IP Library › Granted Patent US 8,021,257
Granted Patent B2
US 8,021,257 · App. 12/333,591 · Granted Sep 20, 2011

Hydraulic clutch control system

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,021,257
App. No.
12/333,591
Granted
Sep 20, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

A transmission includes two blocking valves that control fluid pressure to a plurality of clutches. The blocking valves are characterized by a plurality of states that result in at least three transmission operating conditions. Each of the three operating conditions is characterized by fluid pressure being unavailable to at least one of the clutches.

Claims (93)

1. A transmission comprising:

an input member; an output member; at least one motor/generator;

first, second, third, and fourth clutches being engageable in response to fluid pressure, said clutches being engageable in various combinations to provide at least one electrically variable mode of operation in which the speed ratio between the input member and the output member is dependent upon the speed of said at least one motor/generator and at least one fixed ratio mode of operation in which the speed ratio between the input member and the output member is fixed;

a main passage, a first passage, and a second passage;

a pump configured to supply fluid pressure to the main passage;

a first valve configured to control fluid communication between the first clutch and the first passage;

a second valve configured to control fluid communication between the second clutch and the second passage;

a third valve configured to control fluid communication to the third clutch;

a fourth valve configured to control fluid communication between the fourth clutch and the main passage;

a fifth valve configured to control fluid communication between the main passage and the first passage; and

a sixth valve configured to control fluid communication between the main passage and the second passage.

2. The transmission of claim 1 , wherein the third valve is configured to control fluid communication between the third clutch and the main passage.

3. The transmission of claim 2 , wherein said at least one electrically variable mode includes four electrically variable modes and said at least one fixed ratio mode includes three fixed ratio modes.

4. The transmission of claim 3 , wherein the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth valves are characterized by respective default states; and wherein the transmission is in one of the electrically variable modes when the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth valves are in their respective default states.

5. The transmission of claim 2 , wherein said at least one motor/generator includes a first motor/generator having a first rotor, and a second motor/generator having a second rotor;

wherein the transmission further comprises first, second, and third planetary gearsets having respective first, second, and third members;

a stationary member;

the first member of the first gearset being operatively connected to the input member for rotation therewith;

the second member of the first gearset, the first member of the second gearset, and the first member of the third gearset being operatively connected to each other for rotation therewith;

the third member of the first gearset being operatively connected to the first rotor for rotation therewith;

the second member of the second gearset being operatively connected to the second rotor for rotation therewith; and

the second member of the third gearset being operatively connected to the output member for rotation therewith;

wherein the first clutch is configured to selectively couple the third member of the third gearset to the stationary member;

wherein the second clutch is configured to selectively couple the third member of the third gearset to the second rotor and the second member of the second gearset for rotation therewith;

wherein the third clutch is configured to selectively couple the third member of the second gearset to the stationary member; and

wherein the fourth clutch is configured to selectively couple the third member of the second gearset to the first rotor and the third member of the first gearset for rotation therewith.

6. The transmission of claim 1 , wherein the third valve is configured to control fluid communication between the third clutch and the second passage.

7. The transmission of claim 6 , wherein said at least one electrically variable mode includes four electrically variable modes and said at least one fixed ratio mode includes three fixed ratio modes.

8. The transmission of claim 7 , wherein the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth valves are characterized by respective default states; and wherein the transmission is in one of the electrically variable modes when the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth valves are in their respective default states.

9. The transmission of claim 6 , wherein said at least one motor/generator includes a first motor/generator having a first rotor, and a second motor/generator having a second rotor;

wherein the transmission further comprises first, second, and third planetary gearsets having respective first, second, and third members;

a stationary member;

the first member of the first gearset being operatively connected to the input member for rotation therewith;

the second member of the first gearset, the first member of the second gearset, and the first member of the third gearset being operatively connected to each other for rotation therewith;

the third member of the first gearset being operatively connected to the first rotor for rotation therewith;

the second member of the second gearset being operatively connected to the second rotor for rotation therewith; and

the second member of the third gearset being operatively connected to the output member for rotation therewith;

wherein the first clutch is configured to selectively couple the third member of the third gearset to the stationary member;

wherein the second clutch is configured to selectively couple the third member of the third gearset to the second rotor and the second member of the second gearset for rotation therewith;

wherein the third clutch is configured to selectively couple the third member of the second gearset to the stationary member; and

wherein the fourth clutch is configured to selectively couple the third member of the second gearset to the first rotor and the third member of the first gearset for rotation therewith.

