Automatic productivity management control with standard power shift transmission

A method of managing power of an engine-powered vehicle having an engine with a set of built-in torque curves, a transmission with multiple gear ratios driven by the engine, a final drive configured to provide axle torque data to the transmission to establish engine torque sustained by the engine and to provide power for an external load, an electronic controller for controlling both the engine and the transmission, the electronic controller having automatic speed control, and the electronic controller including a device configured to input data and receive data from the electronic controller and to evaluate at least one variable during automatic speed control mode, the device inputting data from the variable to the electronic controller, the method comprising:

• automatically
• inputting data from the engine to the electronic controller;
• inputting data from the final drive to the transmission and to the electronic controller;
• inputting data from the transmission to the electronic controller;
• inputting data from the at least one variable from the device to the electronic controller and receiving data from the electronic controller;
• evaluating the data received by the electronic controller from the engine, the transmission, the final drive, and the device to determine engine rpm and transmission gear, and
• issuing commands from the electronic controller to the engine and the transmission as a result of evaluating the data to control engine rpm and transmission gear so that a selected vehicle speed in the automatic speed control mode is maintained by the electronic controller by automatically up-shifting the transmission and reducing engine speed to maintain a desired vehicle speed and reducing fuel consumption in response to a reduction of a load on the vehicle reduced and by automatically down-shifting the transmission and increasing engine speed when the load is applied,
• wherein the variable includes at least one of
• (a) a position of a selector switch, the selector switch being positionable in a field mode for operating the vehicle in a field, including tillage applications under changing load conditions, and a road mode for operating the vehicle during road hauling or transportation, (b) a position of a brake, (c) vehicle ground speed, (d) vehicle ground speed slippage, (e) an operator set maximum and minimum ground speed, (f) an operator set maximum and minimum gear setting, (g) system sensitivity, and (h) change in implement status.

An engine-powered vehicle having an automatic power management feature comprising:

• an engine;
• a transmission with multiple gear ratios driven by the engine;
• a final drive configured to provide axle torque data to the transmission to establish engine torque sustained by the engine;
• and
• an electronic controller for controlling both the engine and the transmission, the electronic controller having automatic speed control, and the electronic controller including a device configured to input data and receive data from the electronic controller and to evaluate at least one variable during automatic speed control mode;
• wherein the electronic controller receives data input from the engine, from the transmission, from the final drive, and from the device, and the electronic controller determines engine rpm and transmission gear as a result of the data received to maintain a selected vehicle speed by automatically up-shifting the transmission and reducing engine speed to reduce fuel consumption when a load on the vehicle is reduced and down-shifting the transmission and increasing engine speed when the load is applied,
• wherein the variable includes at least one of
• (a) a position of a selector switch, the selector switch being positionable in a field mode for operating the vehicle in a field, including tillage applications under changing load conditions, and a road mode for operating the vehicle during road hauling or transportation, (b) a position of a brake, (c) vehicle ground speed, (d) vehicle ground speed slippage, (e) an operator set maximum and minimum ground speed, (f) an operator set maximum and minimum gear setting,(g) system sensitivity, and (h) change in implement status.