Dual clutch transmission architecture for agricultural vehicles

A method for controlling an architecture for a dual clutch transmission of a work vehicle, comprising:

• receiving an input for shifting from a first gear of a gear ratio stage in combination with a second gear of a range gear ratio stage to a third gear of the gear ratio stage in combination with a fourth gear of the range gear ratio stage;
• wherein the dual clutch transmission comprises:
• an input shaft coupled to a power source of the work vehicle;
• an output shaft coupled to a driving axle of the work vehicle;
• an input stage, the gear ratio stage, and the range gear ratio stage operatively connected in series with respect to the input shaft and the output shaft;
• a forward clutch and a rearward clutch;
• wherein the input stage is configured to transmit torque from the input shaft to the forward clutch and the rearward clutch;
• wherein the gear ratio stage comprises a first shaft configured to carry a first plurality of gears in a rotatably free manner, and a second shaft configured to carry a second plurality of gears in a rotatably free manner, the first shaft coupled to the forward clutch via a first clutch, and the second shaft coupled to the rearward clutch via a second clutch;
• an intermediate shaft operatively interposed between the gear ratio stage and the range gear ratio stage;
• the intermediate shaft carrying a third plurality of gears configured to engage the first plurality of gears and the second plurality of gears to provide a predetermined gear ratio between the input shaft and the intermediate shaft;
• the range gear ratio stage comprising a support shaft carrying a plurality of range gears, the plurality of range gears being configured to engage one or more of the third plurality of gears carried by the intermediate shaft, the support shaft being operatively coupled to the output shaft;
• wherein the plurality of range gears are carried in a rotatably free manner with respect to the support shaft and wherein one or more freely rotatable gears of the third plurality of gears are supported in a rotatably free manner on the intermediate shaft, and at least one gear of the third plurality of gears is carried by the intermediate shaft in a rigid manner;
• and
• a first selection element configured to selectively couple the first plurality of gears to the second plurality of gears, and a second selection element configured to selectively couple the plurality of range gears to the support shaft and the one or more freely rotatable gears of the third plurality of gears to the intermediate shaft;
• and
• coupling the third gear with a respective shaft and the fourth gear to the support shaft;
• swapping the first clutch and the second clutch to allow torque to flow from a clutch associated to the first gear to a clutch associated to the third gear;
• and
• uncoupling the first gear from the respective shaft and the second gear from the support shaft.

A system comprising:

• a work vehicle;
• and
• a dual clutch transmission comprising:
• an input shaft coupled to a power source of the work vehicle;
• an output shaft coupled to a driving axle of the work vehicle;
• an input stage, a gear ratio stage, and a range gear ratio stage operatively connected in series with respect to the input shaft and the output shaft;
• a forward clutch and a rearward clutch;
• wherein the input stage is configured to transmit torque from the input shaft to the forward clutch and the rearward clutch;
• wherein the gear ratio stage comprises a first shaft configured to carry a first plurality of gears in a rotatably free manner, and a second shaft configured to carry a second plurality of gears in a rotatably free manner, the first shaft coupled to the forward clutch via a first clutch, and the second shaft coupled to the rearward clutch via a second clutch;
• an intermediate shaft operatively interposed between the gear ratio stage and the range gear ratio stage;
• the intermediate shaft carrying a third plurality of gears configured to engage the first plurality of gears and the second plurality of gears to provide a predetermined gear ratio between the input shaft and the intermediate shaft;
• the range gear ratio stage comprising a support shaft carrying a plurality of range gears, the plurality of range gears being configured to engage one or more of the third plurality of gears carried by the intermediate shaft, the support shaft being operatively coupled to the output shaft;
• wherein the plurality of range gears are carried in a rotatably free manner with respect to the support shaft and wherein one or more freely rotatable gears of the third plurality of gears are supported in a rotatably free manner on the intermediate shaft, and at least one gear of the third plurality of gears is carried by the intermediate shaft in a rigid manner;
• and
• a first selection element configured to selectively couple the first plurality of gears to the second plurality of gears, and a second selection element configured to selectively couple the plurality of range gears to the support shaft and the one or more freely rotatable gears of the third plurality of gears to the intermediate shaft.