Ford Motor Company Limited

Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

John A Daubenmier

Bruce J Palansky

Thomas L Greene

Lawrence H Buch

Kenneth G Walega

Paul F Smith

Gavin F McCall

Roy S Williams

Allan S Leonard

David M Garrett

Rodney B Smith

John I Zielke

Dennis W Person

Paul A Baltusis

Eldon L Goates

Robert Clayton Roethler

Frank W Timte

Woodrow Lewis, Jr

Leonard J Kurdziel

John F Carnago

Elias T Boueri

Joseph E El-Khoury

Ronald T Cowan

Karl H Kock

Balaram G Sankpal

Stuart L Bird

A rotary switch, used to select the operating range of an automatic transmission, controls solenoid-operated valves corresponding to the selected range to open and close a connection between a range valve assembly and a control pressure source. A forward range selection electric circuit includes a forward range high side driver, a solenoid-operated control valve, the rotary switch, a power source, and a current monitor. There is a similar circuit for the reverse range. A forward range valve and reverse range valve respond to control pressure produced by the circuit to open a fluid pressure source to a line that is pressurized to produce forward drive, a second position opens a connection between the fluid pressure source and a line that is pressurized to produce reverse drive and vents those lines to sump.

Operating range selection of an automatic transmission

A multiple ratio automatic transmission having a hydrokinetic torque converter in an automotive vehicle driveline wherein the torque converter has a controllable bypass clutch and wherein provision is made for changing the clutch capacity during a ratio change to reduce undesirable torque fluctuations in the driveline, thus improving shift quality while maintaining optimum hydrodynamic torque converter efficiency.

Electronically controlled bypass clutch using target slips based on

An electronically controlled multiply ratio transmission for an automotive vehicle powertrain having a hydrokinetic torque converter with a bypass clutch, solenoid operated shift valves under the control of an electronic microprocessor that receives signals from an output shaft speed sensor, an engine speed sensor, a driver controlled drive range selector position, an engine throttle position sensor, and other powertrain operating variables, the bypass clutch having a controlled slip characteristic.

Control system for controlling engagement of an automatic transmission

A system for scheduling gear ratio changes in an automatic transmission and controlling operation of a torque converter bypass clutch includes a microprocessor; electronic memory containing control algorithms, lookup tables, functions and constants; solenoid-operated shift valves, a variable force solenoid, friction clutches, brakes and sensors, and planetary gear units. A table of calibrated performance weighting factors (PWF) is used to alter reference schedules of gear ratio changes based on the extent to which high performance operation is desired rather than economy operation. The PWFs are used to adjust gear shift points based on inferences drawn from engine throttle position and time rate of change of throttle position. Hydraulic pressure supplied to the friction elements and the schedule of unlocked and modulated operation of the torque converter are adjusted from reference schedules and pressures on the basis of PWF values.

Performance mode and economy mode shift scheduling in an automatic

An electrically controlled multiple ratio transmission for an automotive vehicle powertrain having a hydrokinetic torque converter with a bypass clutch, solenoid operated shift valves under the control of an electronic microprocessor that receives signals from an output shaft speed sensor, an engine speed sensor, a driver controlled drive range selector position, an engine throttle position sensor, and other powertrain operating variables, the solenoid shift valves forming a part of a simplified control valve circuit having a minimum number of shift valve elements and simplified circuit pressure modifier elements for effecting optimum pressures in fluid pressure operated servos for the transmission clutches and brakes during ratio changes, the bypass clutch having a controlled slip characteristic.

Automatic transmission control system

Electronically controlled bypass clutch based on

A control system for an automatic transmission for an automative vehicle having a torque converter and a combustion engine including a microprocessor that is adapted to establish optimum control pressure levels for fluid pressure operated clutch and brake servos that effect gear ratio changes wherein provision is made for adjusting system pressures to maintain ratio shift quality in accordance with variations in a plurality of control sensor inputs including vehicle deceleration during ratio shifting and changes in the rate of change of converter turbine speed wherein optimum servo pressures are maintained following a ratio shift and during a ratio shift as torque capacity of one servo is reduced in synchronism with a torque capacity increase for a companion servo.

Electronic control system for multiple ratio transmission including

An electronic control system for a multiple ratio automotive transmission having pressure operated clutch and brake servos for controlling ratio changes, solenoid operated valves for triggering operation of shift valves in a valve circuit that communicates with the servos, a microprocessor for developing control signals in response to input variables that measure engine torque, engine speed, vehicle speed and a driver-actuated range selector, the shift valves responding to the control signals in accordance with a control strategy that effects controlled response of the shift valves to meet varying road speed, engine torque and road conditions with high quality shift performance.

Electronic shift controls for a multiple ratio transaxle

An automatic transmission control system for an automotive vehicle comprising fluid pressure operated clutch and brake servos that establish and disestablish plural torque delivery paths between the engine of the vehicle and a driven member, the control system having a pressure regulator for maintaining an optimum pressure level, a throttle solenoid valve, ratio shift controlling solenoid valves and means for replacing the functions of the throttle solenoid valve and the shift controlling solenoid valves in the event that a control voltage failure or a valve malfunction should occur.

Electronically controlled automatic transmission

A control system for an automatic transmission including pressure actuated clutches and brakes adapted to control ratio changes in a planetary gear system comprising multiple function shift control valves disposed between a pressure source and pressure actuated servos for the clutches and brakes and solenoid valves under the control of a microprocessor for developing solenoid valve signals that control actuation of the shift control valves, the shift control valves being interactive, one with respect to the other, to effect multiple shift functions in response to selective actuation of the solenoid valves whereby the number of solenoid valves required is reduced and the hydraulic circuitry for the valve elements is simplified.

Automatic transaxle control system for an automotive vehicle

A control system for reducing the torque applied to an automotive engine when the vehicle is idling and the transmission is set for operation in an acceptable drive range includes sensors to determine the manual gear selector position, output shaft speed, engine speed, turbine speed, and the throttle valve position. A solenoid operated valve opens and closes a source of high pressure fluid to a clutch whose engagement is required to transmit torque through the transmission from the engine to the drive wheels. An electronic computer is supplied with the digital equivalent of the shaft speeds, the position of the gear selector and of the throttle. An equation for determining the duty cycle of the solenoid valve coils is repetitively calculated through the use of a computer program algorithm. The equation corrects a previously calculated duty cycle with feedback error and terms that are proportional to the magnitude of the present error and the magnitude of the previous error.

Growing community of inventors

Canton, MI, United States of America

John A Daubenmier