Engine Controlled Patents (Class 477/90)
  • Patent number: 11926211
    Abstract: A working vehicle includes a prime mover, a driver's seat selectively set in either a first posture where a driver can sit thereon or a second posture where the driver cannot sit thereon, a speed controller to receive power from the prime mover and perform a speed-changing of the power, a PTO shaft to receive the speed-changed power from the speed controller, a posture switch to detect whether the driver's seat is set in the first or second posture, a parking switch to detect parking of a vehicle body, and a first actuator. During driving of the prime mover, the first actuator maintains the driving of the prime mover when both the parking and the driver's seat set in the second posture are detected, and stops the driving of the prime mover when neither the parking nor the driver's seat set in the second posture is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: KUBOTA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Manabu Togo
  • Patent number: 8845481
    Abstract: A method for operating a powertrain system including a torque machine coupled to an internal combustion engine that is coupled to a transmission includes, upon commanding a shift in a transmission operating range, activating an immediate response mode to effect the shift. Activating the immediate response mode includes controlling the engine to achieve a predicted engine torque command, and controlling motor torque of the torque machine in response to a difference between an actual engine torque and an immediate crankshaft torque for shift command. An arbitrated predicted motor torque is determined. A possible crankshaft torque is determined in response to the arbitrated predicted motor torque and the predicted engine torque command. Operation of the transmission at the end of the shift event is commanded in response to the possible crankshaft torque. A predicted response mode is activated to complete the shift in the transmission operating range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Christopher E. Whitney, Adam J. Heisel
  • Patent number: 8666614
    Abstract: A twin-clutch type hybrid transmission is configured to include an input shaft 10, an odd-numbered stage shift mechanism 30, an even-numbered stage shift mechanism 60, a motor power mechanism 20, and an output mechanism 90. The shift mechanisms 30 and 60 include transmission gear trains 32 and 62, and main clutches 34 and 64, respectively, the main clutches 34 and 64 for selectively transmitting the power of the transmission gear train 32 and the power of the transmission gear train 62 to transmission shafts 40 and 70, respectively. The shift mechanisms 30 and 60 also include shift gear trains 41, 43, 45, 47, 72, 74, 76, and 78 provided to the transmission shafts 40 and 70 to transmit rotation to the output mechanism 90, respectively, and mechanical clutches 50, 52, 80, and 82 for selectively engaging the corresponding shift gear trains and the transmission shafts 40 and 70, respectively. As a result, a compact twin-clutch type hybrid transmission having high transmission efficiency can be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi Nico Transmission Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideki Nakamura, Masahiko Ibamoto, Tatsuro Abe
  • Patent number: 8663066
    Abstract: A powertrain/driveline warm-up system includes a vehicle controller, an electrical power source interfacing with the vehicle controller, at least one heater interfacing with the vehicle controller and at least a portion of a vehicle powertrain provided in thermal contact with the at least one heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Steven Thomas, John Edward Brevick
  • Patent number: 8630778
    Abstract: A system and method for determining a required throttle position and operating a throttle in the required throttle position to attain a required engine speed for fuel cut acquisition is disclosed. A lock-up clutch may be engaged without a shock if a required engine speed is achieved that corresponds to a current transmission speed. Fuel economy may be increased by cutting fuel to the engine when a lock-up clutch is engaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chris Hopp
  • Patent number: 8616169
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of controlling the stopping and starting of a heat engine (2) of a vehicle. The invention is of the type in which (i) it is necessary for the vehicle to be in an engine stop request phase, and not in pre-defined operating conditions that oppose the stopping of the engine (2), in order for the engine (2) to be stopped or (ii) it is necessary for the vehicle to be in an engine start request phase, and not in pre-defined operating conditions that oppose the starting of the engine (2), in order for the engine to be started. The invention is characterized in that the vehicle operating conditions that oppose the stopping of the engine (2) comprise slow congested traffic conditions constituting specific identification criteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Peugeot Citroen Automobile SA
