Apparatus for controlling a clutch in an automatic vehicle transmission
AssigneeGeneral Motors Corporation
InventorPaul Dwight Stevenson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus for controlling the clutches in an automatic vehicle transmission includes a series of electric motors attached to the transmission housing, each of which has a motor shaft with a gear attached to it. A torque-to-thrust mechanism is driven by the driving gear and includes a thrust element that imparts a linear force to the apply plate of a clutch. Also included is a sensing system that allows for sensitive control of the torque-to-thrust mechanism which facilitates smooth engagement and disengagement of the clutch.
Claims17
An apparatus for controlling a clutch in an automatic transmission on a vehicle, comprising:
- an electric motor fixedly attached to a housing of the transmission and having a motor shaft;
- a driving element rotatably attached to the motor shaft;
- a torque-to-thrust mechanism driven by the driving element, having a thrust element for imparting a linear force to apply the clutch;
- a sensing system configured to output at least one electronic signal related to the magnitude of the linear force;
- and
- a transmission control module for receiving the at least one electronic signal from the sensing system and controlling the electric motor.
An apparatus for controlling clutches in an automatic transmission on a vehicle, comprising:
- a plurality of electric motors fixedly attached to a housing of the transmission, each motor having a motor shaft;
- a plurality of driving elements rotatably attached to a corresponding motor shaft;
- a plurality of torque-to-thrust mechanisms, each driven by a corresponding driving element and each including a thrust element for imparting a linear force to apply a corresponding clutch;
- a plurality of sensing systems, each configured to output at least one electronic signal related to the magnitude of the linear force on a corresponding clutch;
- and
- a transmission control module for receiving the electronic signals from the sensing systems and controlling the electric motors.
A vehicle having an automatic transmission including an apparatus for controlling at least some of the clutches in the transmission, thereby reducing both vehicle space required for the transmission and power consumed by the transmission, the apparatus comprising:
- a plurality of electric motors fixedly attached to a housing of the transmission, each motor having a motor shaft;
- a plurality of driving elements rotatably attached to a corresponding motor shaft;
- a plurality of torque-to-thrust mechanisms, each driven by a corresponding driving element and each including a thrust element for imparting a linear force to apply one of the clutches;
- a plurality of sensing systems, each configured to output at least one electronic signal related to the magnitude of the linear force on a corresponding clutch;
- and
- a transmission control module for receiving the electronic signals from the sensing systems and controlling the electric motors.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.