Control for torque converter having multiple selectively engageable converter couplers
AssigneeAllison Transmission, Inc.
InventorsCharles F. Long, David C. Ames
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus and method of controlling a torque transmitting apparatus having multiple selectively engageable couplers is provided. The multiple couplers may be selectively engaged and disengaged to provide a mechanical, friction or fluid coupling between portions of the torque transmitting apparatus and other components of a vehicle powertrain during various operational stages. The control apparatus includes a fluid pressure control device and a fluid flow control device.
Claims12
An electronic control for a torque converter of a vehicle having a plurality of operational phases, the torque converter having selectively and independently engageable clutches including a pump clutch and a torque converter clutch, each clutch fluidly coupled to a trim valve, the electrical control comprising circuitry to generate control signals to:
- disengage the pump clutch during an idle phase;
- disengage the torque converter clutch during the idle phase;
- engage the pump clutch during a launch phase;
- disengage the torque converter clutch during the launch phase;
- engage the pump clutch during a lockup phase;
- engage the torque converter clutch during the lockup phase;
- cause a constant pressure to be maintained in a torus cavity of the torque converter during a torque converter phase;
- engage the pump clutch during the torque converter phase;
- disengage the torque converter clutch during the torque converter phase, and;
- engage the pump clutch and trim the torque converter clutch during a torque converter clutch trim phase.
A method executable by a control unit including a processor and memory to control a pump clutch and a torque converter clutch of a torque converter of a vehicle having a plurality of operational phases, each clutch fluidly coupled to a trim valve, the method comprising:
- monitoring, by the control unit, a vehicle state indicator;
- determining, by the control unit based on the vehicle state indicator, a current operational phase of the vehicle;
- controlling, by the control unit, the pump clutch if the current operational phase is a first operational phase;
- controlling, by the control unit, the torque converter clutch if the current operational phase is a second operational phase different from the first operational phase;
- controlling, by the control unit, a converter flow valve to selectively control the pump clutch and the torque converter clutch, and;
- sending, by the control unit, electrical signals to an actuator to control the converter flow valve to cause the converter flow valve to selectively engage the pump clutch and trim the torque converter clutch during a torque converter clutch trim phase.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.