    Inventors: Guillaume Levasseur, Jean-Emmanuel Guy, Arnaud Celisse, Herve Klein
  • Publication number: 20130296133
    Abstract: A powertrain system includes a multi-mode transmission having a plurality of torque machines. A method for controlling the powertrain system includes identifying all presently applied clutches including commanded applied clutches and the stuck-closed clutch upon detecting one of the torque-transfer clutches is in a stuck-closed condition. A closed-loop control system is employed to control operation of the multi-mode transmission accounting for all the presently applied clutches.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2012
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: R. Anthony Hansen
  • Patent number: 8571767
    Abstract: The method comprises the steps of: storing a curve or characteristic of torque transmitted by the friction clutch as a function of the position of the clutch, calculating a desired value of the torque to be transmitted by means of the clutch, and modifying the position of the clutch so as to bring it to the position to which the desired transmitted torque value corresponds according to the stored curve or characteristic, upon the occurrence of predetermined operative conditions, estimating the value of the torque transmitted by the clutch, by means of an algorithm, as a function of the detected instantaneous values of the torque delivered and of the angular velocity of the shaft of the engine, and detecting the corresponding instantaneous position or estimate position of the clutch, and then modifying the previously stored curve or characteristic in accordance with predetermined procedures in dependence on the difference between the estimated value of the torque transmitted and that value of the torque tra
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: CRF Societa Consortile per Azioni
    Inventors: Attilio Porta, Emanuel Corigliano, Giancarlo Osella, Dario Del Pin, Marco Montu', Massimo Lupo
  • Patent number: 8467946
    Abstract: A speed ratio of a continuously variable transmission mechanism 20 is increased when a speed ratio of a subtransmission mechanism 30 connected in series to the continuously variable transmission mechanism 20 is switched from a first speed to a second speed. When an excess rotation speed Nb obtained by subtracting a target rotation speed from an engine rotation speed Ne exceeds a determination value Nr1 during this shifting process, a rapid rotation increase in an internal combustion engine 1 is prevented by reducing a shift speed of the continuously variable transmission mechanism 20 (S105A).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignees: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., Jatco Ltd
    Inventors: Seiichiro Takahashi, Hiroyasu Tanaka, Ryousuke Nonomura, Jouji Seki, Takuichiro Inoue, Mamiko Inoue, Hideaki Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20130054100
    Abstract: A method is provided for operating an engine that includes, but is not limited to checking if a clutch pedal is depressed. If this is the case, the setpoint value for the rotational speed is predetermined to a target idle speed and a target torque is predetermined. Following this it is checked if the clutch pedal is in a position in which it is no longer depressed, and if the neutral gear sensor indicates that a gear is engaged. If this is the case, the setpoint value of the rotational speed of the engine and/or the torque reserve are increased. Otherwise, the setpoint value of the rotational speed of the engine and the torque are left.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2012
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Martin GIENCKE, Norbert KAISER
  • Patent number: 8137240
    Abstract: A method for engaging a drive shaft of a turbo engine with an output shaft by means of a clutch is provided. The turbo engine is run up to a rotational speed that is subsynchronous to the speed of the output shaft and is maintained at the steady speed before a signal is set or before starting the engagement process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Matthias Humer, Heribert Werthes
  • Patent number: 8112208
    Abstract: A method for restarting an engine of a vehicle includes stopping the vehicle and holding the vehicle stationary, reducing engine speed, increasing a rate of reduction of engine speed, if engine speed is less than a reference speed when a desired restart of the engine is indicated, and initiating an engine restart when engine speed is substantially zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ryan A. McGee, Ihab S. Soliman, Urs Christen, Rainer Busch
  • Patent number: 7996139
