IP Library Granted Patent US 8,157,681
Granted Patent B2
US 8,157,681 · App. 11/942,100 · Granted Apr 17, 2012

Control device and control method for continuously variable transmission

Assignee: Jatco Ltd
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,157,681
App. No.
11/942,100
Granted
Apr 17, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

When a speed ratio (ip) at a stopping time of the vehicle cannot be stored, an operating position of a step motor ( 27 ) is initialized to a home position such that a primary pulley pressure (Ppri) is completely drained, a secondary pulley pressure (Psec) is increased to a predetermined pressure (P 1 ), and a pulley ratio (the speed ratio (ip)) between a non-rotating primary pulley ( 2 ) and a non-rotating secondary pulley ( 3 ) is set at a lowest speed ratio. As a result, the primary pulley pressure (Ppri) is supplied reliably, and the startability of the vehicle improves.

Claims (24)

1. A continuously variable transmission without using a primary pulley pressure sensor comprising:

an input side primary pulley which varies a groove width according to a first oil pressure;

an output side secondary pulley which varies a groove width according to a second oil pressure;

a belt looped around the primary pulley and the secondary pulley, having a contact radius for the primary pulley and a contact radius for the secondary pulley, the contact radius of the primary pulley and the contact radius of the secondary pulley varying in accordance with the groove width of the primary pulley and the groove width of the secondary pulley;

a speed change control mechanism constituted by a speed change link, one end portion of which is connected to a movable sheave of the primary pulley and another end portion of which is connected to a step motor, and a speed change control valve connected to a center of the speed change link, which controls the first oil pressure in accordance with an operating position of the step motor, and

a controller, which:

stores a speed ratio at a stopping time of a vehicle;

initializes the step motor, whereby the operation position of the step motor is shifted to a home position during activation of the vehicle when the speed ratio at the stopping time of the vehicle could not be stored;

sets the first oil pressure to substantially zero, increases the second oil pressure to a predetermined oil pressure, and shifts a ratio between the contact radius with the primary pulley and the contact radius with the secondary pulley to a ratio corresponding to a lowest speed ratio, after the step motor is initialized and when the speed ratio at the stopping time of the vehicle could not be stored and the primary pulley and the secondary pulley do not rotate during activation of the vehicle; and

stores a position of the primary pulley following shifting to the ratio corresponding to the lowest speed ratio as a position corresponding to the home position of the step motor.

2. The continuously variable transmission as defined in claim 1 , wherein the controller shifts the ratio to a second ratio on an even lower side than the ratio corresponding to the lowest speed ratio, and then shifts the second ratio to the ratio corresponding to the lowest speed ratio.

3. The continuously variable transmission as defined in claim 1 , wherein the controller shifts the ratio assuming that the speed ratio at the stopping time of the vehicle is a highest speed ratio.

4. A control method for a continuously variable transmission without using a primary pulley pressure sensor, the transmission comprising:

an input side primary pulley which varies a groove width according to a first oil pressure;

an output side secondary pulley which varies a groove width according to a second oil pressure;

a belt looped around the primary pulley and the secondary pulley, having a contact radius for the primary pulley and a contact radius for the secondary pulley, the contact radius of the primary pulley and the contact radius of the secondary pulley varying in accordance with the groove width of the primary pulley and the groove width of the secondary pulley; and

a speed change control mechanism constituted by a speed change link, one end portion of which is connected to a movable sheave of the primary pulley and another end portion of which is connected to a step motor, and speed change control valve connected to a center of the speed change link, which controls the first oil pressure in accordance with an operating position of the step motor; and

the method comprising:

storing a speed ratio at a stopping time of a vehicle;

initializing the step motor, whereby the operation position of the step motor is shifted to a home position during activation of the vehicle when the speed ratio at the stopping time of the vehicle cannot be stored;

setting the first oil pressure to substantially zero, increasing the second oil pressure to a predetermined oil pressure, and shifting a ratio between the contact radius with the primary pulley and the contact radius with the secondary pulley to a ratio corresponding to a lowest speed ratio, after initializing the step motor and when the speed ratio at the stopping time of the vehicle could not be stored and the primary pulley and the secondary pulley do not rotate during activation of the vehicle; and

storing a position of the primary pulley following shifting to the ratio corresponding to the lowest speed ratio as a position corresponding to the home position of the step motor.

5. The control method for a continuously variable transmission as defined in claim 4 , wherein the shifting the ratio shifts the ratio to a second ratio on an even lower side than the ratio corresponding to the lowest speed ratio, and then shifts the second ratio to the ratio corresponding to the lowest speed ratio.

6. The control method for a continuously variable transmission as defined in claim 4 , wherein the shifting the ratio shifts the ratio assuming that the speed ratio at the stopping time of the vehicle is a highest speed ratio.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNOR ASSIGNS 50% INTEREST Recorded Jan 14, 2014
From: JATCO LTD
To: JATCO LTD; NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 032018/0901 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 19, 2007
From: IWASA, HIROKI; KODAMA, YOSHIHISA
To: JATCO LTD
Reel/Frame 020131/0616 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2006-314092 · Nov 21, 2006 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20080119308A1 · May 22, 2008