Automatic shift preselection mode for mechanical transmission system with semi-automatic shift implementation

A control system (104) for semi-automatic implementation of manually and automatically selected shifts of a mechanical change gear transmission system comprising a manually controlled fuel throttle controlled engine (E), a multi-speed change gear mechanical transmission (10), a manually controlled master friction clutch (C) drivingly interposed between the engine and the transmission, a first sensor (98) for providing a first input signal indicative of transmission input shaft (16) rotational speed, a second sensor (100) for providing a second input signal indicative of the rotational speed of a transmission shaft (90) independently rotatable relative to the transmission input shaft under at least certain transmission operating conditions and a non-manually controllable transmission actuator (112, 70, 96) for controlling shifting of the transmission, said control system characterized by;

• means (120, 122, 124/132) for manually selecting an upshift or a downshift from a currently engaged transmission ratio or from neutral to a selected ratio and for manually selecting operation in an automatic preselect mode, and providing a third input signal indicative of said selection;
• indicia means (120, 122, 124) for indicating a selection of the automatic preselect mode and for indicating selection but not confirmed execution of a shift from the currently engaged transmission ratio;
• a central processing unit (106) for receiving said first, second and third input signals and for processing the same in accordance with predetermined logic rules to issue command output signals, said central processing unit including;
• (a) means responsive to manual selection of operation in an automatic mode (i) for issuing a command output signal to said indicia means to indicate that the automatic preselect mode has been selected, (ii) for determining the desirability of a shift from the currently engaged ratio and to select such a shift if desirable and (iii) for issuing command output signals to said indicia means to provide an indication that an upshift or downshift, as appropriate, has been selected;
• (b) means responsive to a selection of a transmission shift from a currently engaged ratio for issuing command output signals to said actuator to bias the transmission to be shifted into neutral;
• (c) means responsive to (i) a selection of a shift from a currently engaged ratio into a selected ratio and (ii) confirmation of a transmission neutral condition for (i) sensing manual substantial synchronization of the transmission and (ii) thereafter for issuing command output signals to said actuator to cause the transmission to be shifted into the selected ratio.
• (d) means for confirming execution of a selected shift and for issuing command output signals to said indicia means to terminate the indication of a selected shift.

A control system (104) for semi-automatic implementation of automatically selected shifts of a mechanical change gear transmission system comprising a fuel throttle controlled engine (E), a mutli-speed change gear mechanical transmission (10), a manually controlled master friction clutch (C) drivingly interposed between the engine and the transmission, a first sensor (98) for providing a first input signal indicative of transmission input shaft (16) rotational speed, a second sensor (100) for providing a second input signal indicative of the rotational speed of a transmission shaft (90) independently rotatable relative to the transmission input shaft under at least certain transmission operating conditions and a non-manually controllable transmission actuator (112, 70, 96) for controlling shifting of the transmission, said control system characterized by;

• indicia means (120, 124) for providing an indication of a selection but not yet confirmation of an upshift or a downshift from a currently engaged transmission ratio or from neutral to a selected ratio;
• a central processing unit (106) for receiving said input signals and for processing the same in accordance with predetermined logic rules to issue command output signals, said central processing unit including;
• (a) means for determining the desirability of a shift from a currently engaged ratio, to select such a shift if desirable and for issuing command output signals to said indicia means to provide an indication that an upshift or a downshift, as appropriate, has been selected;
• (b) means responsive to a selection of a transmission shift from a currently engaged ratio for issuing command output signals to said actuator to bias the transmission to be shifted into neutral;
• (c) means responsive to (i) a selection of a shift from a currently engaged ratio into a selected ratio and (ii) confirmation of a transmission neutral condition for (i) sensing substantial synchronization of the transmission and (ii) thereafter for issuing command output signals to said actuator to cause the transmission to be shifted into the selected ratio;
• and
• (d) means for confirming a selected shift has been implemented and for issuing command output signals to said indicia means to terminate the indication of a selected shift.