, determining a desired flow utilizing a hydraulic control system flow model based upon the requested hydraulic pressure, and utilizing the desired flow to control an auxiliary hydraulic pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC, Daimler AG, Chrysler LLC, Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Michael D. Foster, Eric S. Tryon, Jy-Jen F. Sah, Ali K Naqvi
  • Patent number: 8096906
    Abstract: When a vehicle decelerates rapidly, a lower limit secondary pulley pressure (Plmt) is calculated on the basis of a primary pulley rotation speed (Npri) detected by a primary pulley rotation sensor. When a deceleration speed (Gdata) is greater than a predetermined deceleration speed (G1) and a secondary pulley pressure (Psec) detected by a secondary pulley pressure sensor is lower than the lower limit secondary pulley pressure (Plmt), it is determined that slippage is about to occur in a V-belt 4 on a primary pulley side in particular, and therefore speed ratio fixing control is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Jatco Ltd
    Inventors: Takuichiro Inoue, Hiroki Iwasa, Hiroyasu Tanaka, Yoshihisa Kodama
  • Patent number: 8092341
    Abstract: A method of controlling a transmission (e.g., CVT) comprises dividing the entire range of an input torque to a transmission from an engine into a plurality of partial torque ranges; setting the maximum torque of the respective partial torque ranges as a representative torque of the respective partial torque ranges; and setting a target hydraulic pressure, which is to be provided to the transmission, according to the representative torque and a predetermined target speed ratio. The method allows a target hydraulic pressure for controlling a transmission to be maintained constant even though an input torque from an engine is changed, and allows the transmission to maintain a speed ratio constant, thereby ensure a stable and smooth ride.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignees: Kia Motors Corporation, Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Howook Lee
  • Patent number: 8088036
    Abstract: A vehicle drive control device includes a continuously variable transmission mechanism (hereinafter referred to as CVT (6) of a torque control type capable of continuously varying a transmission gear ratio, and a controller (34) which controls operations of the CVT (6) and an engine (2). The controller (34) includes a first control section (43; 43A) which controls a torque of the CVT (6) based on a target transmission input torque (TTRN,T), and a second control section (44) which controls a torque of the engine (2) based on a target engine rotation speed (?e,T).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Fuchs, Yasuhiko Hasuda
  • Patent number: 8057354
    Abstract: Systems and methods for efficiently and effectively controlling the rate of change of ratio, not simply the ratio, in a CVT. By controlling the rate of change of ratio, the acceleration or deceleration of a vehicle can be controlled in an efficient manner. Furthermore, the rate of change of ratio can be controlled by controlling the clamping pressure of the pulleys and/or differential pressure between the pulleys with minimal slip by using a servo control mechanism adapted for control by a system controller based on equilibrium mapping and other control parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Andrew A. Frank, Thomas Dreumont
  • Patent number: 8056666
    Abstract: A vehicle powertrain includes an engine capable of being selectively turned on and turned off, a transmission operatively connected to the engine, and a hydraulic control system including a pump in fluid communication with the transmission. The pump is operatively connected to the engine for supplying fluid to the transmission when the engine is on, wherein the pump is idle when the engine is off. The hydraulic control system additionally includes an accumulator arranged to accumulate the fluid when the engine is on. The accumulator is also controlled to accumulate fluid when the engine is on, to retain the fluid when the engine is turned off, and to discharge the fluid to the transmission when the engine is restarted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Micheal P. Portell, Daryl A. Wilton, Carlos E. Marin, Leonid Basin, Ajit S. Grewal
  • Patent number: 8016718
    Abstract: A vehicle drive unit is provided which includes a hydraulic circuit capable of efficiently supplying a hydraulic pressure from an accumulator to a hydraulic servo while minimizing the capacity of the accumulator. In a hydraulic circuit included in a continuously variable transmission, an accumulator is connected through an electromagnetic switch valve to an oil passage connecting a clutch pressure control valve and a manual valve, a one-way valve for allowing oil to flow only in the direction from the clutch pressure control valve toward the accumulator and the forward clutch is provided in the oil passage. The electromagnetic switch valve switches an oil passage to a communicating state when the oil pump is driven and switches the oil passage to a shut-off state when the oil pump is stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsuya Ohshima, Shigeo Tsuzuki, Mitsugi Yamashita, Haruki Shirasaka
