Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Other

Shushan Bai

Paul G Otanez

Vijay A Neelakantan

Dongxu Li

Leonid Basin

Zhen J Zhang

Robert L Moses

Donald L Dusenberry

Clinton E Carey

John C Schultz

Michael J Gorman

James M Hart

Andrew W Phillips

Nancy L Johnson

Alan L Browne

Patrick B Usoro

Chunhao J Lee

Farzad Samie

Nilesh D Mankame

Xiujie Gao

Derek F Lahr

Kumaraswamy V Hebbale

Joel M Maguire

Philip C Lundberg

Edwin T Grochowski

Ronald F Lochocki, Jr

Ning Jin

Yue-Ming Chen

Ioan Napau

Timothy Alan Robinson

Casie M Bockenstette

John R Maten

Phillip F Mc Cauley

Nathan M Picot

Gary H Paelicke

Brandon M Fell

Scott Mc Thompson

Gregory M Wilson

A plug-in hybrid powertrain for automotive vehicle is provided which has an internal combustion engine; an electric machine; multiple planetary gear sets, multiple selectively engageable clutch mechanisms and an output member. Selectively engaging those clutches will achieve multiple operation modes including multiple torque transfer ratio from electric machine to output member; multiple torque transfer ratio from internal combustion engine to output member; electric machine propulsion mode; internal combustion engine propulsion mode; generator assistant vehicle launch modes for forward and reverse in the internal combustion engine vehicle launch operations; motor assistant propulsion when in internal combustion engine vehicle propulsion operations; and engine cranking mode. The plug-in hybrid powertrain achieves more torque transfer ratios and operational mode with given number of planetary gear sets and clutches then any existing system.

Plug-in hybrid powertrain for automotive vehicles

A fuel management system includes a memory and a control module. The memory stores fuel rate maps for multiple firing fractions, where: each of the firing fractions corresponds to a respective firing pattern of an engine; at least some of the firing patterns include deactivating one or more cylinders. The control module: for each of the firing fractions, determines a fuel efficiency value for each of multiple transmission gear ratios, where fuel efficiency values are provided for transmission ratio and firing fraction pairs; applies drive ability constraints to provide resultant transmission ratio and firing fraction pairs; subsequent to applying the drive ability constraints and based on the fuel efficiency values, selects one of the resultant transmission ratio and firing fraction pairs; and concurrently operates a transmission and the engine according to the selected one of the transmission ratio and firing fraction pairs.

Fuel efficiency based integrated engine firing fraction and transmission ratio selection

A hydraulic control system for a continuously variable transmission (CVT) includes a pressure regulator subsystem, a selection valve in downstream fluid communication with the pressure regulator subsystem, the selection valve configured to control a flow of pressurized oil from the pressure regulator subsystem to a primary pulley circuit and a secondary pulley circuit, the primary pulley circuit in fluid communication with a primary pulley and the secondary pulley circuit in communication with a secondary pulley, and a ratio control pump disposed in fluid communication between the primary pulley circuit and the secondary pulley circuit, wherein rotation of the ratio control pump in a first direction pumps pressurized oil from the secondary pulley circuit to the primary pulley circuit and rotation of the control pump in a second direction pumps pressurized oil from the primary pulley circuit to the secondary pulley circuit to change a ratio of the CVT.

Hydraulic control system for a continuously variable transmission

A system for absorbing vibration and transmitting torque from a rotating power source to a rotatable load includes a rotatable driving member configured as an input to be driven by the power source to rotate about an axis of rotation. The system has a cam plate with a cam surface. A spring is configured to extend lengthwise in a radial direction relative to the axis of rotation. The spring is configured to be compressed due to the cam surface during relative rotation of the driving member and a driven member when the cam plate is operatively connected to rotate in unison with said one of the driving member and the driven member. The spring therefore has an effective spring rate dependent upon the cam surface, compression of the spring absorbs torsional vibration of the driving member, and the cam plate.

Torsional vibration absorption system

A torque transfer assembly includes input and output members configured to transfer torque from a prime mover to an automotive transmission. A torque transfer component, such as a torque converter or a dual-mass fly wheel, and a clutch are coupled to the input member. A torsional vibration damper includes a planetary gear set having first, second, and third nodes. First and second spring engagement elements are connected to two of the first, second, and third nodes. One or more springs contacts both of the first and second spring engagement elements. An outgoing member of the torque multiplying device is coupled to the first node of the planetary gear set, a driven element of the clutch is connected to the second node of the planetary gear set, and the output member is coupled to the third node of the planetary gear set.

Damper architectures

A dual pressure pump system for a transmission includes a dual pressure pump having a first pump outlet and a second pump outlet, and a pressure regulator valve defining a first chamber in fluid communication with the first pump outlet and a second chamber in fluid communication with the second pump outlet. The pressure regulator valve is configured to selectively connect the first chamber with a first pressure line operating at a first greater-than-zero pressure and to selectively connect the second chamber to a second pressure line operating at a second greater-than-zero pressure.

