IP Library Granted Patent US 11,773,964
Granted Patent B2
US 11,773,964 · App. 17/373,368 · Granted Oct 3, 2023

System, method, and apparatus for operating a high efficiency, high output transmission

Inventors: Thomas Connolly (Portage, MI); Joseph Paul Furner (Ann Arbor, MI); Sipei Chen (Novi, MI); Jeff Hawarden (Rossendale, GB); Ian Daniel McKenzie (Kalamazoo, MI); Christopher DeBoer (Kalamazoo, MI)
Assignee: Eaton Cummins Automated Transmission Technologies
F16H59/0204B60W10/02B60W10/11B60W30/19B60W50/00F16D25/126F16H3/091F16H3/64F16H37/046F16H57/02004F16H61/0021F16H61/0213F16H61/06F16H61/08G08B13/00G08B27/00H04B10/0775H04J3/125B60W2050/0058B60W2510/0275B60W2510/0283B60W2510/107B60W2710/021B60W2710/022B60W2710/025B60W2710/1005F16H3/16F16H3/78F16H57/021F16H57/032F16H57/043F16H57/0423F16H57/0441F16H57/0471F16H57/0478F16H57/0484F16H57/0494F16H59/38F16H59/40F16H59/72F16H61/04F16H61/143F16H61/682F16H61/705F16H63/24F16H2057/0206F16H2059/725F16H2061/2853F16H2061/308F16H2063/005F16H2063/3093
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,773,964
App. No.
17/373,368
Granted
Oct 3, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

A transmission includes an input shaft coupled to a prime mover, a countershaft, main shaft, and an output shaft, with gears between the countershaft and the main shaft. A shift actuator selectively couples the input shaft to the main shaft by rotatably coupling gears between the countershaft and the main shaft. The shift actuator is mounted on an exterior wall of a housing including the countershaft and the main shaft. A controller controls the shift actuator utilizing an actuating pulse and an opposing pulse.

Claims (24)

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a clutch characterization logic configured to interpret a clutch torque profile, the clutch torque profile providing a relation between a position of a clutch of a transmission and a clutch torque value;

a clutch control logic configured to command a position of a progressive actuator operationally coupled to the clutch, wherein a position of the progressive actuator corresponds to a position of the clutch, in response to a clutch torque reference value and the clutch torque profile;

the clutch characterization logic further configured to interpret a second position of the progressive actuator and an indicated clutch torque, and to update the clutch torque profile in response to the second position of the progressive actuator and the indicated clutch torque;

the clutch characterization logic further configured to generate a clutch wear value that provides through the clutch control logic a shortened clutch actuator return; and

a means for providing a consistent lock-up time of the clutch, the consistent lock-up time comprising a time commencing with a clutch torque request time and ending with a clutch lock-up event.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein an engagement response is modified based on the generated clutch wear value.

3. A system, comprising:

a transmission having a clutch configured to selectively decouple an input shaft of the transmission from a prime mover;

a progressive actuator operationally coupled to the clutch, wherein a position of the progressive actuator corresponds to a position of the clutch;

a controller, comprising:

a clutch characterization logic configured to interpret a clutch torque profile, the clutch torque profile providing a relation between a position of the clutch and a clutch torque value;

a clutch control logic configured to command a position of the progressive actuator in response to a clutch torque reference value and the clutch torque profile;

the clutch characterization logic further configured to interpret a position of the progressive actuator and an indicated clutch torque, and to update the clutch torque profile in response to the position of the progressive actuator and the indicated clutch torque;

the clutch characterization logic further configured to generate a clutch wear value that provides through the clutch control logic a shortened clutch actuator return; and

a mechanism for providing a consistent lock-up time of the clutch, the consistent lock-up time comprising a time commencing with a clutch torque request time and ending with a clutch lock-up event.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein an engagement response is modified based on the generated clutch wear value.

5. A method, comprising:

interpreting a clutch torque profile, the clutch torque profile providing a relation between a position of a clutch of a transmission and a clutch torque value;

commanding a position of a progressive actuator operationally coupled to the clutch, wherein a position of the progressive actuator corresponds to a position of the clutch, in response to a clutch torque reference value and the clutch torque profile;

interpreting a second position of the progressive actuator and an indicated clutch torque, and updating the clutch torque profile in response to the position of the second progressive actuator and the indicated clutch torque;

generating a clutch wear value that provides through a clutch control logic a shortened clutch actuator return; and

providing a consistent lock-up time of the clutch, the consistent lock-up time comprising a time commencing with a clutch torque request time and ending with a clutch lock-up event.

6. The method of claim 5 , further modifying an engagement response based on the generated clutch wear value.

Continuity (5)
Continuation 16596429 · Oct 8, 2019
Continuation 15663201 · Jul 28, 2017
Provisional Application 62465021 · Feb 28, 2017
Provisional Application 62438201 · Dec 22, 2016
Related Publication 20210341053A1 · Nov 4, 2021