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:
Dec. 26, 1995
Filed:
Nov. 02, 1993
Marcel Amsallen, Kalamazoo, MI (US);
Eaton Corporation, Cleveland, OH (US);
Abstract
A method and apparatus for selecting gear shift points wherein vehicle speed and grade are monitored by :sensors which provide data which is used to calculate vehicle acceleration adjusted to compensate for the effect of vehicle grade. A gross vehicle weight value is determined from the adjusted acceleration value. Based on the determined gross vehicle weight and the existing grade, the horse power required to sustain the current GVW and grade with zero acceleration is calculated. Also the current GVW and grade are used to determine the rate of vehicle speed loss during the torque interrupt period in order to predict the engine speed in the new gear and calculate the horse power available from the engine at shift completion. If the predicted engine speed is above a predetermined minimum and if the horse power available from the engine at completion of the shift is equal to or greater than the horse power required to maintain the current vehicle speed, the shift is permitted, otherwise the shift is not permitted and the measurements and calculations necessary to make the shift point decision are repeated. The minimum predicted engine speed may be adjusted to reflect driver demand as represented by throttle position.