Automotive Products, Inc.

Automotive Products (usa), Inc.

Other

Brian D Mabee

Keith V Leigh-Monstevens

David C Peterson

Leslie P Branum

John G VanderPoorte

A master cylinder assembly and a motor vehicle power assist actuator utilizing the master cylinder assembly. In one form of the invention, a clutch actuator is provided in which the clutch may be actuated in the usual manner by depression of the clutch pedal to move the piston in the master cylinder assembly under the urging of the push rod or, in a power mode of the actuator, movement of the gear shift lever of the vehicle is sensed by a logic module whereupon the electric motor of the master cylinder assembly is energized in a sense to move the ball screw to apply a power assist force to the annular outer periphery of the rear end of the piston and thereby effect disengagement of the clutch. In another embodiment of the invention, the signal to the logic module to enable energization of the motor is generated by a switch connected to the clutch pedal so that the force for disengaging the clutch includes a manual force applied by the push rod and a power force applied by a ball screw. In a further embodiment of the invention, the master cylinder assembly is utilized in a power assist brake actuator wherein a proportional potentiometer senses the pivotal movement of the brake pedal and provides a power assist, via the logic module, to the ball screw that is proportional to the extent of pivotal movement of the brake pedal.

Master cylinder assembly

The present invention is an electronic control apparatus for control of an automatic transmission in a motor vehicle which controlling a motor to shift the transmission to said desired transmission state when the desired transmission state differs from the present transmission state signal. The electronic control apparatus detects and stores any faults in controlling the motor, and generates an output indicating any stored fault codes in response to a particular operator input. In the preferred embodiment the operator input is via plural push-buttons with corresponding lamps. In normal operation a single lamp is turned ON to indicate the present gear. Fault codes are indicated by turning ON the lamps in a code corresponding to the fault code. Detected faults include invalid transmission state signal, time out without completing the shift and over current in the motor. The preferred embodiment further includes an input/output port for receiving commands to read the stored fault codes, to read vehicle condition inputs to the electronic controller and to cause the electronic controller to control the motor to shift the transmission to a commanded state.

Diagnostics for electronic transmission control system

An electronic control system for a motor vehicle of the type including an automatic transmission, a steering system having a steering column, an ignition switch having an on position and a key-in/lock position, means operative in response to movement of the ignition switch to the key-in/lock position to lock the steering column, a starter circuit, a push button shift control assembly in the vehicle passenger compartment, and a closure system requiring one or more operator steps to enter the vehicle passenger compartment. The invention control system includes means to preclude movement of the ignition switch to the key-in/lock position when the vehicle speed is in excess of a predetermined speed; means for generating a coded anti-theft signal comprising a predetermined combination of shift assembly push buttons depressed in a predetermined sequence to allow starting of the motor vehicle and to allow shifting of the motor vehicle; and means operative to display the instantaneous position of the vehicle transmission during the normal operation of the vehicle, for a predetermined period of time following removal of the ignition key from the ignition switch, and for a predetermined time following operator performance of one or more of the steps required to enter the vehicle passenger compartment.

Motor vehicle control system

A control system for an electric shift apparatus for a motor vehicle having an automatic transmission. The apparatus includes a power module adapted to be mounted on the housing of the transmission proximate the transmission mode select shaft and a control module adapted to be mounted in the passenger compartment. The power module includes an electric motor driving a speed reduction unit which in turn drives the transmission mode select shaft. The control module includes a logic module and a plurality of push button members corresponding respectively to the transmission shift positions. An encoder wheel provides a constant coded signal indicating the instantaneous position of the transmission mode select shaft. The logic module compares the present transmission position to the selected shift position and generates a signal to the motor to move the mode select shaft in a direction to achieve the selected shift position and stop the motor assembly when the encoder signal matches the selected shift position. The logic module provides a closed loop control system which, in the situation where the requested new position is only one position away from the present transmission position, moves the mode select shaft at a relatively slow speed and, in the situation where the requested position is more than one position away from the present transmission position, initially moves the mode select shaft at the relatively rapid speed and thereafter, as the mode select shaft reaches a position within one position of the requested position, moves the mode select shaft at the relatively slow speed to ensure accurate positioning of the mode select member without overshoot.

Control system for electric shift apparatus

A control system for a motor vehicle of the type including a clutch and an manual gearbox. The control system includes an electric power module for shifting the gearbox, an electric power clutch assembly for engaging and disengaging the clutch, an electric throttle control assembly, and a control module arranged to control the gearbox power module, the clutch power module, the clutch power assembly, and the throttle control assembly in response to receipt of an operator instigated shift command signal. The control module initially operates to disable the throttle control system and disengage the clutch, thereafter operates to energize the gearbox power module in a sense to shift the gearbox to the selected position, and thereafter operates to reengage the clutch and restore operator control of the throttle control assembly. In one form of the power clutch assembly, an electric motor is positioned within the clutch housing in concentric relation to the clutch shaft and includes a screw drive assembly which is operative to move the clutch release bearing linearly to engage and disengage the clutch. In another form of power clutch assembly, an electric motor powers a hydraulic master cylinder and the output of the master cylinder is delivered to a slave cylinder associated with the clutch to engage an disengage the clutch in response to energization of the motor. In another form of power clutch assembly, an electric motor drives a pump which maintains a predetermined level of pressurized fluid in an accumulator and a solenoid valve delivers pressurized fluid from the accumulator to a slave cylinder in response to receipt of a shift command signal so as to disengage the clutch. Also disclosed are gear select lever assemblies designed to provide a two part shift command signal in which the initial signal is utilized to disengage the clutch and disable the throttle control system, and the second signal is utilized to shift the gearbox to the selected position.

An electric actuator for use in engaging and disengaging the clutch of a manual transmission motor vehicle. The actuator comprises an electric motor which is sized to be positioned within the housing of the clutch. The motor includes an annular armature assembly which is positioned concentrically around the clutch shaft and which drives a nut member which in turn drives a screw member to move the release bearing linearly to engage and disengage the clutch. In one embodiment, the nut and screw comprise an acme thread arrangement and in another embodiment the nut and screw are of the ball type. In one embodiment the screw advances linearly in response to rotation of the armature assembly and in another embodiment the housing and armature assembly advance linearly in response to rotation of the armature assembly while the screw remains fixed. In each of the embodiments, the motor housing, the armature assembly, the nut member, and the screw are respectively positioned concentrically within each other and concentrically about the clutch shaft to provide a compact package which slips over the clutch shaft and which is readily secured to the housing structure of the clutch and associated gear box. Relative axial movement is allowed between the release bearing and the actuator member carrying the bearing and position sensing means sense the relative positions of the release bearing and the member carrying the bearing to facilitate precise control of engagement and disengagement of the clutch.

Electric clutch actuator

An electrically driven master cylinder assembly and various vehicle control systems utilizing the master cylinder assembly. Several forms of master cylinder assemblies are disclosed. In the preferred form, the assembly includes an electric DC motor directly coupled to a master cylinder unit with the central axis of the motor coaxial with the central axis of the bore of the master cylinder, a ball nut is positioned within the housing of the electric motor for rotation with the armature of the motor, and a ball screw is positioned on the axis of the motor and is driven linearly in response to rotation of the armature. The free end of the ball screw engages the piston of the master cylinder so that energization of the motor operates to move the piston of the hydraulic cylinder linearly within the bore of the hydraulic cylinder to discharge fluid from the outlet of the hydraulic cylinder for delivery to a slave cylinder to perform an appropriate vehicle control function such as engagement or disengagement of the vehicle clutch or actuation of the vehicle braking system.

Coaxial push rod and hollow screw ball nut drive for master cylinder

A brake failure warning system for a dual hydraulic master cylinder for use with a motor vehicle. The warning system employs a pair of Hall Effect magnetic sensors which are positioned on the exterior of a plastic cylinder in association with the two pistons mounted within the bore of the cylinder. The pistons have ferrous frustoconical portions which coact with the respective sensors to generate position signals that vary as the pistons move in the bore past the respective sensors. The two position signals are fed to a logic board which compares the signals and generates an error or warning signal in the event that the difference between the two signals exceeds a predetermined amount indicative of failure of one of the two braking systems of the vehicle.

Tandem master cylinder with electromagnetic position sensors for each

A throttle control system including position sensing means to track the instantaneous position of the accelerator pedal, position sensing means to track the instantaneous position of the throttle valve, and a control module operative to compare the accelerator pedal and throttle valve position signals and generate a control signal for delivery to an actuator to position the throttle valve in response to the position called for by the accelerator pedal.

Throttle control system

An electric actuator for use in engaging and disengaging the clutch of a manual transmission motor vehicle. The actuator comprises an electric motor which is sized to be positioned within the housing of the clutch. The motor includes an annular armature assembly which is positioned concentrically around the clutch shaft and which drives a nut member which in turn drives a screw member to move the release bearing linearly to engage and disengage the clutch. In one embodiment, the nut and screw comprise an acme thread arrangement and in another embodiment the nut and screw are of the ball type. In one embodiment the screw advances linearly in response to rotation of the armature assembly and in another embodiment the housing and armature assembly advance linearly in response to rotation of the armature assembly while the screw remains fixed. In each of the embodiments, the motor housing, the armature assembly, the nut member, and the screw are respectively positioned concentrically within each other and concentrically about the clutch shaft to provide a compact package which slips over the clutch shaft and which is readily secured to the housing structure of the clutch and associated gear box.

An electric shift apparatus for use with a motor vehicle having an automatic transmission. The apparatus includes a power module adapted to be mounted on the housing of the transmission proximate the transmission mode select shaft and a control module adapted to be mounted in the passenger compartment of the vehicle. The power module includes an electric motor driving a speed reduction unit and the lower exposed end of the output shaft of the speed reduction unit is adapted to be drivingly coupled to the exposed upper end of the mode select shaft of the automatic transmission. A manual override is provided so that, in the event of a total loss of vehicle electric power, the transmission may be moved manually to any desired position to facilitate emergency servicing of the vehicle. A pointer mounted on an exposed end of the output shaft of the speed reduction unit coacts with indicia provided on the housing of the speed reduction unit to provide a constant visual indication of the instantaneous position of the transmission to assist in the manual override function.

Electric shift apparatus with manual override

A throttle control system for a vehicle of the type including a throttle body and a throttle valve mounted within the throttle body and controlling the delivery of fuel and/or air to the engine of the vehicle. The invention control sytsem includes a rotary potentiometer providing an output signal representing the instantaneous position of the accelerator pedal of the vehicle; another rotary potentiometer providing an output signal representing the instantaneous angular position of the throttle valve; a comparator receiving the throttle pedal and throttle valve position signals and generating an error signal representing the difference between the two signals; a differential signal representing the rate of change in the error signal; a summer receiving the output signal from the throttle valve potentiometer, the error signal from the comparator, and the differential signal from the differential and generating a summed output signal; and a proportional rotary solenoid which receives the summed output signal from the summer and positions the pivot shaft of the throttle valve in proportion to the received signal.

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Warren, MI, United States of America

Brian D Mabee