  • Patent number: 7935023
    Abstract: In the case where a belt return of a continuously variable transmission is not determined when the vehicle speed has become equal to or lower than a threshold value, control that causes a hydraulic actuator to have an intermediate pressure by setting a duty of a duty solenoid based on an input torque and an oil temperature and closing control are repeatedly performed, in accordance with the running and the stopping of the vehicle. As a result, it is possible to inhibit the continuously variable transmission from being shifted up due to a gradual increase in the hydraulic pressure in the hydraulic actuator caused by a line pressure seeping to the hydraulic actuator side through a small clearance in a spool of a flow rate control valve in a hydraulic circuit, and it is also possible to allow the continuously variable transmission to be shifted down.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Kurita, Fumihiro Hazu
  • Patent number: 7917277
    Abstract: A control apparatus for a vehicular drive system including an electrically controlled differential portion having a differential mechanism, and an electric motor which is operatively connected to the differential mechanism and an operating state of which is controlled to control a differential state between input and output shaft speeds, and a transmission portion constituting a part of a power transmitting path between the differential portion and a vehicle drive wheel, the control apparatus including a differential-state switching portion for switching the differential portion between differential-state and non-differential states, a shifting control portion for controlling a shifting action of the transmission portion, and a learning control portion for effecting learning compensation of a control amount of a control element to be controlled during the shifting action, wherein the learning control portion includes a differential-state learning control portion operable to implement the learning compensation
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsushi Tabata, Tooru Matsubara, Yuji Iwase, Hiroyuki Shibata
  • Patent number: 7862473
    Abstract: An ECU executes a program including outputting, when the oil temperature THO of ATF<the threshold value THO (0), a control signal to the solenoid valve to control the solenoid valve to cause the lock-up relay valve to enter the state of resupplying the ATF discharged from the torque converter to the torque converter. In the state where the ATF discharged from the torque converter is being resupplied to the torque converter, the second oil path guiding the ATF discharged from the torque converter to the oil pan is disconnected from the torque converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuaki Nakamura, Kazuyuki Watanabe
  • Patent number: 7835843
    Abstract: An ECU executes a program that includes a step of determining whether an output shaft rotation speed NOUT is equal to or greater than a reference rotation speed at which determining regions with all of the gear speeds in a stepped automatic transmission do not overlap, a step of determining that there is an abnormality in the gear speed by dividing the turbine rotation speed NT by the output shaft rotation speed NOUT if the output shaft rotation speed NOUT is not equal to or greater than that reference rotation speed, and a step of determining that there is an abnormality in the gear speed by subtracting a value, which is obtained by multiplying the output shaft rotation speed NOUT by the gear ratio, from the turbine rotation speed NT if the output shaft rotation speed NOUT is equal to or greater than that reference rotation speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tatsuya Kawamura, Toshio Sugimura, Hideo Masaki
  • Patent number: 7774120
    Abstract: A control apparatus for an automatic transmission includes a control section having a normal control section configured to actuate the step motor at a first speed by using a feedback control including an integral control in accordance with the target pulley ratio and the actual pulley ratio, a high speed control section configured to actuate the step motor at a second speed higher than the first speed by an open loop control based on the target pulley ratio, a judgment section configured to judge whether there is a high speed operation request, and a switch section configured to select the normal control performed by the normal control section at a normal condition, and to switch to the high speed control when a switch start condition is satisfied, the switch start condition including a first condition that the judgment section judges there is the high speed operation request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: JATCO Ltd
    Inventors: Midori Yamaguchi, Yoshihisa Kodama, Tatsuya Ozone, Toshiji Iida, Fumito Shinohara, Toshiyuki Shibuya, Atsufumi Kobayashi, Yusuke Kimura
  • Publication number: 20100162849
