EP0037639A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Engine power control for automatic-shift countershaft transmission
Assignee: Motors Liquidation Co
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Filing: 1981-03-05
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2001-03-05
Abstract
Abstract A vehicular control system for automatically shifting a countershaft transmission wherein an engine power control means 50 is controlled in accordance with a manually operated accelerator pedal 36 and shift requirements. During non-shift modes of operation, the engine power control means is adjusted in accordance with the manually operated accelerator pedal. During a shifting mode of operation, the engine power control means is adjusted in accordance with the shift requirements of the transmission 20. Once a desired gear ratio is engaged in the transmission, the engine power control setting is returned to correspond with the accelerator pedal setting at a rate dependent upon their difference. Means are also provided for modifying the return rate if the accelerator pedal setting is abruptly adjusted during the return.
Inventors
- 👤 William Joseph Vukovich
- 👤 Michael Ray Grimes
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 20:43
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60W; B60W10/00; B60W10/04; B60W10/06; B60W10/02; B60W10/10; B60W10/11; B60W30/00; B60W30/18; B60W30/19; F; F16; F16H; F16H63/00; F16H63/40; F16H63/50; F16H63/502; B60W2540/00; B60W2540/10; B60W2540/16; B60W2710/00; B60W2710/06; B60W2710/0605; F16H2306/00; F16H2306/40; F16H2306/46; F16H2306/48; F16H2306/50; F16H61/00; F16H61/68; F16H61/682
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
182 words
l. . A method for bringing the setting of an engine power control means into correspondence with a manually actuated power control setting upon completion of a shifting mode of operation of a countershaft transmission that is driven by the engine, wherein the engine power control means is regulated in accordance with 1) a manually actuated power control setting during non-shift modes of operation and 2) transmission shift requirements during shifting modes of operation, characterized by the steps of generating a control signal as a function of the difference between the setting of said engine power control means and said manually actuated power control setting upon engagement of a desired gear ratio, adjusting said engine power control means in a direction to bring its setting into correspondence with said manually actuated power control setting and at a rate corresponding to the magnitude of said control signal, and resuming regulation of said engine power control means in accordance with said manually actuated power control setting when the setting of said engine power control means substantially corresponds to said manually actuated power control setting.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method according to claim 1, characterized by the step of modifying said engine power control means adjustment rate in response to a sensed change in said manually actuated power control setting.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method according to claim 2, characterized in that the step of modifying of said engine power control means adjustment rate comprises increasing said rate in response to a sensed change in said manually actuated power control setting.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
84 words
A method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the step of generating the control signal is effected by addressing a memory device with a signal corresponding to the difference between the setting of said engine power control means and said manually actuated power control setting upon engagement of a desired gear ratio, and retrieving a previously stored control signal from said memory device, said control signal being indicative of a return rate for said engine power control means.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
118 words
A method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, prior to generation of the control signal, a shift signal indicative of a new gear ratio for said transmission is generated when it is desired to shift said transmission from an existing gear ratio to a new gear ratio, said transmission is shifted to neutral in response to said shift signal, said power control means is adjusted in a manner to cause engageable transmission elements associated with said new gear ratio to rotate in substantial synchronism, and said transmission elements associated with said new gear ratio are engaged when substantial speed synchronism occurs, and in response to said engagement said control signal is generated.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
132 words
A control system for carrying out the method claimed in claim 1, characterized by, means (50) for generating a control signal as a function of the difference between the setting of said engine (12) power control means (14) and said manually actuated power control (36) setting upon engagement of a desired gear ratio, means (47 to 54) for adjusting said engine power control means in a direction to bring its setting into correspondence with said manually actuated power control setting and at a rate corresponding to the magnitude of said control signal, and means (50 etc.) for resuming regulation of said engine power control means in accordance with said manually actuated power control setting when the setting of said engine power control means substantially corresponds to said manually actuated power control setting.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
248 words
A control system according to claim 6, further characterized by electrically energizable actuator means (52) for controlling the setting of said engine power control means in accordance with a control signal applied thereto, and programmed control means (50) effective to, in sequence, (1) apply a first control signal to said actuator means to define a non-shifting mode of operation wherein a follow-up control system is established between said engine (12) power control means and said manually actuated power control setting, (2) apply a second control signal to said actuator means in response to a shift command to define a speed synchronization step of a shift mode of operation wherein a follow-up control system is established between said engine and a gear element in said transmission (20) to effect speed identity therebetween, (3) . apply a third control signal to said actuator means following engagement of said gear element to define a return step of said shift mode of operation wherein said engine power control means is returned to a setting corresponding to said manually actuated power control setting following engagement of said gear element, and at a rate determined in accordance with the difference therebetween at the time of said engagement, and (4) re-apply said first control signal to said actuator means in response to substantial correspondence between said manually actuated power control setting and the setting of said engine power control means to complete said shift mode of operation and to resume said non-shift mode of operation.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
A control system.according to claim 7, further characterized by means (50 etc.) effective during said return step of said shift mode of operation to modify said rate in response to a change in said manually actuated power control setting in excess of a reference value.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
A control system according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the electrically energizable actuator means includes a bi-directional stepper motor (52).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
182 words
A control system according to any one of claims 6 to 9, further characterized by follow-up control means (50 etc.) between the engine power control means (14) and the manually actuated power control (36) so that for any manually actuated power control setting the engine power control means assumes a corresponding setting, gear shift control means (50 etc.) including programmed elements effective in response to a gear shift command to, in sequence, (A) disable the follow-up control means, (B) reduce engine torque to a value unloading an engaged gear, (C) shift the transmission to a neutral position, (D) adjust the setting of said engine power control means until speed identity exists between the engine and a desired gear, (E) engage the desired gear, and (F) maintain the follow-up disable during a transition period, and means (50 etc.) effective during said transition period to progressively increase or decrease the setting of said engine power control means to a setting corresponding to said manually actuated power control setting and when the settings agree to terminate the transition period and enable the follow-up control means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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