Using inferred torque converter impeller speed to control an impeller clutch
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsWilliam R. Simpson, Jacob M. Povirk, Christopher G. Garbacz, David B. Plasencia
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for controlling an impeller clutch of a torque converter includes determining a function relating a K-factor of the torque, determining a current engine torque, determining a desired impeller clutch slip, using the function determine the actual impeller speed and thus actual clutch slip, and adjusting the operating state of the impeller clutch to produce the desired impeller clutch slip.
Claims15
A method for controlling an impeller clutch of a torque converter, comprising the steps of:
- (a) determining a function relating a K-factor of the torque converter and a speed ratio of the torque converter;
- (b) determining a current engine torque;
- (c) determining desired slip across the impeller clutch;
- (d) determining the current K-factor of the torque converter;
- (e) using the function and the current K-factor of the torque converter to determine the current impeller clutch slip;
- and
- (f) adjusting the operating state of the impeller clutch to produce the desired impeller clutch slip.
A system for controlling a torque converter of an automatic transmission for a vehicle driven by a power source, the system comprising:
- a torque converter including an impeller, a turbine, and an impeller clutch for alternately engaging and disengaging a drive connection between the impeller and the power source;
- a first sensor producing a first signal representing a speed of the turbine;
- second sensors that produce second signals, each second signal representing a magnitude of an operating parameter of the power source;
- and
- a controller electrically communicating with the first sensor and the second sensors, the controller being configured to determine a current magnitude of torque produced by the power source, a desired slip across the impeller clutch, and a actual slip across the impeller clutch, and to change the operating state of the impeller clutch such that the actual impeller clutch slip is equal to the desired impeller clutch slip.
A system for controlling a torque converter of an automatic transmission for a vehicle driven by a power source, the system comprising:
- a torque converter including an impeller, a turbine, and an impeller clutch for alternately engaging and disengaging a drive connection between the impeller and the power source;
- and
- a controller configured to determine a current magnitude of torque produced by the power source, a desired speed ratio of the torque converter, a K-factor of the torque converter, and a desired impeller speed from the K-factor and desired speed ratio, and to change the operating state of the impeller clutch such that the speed of the impeller is equal to the desired impeller speed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.