System and method for disabling a retarder during a gearshift at low speeds for improved driver comfort
AssigneeBendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC
InventorsBernhard Trünkle, Thomas S. Miller, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system and method are provided for disabling a retarder during a gearshift at low speeds for improved driver comfort. These embodiments recognize that power flow is interrupted during a shifting process and use that opportunity to disable the retarder at low speeds, thereby eliminating an additional, uncomfortable jolt to the driver. Several embodiments are provided.
Claims20
A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing computer-readable instructions that, when executed by one or more processors in a vehicle comprising a retarder, cause the one or more processors to:
- determine whether a speed of the vehicle is below a first threshold but above a second threshold;
- and
- in response to determining that the speed of the vehicle is below the first threshold but above the second threshold:
- disable the retarder during a gear shift if the retarder is enabled;
- or
- prevent enabling the retarder if the retarder is not enabled.
A method comprising:
- performing in a vehicle comprising an engine and a retarder configured to decelerate the vehicle:
- determining that the retarder is to be disabled;
- and
- delaying disabling the retarder until a gear shift occurs.
A vehicle comprising:
- an engine;
- a transmission;
- a retarder;
- and
- means for:
- determining whether a speed of the vehicle is below a first threshold but above a second threshold;
- and
- in response to determining that the speed of the vehicle is below the first threshold but above the second threshold:
- disabling the retarder during a gear shift of the transmission if the retarder is enabled;
- or
- preventing enabling the retarder if the retarder is not enabled.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.