US4930081A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Semi-automatic mechanical transmission control and control method
Assignee: Eaton Corp
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Filing: 1987-11-16
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Granted: 1990-05-29
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Expires: 2007-11-16
Abstract
Abstract A control system and method for a semi-automatic mechanical transmission system (10) is provided for allowing operator request for a direct downshift into transmission neutral, under certain predefined conditioned, by a single movement of the shift lever (1).
Inventors
- 👤 Michael W. Dunkley
- 👤 John E. Stainton
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 01:46
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60W; B60W10/00; B60W10/04; B60W10/06; B60W10/10; B60W10/11; B60W10/111; B60W30/00; B60W30/18; B60W30/18009; B60W30/18027; F; F16; F16H; F16H61/00; F16H61/02; F16H61/0202; F16H61/0248; F16H63/00; F16H63/40; F16H63/42; B60W50/00; B60W50/02; B60W50/0205; B60W2050/021; B60W2510/00; B60W2510/06; B60W2510/0638; B60W2510/10; B60W2510/1005; B60W2510/1015; B60W2510/104; B60W2520/00; B60W2520/10; B60W2540/00; B60W2540/16; F16H59/00; F16H59/02; F16H2059/0239; F16H2059/0252; F16H2312/00; F16H2312/02; F16H2312/022; F16H61/70; F16H61/702
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
358 words
A method of controlling a semi-automatic mechanical change gear transmission system (10) comprising a manual fuel throttle control (24), a fuel throttle controlled engine (14), a multi-speed change gear mechanical transmission (12), a friction master clutch (16) interposed the engine and transmission, a manually operated master clutch control (3), a manually operated shift selection lever (1) moveable in a first direction from a centered position to select upshifts and in a second direction from said centered position to select downshifts from the currently engaged gear ratio, a central processing unit (38) for receiving inputs indicative of transmission input shaft and output shaft rotational speeds, of vehicle speed, of engine speed and of operation of said shift selection lever and for processing same according to predetermined logic rules to issue command output signals to non-manually controlled operators including a clutch operator (30), a fuel throttle control operator (26), and a transmission operator (34), said processing unit sensing operation of said manual shift selection lever including the direction of movement thereof and the number of displacements of said lever within a predetermined period of time from said centered position, and, in a first mode of operation, determining the transmission gear ratio selected by the operator to be shifted directly into from the currently engaged ratio by assuming each repetition of displacement from the centered position of said shift selection lever in a given direction indicates operator selection of a change of one additional consecutive ratio in said direction; said method comprising: providing said central processing unit with a signal (THPS) indicative of the operators manual engagement of the throttle control; providing said central processing unit with a signal indicative of manual disengagement of the friction master clutch; and, automatically selecting operation in a second mode of operation wherein a single displacement of said shift selection lever from the centered position in the second direction is interpreted as an operator selection of a downshift directly into transmission neutral if vehicle ground speed is less than a predetermined minimum vehicle ground speed reference value, the master clutch is manually disengaged and the operators manual engagement of the throttle control is not sensed.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
358 words
A method of controlling a semi-automatic mechanical change gear transmission system (10) comprising a manual fuel throttle control (24), a fuel throttle controlled engine (14), a multi-speed change gear mechanical transmission (12), a friction master clutch (16) interposed the engine and transmission, a manually operated master clutch control (3), a manually operated shift selection lever (1) moveable in a first direction from a centered position to select upshifts and in a second direction from said centered position to select downshifts from the currently engaged gear ratio, a central processing unit (38) for receiving inputs indicative of transmission input shaft and output shaft rotational speeds, of vehicle speed, of engine speed and of operation of said shift selection lever and for processing same according to predetermined logic rules to issue command output signals to non-manually controlled operators including a clutch operator (30), a fuel throttle control operator (26), and a transmission operator (34), said processing unit sensing operation of said manual shift selection lever including the direction of movement thereof and the number of displacements of said lever within a predetermined period of time from said centered position, and, in a first mode of operation, determining the transmission gear ratio selected by the operator to be shifted directly into from the currently engaged ratio by assuming each repetition of displacement from the centered position of said shift selection lever in a given direction indicates operator selection of a change of one additional consecutive ratio in said direction; said method comprising: providing said central processing unit with a signal (THPS) indicative of the operators manual engagement of the throttle control; providing said central processing unit with a signal indicative of manual disengagement of the friction master clutch; and, automatically selecting operation in a second mode of operation wherein a single displacement of said shift selection lever from the centered position in the second direction is interpreted as an operator selection of a downshift directly into transmission neutral if vehicle ground speed is less than a predetermined minimum vehicle ground speed reference value, the master clutch is manually disengaged and the operators manual engagement of the throttle control is not sensed.