Caterpillar Inc.

Perkins Engines Company Limited

Michael David Beyer

Brian Eugene Lister

Christopher Rhoades

Steven Spencer

Adam Martin Nackers

Michael John Barngrover

Adam Vaccari

Gaurav Vasudeva

Konrad Garrett

Aaron Benjamin Crabtree

Jason J Stoller

Brian Douglas Hoff

Michael G Cronin

Mark E Rettig

Chad Timothy Brickner

Thomas M Sopko

Kevin Anthony Davis

Ankit Sharma

Shane C McBride

Alex M Fullenkamp

Matthew Mauritzson

Mike Barngrover

Kevin Stutzman

Ryan R Leman

A mobile machine can include a traction powertrain configured to operate on electrical power and which includes a traction motor coupled to a transmission. To lubricate the transmission, the mobile machine can include a lubrication system having a lubricant pump coupled with a pump motor. The traction motor and the pump motor are electrically arranged in parallel with each other. A powertrain sensor monitors rotational motion in the traction powertrain and an electronic controller can generate a lubricant supply command directing the lubricant pump to deliver a first lubricant quantity to the transmission.

Lubrication system for a traction powertrain

A control system for a machine includes one or more component controllers for one or more components of the machine. The control system also includes a supervisory controller, connected to the one or more component controllers, and having at least one supervisory processor configured to perform operations comprising receiving supervisory system inputs, including at least one of a machine component status input, a key switch input, a directional input, or an operator presence input, from an operator of the machine, requesting and receiving, from each of the one or more component controllers, a status of the one or more components, and, upon receiving an indication that a status of a component, of the one or more components, is faulted, disabling the faulted component, and disabling any other components, of the one or more components, that require the faulted component for operation.

Modular system mode controller and related methods

A system and method for controlling a motor of an electric drivetrain having a multi-speed transmission with at least a first clutch and a second clutch. The system and method includes initiating a transmission shift requiring engagement of the first clutch, applying synchronizing torque commands to the motor based on an engagement parameter of the first clutch until the shift is complete, and applying non-shifting torque commands to the motor after the shift is complete.

System and method for controlling a motor during clutch shifting in a multi-speed electric drivetrain

An electric powertrain includes an electric power source, an electric motor and a multi-speed transmission. The powertrain has an electronic controller. The controller determines a respective rimpull torque limit for the operating gear of the multi-speed transmission and determines whether the rimpull torque demand exceeds the rimpull torque limit. Upon determining that the rimpull torque demand exceeds the rimpull torque limit, the controller acts to either (i) shift the multi-speed transmission to a gear in which the respective rimpull torque limit is at or above the rimpull torque demand or (ii) reduce the electric motor torque command to a level for which the rimpull torque is below the respective rimpull torque limit for the operating gear of the multi-speed transmission.

Electric powertrain with rimpull torque limit protection

An electric drive system for a machine includes a transmission, and an electric drive motor coupled to a transmission input. The electric drive system also includes a plurality of sensing subsystems, each monitoring a speed of rotation and a direction of rotation of one of the electric drive motor or the transmission input. An electric drive control system in the electric drive system includes an electronic controller structured to receive health data of the sensing subsystems, and determine a drive system control command, according to a sensor data sourcing pattern that is dependent upon the health data. Related methodology and control logic is also disclosed.

Electric drive system for machine configured for switching sensor data sourcing pattern based on health status

A transmission for a machine is disclosed. The transmission may comprise a first torque path for transmission of torque from an input shaft to an output shaft, and a single clutch element along the first torque path. The transmission may further comprise a clutch actuator configured to actuate engagement of the clutch element, and a clutch pressure control (CPC) valve configured to permit a flow of hydraulic fluid to the clutch actuator when in an open position to cause the clutch actuator to actuate engagement of the clutch element. The transmission may further comprise a FMR valve having a failure position obstructing flow of the hydraulic fluid from the CPC valve to the clutch actuator when the CPC valve is in the open position. The FMR valve actuated by pilot pressure from a CPC valve that controls actuation of other clutch elements that are not on the first torque path.

Clutch hydraulic control circuit with a pilot operated failure mode response valve

According to the present invention, there is provided a method of reducing output torque deficits during the launch of a vehicle having a continuously variable transmission, wherein the variator has an input connected to a prime mover and an output. The method comprises the steps of determining a rate of change of ratio in the transmission, and predicting a required motor speed ratio rate of change value of the variator on the basis of: (i) the determined rate of change of ratio in the transmission, and (ii) the configuration of the transmission. The speed of the variator output is adjusted so as to achieve the required motor speed ratio rate of change value.

