Caterpillar Tractor Co.

Caterpillar Inc.

Lowell E Johnson

Noel J Rytter

Randall M Mitchell

Tony L Marcott

Marvin L Schneider

Michael F Coffman

Gerald D Hardy

Sidney J Audiffred

Robert C Hansen

Dwight S Holloway

Shairyl I Pearce

Raymond P Cobb

Robert E Hefner

Gerald B Ireland

Philip C McKenzie

Raymond N Erkkila

Irving Bright

Dennis K Greene

Frank W Howard, Iii

David W Bump, Deceased

Ronald C Erickson

Dwayne D Dietz

Richard E Spring

Donald J Schwingel

David W Bump

An apparatus is adapted to assess the performance of a vehicle's powertrain. A microcomputer collects sensor data indicative of the rotational velocity of an output shaft and a transmission input shaft and of the pressure of a directional clutch and a speed clutch. The microcomputer calculates a set of powertrain parameters based on the collected sensor data and produces an error signal in response to predetermined conditions of the powertrain parameters.

Powertrain performance assessment system

A vehicle such as an earthmoving wheel loader has an engine, a torque converter having an impeller element, a reactor element and a turbine element, and an input clutch connected between the engine and the impeller element. An electrohydraulic control device is provided to controllably engage the input clutch and that includes a microprocessor-based electronic control module, an actuator mechanism having a control member that is progressively movable between first, second and third positions to deliver a first electrical signal to the electronic control module, and a valve for directing fluid to the input clutch at a decreasing pressure level when the control member is moved from the first to the second positions in response to another signal from the electronic control module. The electronic control module is programmed to maintain at least a minimal pressure level to the actuating piston of the input clutch when the control member is between the second and third positions. Moreover, a service brake is increasingly engaged by a service brake mechanism in response to the control member moving between the second and third positions. Other logic functions are included to control the input clutch and a lockup clutch connected between the engine and the turbine element.

Electrohydraulic control device for a drive train of a vehicle

A multi-speed transmission for an engine driven agricultural or construction vehicle is comprised of an epicyclic torque-splitting gear arrangement driven by an input assembly. The input assembly, driven by the engine through a drive engagement means, includes a reversing planetary gear arrangement. The epicyclic torque-splitting gear arrangement includes an input member driven by the input assembly, an output member and a reaction member. The reaction member of the epicyclic torque-splitting gear arrangement is drivingly interconnected with a speed reduction means. The speed reduction means is also driven by the input assembly, and is selectively controllable for rotating the reaction member of the epicyclic torque-splitting gear arrangement in one or the other directions relative to the direction of rotation of the input assembly. The speed reduction means is further controllable to stop rotation of the reaction member relative to rotation of the input assembly.

Direct drive transmission

The invention relates to an improvement in a torque converter which includes a main stator, a pump and a turbine. The improvement comprises a novel auxiliary stator intermediate the main stator and the pump, said auxiliary stator including a plurality of holes therethrough adjacent the periphery thereof. Also part of the improvement are a plurality of vanes fixedly attached to a plurality of shafts which are rotatably mounted through said holes for adjustably directing flow of hydraulic fluid from the main stator through the vanes and to the pump. A plurality of handles, one attached at a fixed angle to an end of each of the shafts removed from the vane thereon, also forms a part of the improvement. A sleeve is provided which includes a plurality of slots at one end thereof the slots being in one to one relation with the number of handles, one handle being slidably held in each of said slots. Means are provided for operator adjustment of the position of the sleeve which leads directly to changing the angles of said vanes.

Torque converter with variable stator

A control system for a vehicular drive train including a slipping clutch for proportioning power from a prime mover to implements and a primary output shaft of the vehicle including a manual control conditioned by a manual selector to vary engagement of the slipping clutch through a regulating valve in a first mode of vehicle operation and to regulate acceleration of the prime mover in a second mode of vehicle operation. Additional elements of the control system include an adjustable wheel slip sensing mechanism preferably associated with the manual control, a bypass valve associated with the regulating valve and preferably with a hydraulically operable transmission in the drive train for maintaining at least limited engagement of the slipping clutch in order to prevent or limit reverse rotation of components within a torque converter coupled with the slipping clutch and an input valve also associated with the transmission to condition the slipping clutch for receiving a substantial portion of shock loading applied to the drive train.

Slipping clutch controls responsive to wheel slip

A hydrodynamic torque converter is provided with means for varying the torque capacity of the torque converter, including means for varying the capacity of the impeller. The capacity of the impeller is varied by means of movable impeller blades which are movable radially outward to vary the radius of the respective blades.

Torque converter power capacity varying means

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East Peoria, IL, United States of America

Lowell E Johnson