Engine Controlled Patents (Class 477/54)
  • Patent number: 6679806
    Abstract: A system and method for the soft shift of a transmission connecting a power source to a well stimulation pump through a transmission. When it is desired to change gear ratios in the transmission, the transmission is caused to enter a torque converter mode from a lockup mode. The engine speed is adjusted according to a signal representative of the speed of the transmission output shaft. Once the gear ratio has been changed, the transmission is caused to enter a lockup mode from the torque converter mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: S & S Trust
    Inventors: Grant William Ayo, David Eric Hanson, Barry Joe Beadle, Anthony Allen Giacobbe, Mark Alan Payne
  • Patent number: 6648795
    Abstract: Vehicle automatic transmission system having input shaft drive gears, output shaft driven gears meshing with the drive gears, a torque converter disposed between an engine crankshaft and the input shaft, synchromesh mechanisms for synchronously engaging the drive gears with the driven gears and a shift controller for automatically actuating the synchromesh mechanisms to obtain a required gear ratio. A lock-up clutch is incorporated in the torque converter for connecting a turbine shaft of the torque converter with the crankshaft. An electronically controlled throttle valve automatically operates to reduce crank shaft rotation speed when the gear is shifted, a bypass clutch transmits torque from the input shaft to the output shaft when the gear is shifted while the electronically controlled throttle valve reduces rotation speed of the crankshaft, and an input clutch selectively controls torque transmission from the crankshaft to the input shaft when the gear is shifted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignee: Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toshio Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 6623401
    Abstract: A combustion control apparatus for an internal combustion engine that switches combustion modes at the proper timing. At the time of switching from a stratified-charge combustion mode to a homogeneous-charge combustion mode, the angle of an EGR valve is changed to the angle needed for the homogeneous-charge combustion mode first. When a predetermined delay time elapses after a request for switching the combustion mode has been made, substantial mode switching is carried out. The delay time is set based on engine speed and engine load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masanao Idogawa, Rihito Kaneko, Senji Kato, Hiroyuki Mizuno, Noboru Takagi
  • Publication number: 20030162632
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling the power consumption of a starting element (1) in the form of a hydrodynamic clutch (2). Said clutch comprises an impeller (4) and a turbine wheel (5), which together form at least one toroidal working chamber (6) that can be filled with an operating medium, and is located in a drive train (3) with at least one other drive motor that can be coupled to the hydrodynamic clutch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2003
    Publication date: August 28, 2003
    Inventors: Werner Klement, Klaus Vogelsang, Peter Edelman, Heinz Holler, Jurgen Friedrich
  • Patent number: 6549839
    Abstract: A controller 10 calculates a target drive force based on an accelerator pedal operation amount and a vehicle speed. A speed ratio for calculating a target engine torque is calculated based on the state of the transmission 2. The target engine torque is calculated by dividing the target drive force with the speed ratio for calculating the target engine torque. The torque of the engine 1 is controlled so that the torque of the engine 1 coincides with the target engine torque. During reverse vehicle operation, the speed ratio for calculating target engine torque is corrected to a larger value. In this manner, it is possible to suppress the drive force during reverse vehicle operation while using almost all processes for calculating the target drive force in common during forward and reverse vehicle operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shusaku Katakura, Masahiro Iriyama
  • Patent number: 6544142
    Abstract: An automatic transmission system for a vehicle having a plurality of drive gears mounted on an input shaft, a plurality of driven gears mounted on an output shaft and meshing with the drive gears, a torque converter disposed between a crankshaft of an engine and the input shaft, synchromesh mechanisms for synchronously engaging the drive gears with the driven gears and a shift controller for automatically actuating the synchromesh mechanisms so as to obtain a required gear ratio, includes a lock-up clutch incorporated in the torque converter for connecting a turbine shaft of the torque converter with the crankshaft, an electronically controlled throttle valve for automatically operating to reduce a rotation speed of the crank shaft when the gear is shifted, a bypass clutch for transmitting torque from the input shaft to the output shaft when the gear is shifted while the electronically controlled throttle valve operates to reduce a rotation speed of the crankshaft, an input clutch provided between an output e
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Assignee: Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toshio Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 6471620
    Abstract: In a control method for an automatic transmission, it is first determined if the automatic transmission is in a fourth speed and the vehicle is being driven in a power off state, then a damper clutch operation slip control signal is output when the vehicle is in a power off state. Next, an engine fuel cut-in rpm reduction signal is output to engine control unit when a damper clutch is operated by the damper clutch operation slip control signal. A lower engine fuel cut-in signal is transmitted from the engine control unit according to the output engine fuel cut-in rpm reduction signal. Then, it is determined if engine output is undergoing continuous reduction, and a duty ratio is controlled using a learned value during 4-3 shifting when engine output is being reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Hee-Yong Lee
  • Publication number: 20020128116
    Abstract: A combustion control apparatus for an internal combustion engine that switches combustion modes at the proper timing. At the time of switching from a stratified-charge combustion mode to a homogeneous-charge combustion mode, the angle of an EGR valve is changed to the angle needed for the homogeneous-charge combustion mode first. When a predetermined delay time elapses after a request for switching the combustion mode has been made, substantial mode switching is carried out. The delay time is set based on engine speed and engine load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2002
    Publication date: September 12, 2002
    Inventors: Masanao Idogawa, Rihito Kaneko, Senji Kato, Hiroyuki Mizuno, Noboru Takagi
  • Patent number: 6440038
    Abstract: A system is disclosed for implementing a technique for managing torque of a drivetrain. The drivetrain includes an air intake passage having a throttle valve, an internal combustion engine having an output shaft, a transmission having an output shaft, and a rotational propulsion member operatively coupled to the transmission by a propeller shaft and a drive axle. The system includes a throttle valve sensor, an engine speed sensor, a transmission speed sensor, a vehicle speed sensor, a transmission controller, and an engine controller. The throttle position sensor provides a throttle position signal that is indicative of a rotational position of the throttle valve. The engine speed sensor provides an engine speed signal that is indicative of a rotational speed of the engine output shaft. The transmission speed sensor provides a transmission speed signal that is indicative of a rotational speed of the transmission output shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: Cummins Engine Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Eric A. Holloway
  • Publication number: 20020035010
    Abstract: An automatic transmission system for a vehicle having a plurality of drive gears mounted on an input shaft, a plurality of driven gears mounted on an output shaft and meshing with the drive gears, a torque converter disposed between a crankshaft of an engine and the input shaft, synchromesh mechanisms for synchronously engaging the drive gears with the driven gears and a shift controller for automatically actuating the synchromesh mechanisms so as to obtain a required gear ratio, includes a lock-up clutch incorporated in the torque converter for connecting a turbine shaft of the torque converter with the crankshaft, an electronically controlled throttle valve for automatically operating to reduce a rotation speed of the crank shaft when the gear is shifted, a bypass clutch for transmitting torque from the input shaft to the output shaft when the gear is shifted while the electronically controlled throttle valve operates to reduce a rotation speed of the crankshaft, and an input clutch provided between an outp
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2001
    Publication date: March 21, 2002
    Inventor: Toshio Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 6259986
    Abstract: A method is presented for controlling powertrain torque by minimizing the error between the actual powertrain torque (as read by the torque sensor) and the desired powertrain torque (as requested by the vehicle driver). Since torque sensors are known to drift under certain conditions, such as high ambient temperature, the output of the torque sensor is adjusted by an offset value. This offset value is determined by reading the torque sensor output when the speed ratio (engine speed/turbine speed) is substantially unity, and the net torque at the torque converter is substantially zero. This adjusted output is then filtered to avoid abrupt fluctuations in the powertrain torque, and used to improve powertrain control so that better drive feel and increased fuel economy can be achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Allan Joseph Kotwicki
  • Publication number: 20010003720
    Abstract: In a control method for an automatic transmission, it is first determined if the automatic transmission is in a fourth speed and the vehicle is being driven in a power off state, then a damper clutch operation slip control signal is output when the vehicle is in a power off state. Next, an engine fuel cut-in rpm reduction signal is output to engine control unit when a damper clutch is operated by the damper clutch operation slip control signal. A lower engine fuel cut-in signal is transmitted from the engine control unit according to the output engine fuel cut-in rpm reduction signal. Then, it is determined if engine output is undergoing continuous reduction, and a duty ratio is controlled using a learned value during 4-3 shifting when engine output is being reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2000
    Publication date: June 14, 2001
    Inventor: Hee-Yong Lee
  • Patent number: 6165102
    Abstract: A system for controlling output torque characteristics of an internal combustion engine includes a control computer operable to control the output power/torque of the engine that is coupled to a transmission through a torque converter. The system is operable to determine an engine speed range of interest and limit engine output power/torque to a predefined maximum value if the current engine speed is within the engine speed range of interest when the torque converter is operating in torque converter mode (i.e., not in lockup mode). The predefined maximum value of engine output power/torque is preferably a maximum horsepower value that may be a constant value or a function of engine speed within the engine speed range of interest. Alternatively, the predefined maximum value of engine output power/torque is a dynamic function of a torque ratio of the torque converter and a predefined turbine torque limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Assignee: Cummins Engine Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven M. Bellinger
  • Patent number: 5928111
    Abstract: A fuel cut-off and fuel-supply recovery control system for an internal combustion engine coupled to an automatic power transmission with a lock-up torque converter having a lock-up device operable at either one of an open converter state and a locked-up state through a lock-up control based on engine and vehicle operating conditions, comprises an electronic control module configured to store a fuel-cut engine speed (N.sub.1, N.sub.3) above which a fuel cut-off control is executed under a specified engine and vehicle operating condition and a fuel-supply recovery engine speed (N.sub.2) below which a fuel-supply recovery control is restarted so that fuel supply to the engine is recovered from the fuel cut-off control. The electronic control module variably determines a hysteresis between the fuel-cut engine speed and the fuel-supply recovery engine speed so that a deviation (N.sub.3 -N.sub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Sakakibara, Hiromasa Sakai
  • Patent number: 5924959
    Abstract: A device for controlling an automatic transmission and an engine for vehicles expanding a range of direct drive to improve fuel efficiency and decreasing the shock due to the transmission of torque at the time of acceleration or deceleration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1999
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shiro Yonezawa, Satoshi Wachi, Hirofumi Ohuchi, Tatsuhiko Takahashi
  • Patent number: 5580331
    Abstract: In an attempt to accomplish an object to absorb a driving torque difference caused by a difference in a change gear ratio between before and after shifting and to reduce a shift shock, adopted is such a constitution that target driving torque characteristics with which said driving torque before and after shifting will become nearly equal are stored, and engine torque control will be effected according to said characteristics. The control device is so constituted that, during shifting, the engine torque is decreased to suppress a driving torque variation resulting from inertia variation, and the engine torque before a specific period from the completion of shifting is outputted higher than the normal torque, and the engine torque before a specific period from the completion of shifting is outputted higher than the normal torque to reset to the normal engine torque after the specific period after the completion of shifting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 3, 1996
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Shiraishi, Naoyuki Ozaki, Toshimichi Minowa, Hiroshi Kimura
  • Patent number: 5562567
    Abstract: A motor vehicle having an automatic transmission coupled to an internal combustion engine includes computer based control of powertrain functions including engine torque management and ratio change controls. Shift pressure is scheduled off of the total torque to be transferred to the on-coming friction element, estimated as a function of transmission input torque and powertrain inertia torque constituents. Engine torque during a shift is reduced in a manner which accounts for the relative contributions of transmission input torque and inertia torque constituents of shift torque in order to arrive at a predetermined target shift torque regardless of the proportion mix of the torque constituents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1996
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Melissa M. Koenig, William J. Vukovich
  • Patent number: 5403245
    Abstract: A control device for a vehicular engine having an automatic transmission comprising: an inner cylinder pressure sensor for detecting a pressure in a combustion chamber of an engine; means for detecting an output of the inner cylinder pressure sensor at a predetermined crank angle; means for calculating an output torque of the engine based on the detected output of the inner cylinder pressure sensor; means for detecting a rotation speed of an engine; means for detecting a rotation speed of an output shaft of a torque convertor; means for calculating a speed ratio of the rotation speed of the output shaft of the torque converter as compared to the rotation speed of the engine; means for calculating a torque of an output shaft of an automatic transmission based on the output torque of the engine, the rotation speed of the engine, the rotation speed of the output shaft of the torque converter and the speed ratio; and control means for controlling at least one of the output torque of the engine and a hydraulic pre
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 4, 1995
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinji Watanabe, Ryoji Nishiyama, Kohji Hasunaka, Hideaki Katashiba, Hitoshi Inoue