Method of reducing output torque deficits during launch of a continuously variable transmission

A launch control method is provided for a vehicle having an accelerator, a brake and a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The method comprises determining: (i) a braking torque set by a vehicle operator by pressing a brake pedal of the vehicle; and (ii) a holding torque required to hold the vehicle in a stationary position. The method also determines that the operator has released the brake pedal. The brake is released whilst engaging a launch clutch of the CVT, wherein the launch clutch is engaged by increasing a clutch engagement pressure at a first pressure ramp rate, such that the sum of the braking torque and a clutch torque of the clutch remains equal to the holding torque. An acceleration torque requested by the operator via the accelerator is determined. The clutch engagement pressure is increased at a second pressure ramp rate when it is determined that the braking torque is substantially zero, such that the clutch torque is increased by the acceleration torque. A fixed minimum pressure ramp rate is stored, wherein the minimum pressure ramp rate increases the clutch engagement pressure towards a maximum engagement pressure. The current pressure ramp rate is compared with the minimum pressure ramp rate, and the clutch engagement pressure is switched to the minimum pressure ramp rate if the current pressure ramp rate is less than the minimum pressure ramp rate.

Launch control method for a vehicle

A method is provided for estimating input torque and output torque in a continuously variable transmission having a variator. The method comprising the steps of determining () a transmission Input and/or output speed, calculating () the speed of each of a plurality of transmission components by reflecting the transmission input and/or output speed through the transmission to each of the plurality of transmission components, and calculating () the speed rate of change of each of the plurality of transmission components. The inertia torque of each of the plurality of transmission components is calculated () based upon its respective speed rate of change and a predetermined component inertia value (). The method further comprises the steps of determining () a motor torque of the variator, and calculating () a transmission input torque and transmission output torque by reflecting the motor torque of the variator through the transmission to the transmission input and output. The calculated transmission Input and output torque values are adjusted () to account for the calculated inertia torque values of those of the plurality of transmission components which lie between the variator and the transmission input, and the variator and the transmission output, respectively.

Method of estimating torque in a continuously variable transmission

A transmission for a machine is disclosed. The transmission may comprise a torque path providing a path for transmission of torque from an input shaft to an output shaft, and a single clutch element along the torque path. The transmission may further comprise a clutch actuator configured to actuate engagement of the clutch element, and a clutch pressure control (CPC) valve configured to permit a flow of hydraulic fluid to the clutch actuator through a control pressure line when in an open position to cause the clutch actuator to actuate engagement of the clutch element. The transmission may further comprise a failure mode response (FMR) valve in the control pressure line between the CPC valve and the clutch actuator. The FMR valve may have a failure position obstructing flow of the hydraulic fluid from the CPC valve to the clutch actuator when the CPC valve is in the open position.

Machine transmission with clutch element hydraulic 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 transmission includes a transmission output speed (TOS) sensor providing a signal indicative of an output speed of the transmission. A controller estimates an actual torque output of the transmission and determines, in real time, a first TOS acceleration based on the signal provided by the transmission output speed sensor and a second TOS acceleration based on the actual torque estimation. The first and second accelerations are compared and a torque transient trigger is activated when the divergence exceeds a threshold value.

System and method for machine load detection

A system and method involves a machine having a power train including a continuously variable transmission (CVT) associated with a plurality of virtual gear ratios. To shift between the plurality of virtual gear ratios, the machine may include an operator input device that may be movable between a plurality of distinct positions. A first position may be associated with a neutral position in which no shifting of virtual gear ratios occurs. A second position of the operator input device may be associated with a first incremental rate for shifting between the virtual gear ratios. A third position may be associated with a second incremental rate for shifting between the virtual gear ratios which is different than the first incremental rate.

Shifting virtual gears associated with a continuously variable transmission

A method of controlling a transmission () for a machine is disclosed. The transmission includes a variator (). The transmission is operated in a first operating range (). It is determined whether a current speed ratio is within a first predetermined range of a speed ratio associated with a first synchronous point () lying between the first operating range () and the second operating range (). A desired speed ratio is determined and it is determined if the desired speed ratio is within a second predetermined range of the speed ratio. A shift between the first and second operating ranges () is prevented and the variator () is controlled to hold the current speed ratio if the desired speed ratio is within the second predetermined range or the rate of acceleration of the machine is below the threshold acceleration.

System and method for controlling shift hunting in variable transmissions

A powertrain includes an engine, a transmission having a first input connected to an engine output shaft, and a variator. The variator includes a pump connected to the engine output shaft and a motor connected to a second input of the transmission. The pump has a variable setting that is determinable by a position of a pump actuator in response to a command signal. A controller associated is disposed to control operation of the variator, at least in part, by providing the command signal to the pump actuator. The command signal is determined based on an operator command and on a compensation term, which depends on a correlation function of a parameter related to the speed ratio between a pump speed and a motor speed and a flow characteristic of the pump actuator.

Growing community of inventors

Chillicothe, IL, United States of America

Michael David Beyer