Hydraulic control system for a transmission

A torsional vibration damper includes a planetary gear set connected to a transmission input shaft, including a sun gear, a carrier, and a ring gear. A spring cage includes a first spring support member connected to the ring gear having multiple first spring contact members. A second spring support member is connected to the carrier and rotates with respect to the first spring support member. The second spring support member has multiple second spring contact members angularly oriented with respect to the first spring contact members. Multiple springs having opposed ends are positioned between and are compressed by rotation of the first or the second spring support member. The springs compress and extend to absorb vehicle engine vibration pulses. Each end of the springs has one of the multiple first spring contact members and or one of the multiple second spring contact members positioned proximate thereto.

Torsional vibration damper

A powertrain system including an internal combustion engine rotatably coupled to a variator of a continuously variable transmission (CVT) is described. A method for controlling the CVT includes determining an actual speed ratio, a desired speed ratio and a commanded speed ratio. A total speed ratio change rate is determined based upon the actual speed ratio, the desired speed ratio and the commanded speed ratio, and a commanded speed ratio trajectory is determined based upon the desired speed ratio and the commanded speed ratio. A ratio change coefficient and a force ratio factor are determined based upon the commanded speed ratio trajectory, and a shift force is determined based upon the total speed ratio change rate and the ratio change coefficient. A primary pulley force and a secondary pulley force for the CVT are controlled based upon the shift force and the force ratio factor.

Method and apparatus to control a continuously variable transmission

A powertrain system including an internal combustion engine rotatably coupled to a variator of a continuously variable transmission (CVT) is described. A method for controlling the CVT includes determining a first speed ratio change rate based upon a desired speed ratio and a commanded speed ratio, and determining a commanded speed ratio trajectory based upon the first speed ratio change rate, an actual speed ratio and a commanded speed ratio. A ratio change coefficient and a force ratio factor are determined based upon the commanded speed ratio trajectory. A shift force is determined based upon the ratio change coefficient and a total speed ratio change rate. A primary pulley pressure and a secondary pulley pressure for the CVT are controlled based upon the shift force and the force ratio factor.

A torsional vibration isolator for a motor vehicle includes an input member having an engine drive component. An output member defines a transmission input shaft. A component group connecting the input member to the output member includes a first spring engagement element connected to a ring gear. At least one pinion gear is engaged to the ring gear. A sun gear is engaged to the at least one pinion gear. A second spring engagement element is connected to a carrier, the carrier also connected to the at least one pinion gear. At least one spring contacts both the second spring engagement element and the first spring engagement element to permit the second spring engagement element and the carrier to angularly deflect with respect to the first spring engagement element.

High performance torsional vibration isolator

A transmission fluid circuit includes a transmission, a cooler, and a valve. The valve includes a housing, a spool and an actuator. The spool is movable inside the housing between a first position and a second position. The actuator includes a smart material configured to be activated in response to the temperature of the fluid exhibiting at least a first temperature such that the actuator is in a first state. The smart material is configured to be deactivated in response to the fluid being a sufficient number of degrees less than the first temperature such that the actuator is in a second state. The fluid flows from the housing to the transmission and from the transmission the cavity when the spool is in the first position. The fluid flows from the housing to the cooler and from the cooler to the transmission when the spool is in the second position.

Valve configured for regulating the flow of fluid from a transmission to a cooler

A system of a first vehicle includes a communication module, a translation module, a driver identification module, and an actuator control module. The communication module receives first vehicle control data generated based on operation of a second vehicle by a driver. The first and second vehicles are different. The translation module determines second vehicle control data based on the first vehicle control data and first characteristics of the first vehicle. The driver identification module selectively indicates when the driver is operating the first vehicle. During operation of the first vehicle by the driver, the actuator module controls at least one actuator of the first vehicle based on the second vehicle control data.

Controlling operation of a vehicle based on parameters learned during driver's operation of another vehicle

A low noise, high efficiency solenoid pump includes a housing containing a hollow electromagnetic coil. Within the coil resides a pump assembly defining a tubular body having a pair of opposed ends which respectively include an inlet or suction port and an outlet or pressure port and within which a plunger or piston resides. The piston is biased in opposite directions by a pair of opposed compression springs. A first compression spring limits and arrests travel of the piston during the suction or return stroke and a second compression spring limits travel of the piston during the pumping stroke and returns the piston after the pumping stroke. The piston includes a first check valve that opens to allow hydraulic fluid into a pumping chamber during the suction stroke and closes during the pumping stroke to cause fluid to be pumped out of the pumping chamber. A second check valve opens to allow pumped fluid to exit the pumping chamber and the pump body through the outlet or pressure port and closes to inhibit reverse flow.

Low noise high efficiency solenoid pump

A transmission fluid circuit includes a transmission, a cooler, and a valve. The transmission receives and expels a fluid. The cooler receives and expels the fluid to the transmission. The valve directs the flow of fluid received from the transmission to one of the transmission and the fluid cooler. The valve includes a housing, a spool and an actuator. The housing defines a cavity. The spool is movable longitudinally in the cavity between a first position and a second position to direct the flow of the fluid from the cavity to the cooler or the transmission. The actuator is operatively connected to the spool and includes a smart material which is activated in response to the temperature of the fluid in the cavity having at least a first temperature and deactivated in response to the fluid in the cavity having a sufficient number of degrees less than the first temperature.

Growing community of inventors

Ann Arbor, MI, United States of America

Shushan Bai