US 5,393,276 AGranted

Method and apparatus for control of engine compression brakes before, during and after an electronically controlled gear shift

AssigneeCummins Electronics Company, Inc.

InventorsGregory R. White, Larry R. Webber, Dean S. Anderson, Jon A. Steeby

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

An engine compression brake control device is disclosed. The control device is electronic and prevents activation of the engine compression brakes during operating states wherein undesirable conditions will result if the engine brakes are active. The electronic control device monitors various conditions and activates the engine brakes only if all of the following conditions are simultaneously detected: a valid gear ratio is detected; the driver has requested or enabled engine compression brake operation; the clutch pedal is out; the throttle is at a minimum engine speed position; and the electronic controller is not presently attempting to execute an electronically controlled final drive gear shift.

Claims9

Dependent claims

A device for controlling activation of an engine compression brake in association with a vehicle drive train including an engine, a throttle control connected to the engine, a manual/automatic transmission having a plurality of selectable gear reduction ratios, and a manual clutch situated between the engine and the transmission, said device comprising:

means for determining a valid gear ratio corresponding to one of the gear reduction ratios of the transmission and producing a valid gear ratio signal in response thereto;
means for sensing an automatic shift state of the transmission corresponding to an active shift time period and producing a shift not active signal when said automatic shift state is not active;
means for sensing a closed throttle position for the throttle control and producing a throttle closed signal in response thereto;
means for sensing engagement of said clutch and producing a clutch engaged signal in response thereto;
means for enabling engine compression brake operation and producing a brake enable signal in response thereto;
and
means for activating the compression brake in response to the concurrent presence of said valid gear ratio signal, said throttle closed signal, said clutch engaged signal, said shift not active signal and said brake enable signal.

4 more elements

A device for controlling activation of an engine compression brake in association with a vehicle drive train including an engine, a throttle control connected to the engine, a manual/automatic transmission having a plurality of manually selectable gear ratios and at least two automatically selectable gear ratios, and a manual clutch situated between the engine and the transmission, said device comprising:

an electronic cruise control device for fueling the engine and automatically shifting gears of the transmission in response to an operator cruise control request, said cruise control device producing a shift not active signal when not automatically changing gear ratios of the transmission;
means for determining a valid gear ratio corresponding to one of the gear ratios of the transmission and producing a valid gear ratio signal in response thereto;
means for sensing a substantially closed throttle position for the throttle control and producing a throttle closed signal in response thereto;
means for sensing engagement of said clutch and producing a clutch engaged signal in response thereto;
means for enabling engine compression brake operation and producing a brake enable signal in response thereto;
and
electronic control circuit means for activating the compression brake in response to the concurrent presence of said valid gear ratio signal, said throttle closed signal, said clutch engaged signal, said shift not active signal and said brake enable signal.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.