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:
Nov. 16, 2004
Filed:
Dec. 30, 2002
Jeffrey D. Graves, Lacon, IL (US);
Russell T. Fahlberg, Dunlap, IL (US);
Jeffrey Allen Lee Smith, Metamora, IL (US);
Caterpillar Inc, Peoria, IL (US);
Abstract
Although there are various combinations of engine speed and transmission state that correspond to a selected vehicle speed and load, there is one combination that best achieves a predetermined criteria. The present invention relates to a vehicle including a control system that electronically controls engine speed and transmission state in order to best achieve the predetermined criteria, such as fuel economy. There is an electronic control module including a power train algorithm that is in control communication with the transmission and the engine. The predetermined criteria is achieved by establishing a limited engine speed range that is less than an entire engine speed range, and restricting engine speed, via the power train algorithm, to the limited engine speed range. The power train algorithm is also operable to determine a combination of the engine speed, within the limited engine speed range, and transmission state that corresponds to a selected vehicle speed and the predetermined criteria.