US4768635A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Control for the clutch of a fluid torque converter in a vehicular transmission
Assignee: Honda Motor Co Ltd
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Filing: 1986-11-25
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Granted: 1988-09-06
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Expires: 2006-11-25
Abstract
Abstract A vehicular transmission having a fluid torque converter of the type in which a clutch is provided for mechanically connecting the input and output sides of a fluid torque converter above certain vehicle speeds for improved operation and economy and in which the clutch is operated within a predetermined vehicular speed range by such a relatively low engaging force as to allow slippage of said clutch for minimizing vibration. A control system causes the engaging force of the clutch to be increased more than that which is normally established below a reference value of small throttle valve opening for providing a braking effect by the engine. The control system also may provide for stopping the increase in engaging force at small throttle valve openings when the r.p.m. of the output side of the fluid torque converter falls below the r.p.m. at the input side, such as during a transition from a steep downward slop to a gentle downward slope, or when low oil temperature and high oil viscosity would cause operation too abruptly.
Inventors
- 👤 Yoshimi Sakurai
- 👤 Takabumi Sakai
- 👤 Keiichi Ishikawa
- 👤 Noboru Sekine
- 👤 Takashi Aoki
- 👤 Satoshi Terayama
- 👤 Tatsuyuki Ohhashi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 17:34
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16H; F16H61/00; F16H61/14; F16H61/143; F16H59/00; F16H59/14; F16H59/18; F16H59/36; F16H59/44
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
127 words
A method for controlling a clutch in a fluid torque converter of a vehicular transmission connected to an engine having a throttle valve wherein the clutch is provided for mechanically connecting the input and output sides of the fluid torque converter under certain conditions and is operated within a predetermined vehicular speed range by such a relatively low engaging force determined according to at least throttle open degree as to allow slippage of the clutch, comprising the steps of determining when the throttle valve attains a throttle open degree below a predetermined reference value and the vehicular speed falls within said predetermined range, and immediately responsive thereto, exclusively increasing the engaging force of the clutch above that which is normally established at said predetermined reference throttle value.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
127 words
A method for controlling a clutch in a fluid torque converter of a vehicular transmission connected to an engine having a throttle valve wherein the clutch is provided for mechanically connecting the input and output sides of the fluid torque converter under certain conditions and is operated within a predetermined vehicular speed range by such a relatively low engaging force determined according to at least throttle open degree as to allow slippage of the clutch, comprising the steps of determining when the throttle valve attains a throttle open degree below a predetermined reference value and the vehicular speed falls within said predetermined range, and immediately responsive thereto, exclusively increasing the engaging force of the clutch above that which is normally established at said predetermined reference throttle value.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the clutch engaging force is increased above that which is normally established within said predetermined vehicular speed range.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
59 words
The method of controlling the clutch of claim 1, comprising the steps of determining when the r.p.m. of the output side of the fluid torque converter falls below the r.p.m. at the input side and the throttle valve has a throttle open degree below said predetermined reference value, and stopping the increase in the engaging force of the clutch.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 3 wherein the stopping of the increase in the engaging force comprises completely stopping the engaging operation of the clutch.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
Th method of claim 1 including stopping the increase in the engaging force of the clutch below said predetermined reference throttle open degree when oil in the transmission is at a low temperature.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 5 wherein said step of stopping of the increase in the engaging force includes determining a low the temperature of the oil.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
141 words
A method for controlling a clutch in a fluid torque converter of a vehicular transmission connected to an engine having a throttle valve wherein the clutch is provided for mechanically connecting the input and output sides of the fluid torque converter under certain conditions and is operated within a predetermined vehicular speed range by such a relatively low engaging force as to allow slippage of said clutch but wherein the clutch engaging force is increased when the throttle open degree of the engine throttle valve falls below a predetermined reference value, comprising the steps of determining when the r.p.m. of the output side of the fluid torque converter falls below the r.p.m. at the input side and throttle valve has a low throttle open degree below the predetermined reference value, and stopping the increase in the engaging force of said clutch.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
141 words
A method for controlling a clutch in a fluid torque converter of a vehicular transmission connected to an engine having a throttle valve wherein the clutch is provided for mechanically connecting the input and output sides of the fluid torque converter under certain conditions and is operated within a predetermined vehicular speed range by such a relatively low engaging force as to allow slippage of said clutch but wherein the clutch engaging force is increased when the throttle open degree of the engine throttle valve falls below a predetermined reference value, comprising the steps of determining when the r.p.m. of the output side of the fluid torque converter falls below the r.p.m. at the input side and throttle valve has a low throttle open degree below the predetermined reference value, and stopping the increase in the engaging force of said clutch.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
177 words
