US5172602A — Hydraulically-assisted automatic skip shifting me…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 355 words

Hydraulically-assisted automatic shifting apparatus of a multi-path toothed-wheel gear change box with a gearbox arrangement, comprising an output shaft, an input shaft configured to be brought into a driving connection with the output shaft, at least two gearbox subunits operatively arranged in parallel to one another in a torque transmission path and via least one of which the driving connection is established, power-shift clutches operatively arranged in the toque transmission path between the input shaft and in each gearbox subunit, at least one of the gearbox subunits has at least two gearwheel stages with one loose wheel configured to be coupled to an associated shaft by a positively engaging gearwheel clutch with operatively associated clutch actuator, the transmission ratios of the gearwheel stages are configured such that, for two gears nonadjacent to each other in terms of transmission ratio, in one gear of the two gears associated with one gearbox subunit is connected into the driving connection and, in an adjacent gear of the two gears, another gearbox subunit with the one gearbox subunit is connected into the driving connection by subjecting the clutch actuator actuating the associating power-shift clutch to working pressure, and means for changing over between nonadjacent gears in the case of which, in each case, the another gearbox subunit is connected into the driving connection to shift via a middle gear which lies between them in its transmission ratio and in which a gearwheel stage of the another gearbox subunit is connected into the driving connection is temporarily engaged, and the working pressure in the clutch actuators of the power-shift clutches of the two gearbox subunits is controlled such that a change in speed of the input speed between an old gear speed and a new gear speed is approximately constant, the working pressure in the clutch actuator of the power shift clutch of the second gearbox unit in a middle shifting phase being held at a constant phase pressure value deviating from an engagement pressure value associated with the middle gear so that the change in input speed changes without remaining at a speed value associated with the middle gear.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 355 words

Hydraulically-assisted automatic shifting apparatus of a multi-path toothed-wheel gear change box with a gearbox arrangement, comprising an output shaft, an input shaft configured to be brought into a driving connection with the output shaft, at least two gearbox subunits operatively arranged in parallel to one another in a torque transmission path and via least one of which the driving connection is established, power-shift clutches operatively arranged in the toque transmission path between the input shaft and in each gearbox subunit, at least one of the gearbox subunits has at least two gearwheel stages with one loose wheel configured to be coupled to an associated shaft by a positively engaging gearwheel clutch with operatively associated clutch actuator, the transmission ratios of the gearwheel stages are configured such that, for two gears nonadjacent to each other in terms of transmission ratio, in one gear of the two gears associated with one gearbox subunit is connected into the driving connection and, in an adjacent gear of the two gears, another gearbox subunit with the one gearbox subunit is connected into the driving connection by subjecting the clutch actuator actuating the associating power-shift clutch to working pressure, and means for changing over between nonadjacent gears in the case of which, in each case, the another gearbox subunit is connected into the driving connection to shift via a middle gear which lies between them in its transmission ratio and in which a gearwheel stage of the another gearbox subunit is connected into the driving connection is temporarily engaged, and the working pressure in the clutch actuators of the power-shift clutches of the two gearbox subunits is controlled such that a change in speed of the input speed between an old gear speed and a new gear speed is approximately constant, the working pressure in the clutch actuator of the power shift clutch of the second gearbox unit in a middle shifting phase being held at a constant phase pressure value deviating from an engagement pressure value associated with the middle gear so that the change in input speed changes without remaining at a speed value associated with the middle gear.

Claim 3

Independent Claim 346 words

A method for hydraulically-assisted automatic shifting of a multi-path toothed-wheel gear change box with a gearbox arrangement comprising an input shaft configured to be brought into a driving connection with an output shaft via at least one gearbox subunits operatively arranged in parallel with one another in a torque transmission path, power-shift clutches operatively arranged in the torque transmission path between the input shaft and each gearbox subunit, at least one of the gearbox subunits has at least two gearwheel stages with each of the stages having a loose wheel which can be coupled to an associated shaft by a positively engaging gearwheel clutch, and transmission ratios of the gearwheel stages configured such that for two gears nonadjacent in terms of their transmission ratios, in one gear of the two gears associated one gearbox subunit is connected into the driving connection and, in an adjacent gear of the two gears, another gearbox subunit associated with the one gearbox subunit is connected into the driving connection by subjecting one clutch actuator actuating an associated power-shift clutch to working pressure, wherein for the purpose of changing over between an old gear and a new gear which are nonadjacent gears, the method comprises the steps of connecting the another gearbox subunit into the driving connection to shift, temporarily engaging a middle gear lies between the nonadjacent gears in terms of transmission ratio and in which a gearwheel stage of the another gearbox subunit is connected into the driving connection, and controlling working pressure in the clutch actuators of the power-shift clutches of the two gearbox subunits such that a change in speed of the input speed between an old gear speed and a new gear speed is approximately constant, the working pressure in the clutch actuator of the powershift clutch of the second gear box unit in a middle shifting phase being held at a constant phase pressure value deviating from an engagement pressure value associated with the middle gear so that the change of input speed changes without remaining at a speed value associated with the middle gear.

