Caterpillar Inc.

Mark E Rettig

Brian Douglas Hoff

James W Landes

Thomas R Sandborg

Suman Goli

Steven James Juricak

Mark J Hilbert

Milton Carter Hubbard

Ryan Robert Stoffel

Jeremy T Sharp

Steven E Lehner

Travis E Barnes

Brian G McGee

David R Schricker

Aaron Robert Shatters

John Parker Timmons

Michael David Beyer

Chad Timothy Brickner

Michael John Barngrover

Prasad V Parupalli

Wayne Harshberger

Steven Spencer

Kevin M Moloney

Ryan Edward Graham

Sri Vidya Kamisetty

A control system for a powertrain system includes an electronic control unit structured to receive ground speed data and load factor data. The electronic control unit determines an engine speed command to an engine and a torque command to a variable-torque transmission based upon an engine speed limit and a torque scale factor that can vary with ground speed and load factor. The commands produce an economy output of the powertrain to reduce fuel consumption.

Control strategy for reduced fuel consumption in machine and powertrain system with same

A control system for a powertrain in a machine includes a first sensor which generates a first signal indicative of a ground speed of the machine. The control system includes a second sensor which generates a second signal indicative of a load of an engine in the powertrain. The control system includes a third sensor which generates a third signal indicative of an operational state of the machine. The control system includes an input device which enables an operator to generate a request for a powertrain output. The control system further includes a controller in communication with the first sensor, the second sensor, the third sensor and the input device. The controller determines an engine speed command and a transmission output torque command to produce a powertrain output based at least on the first signal, the second signal and the third signal in response to the requested powertrain output.

Control strategy for a powertrain system

A cooling system is provided for an engine. The cooling system may have an air cooler configured to cool intake air being supplied to the engine. The cooling system may also have a sensor configured to generate a temperature signal indicative of a temperature of the intake air and a fan in proximity to the air cooler. The cooling system may further have a controller in communication with the sensor and the fan. The controller may be configured to cause the fan to operate at a speed that is a function of the temperature signal when the temperature of the intake air is above a threshold temperature. The controller may further be configured to selectively cause the fan to pulse when the temperature of the intake air drops below the threshold temperature.

Cooling system having pulsed fan control

A transmission system is disclosed as having a transmission configured to receive torque output from a power source and to drive a traction device, and an input device. The transmission system may also have a control module configured to reference a signal from the input device with a map to determine a corresponding speed of the power source, and to determine a margin between an actual and a maximum available torque output of the power source at a current speed. The control module may also be configured to determine a delay time threshold based on the margin, to selectively adjust a speed of the power source mapped to the maximum displaced position of the operator input device based on the margin, and to selectively adjust fueling of the power source at a current displacement position of the operator input device and operation of the transmission based on the signal and the map.

Transmission system having efficiency-based speed control

A power system is disclosed as having a power source, a transmission configured to receive a torque output from the power source and to drive a traction device, and an operator input device. The power system may also have a controller configured to reference a signal from the operator input device with a map stored in memory to determine a corresponding speed of the power source, and to determine a margin between an actual and a maximum available torque output of the power source at a current speed. The controller may also be configured to selectively adjust a speed of the power source mapped to the maximum displaced position of the operator input device based on the margin, and to selectively adjust fueling of the power source at a current displacement position of the operator input device and operation of the transmission based on the signal and map.

Power system having efficiency-based speed control

A transmission system is disclosed for use with an engine. The transmission system may have a plurality of gear sets, an input member configured to be powered by the engine and to drive the plurality of gear sets, an output member driven by the plurality of gear sets, and at least one clutch configured to selectively engage select gears of the plurality of gear sets. The transmission system may also have a controller in communication with the engine. The controller may be configured to generate an estimated temperature of the at least one clutch. The controller may further be configured to selectively derate the engine based on the estimated temperature.

Transmission system having temperature based input control

A machine powertrain having a transmission includes a control device responsive to selectively vary the transmission ratio in response to a shift signal. A lift sensor associated with a machine implement monitors an implement position and provides a lift signal. A ground speed sensor monitors the ground speed and provides a ground speed signal. A controller monitors the lift and ground speed signals, compares the lift signal to a predetermined position range, compares the ground speed signal to a predetermined ground speed range and, when the ground speed signal is within the predetermined ground speed range and the lift signal is within the predetermined position range, provides the shift signal causing the selectively variable ratio of the transmission to change.

Automatic shift control system for a powertrain and method

A method for controlling an operational state of a differential of a machine is disclosed. The method includes determining a transmission output speed, a transmission output torque and a degree of steering of the machine. The method further includes actuating a locking mechanism associated with the differential based on the transmission output speed, the transmission output torque, and the degree of steering.

Control system for differential of machine

System and method for controlling a transmission in response to transient torque events are disclosed. The method includes commanding a maximum transmission output torque; comparing the commanded output torque to a feedback torque to determine if they are equal; and incrementally increasing the transmission output torque until equal. A machine and a powertrain include a controller configured to command a maximum negative transmission output torque in response to a transient torque event, and incrementally increase the transmission output torque until such time as the transmission output torque is equal to or within a preset range of the feedback torque.

System and method for avoiding engine underspeed and stall

A powertrain control system is disclosed. The powertrain control system may have a power source and a CVT coupled to an output of the power source. The powertrain control system may further have a controller in communication with the power source and the CVT. The controller may have a map with a plurality of speed modes, and, for at least one of the plurality of speed modes, the controller may be configured to vary an actual power source speed based on at least one of a CVT output speed or a ground speed.

CVT control system having variable power source speed

A power train is provided having an engine operably coupled to a transmission. The power train also has at least one operator interface device, each operator interface device being configured to generate an operator request. In addition, the power train has a controller configured to, in response to a first operator request, override a second operator request for a desired target engine speed by lowering a current engine speed to a modified target engine speed below the desired target engine speed.

Power train control system with engine speed override

A retarding system for a work machine having a power source, a transmission, and a manually operated braking mechanism is disclosed. The retarding system has an engine retarder associated with the power source and a controller in communication with the transmission, the manually operated braking mechanism, and the engine retarder. The controller is configured to determine a deceleration rate of the work machine and compare the deceleration rate of the work machine to a predetermined threshold rate. The controller is also configured to determined if the manually operated braking mechanism is active and to cause the transmission to downshift if the deceleration rate is less than the predetermined threshold rate and the manually operated braking mechanism is determined to be active. The controller is further configured to prevent the transmission from downshifting if the deceleration rate is less than the predetermined threshold rate and the manually operated braking mechanism is determined to be inactive.

Retarding system implementing transmission control

A control system for determining the net power output of an engine associated with a work machine or other vehicle wherein parasitic loads encountered during engine operation are taken into account, the control system including an electronic controller coupled to the engine, at least one sensor coupled to the controller for inputting at least one signal representative of certain operating parameters associated with the engine, and at least one other sensor coupled to the controller for inputting at least one signal representative of the operation of any parasitic load encountered during engine operation, the controller being operable to determine the total output power of the engine and the power requirements associated with any parasitic load based upon the sensor signals. The controller is also operable to output a signal representative of the difference between the total output power of the engine and the power requirements associated with any parasitic loads encountered during engine operation, the outputted signal being used for controlling the operation of the engine or other peripheral equipment or systems associated with the work machine or other vehicle.

Growing community of inventors

Peoria, IL, United States of America

Mark E Rettig