IP Library Granted Patent US 8,731,792
Granted Patent B2
US 8,731,792 · App. 13/242,245 · Granted May 20, 2014

System and method for estimating hydraulic pressure within and controlling a dry dual clutch transmission

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,731,792
App. No.
13/242,245
Granted
May 20, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

A control system for a dry dual clutch transmission (DCT) includes first, second, and third modules. The first module detects whether a hydraulic pressure sensor of a hydraulic fluid delivery system in the dry DCT has failed. The second module estimates a pressure of hydraulic fluid within an accumulator of the hydraulic fluid delivery system based on one of (i) torque generated by and temperature of a hydraulic fluid pump and (ii) a drain down period of the accumulator and a period since the hydraulic fluid pump was on. The third module controls start/stop of the hydraulic fluid pump based on the estimated hydraulic fluid pressure when the hydraulic pressure sensor has failed.

Claims (26)

1. A control system for a dry dual clutch transmission (DCT), the control system comprising:

a first module that detects whether a hydraulic pressure sensor of a hydraulic fluid delivery system in the dry DCT has failed;

a second module that estimates a pressure of hydraulic fluid within an accumulator of the hydraulic fluid delivery system based on one of (i) torque generated by and temperature of a hydraulic fluid pump and (ii) a drain down period of the accumulator and a period since the hydraulic fluid pump was on; and

a third module that controls start/stop of the hydraulic fluid pump based on the estimated hydraulic fluid pressure when the hydraulic pressure sensor has failed.

2. The control system of claim 1 , wherein the third module starts the hydraulic fluid pump when a shift of the dry DCT occurs.

3. The control system of claim 1 , wherein the third module starts the hydraulic fluid pump when the estimated hydraulic fluid pressure is less than or equal to a first pressure threshold.

4. The control system of claim 3 , wherein the first pressure threshold is approximately 42 Bar.

5. The control system of claim 3 , wherein the third module stops the hydraulic fluid pump when the estimated hydraulic fluid pressure is greater than or equal to a second pressure threshold, wherein the second pressure threshold is greater than the first pressure threshold.

6. The control system of claim 5 , wherein the second pressure threshold is approximately 62 Bar.

7. The control system of claim 1 , wherein the second module estimates the hydraulic pressure within the accumulator when the hydraulic fluid pump is on based on (i) the torque generated by the hydraulic fluid pump and (ii) the temperature of the hydraulic fluid pump.

8. The control system of claim 7 , wherein the second module estimates the hydraulic fluid pressure within the accumulator when the hydraulic fluid pump is on using a look-up table relating torque and temperature to hydraulic fluid pressure.

9. The control system of claim 1 , wherein the second module estimates the hydraulic pressure within the accumulator when the hydraulic fluid pump is off based on (i) the drain down period of the accumulator and (ii) a period since the hydraulic fluid pump was on.

10. The control system of claim 9 , wherein the second module estimates the hydraulic fluid pressure within the accumulator when the hydraulic fluid pump is off using a look-up table relating the drain down period of the accumulator and the off period of the hydraulic fluid pump to hydraulic fluid pressure.

11. A method for controlling a dry dual clutch transmission (DCT), the method comprising:

detecting whether a hydraulic pressure sensor of a hydraulic fluid delivery system in the dry DCT has failed;

estimating a pressure of hydraulic fluid within an accumulator of the hydraulic fluid delivery system based on one of (i) torque generated by and temperature of a hydraulic fluid pump and (ii) a drain down period of the accumulator and a period since the hydraulic fluid pump was on; and

controlling start/stop of the hydraulic fluid pump based on the estimated hydraulic fluid pressure when the hydraulic pressure sensor has failed.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising starting the hydraulic fluid pump when a shift of the dry DCT occurs.

13. The method of claim 11 , further comprising starting the hydraulic fluid pump when the estimated hydraulic fluid pressure is less than or equal to a first pressure threshold.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the first pressure threshold is approximately 42 Bar.

15. The method of claim 13 , further comprising stopping the hydraulic fluid pump when the estimated hydraulic fluid pressure is greater than or equal to a second pressure threshold, wherein the second pressure threshold is greater than the first pressure threshold.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the second pressure threshold is approximately 62 Bar.

17. The method of claim 11 , further comprising estimating the hydraulic pressure within the accumulator when the hydraulic fluid pump is on based on (i) the torque generated by the hydraulic fluid pump and (ii) the temperature of the hydraulic fluid pump.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising estimating the hydraulic fluid pressure within the accumulator when the hydraulic fluid pump is on using a look-up table relating torque and temperature to hydraulic fluid pressure.

19. The method of claim 11 , further comprising estimating the hydraulic pressure within the accumulator when the hydraulic fluid pump is off based on (i) the drain down period of the accumulator and (ii) a period since the hydraulic fluid pump was on.

20. The method of claim 19 , further comprising estimating the hydraulic fluid pressure within the accumulator when the hydraulic fluid pump is off using a look-up table relating the drain down period of the accumulator and the off period of the hydraulic fluid pump to hydraulic fluid pressure.

Assignments (3)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 7, 2014
From: WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 034186/0776 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 28, 2012
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
To: WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
Reel/Frame 028458/0184 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 3, 2011
From: ZHANG, ZHEN J.; JUHASSZ, DAVID; MARANO, JOHN E.
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 027166/0683 →