Torque control for internal combustion engines
AssigneeRobert Bosch GmbH
InventorsGerhard Will, Walter Stroh, Martin Zechnall
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In order to diminish the lurching which occurs when automatic transmissions of motor vehicles perform gear changes, the invention describes apparatus for gradual changes of the engine torque at or near the onset of the gear change as well as at or near the time of gear reengagement. The engine torque may be changed by altering the fuel metering characteristics and/or the ignition timing in a gradual and controlled manner.
Claims11
In a drive system having an internal combustion engine, an automatic transmission having an input coupled to said internal combustion engine and an output, and a load coupled to said output of said automatic transmission,
- apparatus for controlling the torque of said internal combustion engine during shifting from a prevailing gear to a subsequent gear, comprising
- means for generating a gear selection signal;
- function generator means (25) having a first input (250) connected to said gear selection signal generator means for generating a control signal gradually changing the torque of said internal combustion engine as a predetermined function of time, and a second input;
- first timing means (24) connected to said gear selection signal generator means for generating a first timing signal in response to said gear selection signal;
- means (30) connected to said first timing means for disengaging said prevailing gear in response to said first timing signal;
- and
- second timing means (26) having an input connected to said first timing means and an output connected to said second input of said function generator means.
Apparatus for controlling the torque of a drive system comprising an internal combustion engine and an automatic transmission coupled to said internal combustion engine during shifting from a prevailing gear to a subsequent gear, comprising
- means (30) for disengaging said prevailing gear;
- means for gradually changing the output torque of said engine as a ramp function of time during said gear shifts;
- and
- circuit means (24, 29) for delaying operation of said disengaging means until after the start of operation of said torque-changing means.
In a drive system having an internal combustion engine, an automatic transmission having an input coupled to said internal combustion engine, and an output,
- apparatus for controlling the torque of said internal combustion engine during shifting from a prevailing gear to a subsequent gear comprising
- means for generating a gear selection signal;
- function generator means (25) having a first input (250) connected to said gear selection signal generator means for generating a control signal gradually changing the torque of said internal combustion engine as a predetermined function of time;
- first timing means (24) connected to said gear selection signal generator means for generating a first timing signal in response to said gear selection signal;
- means connected to said first timing means for disengaging said prevailing gear in response to said first timing signal;
- and means for changing the time constant of said first timing means (24) in dependence on at least one of the variables:
- engine speed;
- engine load.
Apparatus for controlling the torque of a drive system having an internal combustion engine and an automatic transmission coupled to said internal combustion engine during shifting from a prevailing gear to a subsequent gear, comprising
- means (30) for disengaging said prevailing gear;
- means for gradually changing the output torque of said engine as a predetermined function of time during said gear shift;
- a timing member (44), the input of which is connected to receive a signal related to gear selection;
- a delay circuit (46), connected to the output of said timing member, the output from said delay circuit (46) providing a control signal for changing engine operation;
- and means (450) for changing the time constant of said timing member (44) in dependence on at least one of the parameters:
- engine speed;
- engine load.
Apparatus for controlling the torque of a drive system having
- an internal combustion engine and an automatic transmission coupled to said internal combustion engine during shifting from a prevailing gear to a subsequent gear, comprising
- means (30) for disengaging said prevailing gear;
- means for gradually changing the output torque of said engine as a predetermined function of timing during said gear shift;
- circuit means for delaying operation of said disengaging means until after the start of operation of said torque-changing means;
- means for generating a shift direction signal (HS) indicative of the desired direction of gear shift;
- output elements on said output torque changing means operating in accordance with a torque signal applied to said output torque changing means;
- and delay means (46) interconnected between said output elements and said shift direction signal generating means for generating a torque control signal varying as said predetermined function of time in response to a shift direction signal indicative of a predetermined shift direction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.