A method for controlling a clutch in a fluid torque converter of a vehicular transmission connected to an engine having a throttle valve wherein the torque converter has an input side and an output side and the clutch is provided for mechanically connecting the input and output sides of the fluid torque converter under certain conditions and the clutch is operated within a predetermined vehicular speed range by such a relatively low engaging force determined at least according to throttle open degree as to allow slippage of the clutch and further, in which, a region of low throttle open degree where the throttle valve opening degree of said engine falls below a predetermined reference value, the engaging force of said clutch is increased more than that established at said reference throttle value, comprising the steps of determining when the r.p.m. of the output side of said fluid torque converter falls below the r.p.m. at the input side even in said low throttle open degree region, and stopping the operation of said clutch in response to such determination.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
177 words
A method for controlling a clutch in a fluid torque converter of a vehicular transmission connected to an engine having a throttle valve wherein the torque converter has an input side and an output side and the clutch is provided for mechanically connecting the input and output sides of the fluid torque converter under certain conditions and the clutch is operated within a predetermined vehicular speed range by such a relatively low engaging force determined at least according to throttle open degree as to allow slippage of the clutch and further, in which, a region of low throttle open degree where the throttle valve opening degree of said engine falls below a predetermined reference value, the engaging force of said clutch is increased more than that established at said reference throttle value, comprising the steps of determining when the r.p.m. of the output side of said fluid torque converter falls below the r.p.m. at the input side even in said low throttle open degree region, and stopping the operation of said clutch in response to such determination.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
165 words
A method for controlling a hydraulic oil operated clutch in a fluid torque converter of a vehicular transmission connected to an engine having a throttle valve wherein the hydraulic oil operated clutch is provided for mechanically connecting the input and output sides of the fluid torque converter under certain conditions and the clutch is operated within a predetermined vehicular speed range by such a relatively low engaging force determined at least according to throttle open degree as to allow slippage of the clutch and further, in which, in a region of low throttle open degree where the throttle open degree of said engine falls below a predetermined reference value, the engaging force of said clutch is increased more than that established at said reference throttle value, comprising the steps of determining a low temperature of the hydraulic oil and stopping the increase in the engaging force of the clutch at the low temperature of the hydraulic oil even in said low throttle open degree region.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
165 words
A method for controlling a hydraulic oil operated clutch in a fluid torque converter of a vehicular transmission connected to an engine having a throttle valve wherein the hydraulic oil operated clutch is provided for mechanically connecting the input and output sides of the fluid torque converter under certain conditions and the clutch is operated within a predetermined vehicular speed range by such a relatively low engaging force determined at least according to throttle open degree as to allow slippage of the clutch and further, in which, in a region of low throttle open degree where the throttle open degree of said engine falls below a predetermined reference value, the engaging force of said clutch is increased more than that established at said reference throttle value, comprising the steps of determining a low temperature of the hydraulic oil and stopping the increase in the engaging force of the clutch at the low temperature of the hydraulic oil even in said low throttle open degree region.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
142 words
In a control for a clutch in a fluid torque converter of a vehicular transmission connected to an engine having a throttle valve wherein the clutch is provided for mechanically connecting the input and output sides of the fluid torque converter under certain conditions and normally is operated within a predetermined vehicular speed range by such a relatively low engaging force determined according to at least throttle open degree as to allow slippage of said clutch, and improvement comprising, means for determining when the throttle valve attains a throttle open degree below a predetermined reference value and the vehicular speed falls within said predetermined range, and means for exclusively increasing the engaging force of said clutch above that which is normally established at said predetermined reference throttle value when the throttle valve attains a throttle open degree below the predetermined reference value.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
142 words
In a control for a clutch in a fluid torque converter of a vehicular transmission connected to an engine having a throttle valve wherein the clutch is provided for mechanically connecting the input and output sides of the fluid torque converter under certain conditions and normally is operated within a predetermined vehicular speed range by such a relatively low engaging force determined according to at least throttle open degree as to allow slippage of said clutch, and improvement comprising, means for determining when the throttle valve attains a throttle open degree below a predetermined reference value and the vehicular speed falls within said predetermined range, and means for exclusively increasing the engaging force of said clutch above that which is normally established at said predetermined reference throttle value when the throttle valve attains a throttle open degree below the predetermined reference value.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
71 words
The improved control of claim 10 wherein, means are provided for determining and comparing the r.p.m. of the input side and the r.p.m. of the output side of the fluid torque converter, and means for stopping the increase in the engaging force of the clutch when the r.p.m. of the output side falls below the r.p.m. of the input side while the throttle degree open is below the predetermined reference value.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
The improved control of claim 11 wherein, the means for stoppihg the increase in the engaging force causes the operation of the clutch to stop.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
34 words
The improved control of claim 10 wherein, means are provided for stopping the increase in the engaging force of the clutch when the temperature of oil in the transmission is below a low value.
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) | 1991-09-06 | 1992-03-07 | 1992-09-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-09-06 | 1996-03-07 | 1996-09-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-09-06 | 2000-03-07 | 2000-09-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |