System, method, and apparatus for operating a high efficiency, high output transmission

A transmission, comprising:

• an input shaft configured to couple to a prime mover;
• a countershaft having a first plurality of gears mounted thereon;
• a main shaft having a second plurality of gears mounted thereon;
• an output shaft selectively providing a torque output to a driveline;
• a shift actuator configured to selectively couple the input shaft to the main shaft by rotatably coupling at least one of the first plurality of gears to the countershaft and the second plurality of gears to the main shaft, wherein the shift actuator is mounted on an exterior wall of a housing, and wherein the countershaft and the main shaft are at least partially positioned within the housing;
• a clutch configured to selectively decouple the prime mover from the input shaft;
• a progressive actuator operationally coupled to the clutch, wherein a position of the progressive actuator corresponds to a position of the clutch;
• a controller, comprising:
• a clutch characterization logic configured to interpret a clutch torque profile, the clutch torque profile providing a relation between a position of the clutch and a clutch torque value;
• a clutch control logic configured to command a position of the progressive actuator in response to a clutch torque reference value and the clutch torque profile;
• and
• wherein the clutch characterization logic is further configured to:
• interpret a position of the progressive actuator and an indicated clutch torque;
• and
• to update the clutch torque profile in response to the position of the progressive actuator and the indicated clutch torque;
• and
• a means for providing a consistent lock-up time of the clutch, the consistent lock-up time comprising a time commencing with a clutch torque request time and ending with a clutch lock-up event.

An apparatus, comprising:

• a clutch characterization logic configured to interpret a clutch torque profile, the clutch torque profile providing a relation between a position of a clutch and a clutch torque value;
• a clutch control logic configured to command a position of a progressive actuator of a transmission, wherein a position of the progressive actuator corresponds to a position of the clutch, in response to a clutch torque reference value and the clutch torque profile;
• and
• wherein the clutch characterization logic is further configured to:
• interpret a position of the progressive actuator and an indicated clutch torque;
• wherein the interpreting the indicated clutch torque is in response to the prime mover torque value;
• and
• to update the clutch torque profile in response to the position of the progressive actuator and the indicated clutch torque
• a means for providing a consistent lock-up time of the clutch, the consistent lock-up time comprising a time commencing with a clutch torque request time and ending with a clutch lock-up event, wherein the clutch lock-up event comprises a clutch slip value being lower than a clutch lock-up slip threshold value, and wherein the means for providing the consistent lock-up time of the clutch comprises a launch characterization logic, the launch characterization logic configured to interpret at least one launch parameter selected from the launch parameters consisting of:
• a vehicle grade value;
• a vehicle mass value;
• and a driveline configuration value.