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said signal (THPS) indicative of operators manual engagement of the throttle control is a signal indicative of greater than a predetermined minimum reference value movement of the throttle control.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said throttle control is a throttle pedal (24) and said signal (THPS) indicative of operators manual engagement of the throttle control is a signal indicative of the presence of the operator's foot on the throttle pedal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 2, wherein said throttle control is a throttle pedal (24) and said signal (THPS) indicative of operators manual engagement of the throttle control is a signal indicative of the presence of the operator's foot on the throttle pedal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said minimum vehicle ground speed reference value is indicative of a substantially fully stopped vehicle.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 2, wherein said minimum vehicle ground speed reference value is indicative of a substantially fully stopped vehicle.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 3, wherein said minimum vehicle ground speed reference value is indicative of a substantially fully stopped vehicle.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
89 words
The method of claim 1 additionally comprising predetermining the highest transmission gear ratio to be utilized in vehicle start from stop operations and designating same the highest allowable starting gear ratio; sensing the substantial stoppage of the vehicle from above a predetermined vehicle speed; and, thereafter, upon sensing a single movement of the shift selection lever in the downshift direction, manual disengagement of the master clutch, and the operators manual engagement of the throttle control causing said transmission to automatically be shifted to the highest allowable starting gear ratio.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
89 words
The method of claim 2 additionally comprising predetermining the highest transmission gear ratio to be utilized in vehicle start from stop operations and designating same the highest allowable starting gear ratio; sensing the substantial stoppage of the vehicle from above a predetermined vehicle speed; and, thereafter, upon sensing a single movement of the shift selection lever in the downshift direction, manual disengagement of the master clutch, and the operators manual engagement of the throttle control causing said transmission to automatically be shifted to the highest allowable starting gear ratio.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
89 words
The method of claim 5 additionally comprising predetermining the highest transmission gear ratio to be utilized in vehicle start from stop operations and designating same the highest allowable starting gear ratio; sensing the substantial stoppage of the vehicle from above a predetermined vehicle speed; and, thereafter, upon sensing a single movement of the shift selection lever in the downshift direction, manual disengagement of the master clutch, and the operators manual engagement of the throttle control causing said transmission to automatically be shifted to the highest allowable starting gear ratio.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
346 words
A control system for a semi-automatic mechanical change gear transmission system (10) comprising a manual fuel throttle control (24), a fuel throttle controlled engine (14), a multi-speed change gear mechanical transmission (12), a friction master clutch (16) interposed the engine and transmission, a manually operated master clutch actuator (3), a manually operated shift selection lever (1) moveable in a first direction from a centered position to select upshifts and in a second direction from said centered position to select downshifts from the currently engaged gear ratio, a central processing unit (38) for receiving inputs indicative of transmission input shaft and output shaft rotational speeds, of vehicle speed, of engine speed and of operation of said shift selection lever and for processing same according to predetermined logic rules to issue command output signals to non-manually controlled operators including a clutch operator (30), a fuel throttle control operator (26), and a transmission operator (34), said processing unit sensing operation of said manual shift selection lever including the direction of movement thereof from said centered position, and, in a first mode of operation, determining the transmission gear ratio selected by the operator to be shifted into from the currently engaged ratio by assuming each displacement from the centered position of said shift selection lever in a given direction indicates operator selection of a change in ratio in said direction; said control characterized by: means (22A) for providing a signal (THPS) to said central processing unit indicative of the operators manual engagement of the throttle control; means for providing a signal to said central processing unit indicative of manual disengagement of the friction master clutch; and means for automatically selecting operation in a second mode of operation wherein a single displacement of said shift selection lever from the centered position in the second direction is interpreted as an operator selection of a downshift directly into transmission neutral if vehicle ground speed is less than a predetermined minimum vehicle ground speed reference value, the master clutch is manually disengaged and the operators manual engagement of the throttle control is not sensed.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
