The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 16, 1993
Filed:
Feb. 24, 1992
Larry T Nitz, Troy, MI (US);
Susan L Rees, Clawson, MI (US);
Saturn Corporation, Troy, MI (US);
Abstract
An improved torque converter clutch (TCC) engagement control method utilizing a combination of pressure control and flow control methodologies to ensure consistently smooth and timely TCC engagement. The engagement is initiated with a pressure control methodology in which the duty cycle of a PWM actuator is selected to produce a desired pressure differential across the TCC clutch plate. However, if the flow conditions are such that the pressure control methodology fails to promptly initiate engagement of the TCC, as detected in relation to the speed difference across the torque converter, a flow control methodology is substituted for the pressure control to initiate clutch engagement. In this case, the duty cycle of the actuator is adjusted to a value which provides full or near-full fluid flow. This control is maintained for a predetermined period, or until the speed difference across the torque converter indicates initiation of TCC engagement. At such point, the pressure control methodology is resumed to complete the TCC engagement.