US 9,994,225 B1Granted

Method and apparatus for controlling a synchronous engagement clutch in a multi-mode powertrain system

AssigneeGM Global Technology Operations LLC

InventorsChunhao J. Lee, Farzad Samie

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Abstract

A powertrain system includes a geartrain configured to transfer mechanical power between an internal combustion engine, torque machines and a driveline by activation of a synchronous engagement clutch. A method includes commanding activation of the synchronous engagement clutch, including commanding operations of the engine and the first and second torque machines to control members of the clutch, including monitoring speeds thereof. A magnitude of clutch slip is determined. A zero-slip feedback control routine is executed when the clutch slip approaches a zero-slip state, wherein the zero-slip feedback control routine is operative to control the engine and the first and second torque machines to control the rotational speeds of the opposed first and second members to achieve zero clutch slip. The synchronous engagement clutch is activated when the clutch slip is less than a threshold level associated with the zero-slip state.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A method for operating a powertrain system including a geartrain configured to operate in a transmission state to transfer mechanical power between an internal combustion engine, first and second torque machines and a driveline by activation of a synchronous engagement clutch, wherein the synchronous engagement clutch is composed of opposed first and second members that are disposed to rotate in concert when the synchronous engagement clutch is activated and wherein the opposed first and second members are disposed to rotate independently from each other when the synchronous engagement clutch is deactivated, the method comprising:

commanding activation of the synchronous engagement clutch;
commanding operations of the engine and the first and second torque machines to control rotational speeds of the opposed first and second members of the synchronous engagement clutch, including monitoring the rotational speeds of the opposed first and second members;
determining a magnitude of clutch slip based upon the rotational speeds of the opposed first and second members;
executing a zero-slip feedback control routine when the clutch slip approaches a zero-slip state;
and
activating the synchronous engagement clutch when the clutch slip is less than a threshold level associated with the zero-slip state.

3 more elements

A method for operating a powertrain system including a geartrain configured to operate in one of a plurality of transmission states to transfer mechanical power between an internal combustion engine, first and second torque machines and a driveline by selective activation of first and second synchronous engagement clutches, wherein each of the synchronous engagement clutches includes opposed first and second members that are disposed to rotate in concert when a respective one of the first and second synchronous engagement clutches is activated, the method comprising:

commanding activation of one of the synchronous engagement clutches associated with one of the transmission states;
commanding operations of the engine and the first and second torque machines to control rotational speeds of the opposed first and second members of the one of the synchronous engagement clutches, including monitoring the rotational speeds of the opposed first and second members;
determining a magnitude of clutch slip based upon the rotational speeds of the opposed first and second members;
executing a zero-slip feedback control routine when the clutch slip approaches a zero-slip state;
and
activating the one of the synchronous engagement clutches when the clutch slip is less than a threshold level associated with the zero-slip state.

3 more elements

A powertrain system disposed to transfer tractive power to a driveline, comprising:

an internal combustion engine;
first and second torque machines;
a geartrain including a synchronous engagement clutch, wherein the geartrain is configured to operate in one of a plurality of transmission states to transfer mechanical power between the internal combustion engine, the first and second torque machines and the driveline by selective activation of the synchronous engagement clutch,
wherein the synchronous engagement clutch includes opposed first and second members that are disposed to rotate in concert when the synchronous engagement clutch is activated, and wherein the synchronous engagement clutch is defined as a clutch wherein the speeds of the opposed first and second members are required to be synchronized to effect activation thereof;
a controller, operatively connected to the internal combustion engine, the first and second torque machines and the synchronous engagement clutch, the controller including a processor and memory including an instruction set, the instruction set executable to:
command activation of the synchronous engagement clutch;
command operations of the engine and the first and second torque machines to control rotational speeds of the opposed first and second members of the synchronous engagement clutch;
monitor the rotational speeds of the opposed first and second members of the synchronous engagement clutch;
determine a magnitude of clutch slip for the synchronous engagement clutch based upon the rotational speeds of the opposed first and second members;
execute a zero-slip feedback control routine when the clutch slip approaches a zero-slip state;
and
activate the synchronous engagement clutch when the clutch slip is less than a threshold level associated with zero clutch slip.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.