    Abstract: A piston actuated synchronizer system for a split torque transmission where the piston is attached directly to the synchronizer shift collar on the synchronizer centerline to provide the required actuation in a small volume of space and resolve fork and rod deflection issues seen on other synchronizers that use such a system. The piston is pressure applied and spring released. This design also uses a displacement sensor to monitor synchronizer engagement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2008
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Inventors: Kraig M. Love, John M. Seipold, Glen P. Calvert
  • Patent number: 7713166
    Abstract: Systems and methods for efficiently and effectively controlling the rate of change of ratio, not simply the ratio, in a CVT. By controlling the rate of change of ratio, the acceleration or deceleration of a vehicle can be controlled in an efficient manner. Furthermore, the rate of change of ratio can be controlled by controlling the clamping pressure of the pulleys and/or differential pressure between the pulleys with minimal slip by using a servo control mechanism adapted for control by a system controller based on equilibrium mapping and other control parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Andrew A. Frank, Thomas Dreumont
  • Patent number: 7654935
    Abstract: A maximum flow calculating unit calculates a maximum amount of hydraulic fluid that can flow into or out of an input-side hydraulic cylinder when a shift control command signal is set to a reference DUTY value, based on an estimated valve pressure difference calculated by an estimated pressure difference calculating unit, and a post-guard target sheave position setting unit performs a guard process for restricting the amount of change of the sheave position, using a guard value calculated by a guard value calculating unit based on the maximum flow amount, so as to set a post-guard target sheave position. Since the thus set target sheave position does not undergo excessive large changes nor excessively small changes during shifting, a target value for shifting is set so that a feedforward controlled variable determined based on the amount of change of the target sheave position becomes an appropriate value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naoto Tanaka, Hiroji Taniguchi, Shinya Toyoda, Tadashi Tamura, Akira Hino, Yasunari Matsui
  • Publication number: 20100016118
    Abstract: A servo-assistance device (10) for a shift mechanism of a motor vehicle transmission, with which a characteristic curve can be produced which, as a function of a manual shifting force or a shift phase, has ranges of different gradients or proportionality to the manual shifting force. The servo-assistance device (10) includes an element (20) which is acted upon by the manual shifting force to be assisted. To produce the characteristic curve, the servo-assistance device (10) has components (42, 44, 50, 52) that are actuated by a servo-pressure (60) in such manner that the element (20) maintains its current position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2007
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Dieter Fischer, Klaus Spath
  • Patent number: 7568995
    Abstract: A hydraulic control circuit that shuts off an oil passageway so that the ratio between the shift pressure and the belt clamping pressure is not caused to be in a predetermined relationship even when a speed change ratio control valve and/or a speed change ratio control valve are not supplying/discharging hydraulic oil. Therefore, even if the speed change ratio control valve and/or the speed change ratio control valve cease supplying/discharging the hydraulic oil, the action of a thrust ratio control oil pressure P? output from a thrust ratio control valve on a primary hydraulic cylinder is avoided. Thus, impairment of the continuity of control at the time of a shift of the continuously variable transmission is prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshinobu Soga, Yusuke Ogata
  • Publication number: 20090143193
    Abstract: A vehicle drive unit is provided which includes a hydraulic circuit capable of efficiently supplying a hydraulic pressure from an accumulator to a hydraulic servo while minimizing the capacity of the accumulator. In a hydraulic circuit included in a continuously variable transmission, an accumulator is connected through an electromagnetic switch valve to an oil passage connecting a clutch pressure control valve and a manual valve, a one-way valve for allowing oil to flow only in the direction from the clutch pressure control valve toward the accumulator and the forward clutch is provided in the oil passage. The electromagnetic switch valve switches an oil passage to a communicating state when the oil pump is driven and switches the oil passage to a shut-off state when the oil pump is stopped.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2008
    Publication date: June 4, 2009
    Applicant: AISIN AW CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Atsuya Ohshima, Shigeo Tsuzuki, Mitsugi Yamashita, Haruki Shirasaka
  • Patent number: 7540825
