Granted Patent B2

US 12,455,006 · App. 18/483,828 · Granted Oct 28, 2025

Inventors: Mathew David Guldan (Metamora, IL); Michael A. Gilles (Brimfield, IL); Kyle David Duryea (Trivoli, IL)

Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.

F16H61/143E02F9/202E02F9/2253

Abstract

Claims (62)

1 . A control system for a work machine, the control system comprising:

an engine associated with the work machine;

a torque converter configured to transmit a portion of power output from the engine to one or more rotating drive components of the work machine, the torque converter including an input shaft and an output shaft;

a lock-up clutch assembly associated with the torque converter and including a lock-up clutch, the lock-up clutch being positioned in an engaged state, for bypassing the torque converter, or a disengaged state,

wherein, in the engaged state, the input shaft and the output shaft of the torque converter are coupled via the lock-up clutch, and

wherein, in the disengaged state, the input shaft and the output shaft of the torque converter are not coupled via the lock-up clutch; and

a controller communicably coupled to the lock-up clutch assembly and configured to:

determine that the engine is in a cranking state;

cause, based on determining that the engine is in the cranking state, the lock-up clutch to be positioned in the engaged state;

determine that the lock-up clutch is in the engaged state;

determine, based on an engine speed, that the engine has started; and

cause, based on determining that the engine has started, the lock-up clutch to be positioned in the disengaged state.

2 . The control system of claim 1 , further comprising a hydraulic device in selective fluid communication with the lock-up clutch assembly, and wherein the hydraulic device is configured to direct pressurized fluid towards the lock-up clutch to position the lock-up clutch in the engaged state.

3 . The control system of claim 2 , wherein the hydraulic device includes at least one of a pump or an accumulator.

4 . The control system of claim 2 , wherein the lock-up clutch assembly includes a valve configured to selectively direct pressurized fluid from the hydraulic device towards the lock-up clutch, wherein, in an open position of the valve, the valve allows pressurized fluid to be directed towards the lock-up clutch to position the lock-up clutch in the engaged state, and wherein, in a closed position of the valve, the valve restricts a flow of pressurized fluid towards the lock-up clutch to position the lock-up clutch in the disengaged state.

5 . The control system of claim 4 , further comprising a bypass valve in selective fluid communication with the hydraulic device, the bypass valve is disposable in at least one of a closed state or an open state, wherein, in the closed state, pressurized fluid from the hydraulic device is directed towards the valve of the lock-up clutch assembly, and wherein, in the open state, pressurized fluid from the hydraulic device is directed towards a sump and the valve.

6 . The control system of claim 5 , wherein the controller is further configured to:

cause, based on determining that the lock-up clutch is in the engaged state, the bypass valve to be positioned in the open state; and

cause, based on determining that the engine has started, the bypass valve to be positioned in the closed state.

7 . The control system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to determine that the lock-up clutch is in the engaged state based on an at least one of an input speed of the torque converter or an output speed of the torque converter.

8 . A work machine comprising:

a frame;

one or more rotating drive components supported by the frame; and

a control system including:

an engine associated with the work machine;

a torque converter configured to transmit a portion of power output from the engine to the one or more rotating drive components of the work machine, the torque converter including an input shaft and an output shaft;

a lock-up clutch assembly associated with the torque converter and including a lock-up clutch, the lock-up clutch being positioned in an engaged state, for bypassing the torque converter, or a disengaged state,

wherein, in the engaged state, the input shaft and the output shaft of the torque converter are coupled via the lock-up clutch, and

wherein, in the disengaged state, the input shaft and the output shaft of the torque converter are not coupled via the lock-up clutch; and

a controller communicably coupled to the lock-up clutch assembly and configured to:

determine that the engine is in a cranking state;

cause, based on determining that the engine is in the cranking state, the lock-up clutch to be positioned in the engaged state;

determine that the lock-up clutch is in the engaged state;

determine, based on an engine speed, that the engine has started; and

cause, based on determining that the engine has started, the lock-up clutch to be positioned in the disengaged state.

