Operating continuously variable transmission at discrete gear ratios
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsTyler James-Ray Kaldobsky, Craig Lechlitner, Seth Anthony Bryan
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A vehicle includes an engine, a continuously variable transmission including an input shaft coupled to the engine, an output shaft, an electric machine, and a gearing arrangement. The electric machine is configured to actuate the gearing arrangement to change a speed ratio between the input and output shafts. A controller is programmed to, responsive to a request to manually shift the transmission to one of a predetermined number of virtual discrete speed ratios and the engine being OFF, command starting of the engine regardless of a driver-demand torque and operate the electric machine to shift the transmission to the one of the speed ratios.
Claims20
A powertrain comprising:
- an engine;
- a continuously variable transmission including an input shaft coupled to the engine, an output shaft, an electric machine, and a gearing arrangement, wherein the electric machine is configured to actuate the gearing arrangement to change a speed ratio between the input and output shafts;
- and
- a controller programmed to, responsive to a request to manually shift the transmission to one of a predetermined number of virtual discrete speed ratios and the engine being OFF, (i) command starting of the engine regardless of a driver-demand torque and (ii) operate the electric machine to shift the transmission to the one of the speed ratios.
A method of operating a powertrain having an engine, a continuously variable transmission including an input shaft coupled to the engine, an output shaft, an electric machine, and a gearing arrangement, wherein the electric machine is configured to actuate the gearing arrangement to change a speed ratio between the input and output shafts, the method comprising:
- via a controller associated with the powertrain, responsive to a request to manually shift the transmission to one of a predetermined number of virtual discrete speed ratios and the engine being OFF, (i) commanding starting of the engine regardless of a driver-demand torque and (ii) operating the electric machine to shift the transmission to the one of the speed ratios.
A vehicle comprising:
- an engine;
- a continuously variable transmission including gearing arrangement and an electric machine;
- and
- a controller programmed to, responsive to a request to manually shift the transmission to one of a predetermined number of virtual discrete speed ratios and the engine being OFF, (i) command starting of the engine regardless of a driver-demand torque and (ii) operate the electric machine to shift the transmission to the one of the speed ratios.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.