Eaton Corporation

Douglas C Gooch

Kevin Dennis Snow

Alan R Davis

Steven Louis Melvin

Edward F Handley

Matt W Starks

Thomas A Genise

Jon A Steeby

Timothy J Morscheck

Paul R Peterson

Marcel Amsallen

Mark L Lanting

Donald J Rozsi

Gerald E Ganski

John C Bierlein

John S Steurer

Lloyd A Waling

An integral gear life monitor system and method for determining gear use and damage is disclosed. The system includes a first and second sensors for measuring the rotational speed and torque of a driveline component, such as an input shaft of a vehicle transmission, for a particular gear ratio at one or more time intervals over a period of time. Each time interval may be in the range of 40 ms to 100 ms. The period of time may be hours, days, month, or even years. A processor performs a statistical summation technique to transform the signals from the first and second sensors into an equivalent amount time for the particular gear ratio during that period of time. A driveline vibration analyzer can perform an online determination of the torsional vibrations for the particular gear ratio to determine whether vibration is a root cause of why a gear ratio is worn or damaged. The transformed signals can be stored in a non-volatile memory of the processor for later retrieval as a diagnostic tool to statistically measure the amount of life used by each gear ratio, to determine if a gear ratio is worn or damaged, to determine the root cause of why a gear ratio is worn or damaged, and to take proactive and/or reactive measures to extend the life of the transmission.

Transmission gear life monitor system

A convertible transmission system for a vehicle having an input shaft for connection to an engine and an output shaft for delivering rotational power to at least one axle. The transmission has a plurality of available gear ratios resulting in a maximum number of available gear ratios. In addition, a programmable controller is provided for selectively controlling the transmission to operate in a first operating configuration utilizing a first predetermined number of the available gear ratios that is less than the maximum number of available gear ratios. Moreover, the programmable control can have additional transmission configurations by selectively modifying certain operating characteristics, including for example, available gear ratios, desired operating gear ratios, maximum torque limits, shift points, default starting gear ratio, data relating to a predetermined shift strategy, a coast down gear ratio, shift delay timing, and/or skip shifting.

Convertible transmission system

A logistic service system includes a programmable vehicle module, a service computer, a central server, a first data link connecting the module to the service computer and a second data link connecting the service computer to the central server. Component information retrieved from the module and stored on the server is used to service the module. The component may be subjected to diagnostics or updated with new parameters.

Vehicle component diagnostic and update system

A control system/method for controlling inertia brake (19) operation in an automated mechanical transmission system (10) shifted without disengaging the master clutch (16). A value representing inertia brake temperature (T.sub.SIM) is simulated and compared to reference values to determine if inertia brake operation is allowable.

Inertia brake control

A partially automated mechanical transmission system (92) having a mechanical transmission (10) with a lower group (first-eighth) of manually shifted ratios and an upper group (ninth-tenth) of ratios with automatic shifting between ratios in the upper group and requiring manual shifting between groups. Control logic is provided to sense a driver intention to retain the transmission engaged in a current engaged upper group ratio until the occurrence of an event, such a manual shift into transmission neutral. In one embodiment, the on/off switch (184) from the cruise control control panel (125) is utilized to provide a signal indicative of operator intent to temporarily suspend automatic upper ratio shifting.

Control to suspend automatic upper ratio shifting

A shift yoke (10) defining contact pads (18, 20) for axially engaging contact surfaces (22) on a relatively rotating clutch member (12). Inlet ramps (34, 36) are provided at the upstream ends of the contact pads to provide an inlet (36) for directing lubricant between the axially engaging surfaces.

Shift yoke

A lubrication system for an automatic transmission clutch assembly having a drive and driven rotary member rotatable by a common axis with a clutch element therebetween for connecting and disconnecting the members. The drive member has an internal passageway formed therein for feeding the lubricant to the clutch member. The passageway has a section which is radially spaced from the axis of rotation and as a seat formed therein for cooperating with the rotationally speed sensitive valve oriented in the first passageway. Below first rotational speed, the lubricant pressure maintains the valve against the seat restricting the flow of lubricant to the clutch element. When the driven member is rotated above the first rotational speed. Centrifugal force biases the valve off the seat, allowing lubricant to be supplied to the clutch element. Preferably, a second lubrication passageway is provided having a seat in an internal valve which selectively supplies a lubricant to the clutch element at a second higher rotational speed. In order to further reduce disengaged clutch drag at idle, a speed sensitive piston retract spring is provided to increase piston travel at low engine speeds while maintaining minimum travel at off idle operation.

Clutch assembly for an automatic mechanical transmission

A torque converter lock-up and disconnect clutch assembly (10) for an automatic mechanical transmission system (12) of the type comprising a fluid torque converter (20) drivingly interposed a drive engine (16) and a mechanical change gear transmission (14), preferably of the type utilizing a power synchronizing device (30), is provided. The torque converter lock-up and disconnect clutch structure includes an independently engagable and disengagable torque converter disconnect friction clutch (24) and torque converter lock-up friction clutch (26). A first connecting member (74) is fixed for rotation with the transmission input shaft (72) and a second connecting member (79) is rotationally fixed to the torque converter turbine (60). A first friction clutch (24) selectively engages and disengages the first and second connecting members and a second friction clutch (26) selectively engages and disengages the second connecting member and the engine driven shroud (58).

Torque converter lock-up and disconnect clutch structure

Disclosed is an automatic control system for a powershift, preselect transmission (10) including a plurality of power paths (36, 38) alternately connectable between input (12) and output (20) shafts by first engaging selected ones of synchronizer clutches (42, 74, 84) associated with each of a plurality speed ratio gears (44, 46, 76, 78, 80) in each path and then alternately engaging a powershift clutch (48, 82) associated with each path. The control system includes a hydraulic logic system (118) which may be electronic and a hydraulic and shift valve system which may be electrically controlled should the logic be electronic. The control system preselects ratio gears in a nondriving path and then alternately engages the powershift clutches to switch driving connections from one path to the other. The logic system includes an improved reverse sequence valve (132) and improved shift valves (124, 126, 128). The shift valve system includes the feature of trimmer valves (364, 370, 372, 374) to control the engagement rate of the synchronizer clutches and combination trimmer valves (360, 366) to control the engagement rate of the powershift clutches. The logic system further includes the feature of preselecting reverse when a manual shift valve (700) is in the neutral position.

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Richland, MI, United States of America

Douglas C Gooch