Claim 4

Independent Claim 346 words

A method for hydraulically-assisted automatic shifting of a multi-path toothed-wheel gear change box with a gearbox arrangement comprising an input shaft configured to be brought into a driving connection with an output shaft via at least one gearbox subunits operatively arranged in parallel with one another in a torque transmission path, power-shift clutches operatively arranged in the torque transmission path between the input shaft and each gearbox subunit, at least one of the gearbox subunits has at least two gearwheel stages with each of the stages having a loose wheel which can be coupled to an associated shaft by a positively engaging gearwheel clutch, and transmission ratios of the gearwheel stages configured such that for two gears nonadjacent in terms of their transmission ratios, in one gear of the two gears associated one gearbox subunit is connected into the driving connection and, in an adjacent gear of the two gears, another gearbox subunit associated with the one gearbox subunit is connected into the driving connection by subjecting one clutch actuator actuating an associated power-shift clutch to working pressure, wherein for the purpose of changing over between an old gear and a new gear which are nonadjacent gears, the method comprises the steps of connecting the another gearbox subunit into the driving connection to shift, temporarily engaging a middle gear lies between the nonadjacent gears in terms of transmission ratio and in which a gearwheel stage of the another gearbox subunit is connected into the driving connection, and controlling working pressure in the clutch actuators of the power-shift clutches of the two gearbox subunits such that a change in speed of the input speed between an old gear speed and a new gear speed is approximately constant, the working pressure in the clutch actuator of the powershift clutch of the second gear box unit in a middle shifting phase being held at a constant phase pressure value deviating from an engagement pressure value associated with the middle gear so that the change of input speed changes without remaining at a speed value associated with the middle gear.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 72 words

The method according to claim 2, wherein, in a first shifting phase triggered by a shift signal for a downshift via the two nonadjacent gears, the working pressure in that clutch actuator which is subjected in both nonadjacent gears to essentially full working pressure is reduced to a phase pressure value lower than an engagement pressure value, which maintains torque of the input shaft of the higher of the two nonadjacent gears.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 68 words

The method according to claim 2, wherein, in a first shifting phase triggered by a shift signal for a downshift via two nonadjacent gears, the working pressure in that clutch actuator which, in the middle gear, is subjected as such to essentially the full working pressure is raised from zero to an application pressure value lower than the engagement pressure value which maintains torque of the input shaft.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 78 words

The method according to claim 3, wherein, in a second shifting phase, which follows the first shifting phase and is triggered by occurrence of that speed value of the speed of the input shaft which corresponds to the middle gear, a crossover control of the working pressures is effected in the clutch actuators such that the working pressure in the clutch actuator which is essentially fully pressurized in both nonadjacent gears decreases in accordance with a ramp function.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 100 words

The method according to claim 5, wherein, in a third shifting phase which follows the second shifting phase and is triggered by the occurrence of an application pressure value, lower than the phase pressure value of the first shifting phase, of the working pressure in the clutch actuator which is essentially fully pressurized in both nonadjacent gears, the working pressure in the clutch actuator which is essentially fully pressurized in the middle gear is held at a phase pressure value between the engagement pressure value associated with the middle gear and the engagement pressure value of the first shifting phase.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 131 words

The method according to claim 6, wherein, in a fourth shifting phase, which follows the third shifting phase and is triggered by occurrence of a speed lead value at a fixed differential speed of the input shaft which corresponds to the lower of the two nonadjacent gears, the working pressure in the clutch actuator which is essentially fully pressurized in both nonadjacent gears is adjusted to the application pressure value, and the working pressure in the clutch actuator which is essentially fully pressurized in the middle gear is adjusted to a phase pressure value higher than the phase pressure value of the third shifting phase, and the higher phase pressure value is matched to the application pressure value such that the power-shift clutches together transmit the torque of the input shaft.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 90 words

The method according to claim 7, wherein in a fifth shifting phase, which follows the fourth shifting phase and is triggered by a rise, beyond the application pressure value, in the working pressure in the clutch actuator which is essentially fully pressurized in both nonadjacent gears, a crossover control of the working pressures is effected such that only the power-shift clutch actuated by the clutch actuator which is essentially fully pressurized in both nonadjacent gears is transmitting the torque of the input shaft on completion of the fifth shifting phase.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 59 words

