US4669441A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Control of an automobile power unit
Assignee: Mazda Motor Corp
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Filing: 1985-10-11
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Granted: 1987-06-02
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Expires: 2005-10-11
Abstract
Abstract An automobile power unit includes an engine provided with a supercharger and a transmission having a hydrodynamic device such as a torque converter or a fluid coupling. The supercharger is of a type which is driven by the engine output through an appropriate clutch. The hydrodynamic device has a lock-up clutch for establishing a direct mechanical connection between the input and output members of the hydrodynamic device. A control unit is provided for at first disengaging the lock-up clutch and starting the operation of the supercharger when the automobile operating condition is in the lock-up zone and changed from the non-supercharging zone to the supercharging zone.
Inventors
- 👤 Haruo Okimoto
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 10:07
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16H; F16H61/00; F16H61/14; F16H61/143; F02; F02B; F02B39/00; F02B39/02; F02B39/12; F16H59/00; F16H59/14; F16H59/26; F16H59/32
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
95 words
An automobile power unit comprising an engine having an output member, a supercharger for supplying supercharged intake air to the engine, connecting means for releasably connecting said supercharger to said output member of the engine so that the supercharger is driven by said output member of the engine, a transmission having a hydrodynamic device driven by said engine, said hydrodynamic device being provided with lock-up means, control means responsive to automobile operating conditions for disengaging the lock-up means and engaging said connecting means to start said supercharger to operate under a specific engine operating condition.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
95 words
An automobile power unit comprising an engine having an output member, a supercharger for supplying supercharged intake air to the engine, connecting means for releasably connecting said supercharger to said output member of the engine so that the supercharger is driven by said output member of the engine, a transmission having a hydrodynamic device driven by said engine, said hydrodynamic device being provided with lock-up means, control means responsive to automobile operating conditions for disengaging the lock-up means and engaging said connecting means to start said supercharger to operate under a specific engine operating condition.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
An automobile power unit in accordance with claim 1 in which said control means includes means for engaging said connecting means to start the supercharger to operate substantially simultaneously with the disengagement of the lock-up means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
An automobile power unit in accordance with claim 2 in which said control means includes means for engaging said lock-up means after said supercharger starts to operate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
An automobile power unit in accordance with claim 1 in which said control means includes means for engaging said connecting means to start the supercharger to operate after a predetermined time from the disengagement of the lock-up means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
An automobile power unit in accordance with claim 1 in which said control means includes means for disengaging the lock-up means and disengaging said connecting means to stop operation of said supercharger under another specific engine operating condition.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
151 words
An automobile power unit comprising an engine having a supercharger driven by an output of the engine through releasable clutch means, a transmission having a hydrodynamic device driven by said engine, said hydrodynamic device being provided with lock-up means, control means responsive to automobile operating conditions, said control means having memories of factors relating to automobile speed and engine output power to define a supercharging zone wherein said supercharger is to be operated, a non-supercharging zone wherein said supercharger is not to be operated, a lock-up zone wherein said lock-up means of hydrodynamic device is to be engaged, and a lock-up release zone wherein the lock-up means is to be disengaged, said control means including means for disengaging the lock-up means and engaging the clutch means to start said supercharger to operate when the operating condition is in said lock-up zone and changed from the non-supercharging zone to the supercharging zone.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
151 words
An automobile power unit comprising an engine having a supercharger driven by an output of the engine through releasable clutch means, a transmission having a hydrodynamic device driven by said engine, said hydrodynamic device being provided with lock-up means, control means responsive to automobile operating conditions, said control means having memories of factors relating to automobile speed and engine output power to define a supercharging zone wherein said supercharger is to be operated, a non-supercharging zone wherein said supercharger is not to be operated, a lock-up zone wherein said lock-up means of hydrodynamic device is to be engaged, and a lock-up release zone wherein the lock-up means is to be disengaged, said control means including means for disengaging the lock-up means and engaging the clutch means to start said supercharger to operate when the operating condition is in said lock-up zone and changed from the non-supercharging zone to the supercharging zone.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
An automobile power unit in accordance with claim 6 in which said control means includes means for engaging the lock-up means after a predetermined time when the supercharger is started to operate when the operating condition is in the lock-up zone.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
51 words
An automobile power unit in accordance with claim 6 in which said control means includes means for disengaging the lock-up means and releasing said clutch means to stop operation of said supercharger when the operating condition is in said lock-up zone and changed from the supercharging zone to the non-supercharging zone.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
An automobile power unit in accordance with claim 8 in which said control means includes means for engaging the lock-up means after a predetermined time when the operating condition is in the lock-up zone.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
An automobile power unit in accordance with claim 6 in which said control means includes means for starting said supercharger to operate after a predetermined time when the lock-up means is disengaged.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
152 words
An automobile power unit comprising an engine having a supercharger driven by an output of the engine through releasable clutch means, a transmission having a hydrodynamic device driven by said engine, said hydrodynamic device being provided with lock-up means, control means responsive to automobile operating conditions, said control means having memories of factors relating to automobile speed and engine output power to define a supercharging zone wherein said supercharger is to be operated, a non-supercharging zone wherein said supercharger is not to be operated, a lock-up zone wherein said lock-up means of the hydrodynamic device is to be engaged, and a lock-up release zone wherein the lock-up means is to be disengaged, said control means including means for disengaging the lock-up means and releasing said clutch means to stop operation of said supercharger when the operating condition is in said lock-up zone and changed from the supercharging zone to the non-supercharging zone.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
152 words
An automobile power unit comprising an engine having a supercharger driven by an output of the engine through releasable clutch means, a transmission having a hydrodynamic device driven by said engine, said hydrodynamic device being provided with lock-up means, control means responsive to automobile operating conditions, said control means having memories of factors relating to automobile speed and engine output power to define a supercharging zone wherein said supercharger is to be operated, a non-supercharging zone wherein said supercharger is not to be operated, a lock-up zone wherein said lock-up means of the hydrodynamic device is to be engaged, and a lock-up release zone wherein the lock-up means is to be disengaged, said control means including means for disengaging the lock-up means and releasing said clutch means to stop operation of said supercharger when the operating condition is in said lock-up zone and changed from the supercharging zone to the non-supercharging zone.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-06-01 | 1990-12-01 | 1991-06-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-06-01 | 1994-12-01 | 1995-06-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-06-01 | 1998-12-01 | 1999-06-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |