Chrysler Group LLC

Fca US LLC

Other

Brian Edward Beechie

Jeffrey M Orzechowski

Anurag Peter Varma

John D Mueller

Mary R Gerber

Mark C Azzaretti

Mark J Duty

Bruce K Geist

Donald F Schmanski

Thomas F Wentworth

Gregory A Sbroglia

James C Savage

Marc H Sullivan

Daniel L Brown

Changwei Cao

Donald R Hughes

Charles Bienenstein

Troy J Davis

Glenn F Syrowik

In-Soo Suh

Mary Gerber

The technology described herein provides a system and method for automatically increasing the remaining driving range of a vehicle when a low fuel or other condition is detected by altering the operating parameters of one or more vehicle systems to improve propulsion system efficiency and thereby lower fuel consumption. The vehicle range extending system is capable of altering the operating parameters of any vehicle system, including for example variable displacement settings, start-stop technology settings, and HVAC operation. The disclosed technology can also provide information to the driver, suggesting which system operating parameters should be altered to reduce the fuel consumption rate.

System and method for vehicle range extension on detection of a low fuel condition

The present disclosure provides systems and methods to detect and reduce any high driveline torsional levels, such as due to the cylinder deactivation in variable displacement system engines or aggressive lock-up strategies for fuel efficiency, in automobile transmissions. The present disclosure utilizes a controller in an automobile to operate a computationally thrifty method for quickly detecting noise and vibration disturbances in the transmission. This quick detection enables fuel economic calibrations that aggressively reduce the disturbances by controlling slip in a launch device of the transmission. As problem disturbances arise, they are detected before occupants notice objectionable behavior. Once detected, the disturbances are reduced, such as by increasing launch device slip, which effectively intercepts the objectionable disturbances before they are transferred through the entire drivetrain. The present disclosure can also apply to launch devices in Dual Clutch Transmissions and Electronically-controlled Manual Transmissions.

Systems and methods for detecting and reducing high driveline torsional levels in automobile transmissions

An axle system is provided that included an axle assembly having an axle member, a gear coupled with the axle member, and a housing encasing a lubrication fluid and at least a portion of the axle member and the gear therein. A device may selectively heat and/or cool the lubrication fluid at one or more regions of the axle system.

Axle system

A driver controllable low speed mode for a stop/start technology-equipped vehicle. The vehicle comprises an internal combustion engine with stop/start technology having an engine controller, a transmission connected to the internal combustion engine, and a shifter connected to the transmission and the engine controller. The shifter is operable to place the transmission into one of a plurality of operating modes, the operating modes including at least a low speed mode wherein stop/start technology is disabled. The engine controller is operable to detect vehicle operation above a speed or acceleration threshold and cause an audible chime or message to be played or a visual cue displayed to prompt the driver to deactivate the low speed mode. The engine controller is further operable to detect a sustained acceleration attempt when the transmission is in low speed mode and to disable low speed mode for a predetermined period of time upon this detection.

Driver selectable low speed mode for disabling stop/start technology

Methods and systems are described to automatically lock and unlock a front axle disconnect mechanism in an all-wheel drive (AWD) system responsive to driving conditions to reduce parasitic losses and increase fuel efficiency. A control algorithm is described which automatically determines whether the front axle disconnect mechanism should lock or unlock responsive to various sensor readings throughout the vehicle. The sensor readings relate to the driving conditions. Advantageously, the present disclosure automatically decides the best mode for optimum fuel economy while safely responding to driving conditions, and therefore removes the requirement for a driver to select the operating mode.

Methods and systems for controlling an axle disconnect device for an all-wheel drive vehicle

An apparatus for muffling the discharge of water from the hulls of marine vessels. The apparatus generally includes a base component with a bottom and a top, a method of attaching the device to the hull of a marine vessel, and a discharge carrier generally in the form of a tube used to control the discharge of water into the main body of water. The device will allow the discharge of water from the vessel to be introduced to the main body of water at or below the main body of water's surface at a reduced velocity and over a larger surface area, greatly reducing the amount of noise generally associated with water being discharged from said vessels.

Method for muffling discharge water from marine vessels

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Armada, MI, United States of America

Brian Edward Beechie