    Abstract: During a starting operation or a low-speed drive of a vehicle on a slope, the drive control of the invention sets a gradient-corresponding rotation speed N? as a rotation speed of an engine to output a required driving force against a longitudinal vehicle gradient ?fr (step S110), and sequentially sets a low-?-road correction rotation speed Nlow upon identification of a low-?-road drive condition, a vehicle speed difference-compensating rotation speed Nv based on a vehicle speed V, and a brake-based correction rotation speed Nb based on a brake pressure Pb (steps S120 through S250). The drive control sets a target engine rotation speed Ne* based on these settings (step S260) and subsequently sets a target throttle opening THtag (step S270). The operation of the engine is controlled with the greater between the target throttle opening THtag and a required throttle opening THreq corresponding to an accelerator opening Acc (step S290).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koichi Okuda, Mitsuhiro Tabata, Hiroshi Sato
  • Patent number: 7833126
    Abstract: With a two-shaft engine, the accessory drive gearbox (5) for the operation of a generator and other auxiliaries (6) is connected to the high-pressure shaft (1) via a high-pressure shaft gearbox (3), which is coupled to a low-pressure shaft gearbox (8) connecting to the low-pressure shaft (7), via an overrunning clutch (11), a conical-pulley variable transmission (10) settable on the basis of the shaft speed on both sides, and a first switchable clutch (9). Under certain operating conditions with low speed of the high-pressure shaft or in case of engine failure, the power of the low-pressure shaft, with the clutch (9) engaged, is transferred to the high-pressure shaft gearbox and hence to the accessory drive gearbox via the conical-pulley variable transmission, which compensates for shaft speed difference, and the overrunning clutch, in order to reliably further operate the generator and other accessories with low fuel consumption or by windmilling only.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG
    Inventor: Gideon Venter
  • Patent number: 7744501
    Abstract: A stop control method which is intended for a heat engine of a vehicle that is equipped with a reversible electric machine. According to the invention, a decision is made to stop the heat engine as a function of: (i) steady conditions which are essentially stable prior to a stopping phase; and (ii) variable conditions which can change following a positive test on the steady conditions and prior to a stopping phase, said steady conditions being tested prior to the variable conditions. The invention is suitable for motor vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Valeo Equipements Electriques Moteur
    Inventors: Brice Lecole, Magali Laurence
  • Publication number: 20100160113
    Abstract: Method for shifting, in particular engaging and/or disengaging, gears in an automatic multi-stage gearbox of a motor vehicle, wherein the gearbox comprises a drive input shaft (18) connectable to an engine drive output shaft (16) by means of a friction clutch (12) which acts as a separating clutch (12), and a drive output shaft (20) couplable to a drive wheel or to drive wheels of the motor vehicle, wherein a shift process takes place, in particular only, as a function of rotational speeds (n) of the shafts, wherein each gear is assigned a synchronizing device (36), which acts as a shift clutch, in order to connect the drive input shaft (18) to the drive output shaft (20), comprising the following steps: setting the separating clutch (12) into a dragging position such that a low, preferably predefined, drag torque is transmitted from the engine drive output shaft (16) to the drive input shaft (18), which drag torque is sufficient to bring a rotational speed (nIS) of the drive input shaft (18) when the shift c
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2010
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Applicant: GETRAG Getriebe- und Zahnradfabrik Hermann Hagenmeyer GmbH & Cie KG
    Inventors: Patrick Dreher, Martin Seufert
  • Publication number: 20100063693
    Abstract: A method for controlling a powertrain includes monitoring a transmission output speed, monitoring an engine output speed, and monitoring an engine braking request. When the engine braking request is present, a target engine output speed is determined based upon the transmission output speed. Speed of the engine is commanded to the target engine output speed. When the engine braking request is present, a selectable one-way clutch slip speed is determined based upon the transmission output speed and the engine output speed. The selectable one-way clutch slip speed is utilized to further command the speed of the engine to create a zero selectable one-way clutch slip speed. And when the selectable one-way clutch slip speed equals zero, the selectable one-way clutch is engaged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2008
    Publication date: March 11, 2010
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATONS, INC.
    Inventors: Chunhao J. Lee, Farzad Samie
  • Patent number: 7651438
    Abstract: A vehicle, such as a motorcycle, which has an engine control system that is configured to reduce an output of the engine upon a determination that a shifting of the transmission, without a corresponding disengagement of the clutch, is likely to occur. In one arrangement, the vehicle includes a controller that is configured such that if a release rate of the accelerator, calculated on the basis of signals from an accelerator position sensor, has been equal to or larger than a threshold value for a period of time, and other conditions have been met, it is determined that snapping of the accelerator by the operator has been performed. The snapping is a release of the accelerator that is predicted to be accompanied by a transmission shift without disengagement of the clutch. In response to the snapping determination, the engine output is reduced for a reduction duration, such as by retarding the ignition timing, after the elapse of a predetermined stand-by time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akira Someya, Daichi Noborio
  • Publication number: 20090042689
    Abstract: A method for controlling the launch of a vehicle having a powertrain that includes a first power path for driving a first wheel set and including an engine, a transmission having an input driveably connected to a crankshaft of the engine, a current gear, an input clutch associated with the current gear and an output connected to first wheel set, and a second power path including an electric machine for driving a second wheel set.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2007
    Publication date: February 12, 2009
    Inventors: Ihab S. Soliman, Deepak Aswani, Andrew J. Silveri
  • Patent number: 7349785
    Abstract: A method is provided for controlling engagement of a clutch which carries torque before, during and after a shifting event in a transmission which is connected to a throttle-controlled engine. The method includes providing a feed forward input command which increases as the engine torque increases and decreases as the engine torque decreases. A feed-back input command is provided as a function of the error between measured clutch slip and a reference slip profile. The feed-forward input command and feed-back input command are summed to provide a clutch control command for controlling engagement of the clutch before, during and after the shifting event to allow a desired amount of clutch slip to damp excitation of the transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Chunhao J. Lee, Kumaraswamy V. Hebbale, Chi-Kuan Kao, Farzad Samie, Richard W. Carlson
  • Patent number: 7305810
    Abstract: A method is described for operating an agricultural vehicle to reduce the time taken for rotating components of the crop processing machinery driven by the vehicle engine to reach a standstill. The method comprises the steps of sensing when a signal is generated by the vehicle operator to disengage the drive from the engine to the rotating components, reducing the engine speed in response to the sensed signal to a minimum value below a steady idling speed of the engine, disengaging the drive to the rotating components after the engine speed has reached the minimum value, and increasing the engine speed to a value equal to or greater than the steady idling speed after the disengagement of the drive to the rotating components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: CNH America LLC
    Inventors: Danny R. Ameye, Ward M. R. Byttebier
  • Patent number: 7179199
    Abstract: A control system for a vehicle includes an engine switch control unit for switching the operating condition of the engine between the all-cylinder operating condition and the partial-cylinder operating condition, a failure determining unit for determining the failure of the lockup clutch control device, and a coupling capacity change inhibiting unit for inhibiting a change in coupling capacity of the lockup clutch accompanied by the switch control of the operating condition of the engine by the engine switch control unit during the failure determination by the failure determining unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kushiyama, Shinichi Nishio, Takehiro Katakura, Kenji Nakajima
  • Patent number: 6984192
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling a throttle ramp rate of a vehicle. According to an embodiment of the invention, the controlling of a throttle ramp rate of a vehicle is accomplished by determining the target engine speed for a vehicle during a vehicle launch. If it is determined that there is a high throttle demand upon the engine of the vehicle, a throttle ramp rate offset amount is determined, which is based upon an estimated weight of the vehicle. A default high throttle ramp rate may then be adjusted based upon the determined throttle ramp rate offset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2006
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: Ronald K. Markyvech
  • Patent number: 6881172
    Abstract: A method and an arrangement automatically restarts a drive unit (1) when there is an unintended stalling of the drive unit (1). In the case of stalling, checks are made as to whether the drive unit (1) was already in a steady-state condition directly before the stalling, as to whether the stalling took place because of an operator input, especially at an input unit (5) and as to whether a force-tight connection between the drive unit (1) and a transmission (25 or 80) is present. A restart of the drive unit (1) is automatically initiated when: the drive unit (1) was already in a steady-state condition directly before the stalling; when the stalling took place in a departure from the operator input; and, when the force-tight connection between the transmission (25 or 80) and the drive unit (1) is interrupted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Holger Huelser, Frank Bickendorf, Thorsten Juenemann
  • Patent number: 6840888
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling shift and throttle of an electronically controlled power train are disclosed. The system includes a throttle or shift controller having an operating range. An hydraulic slave is in fluid communication with the controller such that a movement of the controller within its operating range causes a flow or displacement of fluid between the controller and the hydraulic slave. The hydraulic slave has a shaft that rotates in response to the fluid flow between the controller and the hydraulic slave. The shaft is adapted to be coupled to a position sensor such that rotation of the shaft causes the position sensor to produce electrical throttle control signals that represent the movement of the controller within its operating range. The electrical signals can be adapted to cause the power train to set an engine throttle and a transmission shift position according to a current position of the controller within its operating range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2005
    Inventors: Timothy Winquist, W. R. Terrence Craftchick
  • Publication number: 20040087414
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling a throttle ramp rate of a vehicle. According to an embodiment of the invention, the controlling of a throttle ramp rate of a vehicle is accomplished by determining the target engine speed for a vehicle during a vehicle launch. If it is determined that there is a high throttle demand upon the engine of the vehicle, a throttle ramp rate offset amount is determined, which is based upon an estimated weight of the vehicle. A default high throttle ramp rate may then be adjusted based upon the determined throttle ramp rate offset.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2002
    Publication date: May 6, 2004
    Inventor: Ronald K. Markyvech
  • Patent number: 6729999
    Abstract: With a drive arrangement of a motor vehicle with a drive motor (2) actuated by means of E-gas and a manual gear shift (10), which is operationally connectable electively with the output shaft (4) of the drive motor (2) by a disconnection-type clutch, which can be manually activated by the driver, the rotational speed of the output shaft (4) of the drive motor (2) is adjusted to a desired rotational speed which depends upon the rotational number of the input shaft (8) of the gear shift (10) as long as the clutch is open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Bernd Döbele
  • Patent number: 6719663
    Abstract: A vehicular automatic transmission TM has a torque converter TC connected to the engine E and an automatic transmission mechanism (gear trains 13a, 13b, 14a, 14b) connected to the output side of the torque converter, the drive power from the engine for which gear shifting is performed via the torque converter and the automatic transmission mechanism is transmitted to the wheels and the vehicle is driven. The control apparatus for this automatic transmission mechanism has a towing state presumption device that presumes based on the driving conditions that the vehicle is in a towing state, and a lockup engagement increase mechanism that increases the degree of engagement of the lockup clutch of the torque converter when it is determined via the towing state determination device that the vehicle is in a towing state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinichi Nishio, Hideki Takamatsu, Hideki Machino
  • Patent number: 6695744
    Abstract: A transmission comprises an engine, which is controllable to stop under a predetermined condition, and a speed change mechanism TM, which transmits the output rotation of the engine at different speed ratios. The speed change mechanism TM has a plurality of transmission paths (the LOW ratio, the SECOND speed ratio, etc.) disposed in parallel, a plurality of ratio-setting clutches (the LOW clutch 11, the SECOND speed clutch 12, etc.), each clutch for selecting a predetermined transmission path, and a speed change control system for selectively supplying a hydraulic pressure to any of the ratio-setting clutches to bring it into engagement. Engagement-initiation time is calculated for each ratio-setting clutch, so that the ratio-setting clutch requiring a minimum engagement-initiation time is selected as the clutch for the start-up speed ratio. When the engine is restarted from stopped state, this clutch for the start-up speed ratio is supplied with oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Eijiro Shimabukuro, Naohisa Morishita, Takamichi Shimada
  • Publication number: 20040029680
    Abstract: With a drive arrangement of a motor vehicle with a drive motor (2) actuated by means of E-gas and a manual gear shift (10), which is operationally connectable electively with the output shaft (4) of the drive motor (2) by a disconnection-type clutch, which can be manually activated by the driver, the rotational speed of the output shaft (4) of the drive motor (2) is adjusted to a desired rotational speed which depends upon the rotational number of the input shaft (8) of the gear shift (10) as long as the clutch is open.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2002
    Publication date: February 12, 2004
    Inventor: Bernd Dobele
  • Patent number: 6561949
    Abstract: A coupling assembly 10 which selectively causes a primary mass or flywheel 20 be engaged or be coupled to a crankshaft 18 as a transmission gear assembly 23 moves from a first gear position to a second gear position and which further selectively causes the primary mass or flywheel 20 to be disengaged or disconnected from the crankshaft 18 as the vehicle is accelerated from an idle state, effective to decrease or substantially eliminate acceleration lag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC.
    Inventors: David Allen Janson, Charles Edward Marshall, Alvin Henry Berger, Ronald Thomas Cowan, Gregory Daniel Goleski
  • Patent number: 6505109
    Abstract: An arrangement and a method for a drive unit of a vehicle. The drive unit incorporates an engine, a mechanical stepped gearbox and a connecting device which is designed to transmit rotary motion from the engine to the stepped gearbox. An electric rotor machine acts upon the connecting device such that substantially no torque is transmitted from the engine to the gearbox during gear changing. A control unit connected to the rotor machine may be responsive to the output shaft from the gearbox or to the speed of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Assignee: Scania CV AB (publ)
    Inventors: Gunnar Strandell, Hans Wikström
  • Publication number: 20020198079
    Abstract: A vehicular automatic transmission TM has a torque converter TC connected to the engine E and an automatic transmission mechanism (gear trains 13a, 13b, 14a, 14b) connected to the output side of the torque converter, the drive power from the engine for which gear shifting is performed via the torque converter and the automatic transmission mechanism is transmitted to the wheels and the vehicle is driven. The control apparatus for this automatic transmission mechanism has towing state presumption means that presumes based on the driving conditions that the vehicle is in a towing state, and a lockup engagement increase mechanism that increases the degree of engagement of the lockup clutch of the torque converter when it is determined via the towing state determination means that the vehicle is in a towing state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2002
    Publication date: December 26, 2002
    Applicant: HONDA GIKEN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shinichi Nishio, Hideki Takamatsu, Hideki Machino
  • Publication number: 20020155921
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for controlling an internal combustion engine, whereby the internal combustion engine is equipped with a device to change a valve timing. To permit a change in the valve timing only when it is necessary for the operation of the internal combustion engine, it is proposed that a transmission, connected at the end of the internal combustion engine, be monitored as to whether a shift operation is taking place in the transmission. If such a shift operation is recognized, a change in the valve timing is suppressed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2002
    Publication date: October 24, 2002
    Inventors: Dietmar Schwarzenthal, Armin Hassdenteufel
  • Publication number: 20020115526
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle control apparatus is provided which can improve fuel consumption. There is provided: a cylinder cut-off determination section for determining whether all cylinders should be cut off; a cylinder cut-off cancellation determination section for determining whether cylinder cut-off cancellation conditions have been satisfied; a cylinder cut-off execution section for operating a spool valve when the cylinder cut-off determination section determines that cylinder cut-off is possible; and a cylinder cut-off control section for cutting off the cylinders of the engine based on the operating conditions of the cylinder cut-off determination section, the cylinder cut-off cancellation determination section and the cylinder cut-off execution section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2002
    Publication date: August 22, 2002
    Applicant: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Teruo Wakashiro, Atsushi Matsubara, Shinichi Kitajima, Toshinari Shinohara, Yasuo Nakamoto, Shigeo Hidai
  • Publication number: 20020072447
    Abstract: A vehicular transmission system (10) including a centrifugally operated master friction clutch (20) for drivingly coupling an engine (18) to an input shaft (28) of a mechanical transmission (12). Closed loop engine speed (ES) control is utilized to control engagement of the clutch during vehicle launch conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2001
    Publication date: June 13, 2002
    Applicant: EATON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Thomas A. Genise
  • Publication number: 20020037790
    Abstract: A method for driving a drive assembly in a drive system having an automatic transmission and an automatic clutch optionally coupling the drive assembly to the automatic transmission in order to transmit torque includes the following steps. Sensing whether a procedure, in particular a gearshift operation, is to be conducted. After the procedure has been sensed, predefining, for at least one time segment of the procedure which is to be carried out a prediction profile for an operational variable that characterizes the operating state of the drive assembly. And, driving the drive assembly based on the predefined prediction profile of the operational variable to minimize a deviation between the operational variable and the prediction profile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2001
    Publication date: March 28, 2002
    Inventors: Ingo Carl, Friedrich Graf, Florian Gutknecht Stoehr, Gregor Probst, Rainer Reuthal, Hans-Juergen Schneider
  • Publication number: 20020032097
    Abstract: A method for controlling gear shifting in a motor vehicle which utilizes a drive assembly that includes an internal combustion engine having an output shaft, a multiple-gear transmission having a transmission input and a transmission output shaft that be selective coupled and uncoupled from one another, a main clutch assembly capable of causing the transmission input shaft and output shaft to be selectively coupled or uncoupled, an electrical machine capable of being selectively coupled to the transmission input shaft via an intermediate transmission, and a control unit for controlling the electrical machine and/or the intermediate transmission during gear shifting, as a function of a standard shift value provided to the transmission along with the operating parameters and the operating states of the components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2000
    Publication date: March 14, 2002
    Inventors: Gerhard Koelle, Harald Tschentscher, Simon-Florian Gzerny
  • Patent number: 6258009
    Abstract: An integrated system for automatically controlling the operation of both an automated manual transmission and a multiple speed axle assembly in a vehicle drive train assembly includes a transmission actuator for operating the transmission in any one of a plurality of transmission gear ratios. The system further includes an axle actuator for operating the axle assembly in any one of a plurality of axle gear ratios. An electronic controller is provided for operating the transmission in a desired one of the plurality of transmission gear ratios and for operating the axle assembly in a desired one of the plurality of axle gear ratios to provide a desired overall gear ratio for the vehicle. To accomplish this, the electronic controller is responsive to one or more input signals that represent operating parameters of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Assignee: Dana Corporation
    Inventors: Steven P. Thomas, Peter T. Szymanski
  • Patent number: 5944632
    Abstract: A vehicular power transmission includes an oil pump that produces an oil pressure for a line pressure to control the applications of frictional engagement elements and for a lubrication pressure to lubricate individual mechanical portions of the transmission. A motor is provided for driving the oil pump. A control unit controls the motor. An electric oil pump control system includes an accelerator sensor for inputting acceleration data according to the operation of the accelerator pedal of a vehicle to the control unit. The control unit controls the revolutions per minute of the motor such that the amount of oil discharged by the oil pump is sufficient for outputting the line pressure matching the acceleration data and the lubrication pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Hara, Kiyoshi Kurita
  • Patent number: 5685800
    Abstract: In an engine of an automobile, when fuel injection is restarted by the operation of the accelerator pedal from the state in which fuel supply has been cut off during deceleration, fuel injection is controlled according to one of a plurality of fuel injection patterns, which specify a specific cylinder for fuel injection and a specific cylinder for which fuel is not to be injected, and which correspond with various speed change ratios. The engine output torque is kept smooth by performing fuel injection according to that one of these patterns which corresponds to the speed change ratio when the accelerator pedal is operated. Preferably, the fuel injection patterns are determined starting from whichever cylinder initially comes up for fuel injection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1997
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Nobusuke Toukura
  • Patent number: 5490815
    Abstract: A fuel-cut control system for an automobile is equipped with an engine with a fuel-cut device and an automatic transmission with a lock-up torque converter, and includes a step-by-step fuel-recover device which cooperates with the fuel-cut device and is responsive to transition from coasting to acceleration running, for recovering each of engine cylinders from fuel-cut step-by-step, while continuing a locked-up state of the torque converter in its lock-up range during the transit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 13, 1996
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuuji Kato, Yoshichika Hagiwara
  • Patent number: 5454768
    Abstract: A clutch control system for a motor vehicle having an engine (10), a gearbox (12) having a plurality of gear ratios, and a clutch (14) providing a drive connection between the engine and the gearbox. The control system includes a clutch actuation means (22) for controlling the state of engagement of the clutch and a control unit (36) which receives signals from a plurality of vehicle operating parameter sensors including a gear sensor (32) which indicates that a gear ratio is engaged in the gearbox. The control unit (36) processes these signals to produce a command signal for operation of the clutch actuating means. The control unit (36) ensures that if on powering-up of the control unit (36) the control unit receives a signal from the gear sensor (32) indicating that a gear ratio is engaged in the gearbox (12), the control unit inhibits disengagement of the clutch (14) by the clutch actuation means (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 3, 1995
    Assignee: Automotive Products, plc
    Inventors: Charles J. Jones, Paul V. Shepherd