10. A transmission comprising:

an input member; an output member; at least one motor/generator;

first, second, third, and fourth clutches being engageable in various combinations to provide at least one electrically variable mode of operation in which the speed ratio between the input member and the output member is dependent upon the speed of said at least one motor/generator and at least one fixed ratio mode of operation in which the speed ratio between the input member and the output member is fixed;

a main passage, a first passage, and a second passage;

first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth solenoid valves;

a pump configured to supply fluid pressure to the main passage and to the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth solenoid valves;

a first valve configured to provide fluid communication between the first passage and the first clutch when the first solenoid valve is open, and to prevent fluid communication between the first passage and the first clutch when the first solenoid valve is closed;

a second valve configured to provide fluid communication between the second passage and the second clutch when the second solenoid valve is open, and to prevent fluid communication between the second passage and the second clutch when the second solenoid valve is closed;

a third valve configured to provide fluid communication between the main passage and the third clutch when the third solenoid valve is open, and to prevent fluid communication between the main passage and the third clutch when the third solenoid valve is closed;

a fourth valve configured to provide fluid communication between the main passage and the fourth clutch when the fourth solenoid valve is open, and to prevent fluid communication between the main passage and the fourth clutch when the fourth solenoid valve is closed;

a fifth valve configured to provide fluid communication between the main passage and the first passage when the fifth solenoid valve is closed, and to prevent fluid communication between the main passage and the first passage when the fifth solenoid valve is open; and

a sixth valve configured to provide fluid communication between the main passage and the second passage when the sixth solenoid valve is closed, and to prevent fluid communication between the main passage and the second passage when the sixth solenoid valve is open.

11. The transmission of claim 10 , wherein the first, third, fifth, and sixth solenoid valves are closed when unenergized; and

wherein the second and fourth solenoid valves are open when unenergized.

12. The transmission of claim 11 , wherein said at least one motor/generator includes a first motor/generator having a first rotor, and a second motor/generator having a second rotor;

wherein the transmission further comprises first, second, and third planetary gearsets having respective first, second, and third members;

a stationary member;

the first member of the first gearset being operatively connected to the input member for rotation therewith;

the second member of the first gearset, the first member of the second gearset, and the first member of the third gearset being operatively connected to each other for rotation therewith;

the third member of the first gearset being operatively connected to the first rotor for rotation therewith;

the second member of the second gearset being operatively connected to the second rotor for rotation therewith; and

the second member of the third gearset being operatively connected to the output member for rotation therewith;

wherein the first clutch is configured to selectively couple the third member of the third gearset to the stationary member;

wherein the second clutch is configured to selectively couple the third member of the third gearset to the second rotor and the second member of the second gearset for rotation therewith;

wherein the third clutch is configured to selectively couple the third member of the second gearset to the stationary member; and

wherein the fourth clutch is configured to selectively couple the third member of the second gearset to the first rotor and the third member of the first gearset for rotation therewith.

13. A transmission comprising:

an input member; an output member; at least one motor/generator;

first, second, third, and fourth clutches being engageable in various combinations to provide at least one electrically variable mode of operation in which the speed ratio between the input member and the output member is dependent upon the speed of said at least one motor/generator and at least one fixed ratio mode of operation in which the speed ratio between the input member and the output member is fixed;

a main passage, a first passage, and a second passage;

first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth solenoid valves;

a pump configured to supply fluid pressure to the main passage and to the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth solenoid valves;

a first valve configured to provide fluid communication between the first passage and the first clutch when the first solenoid valve is open, and to prevent fluid communication between the first passage and the first clutch when the first solenoid valve is closed;

a second valve configured to provide fluid communication between the second passage and the second clutch when the second solenoid valve is open, and to prevent fluid communication between the second passage and the second clutch when the second solenoid valve is closed;

a third valve configured to provide fluid communication between the second passage and the third clutch when the third solenoid valve is open, and to prevent fluid communication between the second passage and the third clutch when the third solenoid valve is closed;

a fourth valve configured to provide fluid communication between the main passage and the fourth clutch when the fourth solenoid valve is open, and to prevent fluid communication between the main passage and the fourth clutch when the fourth solenoid valve is closed;

a fifth valve configured to provide fluid communication between the main passage and the first passage when the fifth solenoid valve is closed, and to prevent fluid communication between the main passage and the first passage when the fifth solenoid valve is open; and

a sixth valve configured to provide fluid communication between the main passage and the second passage when the sixth solenoid valve is closed, and to prevent fluid communication between the main passage and the second passage when the sixth solenoid valve is open.

14. The transmission of claim 13 , wherein the first, third, fifth, and sixth solenoid valves are closed when unenergized; and

wherein the second and fourth solenoid valves are open when unenergized.

15. The transmission of claim 14 , wherein said at least one motor/generator includes a first motor/generator having a first rotor, and a second motor/generator having a second rotor;

wherein the transmission further comprises first, second, and third planetary gearsets having respective first, second, and third members;

a stationary member;

the first member of the first gearset being operatively connected to the input member for rotation therewith;

the second member of the first gearset, the first member of the second gearset, and the first member of the third gearset being operatively connected to each other for rotation therewith;

the third member of the first gearset being operatively connected to the first rotor for rotation therewith;

the second member of the second gearset being operatively connected to the second rotor for rotation therewith; and

the second member of the third gearset being operatively connected to the output member for rotation therewith;

wherein the first clutch is configured to selectively couple the third member of the third gearset to the stationary member;

wherein the second clutch is configured to selectively couple the third member of the third gearset to the second rotor and the second member of the second gearset for rotation therewith;

wherein the third clutch is configured to selectively couple the third member of the second gearset to the stationary member; and

wherein the fourth clutch is configured to selectively couple the third member of the second gearset to the first rotor and the third member of the first gearset for rotation therewith.