Granted Patent B2

US 7,704,186 · App. 11/561,948 · Granted Apr 27, 2010

Abstract

Claims (27)

1. A system for selectively engaging and disengaging an auxiliary equipment to avoid gear clash in a vehicle, the system comprising:

a transmission having a plurality of gears for establishing a plurality of gear ratios;

a transfer case coupled to the transmission by an output shaft;

a transmission controller in communication with a plurality control devices for controlling the operation of the transmission and wherein the controller includes control logic for controlling the engagement and disengagement of the auxiliary equipment, the control logic includes:

a first control logic for determining whether an operator has actuated a selector switch;

a second control logic for actuating a torque transmitting device to engage or disengage the auxiliary equipment and avoid gear clash;

a third control logic for monitoring the engagement or disengagement of the auxiliary equipment; and

a fourth control logic for determining whether the auxiliary equipment has been engaged or disengaged.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second control logic further comprises determining whether a transmission output speed is greater than a predefined output speed threshold.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second control logic further comprises engaging a second torque transmitting device to lock the transmission output shaft.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the second control logic further comprises incrementing a first timer after the transmission output shaft is locked.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the second control logic further comprises comparing a first recorded time recorded by the first timer to a first time threshold.

6. The system of claim 3 , wherein the second control logic further comprises disengaging the second torque transmitting device to allow the transmission output shaft to rotate.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the second control logic further comprises incrementing a second timer after the second torque transmitting device has been disengaged to allow the transmission output shaft to rotate.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the second control logic further comprises comparing a second recorded time recorded by the second timer to a second time threshold.

9. A method for selectively engaging and disengaging auxiliary equipment to avoid gear clash in a transfer case of a vehicle, the method comprising:

determining whether an operator has actuated a selector switch;

actuating a torque transmitting device to engage or disengage the auxiliary equipment and avoid gear clash;

monitoring the engagement or disengagement of the auxiliary equipment; and

determining whether the auxiliary equipment has been engaged or disengaged.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising determining whether a transmission output speed is greater than a predefined output speed threshold.

11. The method of claim 9 , further comprising engaging a second torque transmitting device to lock the transmission output shaft.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising incrementing a first timer after the transmission output shaft is locked.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising comparing a first recorded time recorded by the first timer to a first time threshold.

14. The method of claim 11 , further comprising disengaging the second torque transmitting device to allow the transmission output shaft to rotate.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising incrementing a second timer after the second torque transmitting device has been disengaged to allow the transmission output shaft to rotate.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising comparing a second recorded time recorded by the second timer to a second time threshold.

Assignments (13)