Clutch control for overcoming tooth butt
AssigneeZF Meritor, LLC
InventorsRonald P. Muetzel, Robert A. Sayman, James H. Devore
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A strategy for overcoming a tooth butt condition includes changing a target closed clutch position over time. When a tooth butt condition exists, a controller selectively closes a clutch to provide limited engagement between the engine and the transmission. A first target closed clutch position is used on the first attempt. If the tooth butt condition is not resolved, the controller then changes the target closed clutch position to provide a different level of engagement between the engine and the transmission. This process is repeated until the tooth butt condition is resolved, a preselected period of time expires, a maximum number of attempts has been completed or the maximum desirable closed clutch position has been used.
Claims18
A method of overcoming a tooth butt condition in a vehicle transmission, comprising the steps of:
- (A) determining that a tooth butt condition exists;
- (B) selectively controlling a clutch to reach a target closed position;
- (C) determining whether the tooth butt condition still exists;
- and
- (D) changing the target closed position and controlling the clutch to reach the changed target closed position.
A vehicle driveline system, comprising:
- a transmission having a plurality of gear members that are selectively engageable to provide a plurality of gear ratios;
- a clutch associated with the transmission to selectively couple the transmission to an engine;
- and
- a controller that selectively closes the clutch to a target closed clutch position during a tooth butt condition and changes the target closed clutch position over time until a selected criteria has been satisfied.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.