    Abstract: A drive system of a working vehicle including a main engine drivingly connected to a hydraulic pump. The hydraulic pump is connected to first and second hydraulic motors. When an undesirable operating condition is detected, a control device shifts an actuator associated with at least one of the wheels, to reduce the displacement volume of the hydraulic motors driving that wheel. In addition, shifts are made in the actuator of the respective other hydraulic motor and/or in the actuator of the hydraulic pump, in order to maintain a constant speed of travel. The control device shifts the actuator of the hydraulic motor of the other wheel toward greater displacement, and if that shift is insufficient to compensate for the undesirable operating condition, the control device will shift the actuator of the hydraulic pump in the direction of reduced displacement volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: Jürgen Hofer
  • Publication number: 20090088290
    Abstract: A vehicle drive apparatus is disclosed having a differential mechanism and an electric motor provided in the differential mechanism for miniaturizing the drive apparatus or improving fuel consumption while suppressing the occurrence of shifting shocks. A switching clutch C0 or switching brake B0 is provided for placing a shifting mechanism 10 in a continuously variable shifting state and a step variable shifting state, enabling the drive apparatus to have combined advantages including a fuel economy improving effect of a transmission, enabled to electrically change a speed ratio, and a high transmitting efficiency of a gear type transmitting device enabled to mechanically transmit drive power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2006
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Atsushi Tabata, Yuji Inoue, Atsushi Kamada
  • Patent number: 7387589
    Abstract: A shift control apparatus of a belt type continuously variable transmission is comprised of a controller which is arranged to set a first hydraulic pressure controlled variable based on a first target transmission ratio determined based on a vehicle traveling condition, to set a second hydraulic controlled variable based on a second target transmission ratio determined based on a predetermined transfer characteristic, to steplessly control the transmission ratio by controlling hydraulic pressures of primary and secondary pulleys hydraulic based on the first and second hydraulic pressure controlled variables, to detect at least one of the hydraulic pressures of the primary and secondary pulleys, and to correct the second target transmission ratio based on the detected hydraulic pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Assignee: Jatco Ltd
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Suzuki, Masaaki Uchida
  • Patent number: 7377878
    Abstract: A method for determining a slip value describing the reliability of torque transmission between two conical disk pairs of a continuously variable transmission. The conical disk pairs are frictionally engaged by an endless torque-transmitting component. The contact pressure between at least one conical disk pair and the endless torque-transmitting component is modulated, and the slip value is determined from the difference in rotational speeds of the conical disk pairs upon modulation of the contact pressure. The pressure modulation is carried out at a modulation frequency that is above the transmission ratio adjustment frequency of the transmission and at a predetermined amplitude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: LuK Lamellen und Kupplungsbau Beteiligungs KG
    Inventor: Michael Reuschel
  • Patent number: 7371204
    Abstract: A method and a system for reducing a jerk produced by the range shift of a transmission with a power division arrangement. The transmission includes a variable speed drive in the form of a continuously variable transmission, and a pair of planetary gear sets and a pair of shift clutches to enable power to be divided between two branches within the transmission. During a range shift between two operating ranges the variable speed drive is acted upon by a short-term transmission ratio adjustment impulse in such a way that a cancellation jerk caused thereby the adjustment impulse weakens the jerk caused by the range shift.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: LuK Lamellen und Kupplungsbau Beteiligungs KG
    Inventors: Michael Reuschel, Martin Vorhnehm, Christian Lauinger, Bernhard Walter
  • Patent number: 7354377
    Abstract: A belt continuously variable transmission includes a primary pulley (1), a secondary pulley (2), a belt (3), a hydraulic pump (21), a speed ratio control valve (13) that regulates hydraulic pressure from the hydraulic pump (21) and supplies the hydraulic pressure to the primary pulley (1) and the secondary pulley (2), a motor (14) that drives the speed ratio control valve (13), a controller (11) that controls the motor (14), and an oil temperature sensor (26) that detects the temperature of a working fluid. The controller (11) stops energization to the motor (14) when the temperature of the working fluid becomes greater than a first predetermined temperature while the vehicle is at rest in an idling state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: Jatco Ltd
    Inventors: Tetsuya Izumi, Hironori Nihei
  • Patent number: 7356399
    Abstract: There is provided a failure determination system for a continuously variable transmission of a belt type, which is capable of determining failure of control valves for performing speed varying operation, and enhancing maintainability. An ECU controls a transmission ratio of the transmission to a fixation-determining LOW-side range when the vehicle is standing. When the transmission ratio during stoppage of the vehicle is within a stop-time OD-side range if engine torque?OD-time DR-side reference torque and at the same time the transmission ratio<DN-side reference value hold, the ECU determines that the DR solenoid valve is faulty, and if the throttle valve opening?OD-side reference value, the transmission ratio?DN-side reference value, and at the same time a vehicle speed<OD-side reference value hold, the ECU determines that the DN solenoid valve is faulty.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takahiro Eguchi, Ukyo Ogata, Takahiro Matsuda
  • Publication number: 20080058155
    Abstract: In a continuously variable transmission apparatus, by adjusting the transmission ratio of a toroidal continuously variable transmission, an output shaft can be stopped while an input shaft is left rotating in one direction by a drive source. And, when, while the vehicle is running, a select lever is operated to a select position in the reverse direction to the vehicle running direction, in a state where a clutch device is connected, the speed ratio of the continuously variable transmission apparatus is changed from a value corresponding to the vehicle running state to a value 0 capable of realizing the above-mentioned stopping state along a preset condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2007
    Publication date: March 6, 2008
    Applicant: NSK LTD.
    Inventor: Takumi SINOJIMA
  • Patent number: 7326147
    Abstract: A continuously variable transmission apparatus includes a toroidal continuously variable transmission, a planetary gear transmission and a clutch apparatus that connects the toroidal continuously variable transmission and the planetary gear transmission. The clutch apparatus includes: a low speed clutch a high speed clutch and a controller. The controller controls the transmission ratio of the toroidal continuously variable transmission so that rotational speeds of members connected via the clutch apparatus equals with each other, and then disengages the one of the low speed clutch and the high speed clutch after engaging the other, whereby an instance of simultaneously transmitting the power by the two clutches is set during a time period until disconnecting the other clutch after starting to transmit the power by the one clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Imanishi, Eiji Inoue, Takumi Sinojima, Toshirou Toyoda
  • Patent number: 7261672
    Abstract: Systems and methods for efficiently and effectively controlling the rate of change of ratio, not simply the ratio, in a CVT. By controlling the rate of change of ratio, the acceleration or deceleration of a vehicle can be controlled in an efficient manner. Furthermore, the rate of change of ratio can be controlled by controlling the clamping pressure of the pulleys and/or differential pressure between the pulleys with minimal slip by using a servo control mechanism adapted for control by a system controller based on equilibrium mapping and other control parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Andrew A. Frank, Thomas Dreumont
  • Patent number: 7207920
    Abstract: A control device for controlling a V-belt CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) which is connectible to a vehicle engine and comprises a primary variator and a secondary variator. The control device has a plurality of sensors which generate electronic measured values, comprising an engine speed sensor which generates a first measured value, and a power sensor which generates a second measured value which is related to the torque of an output drive shaft connected to the secondary variator. The control device further comprises an electronic control unit which is adapted to control the V-belt CVT based on said measured values. A V-belt CVT having a control device as stated above, and a method for controlling such a V-belt CVT are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2007
    Assignee: Pivario AB
    Inventors: John Jonsson, Rolf Jonsson
  • Patent number: 7179196
    Abstract: A transmission controller commands a demand torque of an engine to an engine controller according to an actual secondary pulley pressure that is detected by a secondary pulley pressure sensor when a vehicle speed is 0 km/h and a state wherein gear ratio is equal to or higher than a predetermined gear ratio is continued for a first predetermined time or more. Thereby, since an input torque corresponding to a secondary pulley pressure which is actually generated is inputted to a primary pulley even when a failure occurs in the secondary pulley rotation sensor, engine performance of a vehicle can be ensured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: Jatco Ltd
    Inventors: Hideki Oshita, Hiroyasu Tanaka, Takuichiro Inoue, Masahiro Yamamoto, Kousuke Abe