The method according to claim 3, wherein, upon occurrence of the shift signal for a downshift via two nonadjacent gears, the gearwheel clutch for the loose wheel of the gearwheel stage of the middle gear is one of having been and being engaged in the gearbox subunit which can be connected into the driving connection in the middle gear.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 70 words

The method according to claim 6, wherein, in the gearbox subunit which can be connected into the driving connection in both nonadjacent gears, the gearwheel clutch for the loose wheel of the gearwheel stage of the lower of the two nonadjacent gears is engaged in the third shifting phase, when the working pressure in the clutch actuator which actuates the power-shift clutch of this gearbox subunit is completely shut off.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 79 words

The method according to claim 2, wherein, in a first shifting phase triggered by a shift signal for an upshift via two nonadjacent gears, the working pressure in the clutch actuator which is subjected to essentially the full working pressure in the middle gear, which working pressure is adjusted at least to an engagement pressure value which maintains the torque of the input shaft, is raised to an application pressure value lying between zero and the engagement pressure value.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 70 words

The method according to claim 7, wherein, in a first shifting phase triggered by a shift signal for an upshift via two nonadjacent gears, the working pressure in the clutch actuator which actuates the power-shift clutch of the gearbox subunit connected into the driving connection in nonadjacent gears is held essentially at its full level to at least at an engagement pressure value which maintains torque of the input shaft.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 94 words

The method according to claim 12, wherein, in a second shifting phase which follows the first shifting phase and is triggered by a rise, beyond the application pressure value, in the working pressure in the clutch actuator which is essentially fully pressurized in the middle gear, a crossover control of the working pressures is effected such that, as the working pressure rises in the clutch actuator which is essentially fully pressurized in the middle gear, the working pressure in the clutch actuator which is essentially fully pressurized in the two nonadjacent gears is reduced.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 84 words

The method according to claim 13, wherein in a third shifting phase, which follows the second shifting phase and is triggered by the occurrence of an application pressure value, between zero and the engagement pressure value, of the working pressure in the clutch actuator which is essentially fully pressurized in both nonadjacent gears, the working pressure in the clutch actuator which is essentially fully pressurized in the middle gear is held at a phase pressure value which is higher than the engagement pressure value.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 71 words

The method according to claim 14, wherein, in the third shifting phase, after the working pressure in the clutch actuator which is essentially fully pressurized in both nonadjacent gears has been completely shut off, a clutch-control signal is produced which triggers a pressurization with working pressure in the clutch actuator which is essentially fully pressurized in both nonadjacent gears with a pressure rise at least up to the application pressure value.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 95 words

The method according to claim 15, wherein, in a fourth shifting phase, which follows the third shifting phase and is triggered by a rise of the working pressure beyond the application pressure value in the clutch actuator which is essentially fully pressurized in both nonadjacent gears, a crossover control of the working pressures is effected such that, as the working pressure in the clutch actuator which is essentially fully pressurized in both nonadjacent gears continues to rise, the working pressure in the clutch actuator which is essentially fully pressurized in the mid gear is reduced.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 75 words

The method according to claim 16, wherein, in a fifth shifting phase, which follows the fourth shifting phase and is triggered by occurrence of the application pressure value of the working pressure in the clutch actuator which is essentially fully pressurized in the middle gear, the working pressure in the clutch actuator which is essentially fully pressurized in both nonadjacent gears is raised to a phase pressure value which is above the engagement pressure value.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 64 words

The method according to claim 17, wherein, upon occurrence of a speed value of the speed of the input shaft which corresponds to the higher of the two nonadjacent gears, the working pressure in the clutch actuator which is essentially fully pressurized in both nonadjacent gears is reduced from the higher phase pressure value of the fifth shifting phase to the engagement pressure value.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 54 words

The method according to claim 11, wherein, with the beginning of the first shifting phase in the another gearbox subunit which is connected into the driving connection in the middle gear, the gearwheel clutch for the loose wheel of the gearwheel stage of the middle gear is one of having been or being engaged.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 69 words

The method according to claim 14, wherein, in the third shifting phase, when the working pressure in the clutch actuator which is essentially fully pressurized in both nonadjacent gears is completely shut off, the gearwheel clutch for the loose wheel of the gearwheel stage of the higher of the two nonadjacent gears is engaged in that gearbox subunit which is connected into the driving connection in both nonadjacent gears.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 40 words

The method according to claim 15, wherein, the clutch-control signal is triggered by the engagement of the gearwheel clutch for the loose wheel of the gearwheel stage of the higher of the two nonadjacent gears in the third shifting phase.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1995-12-22	1996-06-22	1996-12-22	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1999-12-22	2000-06-22	2000-12-22	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2003-12-22	2004-06-22	2004-12-22	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Hydraulically-assisted automatic skip shifting method of a multi-path toothed-wheel gear change box

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