Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
185 words
In drive apparatus having gearing (10) having a plurality of gear ratios, an engine (11) for driving said gearing, energy supply means (12) connected to said engine for supplying energy thereto in accordance with an energy control signal, externally operable energy control signal furnishing means (14) for furnishing said energy control signal to said energy supply means, and gear control means (16) for furnishing a shift initiate signal for initiating a gear shift under predetermined operating conditions, a system for synchronizing said engine to said gearing during a so-initiated gear shift from a present gear to a next subsequent gear, comprising regulator means (15) for furnishing an energy control signal adapted to change the speed of said engine from a present speed corresponding to said present gear to a desired speed corresponding to said next subsequent gear; and switch means (13) connected between said energy control signal furnishing means, said regulator means and said energy supply means, for disconnecting said energy supply means from said energy control signal furnishing means and connecting said energy supply means to said regulator means during said so-initiated gear shift.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
185 words
In drive apparatus having gearing (10) having a plurality of gear ratios, an engine (11) for driving said gearing, energy supply means (12) connected to said engine for supplying energy thereto in accordance with an energy control signal, externally operable energy control signal furnishing means (14) for furnishing said energy control signal to said energy supply means, and gear control means (16) for furnishing a shift initiate signal for initiating a gear shift under predetermined operating conditions, a system for synchronizing said engine to said gearing during a so-initiated gear shift from a present gear to a next subsequent gear, comprising regulator means (15) for furnishing an energy control signal adapted to change the speed of said engine from a present speed corresponding to said present gear to a desired speed corresponding to said next subsequent gear; and switch means (13) connected between said energy control signal furnishing means, said regulator means and said energy supply means, for disconnecting said energy supply means from said energy control signal furnishing means and connecting said energy supply means to said regulator means during said so-initiated gear shift.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said regulator means comprises means for changing said speed of said engine from said present speed to said desired speed at a predetermined rate of change of speed with respect to time.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
50 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein said regulator means comprises means for changing said speed of said engine from said present speed to said desired speed at a first and second predetermined rate of change of speed with respect to time during an upshift and a downshift respectively.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
81 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 3, further comprising speed responsive means (22) for furnishing a shift terminate signal when said speed of said engine has reached said desired speed; and wherein said gear control means has a shift initiate output for furnishing said shift initiate signal, a shift direction output (162) for furnishing a shift direction signal indicative of the desired shift direction and a shift terminate input connected to said speed responsive means for receiving said shift terminate signal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
110 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 4, further comprising first speed sensor means (21) for sensing the speed of said engine and furnishing a first speed signal indicative thereof, and second speed sensor means for sensing the output speed of said gearing and furnishing a second speed signal indicative thereof; and wherein said speed responsive means comprises comparator means having a comparator output for furnishing said shift terminate signal and a first and second comparator input; further comprising means (37) for connecting said first speed sensor means to said first comparator input and second connecting means (38, 23) for connecting said second speed sensor means to said second comparator input.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 5, wherein said second connecting means comprises a weighting stage for multiplying said second speed signal by a factor corresponding to the ratio between said desired speed of said engine and said output speed of said gearing.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
109 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 5, wherein said comparator means comprises a first operational amplifier (39) having an inverting input for receiving said first and second speed signal, a direct input for receiving a reference signal and a first operational amplifier output for furnishing a difference signal corresponding to the difference between said first and second speed signals, for furnishing said shift terminate signal when said output speed of said gearing exceeds said engine speed by a predetermined first offset speed difference during a downshift and when said output speed of said gearing is less than said engine speed by a predetermined second offset speed during an upshift.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
113 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 7, wherein said additional operational amplifier means comprise a first and second difference amplifier (42, 45) having, respectively, a first and second reference input for receiving a first and second offset reference signal (222, 221) signifying, respectively, said first and second offset speed difference, and a first and second difference amplifier output, means for connecting said first operational amplifier output to said first and second difference amplifier, an OR gate having a first and second input and an output for furnishing said shift terminate signal, and means for connecting said first and second difference amplifier output to said first and second input of said OR gate respectively.