Control for torque converter having multiple selectively engageable converter couplers
AssigneeAllison Transmission, Inc.
InventorsCharles F. Long, David C. Ames
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus and method of controlling a torque transmitting apparatus having multiple selectively engageable couplers is provided. The multiple couplers may be selectively engaged and disengaged to provide a mechanical, friction or fluid coupling between portions of the torque transmitting apparatus and other components of a vehicle powertrain during various operational stages. The control apparatus includes a fluid pressure control device and a fluid flow control device.
Claims26
A control for a torque converter comprising a pump, a turbine fluidly coupled to the pump, a pump clutch to selectively mechanically couple the pump to a vehicle drive unit, and a torque converter clutch to selectively mechanically couple the pump to the turbine, the control comprising:
- a valve and fluid passage assembly operably coupled to the torque converter to control the engagement and disengagement of a pump clutch and the torque converter clutch during a plurality of phases of operation of the torque converter, the valve and fluid passage assembly including a pressure control valve multiplexed to control the engagement and disengagement of the pump clutch and the torque converter clutch;
- and
- a fluid flow control valve in fluid communication with the pressure control valve to selectively alter the path of fluid flow from the at least one pressure control valve to the fluid passage assembly;
- wherein the fluid flow control valve comprises a first fluid chamber configured to selectively communicate with the pump clutch, a second fluid chamber configured to selectively communicate with the torque converter clutch, and a third fluid chamber configured to selectively communicate with one of the pump clutch and the torque converter clutch.
A control for a torque converter comprising a pump, a turbine fluidly coupled to the pump, a pump clutch to selectively mechanically couple the pump to a vehicle drive unit, and a torque converter clutch to selectively mechanically couple the pump and the turbine, the control comprising a valve system operably couplable to the torque converter to control the engagement, trimming, and disengagement of the pump clutch and the torque converter clutch during a plurality of phases of operation of the torque converter, the valve system being multiplexed to control both of the pump clutch and the torque converter clutch, the valve system comprising a fluid flow control valve comprising a first fluid chamber configured to selectively communicate with the pump clutch, a second fluid chamber configured to selectively communicate with the torque converter clutch, and a third fluid chamber configured to selectively communicate with one of the pump clutch and the torque converter clutch.
A control for a torque transferring apparatus of a vehicle, comprising:
- an actuator having a first actuator state and a second actuator state,
- a flow control device having a first device state and a second device state, the flow control device being in fluid communication with the actuator, such that when the actuator is in the first actuator state and the flow control device is in the first device state, the actuator and the flow control device are in fluid communication with a pump clutch of a torque converter,
- the pump clutch being coupled to a pump of the torque converter and being selectively couplable to a portion of the drive unit of the vehicle, the drive unit being configured to provide torsional input to the first portion of the torque transferring apparatus, and
- when the actuator is in the second actuator state and the flow control device is in the second device state, the actuator and the flow control device are in fluid communication with a torque converter clutch of the torque converter, the torque converter clutch being selectively couplable to the pump of the torque converter, wherein the flow control device comprises a first fluid chamber configured to selectively communicate with the pump clutch, a second fluid chamber configured to selectively communicate with the torque converter clutch, and a third fluid chamber configured to selectively communicate with one of the pump clutch and the torque converter clutch.
A control for a torque converter, the torque converter comprising a pump and a turbine fluidly coupled to the pump and configured to transfer torque from a drive unit of a motor vehicle to a driven unit of the motor vehicle, the control comprising:
- a fluid supply,
- a control assembly operably coupled to the fluid supply, the control assembly including a fluid pressure control apparatus and a fluid flow control apparatus in fluid communication with the fluid pressure control apparatus, and
- electrical circuitry operably coupled to the control assembly, the control being configured to cause a torque converter pump clutch to selectively engage and disengage from an output member of a vehicle drive unit and to cause a torque converter clutch to selectively engage and disengage from the torque converter pump with the fluid flow control apparatus, the fluid flow control apparatus configured to selectively alter the path of fluid flow from the fluid pressure control apparatus to the control assembly;
- wherein the fluid flow control apparatus comprises a first fluid chamber configured to selectively communicate with the pump clutch, a second fluid chamber configured to selectively communicate with the torque converter clutch, and a third fluid chamber configured to selectively communicate with one of the pump clutch and the torque converter clutch.
A control for a torque converter of a vehicle, comprising:
- an electrical control apparatus configured to receive signals indicative of the operational state of a vehicle and execute executable instructions to control operation of the torque converter, and
- a computer-readable medium accessible by the electrical control apparatus, the computer-readable medium comprising executable instructions to:
- determine an operational state of a vehicle having a drive unit, a transmission, and a torque converter comprising a pump and a turbine fluidly coupled to the pump and configured to transfer torque from the drive unit to the transmission, the torque converter having a torque converter pump clutch coupled to the pump of torque converter and being selectively couplable to an output member of the vehicle drive unit, torque converter having a torque converter clutch coupled to the turbine of the torque converter and being selectively couplable to the pump of the torque converter by a fluid flow control valve in fluid communication with a pressure control valve to selectively alter the path of fluid flow from the at least one pressure control valve to the fluid passage assembly;
- wherein the fluid flow control valve comprises a first fluid chamber configured to selectively communicate with the pump clutch, a second fluid chamber configured to selectively communicate with the torque converter clutch, and a third fluid chamber configured to selectively communicate with one of the pump clutch and the torque converter clutch, and
- selectively change a state of a torque converter control assembly from a first state to a second state in response to a change in the operational state of the vehicle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.