346 words
A control system for a semi-automatic mechanical change gear transmission system (10) comprising a manual fuel throttle control (24), a fuel throttle controlled engine (14), a multi-speed change gear mechanical transmission (12), a friction master clutch (16) interposed the engine and transmission, a manually operated master clutch actuator (3), a manually operated shift selection lever (1) moveable in a first direction from a centered position to select upshifts and in a second direction from said centered position to select downshifts from the currently engaged gear ratio, a central processing unit (38) for receiving inputs indicative of transmission input shaft and output shaft rotational speeds, of vehicle speed, of engine speed and of operation of said shift selection lever and for processing same according to predetermined logic rules to issue command output signals to non-manually controlled operators including a clutch operator (30), a fuel throttle control operator (26), and a transmission operator (34), said processing unit sensing operation of said manual shift selection lever including the direction of movement thereof from said centered position, and, in a first mode of operation, determining the transmission gear ratio selected by the operator to be shifted into from the currently engaged ratio by assuming each displacement from the centered position of said shift selection lever in a given direction indicates operator selection of a change in ratio in said direction; said control characterized by: means (22A) for providing a signal (THPS) to said central processing unit indicative of the operators manual engagement of the throttle control; means for providing a signal to said central processing unit indicative of manual disengagement of the friction master clutch; and means for automatically selecting operation in a second mode of operation wherein a single displacement of said shift selection lever from the centered position in the second direction is interpreted as an operator selection of a downshift directly into transmission neutral if vehicle ground speed is less than a predetermined minimum vehicle ground speed reference value, the master clutch is manually disengaged and the operators manual engagement of the throttle control is not sensed.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
36 words
The control system of claim 11, wherein said signal (THPS) indicative of operators manual engagement of the throttle control is a signal indicative of greater than a predetermined minimum reference value movement of the throttle control.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
43 words
The control system of claim 11, wherein said throttle control is a throttle pedal (24) and said signal (THPS) indicative of operators manual engagement of the throttle control is a signal indicative of the presence of the operator's foot on the throttle pedal.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
43 words
The control system of claim 12, wherein said throttle control is a throttle pedal (24) and said signal (THPS) indicative of operators manual engagement of the throttle control is a signal indicative of the presence of the operator's foot on the throttle pedal.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
The control system of claim 11, wherein said minimum vehicle ground speed reference value is indicative of a substantially fully stopped vehicle.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
The control system of claim 12, wherein said minimum vehicle ground speed reference value is indicative of a substantially fully stopped vehicle.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
97 words
The control system of claim 11, wherein said control means additionally comprises logic rules for: predetermining the highest transmission gear ratio to be utilized in vehicle start from stop operations and designating same the highest allowable starting gear ratio; sensing the substantial stoppage of the vehicle from above a predetermined vehicle speed; and, thereafter, upon sensing a single movement of the shift selection lever in the downshift direction, manual disengagement of the master clutch, and the operators manual engagement of the throttle control causing said transmission to automatically be shifted to the highest allowable starting gear ratio.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said system comprises means (4) for providing a signal indicative of application of the vehicle brakes and operation in said second mode of operation additionally requires sensing application of the vehicle brakes.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 8, wherein said system comprises means (4) for providing a signal indicative of application of the vehicle brakes and operation in said second mode of operation additionally requires sensing application of the vehicle brakes.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
37 words
The control system of claim 11, additionally comprising means (4) for providing a signal indicative of application of the vehicle brakes and operation in said second mode of operation additionally requires sensing aplication of the vehicle brakes.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-05-28 | 1993-11-27 | 1994-05-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-05-28 | 1997-11-27 | 1998-05-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-05-28 | 2001-11-27 | 2002-05-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |