Chrysler Corporation

Daimlerchrysler Corporation

Chrysler Motors Corporation

Other

Chrysler Group LLC

Maurice B Leising

Howard L Benford

Gerald L Holbrook

Hussein A Dourra

Hemang S Mehta

Hans A Dourra

Steven A Mikel

Francis M Fodale

Keith B Carle

Michael R Lindsay

David Parenti

David L Kwapis

Berthold Martin

James R Klotz

Thomas D Nogle

Shean P Huff

Jay C McCombie

William R Kissel

Thomas Glowczewski

Charles J Redinger

Uno Kuusik

Gary K Lowe

Ali M Mourtada

Colt R Correa

William Nortman

Gerald L Helbrook

Robert Leslie Bradley

An automatic transmission for a vehicle includes an input shaft, an output shaft, a first and second plurality of gears, and a series of engagement elements. The series of engagement elements includes at least one overrunning engagement element in mechanical communication with the second plurality of gears. A controller is operable to disengage a first engagement element associated with a first one of the first plurality of gears and apply a second engagement element associated with a second one of the first plurality of gears to achieve a speed change of the first plurality of gears. The controller is adapted to disengage one of the overrunning engagement elements from engagement with one of the second plurality of gears within a range of 20 to 120 milliseconds after the speed change of the first plurality of gears to accomplish a gear shift of the transmission.

Swap shift control

A method of double-downshifting from a first gear ratio to a second gear ratio includes the steps of first reducing torque transfer from a first clutch to a first driven gear. Engine speed then increases. Next, torque transfer from a second clutch to a third driven gear is increased while simultaneously the first clutch is disengaged from the first driven gear. Torque transfer from the second clutch to the third driven gear is then reduced. Torque transfer from the second clutch to the third driven gear is next increased. The first clutch is engaged to the second driven gear. Then, torque transfer from the first clutch to the second driven gear is increased while simultaneously the torque transfer from the second clutch to the third driven gear is reduced. Finally, the second clutch is disengaged from the third driven gear.

Double-downshift gear strategy for a dual clutch automatic transmission

A pressure-relieving valve is connected to relieve air pressure from an internal diameter of a transmission pump. On startup, pressurized oil is delivered to the torque converter. At engine idle speed, the centrifugal effects on the oil cause any air (which may have leaked into the torque converter during the shut-down time) to accumulate at the center of the converter. Air pressure output from a torque converter escapes between the housing and the transmission pump to which it is connected. The escaped air reaches the internal diameter of the pump and it is prevented from blowing across the face of the pump to the suction side of the pump by a ball and check valve arrangement which delivers the air to a non-fluid internal part of a transmission, thereby avoiding the leakage of this air to the suction side of the pump and the possible loss of pump prime.

Ball check air vent for transmission pump

A method and arrangement for controlling a continuously variable transmission with improved response time, the continuously variable transmission having a first pulley engagable with an engine and having a second pulley drivingly connected to the first pulley by a belt. The first and second pulleys each have a fixed sheave and a movable sheave, a position of the movable sheaves defining a transmission ratio. The method and arrangement provides for disengaging the engine from the first pulley and increasing the speed of the engine to a target speed, reducing pressure to the movable sheave of the first pulley to a low value, increasing pressure to the movable sheave of the second pulley causing it to rapidly move to a new position thereby changing the transmission ratio to a target transmission ratio, increasing the pressure to the first pulley, and reengaging the engine to the first pulley.

Continuously variable transmission with improved response time

A process for regulating stopping of an engine during a typical traffic idling event in order to reduce fuel consumption. There is an interactive process between the engine and the transmission involving shutting down the engine when the driver has braked to a stop and restarting upon release of brake pressure. The transmission input elements are clamped during the engine shut down to minimize transient torque disturbance and the vehicle is restarted when motion is detected. The process involves pressurizing of first gear friction elements during the stop period using an auxiliary pump so that the transmission will be ready to transmit torque on restart. Restart surge is avoided by transmitting a limited amount of torque in a controlled manner during a restart.

Interactive process during engine idle stop mode

An interactive engine and automatic transmission control system is provided wherein spark and air control are used to control engine speed to maintain a small positive torque on the transmission before and after coast down shifts. More particularly, a transmission controller is electrically coupled to an engine controller in a motor vehicle such that information can be passed therebetween. Such information includes a start of shift signal, a phase of the shift signal (i.e., clutch release phase, speed change phase, or clutch application phase), and a shift complete signal. In addition, the transmission controller identifies the type of shift that is occurring (i.e., fourth gear to third, third to second, or second to first), transmission oil temperature and the acceleration (braking) rate of the vehicle to the engine controller. During the three phases of a coast down shift, air flow control is used to supply an appropriate amount of air to the engine so that closed loop spark control can be used to adjust the speed of the engine. By maintaining the engine speed slightly above the turbine speed just before and just after a coast down shift, very little torque is transmitted through the transmission during the shift. As such, the coast down shift is practically imperceivable to the driver.

Interactive engine and automatic transmission control

A method and apparatus are provided for controlling the hydraulic line pressure in an automatic transmission for a vehicle in response to the measured pressure and torque transmitted through the transmission such that a minimum hydraulic line pressure is provided to the frictional elements to achieve a non-slip condition through the transmission which increases transmission efficiency and fuel economy. Hydraulic line pressure is controlled by activating a solenoid activated valve. Control signals are based on measured hydraulic line pressure, engine speed, turbine speed, vehicle speed, driver selected gear, and torque converter operating condition for the solenoid actuated valve. The present invention further provides a closed-loop adaptive control technology to learn the minimum line pressure to compensate for variability in the clutch return springs, friction characteristics, surface finishes, as well as hydraulic wear, and changes over the life of the transmission. Further, when one of the line pressure components fails, the method provides open loop control.

Electronic control of transmission line pressure

A torque management apparatus for an automatic transmission of an internal combustion engine. The apparatus includes a sensor for sensing shifting of the transmission to a Neutral mode. An engine limiting means is operatively connected to a sensor for limiting the speed of the engine in response to the sensor, which senses the shifting of the transmission into or from the Neutral mode. Also, an engine delimiting means is operatively connected to the sensor and to the engine limiting means for returning the engine to a normal throttle speed in response to shifting of the transmission out of the Neutral mode. The engine limiting means and the engine delimiting means minimize stress on the transmission due to the engagement and disengagement of the transmission components caused by the shifting of the transmission in and out of a Neutral mode.

Torque management for garage shifts

An interactive cruise control system and method for providing automatic speed control of a vehicle with improved shifting of an automatic transmission. The system and method controls speed of a vehicle equipped with cruise control and minimizes downshifts in an automatic transmission of the vehicle. Vehicle speed is detected and compared with a setpoint speed which is associated with the cruise control system. Transmission gear shifting is determined based on predetermined shift schedule points. Determined transmission gear downshifts are prevented for a kickdown delay period based on vehicle speed loss and the presence of vehicle deceleration. Also provided is an overspeed reduction method for causing a transmission downshift during an overspeed condition with the throttle closed. Further, the system provides hunting prevention between both second gear and third gear as well as between third gear and fourth gear for a four speed automatic transmission.

Kickdown delay in cruise control for automatic transmission

An interactive cruise control system and method for providing automatic speed control of a vehicle with improved shifting of an automatic transmission. The system and method controls speed of a vehicle equipped with cruise control and minimizes downshifts in an automatic transmission of the vehicle. Vehicle speed is detected and compared with a setpoint speed which is associated with the cruise control system. Transmission gear shifting is determined based on predetermined shift schedule points. Determined transmission gear downshifts are prevented for a kickdown delay period based on vehicle speed loss and the presence of vehicle deceleration. Also provided is an overspeed reduction method for causing a transmission downshift during an overspeed condition with the throttle closed. Further, the system provides hunting prevention between both second gear and third gear as well as between third gear and fourth gear of a four speed automatic transmission.

Cruise control overspeed reduction with automatic transmission

Shift hunting prevention for an automatic transmission

A method of determining the deterioration of automatic transmission fluid by detecting shudder during the EMCC portion of air conditioner clutch engagement. Shudder is detected by calculating the acceleration of the turbine during EMCC slip with the following equation:

Method of detecting deterioration of automatic transmission fluid

An electronic transmission coastdown shift control method in which the transmission controller has the capacity to predict timing of apply element application. The control method of the present invention improves the shift sequence by accurately prefilling the apply element. The transmission controller vents the release element when apply element application is imminent and controls the application of the oncoming element to achieve a controlled element exchange for a smooth coastdown shift. A duty cycle is then applied to complete the oncoming element application with a soft yet quick application and control the engagement of the oncoming element. The identification of the application point of the oncoming element enables the apply element fill volume to be learned during coastdown shifts. It also enables the calculation of a line pressure correction factor necessary in accurately predicting application of the apply element. Anticipation of a coastdown tip-in condition is also provided. When a tip-in condition is sensed, a more aggressive fast fill of the apply element is undertaken in order to handle an approaching input torque increase.

Method of controlling coastdown and coastdown/tip-in in an automatic

The present invention provides a method of adaptively modifying the transmission shift schedule during various driving conditions. The method determines a desirable upshift schedule based upon driving conditions, and adaptively adjusts the transmission shift schedule in accordance with a predefined criteria. This is accomplished by observing vehicle speed and other transmission operating parameters and determining whether an adaptive shift schedule adjustment is required. If the shift schedule is adaptively adjusted, the driving parameters are further monitored to determine at which time the shift schedule may be reset to its initial state.

Automatic transmission with adaptive shift schedule

A method of determining the driver selected operating mode of an automatic transmission system wherein a controller is programmed to determine the driver selected operating mode of the transmission with a binary code transmitted from sensors sensing the position of a manually actuated shift lever.

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Clawson, MI, United States of America

Maurice B Leising