Control apparatus for a multi-speed transmission
View Patent ↗A power transmission employs a plurality of torque-to-thrust apparatus to control the engagement and disengagement of the transmission ratios. Each of the torque-to-thrust apparatus is operatively connectible with a pair of electric motors, which are individually operable to control the operation of the torque-to-thrust apparatus. During transmission operation, one of the electric motors is operable to disengage a friction device within the transmission while the other electric motor is operable to engage a different friction device within the transmission, thus permitting controlled ratio upshifts and downshifts.
1. A control apparatus for a power transmission having a plurality of selectively engageable friction devices said control apparatus comprising:
a torque-to-thrust mechanism for each of said selectively engageable friction devices, each of said torque-to-thrust mechanisms having a rotary input mechanism;
a first drive means for selectively rotating each of said rotary input mechanisms, said first drive means including a plurality of control input mechanisms adapted to rotate respective ones of said rotary input mechanisms, a first shaft supporting each of said control input mechanisms, selectively engageable clutch means for selectively individually connecting each of said control input mechanisms with said first shaft, selectively engageable brake means for selectively individually connecting each of said control means with a stationary housing, and a first electric motor drivingly connected with said first shaft for selectively rotating said first shaft;
a second drive means for selectively rotating each of said rotary input mechanisms, said second drive means including a plurality of control input mechanisms adapted to rotate respective ones of said rotary input mechanisms, a second shaft supporting each of said control input mechanisms, selectively engageable clutch means for selectively individually connecting each of said control input mechanisms with said second shaft, and a second electric motor drivingly connected with said second shaft for selectively rotating said second shaft; and
said first drive means being operable to control an on-coming one of said selectively engageable friction devices and said second drive means being operable to control an off-going one of said selectively engageable friction devices to accomplish a ratio interchange within said power transmission.
2. The control apparatus for a power transmission having a plurality of selectively engageable friction devices said control apparatus defined in claim 1 further comprising:
said selectively engageable brake means of said first drive means being actuated to restrain rotation of said first drive means and said rotary input mechanism associated therewith at the completion of said ratio interchange.
3. The control apparatus for a power transmission having a plurality of selectively engageable friction devices said control apparatus defined in claim 1 further comprising:
each of said rotary input mechanisms having a gear portion formed at an outer periphery thereof; and
each of said control input mechanisms including a gear member formed thereon and disposed in continuous meshing relation with respective ones of said gear portions formed on said rotary input mechanisms.
4. The control apparatus for a power transmission having a plurality of selectively engageable friction devices said control apparatus defined in claim 1 further comprising:
at least five torque-to-thrust mechanisms;
said first drive means including at least five clutch means and five brake means; and
said second drive means including at least five clutch means.
5. The control apparatus for a power transmission having a plurality of selectively engageable friction devices said control apparatus defined in claim 2 further comprising:
said plurality of control means of each of said first drive means and said second drive means having common gear members connected to rotate respective ones of said rotary input mechanisms.