Intelligent clutch pack lubrication in work vehicle powershift transmissions

An intelligent clutch lubrication system utilized in conjunction with a work vehicle powershift transmission (PST) containing first and second PST components, the intelligent clutch lubrication system comprising:

• a first dynamically-lubricated clutch pack movable between an engaged position and a disengaged position to rotationally couple and decouple the first and second PST components, respectively;
• a lubricant flow circuit including a clutch lubrication loop in which the first dynamically-lubricated clutch pack is positioned;
• a supply pump fluidly coupled to the lubricant flow circuit and, when active, urging lubricant flow about the lubricant flow circuit and through the clutch lubrication loop;
• a first lubricant control (LC) valve positioned in the clutch lubrication loop at a location upstream of the first dynamically-lubricated clutch pack;
• a controller architecture operably coupled to the first LC valve and configured to control the first LC valve to temporarily boost lubricant flow to the first dynamically-lubricated clutch pack when initially moved into the engaged position during operation of the intelligent clutch lubrication system;
• a second dynamically-lubricated clutch pack positioned in the lubricant flow circuit;
• and
• a second LC valve operably coupled to the controller architecture and positioned in the lubricant flow circuit at a location upstream of the second dynamically-lubricated clutch pack.

A method carried-out by a controller architecture included in an intelligent clutch lubrication system onboard a work vehicle having a powershift transmission (PST), the controller architecture operably coupled to a first lubricant control (LC) valve positioned in a clutch lubrication loop at a location upstream of a first dynamically-lubricated clutch pack and operably coupled to a second LC valve positioned upstream of a second dynamically-lubricated clutch pack, the method comprising:

• determining, utilizing data provided to the controller architecture, when the first dynamically-lubricated clutch pack moves from a disengaged position into an engaged position in which the first dynamically-lubricated clutch pack rotationally couples first and second components contained in the PST;
• controlling the first LC valve, via commands transmitted from the controller architecture to the first LC valve, to temporarily boost lubricant flow to the first dynamically-lubricated clutch pack when initially moved into the engaged position during operation of the intelligent clutch lubrication system;
• and
• independently varying lubricant flow supplied to the first dynamically-lubricated clutch pack and to the second dynamically-lubricated clutch pack via commands transmitted from the controller architecture to the first LC valve and to the second LC valve, respectively. during operation of the intelligent clutch lubrication system.