Transmission and torque converter cooling control
AssigneeGeneral Motors Corporation
InventorsBryan J. Williams, Jeffrey R. Kelly, David J. Varda, Scott G. Shockley
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Abstract
A control system that generates one of a normal mode and a hot mode signal to control operation of a transmission includes a calculator that calculates a predicted temperature of a torque converter and a comparator that compares the predicted temperature to a threshold temperature. A timer generates one of the normal mode and the hot mode signals based on the predicted temperature and the threshold temperature.
Claims51
A control system that generates one of a normal mode and a hot mode signal to control operation of a transmission, comprising:
- a calculator calculates a predicted temperature of a torque converter;
- a comparator that compares said predicted temperature to a threshold temperature;
- and
- a timer that generates one of said normal mode and said hot mode signals based on said predicted temperature and said threshold temperature.
A control system that operates a transmission in one of a normal mode and a hot mode, comprising:
- a torque converter that transfers drive torque from an engine to said transmission;
- and
- a controller that calculates a predicted temperature of said torque converter based on a thermal model of said torque converter, that compares said predicted temperature to a threshold temperature and that operates said transmission in one of said normal mode and said hot mode based on said predicted temperature and said threshold temperature.
A method of cooling a torque converter of a transmission that is operable in a first mode and a second mode, comprising:
- calculating a predicted temperature of said torque converter based on a thermal model of said torque converter while said transmission is operating in said first mode;
- comparing said predicted temperature to a threshold temperature;
- and
- operating said transmission in one of said first mode and said second mode based on said predicted temperature and said threshold temperature.
A vehicle operable in one of a normal mode and a hot mode, comprising:
- a transmission;
- a torque converter that transfers drive torque from an engine to said transmission;
- and
- a controller that calculates a predicted temperature of said torque converter based on a thermal model of said torque converter, that compares said predicted temperature to a threshold temperature and that operates said vehicle in said hot mode if said predicted temperature is greater than said threshold temperature for a first threshold time period.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.