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AssigneeEaton Corporation
InventorsAnthony Stasik, Kwok Wah Chan, Ian Richard Joseph Bates, John Ernest Stainton
Estimating the term…
A control system and method for a semi-automatic mechanical transmission system (10) is provided for sensing rolling start conditions (OS>REF, GR=N, (CLUTCH MANUAL DISENGAGED=TRUE)) and upon sensing such conditions, allowing operator request for a direct shift into an appropriate rolling start gear ratio (GR.sub.RS) determined as a function of current and/or expected output shaft speed (GR.sub.RS .gtoreq.ES.sub.IDLE /OS).
A method of controlling a semi-automatic mechanical change gear transmission system (10) comprising a fuel-throttle-controlled engine (14) having a known idle speed (ES.sub.IDLE), a multi-speed change-gear mechanical transmission (12), a friction master clutch (16) interposed between the engine and transmission, a manually operated shift selection lever (1) movable in a first direction from a centered position to select upshifts and in a second direction from said centered position to select downshifts from the currently engaged gear ratio, a central processing unit (38) for receiving inputs indicative of transmission engaged ratio, of vehicle speed (OS) and of operation of said manual shift selection lever and for processing same according to predetermined logic rules to issue command output signals to non-manually controlled operators including a fuel throttle control operator (26) and a transmission operator (34), said method comprising:
A system of controlling a semi-automatic mechanical change-gear transmission system (10) comprising a multiple-speed, change-gear mechanical transmission (12) and a manually operated shift selection device (1) for selecting upshifts and downshifts, a processing unit (38) for receiving inputs, including inputs indicative of operation of said shift selection device, and for processing same according to predetermined logic rules to determine currently engaged and allowably engaged gear ratios and to issue command output signals to non-manually controlled operators including a transmission operator (34), said processing unit sensing operation of said manual shift selection device including selection of a shift in the upshift or downshift direction and duration of selection operation, said logic rules including rules effective for determining the transmission gear ratio selected by the operator to be shifted directly into from the currently engaged ratio by assuming selection of a shift in a given direction for a time duration less than a reference period of time indicates operator selection of a change of one ratio in said direction;
A machine for controlling a semi-automatic mechanical change gear transmission system (10) comprising a fuel-throttle-controlled engine (14) having a known idle speed (ES.sub.IDLE), a multi-speed change-gear mechanical transmission (12), a friction master clutch (16) interposed between the engine and transmission, a manually operated shift selection lever (1) movable in a first direction from a centered position to select upshifts and in a second direction from said centered position to select downshifts from the currently engaged gear ratio, a central processing unit (38) for receiving inputs indicative of transmission engaged ratio, of vehicle speed (OS) and of operation of said manual shift selection lever and for processing same according to predetermined logic rules to issue command output signals to non-manually controlled operators including a fuel throttle control operator (26), and a transmission operator (34), said machine characterized by said logic rules including logic rules for:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.
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No related US applications are recorded in the indexed filing history.
Including control of propulsion units: including control of combustion engines
Stepped gearings: with separate change-speed gear trains arranged in series
Related to particular drive situations: drive off, accelerating from standstill
The signals being electric: control units where shifting is directly initiated by the driver, e.g. semi-automatic transmissions
Term ended 13 Feb 2016 (estimated)
USPTO file history isn’t available for this patent, so only indexed dates are shown.
The present application claims priority from GB 9503232.2 filed Feb. 18, 1995, and from GB 9505373.2 filed Mar. 17, 1995.
The present application is related to the following U.S. patent applications, all assigned to the assignee of this application, EATON CORPORATION:
Ser. No. 07/935,937; filed Aug. 27, 1992 START GEAR RATIO CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD
FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of the semi-automatic mechanical change gear transmission system of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of the control system of the semi-automatic transmission of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the driver's manual shift control and display device.
In the present description of the preferred embodiment, certain terminology will be used for descriptive purposes only and is not intended to be limiting. The terms "upward," "downward," "rightward" and "leftward" will refer to directions in the drawings to which reference is made. The terms "inward" and "outward" refer, respectively, to directions toward and away from the geometric center of the device or portion thereof being described. The above applies to derivatives of the terms above specifically mentioned and terms of similar import.
The term "simple transmission" is used to designate a change speed transmission, wherein the operator may select one of a plurality of single gear reductions. The term "compound transmission" is used to designate a change-speed transmission having a main transmission portion and an auxiliary transmission portion connected in series whereby the selected gear reduction in the main transmission portion may be compounded by further selected gear reduction in the auxiliary transmission portion. The term "splitter-type compound transmission" as used herein will designate a compound transmission wherein the auxiliary transmission is used to provide various selectable steps for subdivisions of the gear ratio selected in the main transmission portion. In a splitter-type compound transmission, the main transmission section typically is provided with relatively wide steps which are split or subdivided by the auxiliary section. As used herein, the term "upshift" shall mean shifting from a lower speed gear ratio into a higher speed gear ratio. As used herein, the term "downshift" shall mean shifting from a higher speed gear ratio to a lower speed gear ratio. The terms "low-speed gear," "low gear" and/or "first gear," as used herein, shall designate the gear ratio utilized for lowest forward speed operation in a transmission or transmission section (i.e., that set of gears having the highest ratio of reduction relative to the input shaft of the transmission).
A "selected direction" of shifting will refer to selection of either single or multiple upshifting or downshifting from a particular gear ratio. The "displacement" between ratios refers to the number of selectable ratios between two given ratios; for example, third speed or gear ratio is displaced by one and two ratios, respectively, from fourth and fifth speed, respectively, in the downshift direction.