Enhanced semi-automated mechanical transmission system

Claim 2

A control system (104) for semi-automatic implementation of selected shifts of a mechanical change gear transmission system comprising a fuel throttle controlled engine (E), a fuel controller for controlling the fueling of the engine, a multi-speed change gear mechanical transmission (10), a master friction clutch (C) drivingly interposed between the engine and the transmission, a first sensor (98) for providing a first input signal indicative of transmission input shaft (16) rotational speed, a second sensor (100) for providing a second input signal indicative of the rotational speed of a transmission shaft (90) independently rotatable relative to the transmission input shaft under at least certain transmission operating conditions and a non-manually controllable transmission actuator (112, 70, 96) for controlling shifting of the transmission, said control system including; means (120, 124/132) for selecting an upshift or a downshift from a currently engaged transmission ratio or from neutral to a selected ratio, and providing a third input signal indicative of said selection; and a central processing unit (106) for receiving said first, second and third input signals and for processing same in accordance with predetermined logic rules to issue command output signals, said central processing unit including; (a) means responsive to selection of a transmission shift from a currently engaged ratio for issuing command output signals to said actuator to bias the transmission to be shifted into neutral; and (b) means responsive to (i) a selection of a shift from a currently engaged ratio into a selected ratio and (ii) confirmation of a transmission neutral condition for (i) issuing command output signals to said fuel controller to cause substantial synchronization of the transmission and (ii) thereafter for issuing command output signals to said actuator to cause the transmission to be shifted into the selected ratio.

Claim 3

The control system of claim 1 further comprising a manually operable throttle operator, said central processing unit issuing command output signals to said fuel controller in accordance with manual positioning of said throttle operator except when (i) a shift into a selected ratio has been selected and (ii) said transmission is confirmed to be in neutral.

Claim 4

The control system of claim 1 wherein said selected shifts are manually selected.

Claim 5

The control system of claim 1 wherein said selected shifts are automatically selected.

Claim 6

A control method for controlling semi-automatic implementation of selected shifts of a semi-automatic mechanical change gear transmission system (104) comprising a fuel throttle controlled engine (E), a fuel controller for controlling the fueling of the engine, a multiple speed change gear mechanical transmission (10), a master friction clutch drivingly interposed between the engine and the transmission, a first sensor (98) for providing an input signal indicative of the transmission input shaft (16) rotational speed, a second sensor (100) for providing an input signal indicative of the rotational speed of a transmission shaft (90) independently rotatable relative to the input shaft under at least certain transmission operating conditions, a third sensor (THD) for providing a signal determined as a function of the position of a manually operated throttle device (T), a non-manually controllable actuator (70/96) for controlling shifting of the transmission, means (120, 124/132) for selecting an upshift or a downshift from a currently engaged ratio or neutral to a selected ratio and to provide an input signal indicative of same, and a central processing unit (106) for receiving said input signals and for processing same in accordance with predetermined logic rules to issue command output signals, said method characterized by: (a) responding to sensed selection of a shift from a currently engaged ratio by issuing command output signals to said actuator to bias the transmission to be shifted into neutral and to said fuel controller to fuel the engine in accordance with the manual throttle position (THD); and (b) responding to (i) a sensed selection of a shift from a currently engaged ratio into a selected ratio and (ii) confirmation of a transmission neutral condition by (i) issuing command output signals to said fuel controller to cause substantial synchronization of the transmission and (ii) thereafter issuing command output signals to said transmission actuator to cause the transmission to be shifted into the selected ratio.

Claim 7

A control method for controlling semi-automatic implementation of selected shifts of a semi-automatic mechanical change gear transmission system (104) comprising a fuel throttle controlled engine (E), a fuel controller for controlling the fueling of the engine, a multiple speed change gear mechanical transmission (10), a master friction clutch drivingly interposed between the engine and the transmission, a first sensor (98) for providing an input signal indicative of the transmission input shaft (16) rotational speed, a second sensor (100) for providing an input signal indicative of the rotational speed of a transmission shaft (90) independently rotatable relative to the input shaft under at least certain transmission operating conditions, a third sensor (THD) for providing a signal determined as a function of the position of a manually operated throttle device (T), a non-manually controllable actuator (70/96) for controlling shifting of the transmission, means (120, 124/132) for selecting an upshift or a downshift from a currently engaged ratio or neutral to a selected ratio and to provide an input signal indicative of same, and a central processing unit (106) for receiving said input signals and for processing same in accordance with predetermined logic rules to issue command output signals, said method characterized by: (a) responding to sensed selection of a shift from a currently engaged ratio by issuing command output signals to said actuator to bias the transmission to be shifted into neutral and to said fuel controller to fuel the engine in accordance with the manual throttle position (THD); and (b) responding to (i) a sensed selection of a shift from a currently engaged ratio into a selected ratio and (ii) confirmation of a transmission neutral condition by (i) issuing command output signals to said fuel controller to cause substantial synchronization of the transmission and (ii) thereafter issuing command output signals to said transmission actuator to cause the transmission to be shifted into the selected ratio.

Claim 8

The control method of claim 5 wherein said selected shifts are manually selected.

Claim 9

The control method of claim 5 wherein said selected shifts are automatically selected.