9 . The work machine of claim 8 , wherein the control system further includes a hydraulic device in selective fluid communication with the lock-up clutch assembly, and wherein the hydraulic device is configured to direct pressurized fluid towards the lock-up clutch to position the lock-up clutch in the engaged state.

10 . The work machine of claim 9 , wherein the hydraulic device includes at least one of a pump or an accumulator.

11 . The work machine of claim 9 , wherein the lock-up clutch assembly includes a valve configured to selectively direct pressurized fluid from the hydraulic device towards the lock-up clutch, wherein, in an open position of the valve, the valve allows pressurized fluid to be directed towards the lock-up clutch to position the lock-up clutch in the engaged state, and wherein, in a closed position of the valve, the valve restricts a flow of pressurized fluid towards the lock-up clutch to position the lock-up clutch in the disengaged state.

12 . The work machine of claim 11 , further comprising a bypass valve in selective fluid communication with the hydraulic device, the bypass valve is disposable in at least one of a closed state or an open state, wherein, in the closed state, pressurized fluid from the hydraulic device is directed towards the valve of the lock-up clutch assembly, and wherein, in the open state, pressurized fluid from the hydraulic device is directed towards a sump and the valve.

13 . The work machine of claim 12 , wherein the controller is further configured to:

cause, based on determining that the lock-up clutch is in the engaged state, the bypass valve to be positioned in the open state; and

cause, based on determining that the engine has started, the bypass valve to be positioned in the closed state.

14 . The work machine of claim 8 , wherein the controller are configured to determine that the lock-up clutch is in the engaged state based on an at least one of an input speed of the torque converter or an output speed of the torque converter.

15 . A method of operating a work machine, the method comprising:

determining, by a controller, that an engine associated with the work machine is in a cranking state;

causing, by the controller, based on determining that the engine is in the cranking state, a lock-up clutch, of a lock-up clutch assembly, to be positioned in the engaged state,

wherein the lock-up clutch assembly is associated with a torque converter that is configured to transmit a portion of power output from the engine to one or more rotating drive components of the work machine,

wherein the torque converter includes an input shaft and an output shaft,

wherein the lock-up clutch is positioned in an engaged state, for bypassing the torque converter, or a disengaged state,

wherein, in the engaged state, the input shaft and the output shaft of the torque converter are coupled via the lock-up clutch, and

wherein, in the disengaged state, the input shaft and the output shaft of the torque converter are not coupled via the lock-up clutch;

determining, by the controller, that the lock-up clutch is in the engaged state;

determining, by the controller, based on an engine speed, that the engine has started; and

causing, by the controller, based on determining that the engine has started, the lock-up clutch to be positioned in the disengaged state.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein a hydraulic device is in selective fluid communication with the lock-up clutch assembly, and wherein the hydraulic device is configured to direct pressurized fluid towards the lock-up clutch to position the lock-up clutch in the engaged state.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein a valve of the lock-up clutch assembly is configured to selectively direct pressurized fluid from the hydraulic device towards the lock-up clutch, wherein, in an open position of the valve, the valve allows pressurized fluid to be directed towards the lock-up clutch to position the lock-up clutch in the engaged state, and wherein, in a closed position of the valve, the valve restricts a flow of pressurized fluid towards the lock-up clutch to position the lock-up clutch in the disengaged state.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein a bypass valve is in selective fluid communication with the hydraulic device, wherein the bypass valve is disposable in at least one of a closed state or an open state, wherein, in the closed state, pressurized fluid from the hydraulic device is directed towards the valve of the lock-up clutch assembly, and wherein, in the open state, pressurized fluid from the hydraulic device is directed towards a sump and the valve.

19 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising:

causing, by the controller, based on determining that the lock-up clutch is in the engaged state, the bypass valve to be positioned in the open state; and

causing, by the controller, based on determining that the engine has started, the bypass valve to be positioned in the closed state.

20 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising:

determining, by the controller, that the lock-up clutch is in the engaged state based on an at least one of an input speed of the torque converter or an output speed of the torque converter.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (1)

References Cited (9)