Eaton Corporation

Other

Dana Heavy Vehicle Systems Group, LLC

Ronald K Markyvech

Thomas A Genise

Richard A Nellums

James R McReynolds

John Dresden, Iii

John E Stainton

Simon Hornby

William J Mack

Thomas G Ore

Russell C Holmes

E James Lane

Thomas N Riley

Jon A Steeby

Gregory J Organek

Daniel P Janecke

Steven J Wesolowski

Douglas A Hughes

Donald Speranza

Chia-Hsiang Liu

Ananthakrishnan Surianarayanan

Karen L Marx

Sameer Anand Joshi

Donald D Teadt

Roger A Graves, Jr

Gerald E Ganski

Sajeev C Krishnan

William R Pankratz

Daniel G Smedley

Sidharth Renganathan

Sameer A Joshi

A hierarchical control system for a tandem axle assembly for a vehicle is provided. The hierarchical control system includes a vehicle level controller, an actuator, a shift controller, and a sensor. The shift controller is capable of placing the tandem axle assembly in at least a first operating condition and a second operating condition using the actuator. In response to the sensor and an operating condition of at least one of the power source and the transmission of the vehicle, the shift controller adjusts a manner of placing the tandem axle assembly in at least one of the first operating condition and the second operating condition. The hierarchical control system facilitates performing a shifting procedure in an automatic manner or as desired by an operator of the vehicle without excessively increasing a cost and a complexity of the tandem axle assembly.

Distributed hierarchical control system for a tandem axle drive system

A continuously variable transmission mechanically coupled with an automated mechanical transmission is adjusted during a shifting process. At the completion of the shifting process, an engine mechanically coupled with the automated mechanical transmission is provided a fueling pulse. Additionally, the speed of an output shaft of the automated mechanical transmission is filtered by a second order variable time constant low pass filter.

Methods for shifting a vehicle transmission

A mechanical transmission system () is provided with a detent mechanism () for applying a selectively variable detent resistance to disengagement of an engaged gear ratio. To provide resistance to shift lever () induced jumpout when no intent to shift is sensed, a greater detent resistance is provided, and to provide improved shift quality upon sensing an intent to shift, a lesser detent resistance is provided. The mechanism also may be utilized to maintain the transmission in neutral.

Variable resistance shift rail detent assembly and shift control method employing same

A system and method for controlling a throttle ramp rate of a vehicle. According to an embodiment of the invention, the controlling of a throttle ramp rate of a vehicle is accomplished by determining the target engine speed for a vehicle during a vehicle launch. If it is determined that there is a high throttle demand upon the engine of the vehicle, a throttle ramp rate offset amount is determined, which is based upon an estimated weight of the vehicle. A default high throttle ramp rate may then be adjusted based upon the determined throttle ramp rate offset.

Throttle ramp rate control system for a vehicle

A control system/method for an at least partially automated transmission system () includes means to determine engine fueling required to cause a gross engine output torque (T(for zero flywheel torque)) resulting in zero flywheel torque (T). The engine () is caused to be fueled to the level required to cause zero flywheel torque at certain predetermined conditions, such as, for example, when disengaging a currently engaged ratio or during throttle recovery.

Automated transmission system control with zero engine flywheel torque determination

A vehicular transmission system is disclosed that includes an engine, a transmission having an input shaft, a master friction clutch for drivingly connecting the engine to the transmission, an inertia brake for selectively controlling rotation of the input shaft, and at least one control unit. The control unit includes logic rules that selectively disable operation of the inertia brake in response to a system operating condition during at least one mode of operation of the vehicular transmission system. The system also includes at least one input corresponding to a system operating condition and at least one output corresponding to a command to log a fault or disable operation of the inertia brake in response to the system operating condition during the at least one mode of operation. A control system and method for operating the vehicular transmission system are also disclosed.

Transmission system and method of operation to accomodate engagement of centrifugal clutch

A system and method for decreasing the time required to complete a ratio change in an electronically enhanced powertrain system is provided. The powertrain system includes a number of devices for providing a retarding torque to engine rotation to increase the decay rate of the engine speed during an upshift. These devices include an engine brake and an input shaft brake. A retarding torque is also provided by increasing engine accessory load by controlling various engine accessories such as a cooling fan, an air compressor, a hydraulic pump, an air conditioning compressor, and an alternator.

System and method for decreasing ratio changing time in electronically enhanced powertrain systems

A control system/method controls a vehicular automated transmission system to modulate engagement of a centrifugal clutch. The automated transmission system including an internal combustion engine having an engine output member, a multiple speed change gear transmission having an input shaft, a centrifugal friction clutch for drivingly connecting said engine output member to said input shaft, a throttle responsive to manually requesting of a degree of engine fueling, and a system controller. The system controller has stored therein an engine speed limit used to facilitate vehicle launches.

Method and system for establishing an engine speed target for use by a centrifugal clutch control system to launch a vehicle

A control system/method for controlling a vehicle drivetrain ( ) including an engine ( ), a transmission ( ) and, a centrifugal clutch ( ) for drivingly coupling the engine output ( ) to the transmission input shaft ( ) during vehicle launch. A system controller ( ) issues command output signals ( ) for controlling engine speed (ES) on a closed loop basis.

Control for transmission system utilizing centrifugal clutch

A control system/method controls a vehicular automated transmission system so as to overcome a tooth butt condition. The automated transmission system including an internal combustion engine having an engine output member, a multiple speed change gear transmission having an input shaft, a centrifugal friction clutch for drivingly connecting said engine output member to said input shaft, a throttle responsive to manually requesting of a degree of engine fueling, and a system controller. The system controller varies the engine speed to encourage gear engagement upon sensing the tooth butt condition.

Method and system for transmission utilizing centrifugal clutch to overcome transmission tooth-butt

A control system/method for an at least partially automated transmission system ( ) includes means to determine engine fueling required to cause a gross engine output torque (T (for zero flywheel torque)) resulting in zero flywheel torque (T &equals;0). The engine ( ) is caused to be fueled to the level required to cause zero flywheel torque at certain predetermined conditions, such as, for example, when disengaging a currently engaged ratio or during throttle recovery.

A control system/method for a controller-assisted, manually shifted transmission system ( ) senses incomplete jaw clutch engagement (FIGS. A and B) and causes the engine to dither about zero driveline torque to allow the vehicle operator to fully engage (FIG. C) the engaging jaw clutch ( ).

System/method for lever shifting of a controller-assisted, manually shifted transmission

A control system/method to minimize unwanted multiple upshifts in an automated mechanical transmission system (,). After a full-throttle upshift (,A), the engine speeds at which upshifts are commanded are increased from a default value (,) to a modified value (,) until the occurrence of a reset event.

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Allen Park, MI, United States of America

Ronald K Markyvech