US 10,553,043 B2 · Method and apparatus for predicting operating health of a torque converter clutch

Abstract

A method of predicting the health of and controlling a hydraulic pressure actuated torque converter lock-up clutch includes determining rotational input and output speeds of the torque converter. The method also includes determining a magnitude of the hydraulic pressure. The method additionally includes determining a level of performance of the clutch across multiple torque converter operating modes using the determined input and output torque converter speeds and the determined magnitude of the hydraulic pressure. The method also includes calculating a numeric state of health (SOH) coefficient of the clutch that quantifies a relative severity of degradation of a plurality of clutch characteristics across the multiple torque converter operating modes. Furthermore, the method includes executing a control action relative to the clutch when the calculated numeric SOH coefficient for specified torque converter operating mode(s) is less than a calibrated SOH threshold.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method of predicting the health of and controlling a lock-up clutch actuated via a hydraulic pressure and arranged inside an automatic transmission torque converter, the method comprising:

determining, via a controller, rotational input and output speeds of the torque converter;
determining, via the controller, a magnitude of the hydraulic pressure;
determining, via the controller, a level of performance of the lock-up clutch across multiple torque converter operating modes using the determined rotational input and output speeds of the torque converter and the determined magnitude of the hydraulic pressure;
calculating, via the controller, a numeric state of health (SOH) coefficient of the lock-up clutch that quantifies a relative severity of degradation of a plurality of lock-up clutch characteristics across the multiple torque converter operating modes;
and
executing, via the controller, a control action with respect to the lock-up clutch when the calculated numeric SOH coefficient for at least one of the torque converter operating modes is less than a calibrated SOH threshold.

3 more elements

A motor vehicle comprising:

a power-source configured to generate power-source torque;
a drive wheel;
an automatic transmission configured to transmit the power-source torque to the drive wheel;
a pump configured to generate a hydraulic pressure;
a torque converter configured to operatively connect the power-source to the automatic transmission and having:
a fluid coupling configured to operatively connect the power-source to the automatic transmission;
and
a lock-up clutch arranged operatively in parallel with the fluid coupling and selectively actuated by the hydraulic pressure to mechanically connect the power-source to the automatic transmission;
and
an electronic controller configured to:
determine rotational input and output speeds of the torque converter;
determine a magnitude of the hydraulic pressure;
determine a level of performance of the lock-up clutch across multiple torque converter operating modes using the detected rotational input and output speeds of the torque converter and the determined magnitude of the hydraulic pressure;
calculate a numeric state of health (SOH) coefficient of the lock-up clutch that quantifies a relative severity of degradation of a plurality of lock-up clutch characteristics across the multiple torque converter operating modes;
and
execute a control action with respect to the lock-up clutch when the calculated numeric SOH coefficient for at least one of the torque converter operating modes is less than a calibrated SOH threshold.

13 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and apparatus for predicting operating health of a torque converter clutch

Life of this patent

Method and apparatus for predicting operating health of a torque converter clutch

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20