Method for controlling free-wheeling in a dual clutch transmission in a vehicle

Dual clutch transmission in a vehicle, the transmission comprising

• a first transmission mechanism arranged to transmit mechanical driving force from an output shaft of an internal combustion engine to a first input shaft and to each of a first set of gears in an engaged state to connect the first input shaft to driving wheels;
• a second transmission mechanism arranged to transmit mechanical driving force from the output shaft of the internal combustion engine to a second input shaft and to put one of a second set of gears in an engaged state to connect the second input shaft to the driving wheels;
• a controllable first clutch unit arranged to bring the output shaft of the internal combustion engine and the first input shaft into engagement with each other;
• a controllable second clutch unit arranged to bring the output shaft of the internal combustion engine and the second input shaft into engagement with each other, and
• an electronic control unit arranged to control gear selection and clutch unit actuation,
• wherein the electronic control unit is arranged to generate control signals in order to initiate free-wheeling mode and, in response to the control signals,
• the first clutch unit is arranged to be deactivated, wherein the clutch is arranged to be held in a closed, engaged position by resilient means so that the output shaft of the internal combustion engine and the first input shaft are engaged;
• each of the first set of gears that could connect the first input shaft to the driving wheels are arranged to be disengaged,
• the second clutch unit is arranged to be deactivated, wherein the clutch is arranged to be held in an open, disengaged position by a resilient means so that the output shaft of the internal combustion engine and the second input shaft are disengaged;
• and
• one of the second set of gears connecting the second input shaft to the driving wheels is arranged to be engaged, wherein the second input shaft and the open second clutch are arranged to be rotated by the driving wheels.

A computer comprising a computer program for performing, when the program is run on the computer, a method for controlling free-wheeling in a dual clutch transmission for a vehicle, the transmission comprising

• a first transmission mechanism arranged to transmit mechanical driving force from an output shaft of an internal combustion engine to a first input shaft and to out each of a first set of gears in an engaged state to connect the first input shaft to driving wheels;
• a second transmission mechanism arranged to transmit mechanical driving force from the output shaft of the internal combustion engine to a second input shaft and to put one of a second set of gears in an engaged state to connect the second input shaft to the driving wheels;
• a controllable first clutch unit arranged to bring the output shaft of the internal combustion engine and the first input shaft into engagement with each other;
• a controllable second clutch unit arranged to bring the output shaft of the internal combustion engine and the second input shaft into engagement with each other, and
• an electronic control unit arranged to control gear selection and clutch unit actuation,
• the method comprising
• determining that free-wheeling mode is to be initiated, and
• after determining that free-wheeling mode is to be initiated:
• deactivating the first clutch unit wherein the clutch is held in a closed, engaged position by a resilient means so that the output shaft of the internal combustion engine and the first input shaft are engaged;
• disengaging each of the first set of pears that could connect the first input shaft to the driving wheels;
• deactivating the second clutch unit, wherein the clutch is held in an open, disengaged position by a resilient means so that the output shaft of the internal combustion engine and the second input shaft are disengaged;
• and
• engaging one of the second set of gears connecting the second input shaft to the driving wheels, wherein the second input shaft and the open second clutch will be rotated by the driving wheels.

A non-transitory computer program product comprising a computer program stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium for performing, when the program product is run on a computer, a method for controlling free-wheeling in a dual clutch transmission for a vehicle, the transmission comprising

• a first transmission mechanism arranged to transmit mechanical driving force from an output shaft of an internal combustion engine to a first input shaft and to put each of a first set of gears in an engaged state to connect the first input shaft to driving wheels;
• a second transmission mechanism arranged to transmit mechanical driving force from the output shaft of the internal combustion engine to a second input shaft and to put one of a second set of gears in an engaged state to connect the second input shaft to the driving wheels;
• a controllable first clutch unit arranged to bring the output shaft of the internal combustion engine and the first input shaft into engagement with each other;
• a controllable second clutch unit arranged to bring the output shaft of the internal combustion engine and the second input shaft into engagement with each other, and
• an electronic control unit arranged to control gear selection and clutch unit actuation,
• the method comprising
• determining that free-wheeling mode is to be initiated, and
• after determining that free-wheeling mode is to be initiated:
• deactivating the first clutch unit, wherein the clutch is held in a closed, engaged position by a resilient means so that the output shaft of the internal combustion engine and the first input shaft are engaged;
• disengaging each of the first set of gears that could connect the first input shaft to the driving wheels;
• deactivating the second clutch unit, wherein the clutch is held in an open, disengaged position by a resilient means so that the output shaft of the internal combustion engine and the second input shaft are disengaged;
• and
• engaging one of the second set of gears connecting the second input shaft to the driving wheels, wherein the second input shaft and the open second clutch will be rotated by the driving wheels.

A non-transitory storage medium for use in a computing environment, the medium comprising a computer readable program to perform a method for controlling free-wheeling in a dual clutch transmission for a vehicle, the transmission comprising

• a first transmission mechanism arranged to transmit mechanical driving force from an output shaft of an internal combustion engine to a first input shaft and to put each of a first set of gears in an engaged state to connect the first input shaft to driving wheels;
• a second transmission mechanism arranged to transmit mechanical driving force from the output shaft of the internal combustion engine to a second input shaft and to put one of a second set of gears in an engaged state to connect the second input shaft to the driving wheels;
• a controllable first clutch unit arranged to bring the output shaft of the internal combustion engine and the first input shaft into engagement with each other;
• a controllable second clutch unit arranged to bring the output shaft of the internal combustion engine and the second input shaft into engagement with each other, and
• an electronic control unit arranged to control gear selection and clutch unit actuation,
• the method comprising
• determining that free-wheeling mode is to be initiated, and
• after determining that free-wheeling mode is to be initiated:
• deactivating the first clutch unit, wherein the clutch is held in a closed, engaged position by a resilient means so that the output shaft of the internal combustion engine and the first input shaft are engaged;
• disengaging each of the first set of gears that could connect the first input shaft to the driving wheels;
• deactivating the second clutch unit wherein the clutch is held in an open, disengaged position by a resilient means so that the output shaft of the internal combustion engine and the second input shaft are disengaged;
• and
• engaging one of the second set of gears connecting the second input shaft to the driving wheels, wherein the second input shaft and the open second clutch will be rotated by the driving wheels.