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:
Sep. 10, 2002
Filed:
Jul. 31, 2000
Howard N. Cannon, Sparland, IL (US);
Larry E. Kendrick, Peoria, IL (US);
Caterpillar Inc., Peoria, IL (US);
Abstract
An apparatus for controlling a continuously variable transmission is disclosed. The apparatus includes (i) an input shaft driven by an engine, (ii) an output shaft, (iii) an operator input for generating speed commands, and (iv) a controller operable to receive said speed commands and generate transmission ratio commands which control a ratio of a speed of the output shaft to a speed of the input shaft. An upper transmission ratio limit is defined by first engine speed and a lower transmission ratio limit is defined by a second engine speed. When the speed command requires a transmission ratio command greater than the upper transmission ratio limit, the controller adjusts the transmission ratio command to the upper transmission ratio limit, whereas when the speed command requires a transmission ratio command less than the lower transmission ratio limit the controller adjusts the transmission ratio command to the lower transmission ratio limit. A method for controlling a continuously variable transmission is also disclosed.