Shift control and method
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorMichael A. Weber
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A machine has a power train including a prime mover connected to a transmission having two or more selectable gear settings, and a user interface providing an operator selection of at least two gear identifiers of a whole number. Each whole number gear identifiers corresponds to high idle speeds for respective gear settings. The user interface provides a signal indicative of selected gear identifier to an electronic controller, which also receives and transmits signals indicative of machine parameters. The electronic controller contains computer executable instructions which determine an optimal gear setting and whether a gear shift should be made.
Claims20
A machine having a power train that includes a prime mover connected to a transmission having at least two selectable gear settings, the machine further comprising:
- an operator interface adapted to provide an operator with a choice of gear identifiers, at least two of said gear identifiers being whole numbers, each gear identifier of a whole number corresponding to a high idle speed for a respective gear setting, the high idle speed corresponding to a speed at zero DB pull force for the gear identifier of a whole number, the operator interface further adapted to provide a signal indicative of a gear identifier selection by the operator,
- an electronic controller configured to receive signals indicative of the gear identifier selection by the operator and to receive and transmit signals indicative of machine parameters, the electronic controller containing computer executable instructions, the computer executable instructions comprising instructions for determining an optimal gear setting and whether a gear shift should be made.
A method for operating a machine having an engine connected to a multi-gear power-shift transmission, the engine operating at a current engine speed and providing a current torque, the method comprising:
- receiving a signal indicative of a gear identifier selection from an operator interface adapted to provide an operator with a choice of at least two gear identifiers of a whole number, each gear identifier of a whole number corresponding to a high idle speed for a respective gear setting, the high idle speed corresponding to a speed at zero DB pull force for the gear identifier of a whole number,
- receiving signals indicative of at least one machine parameter including ground speed,
- executing a control logic to determine an optimal gear setting and whether a gear shift should be made, and
- providing an indication if a gear shift from a current gear setting to an alternate gear setting is desired based upon the gear identifier selection by the operator.
A power train including an engine connected to a multi-gear power-shift transmission, the transmission adapted to operate a drive system at a desired ground speed and power output, the power train further comprising an electronic controller configured to:
- receive a signal indicative of a gear identifier selection from an operator interface adapted to provide an operator with a choice of at least two gear identifiers of a whole number, each gear identifier of a whole number corresponding to a high idle speed for a respective gear setting, the high idle speed corresponding to a speed at zero DB pull force for the gear identifier of a whole number,
- receive signals indicative of at least one machine parameter including ground speed,
- execute a control logic to determine an optimal gear setting and whether a gear shift should be made, and
- provide an indication to initiate a gear shift if the gear shift from the current gear setting to an alternate gear setting is desired based upon the gear identifier selection by the operator.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.