Device and a method for gear shift coordination

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10962106-B2
Application number	US-201616462304-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 25, 2016
Priority date	Nov 25, 2016
Publication date	Mar 30, 2021
Grant date	Mar 30, 2021

Abstract

The invention relates to a drive arrangement for a vehicle and a method for gear shifting in a vehicle. The drive arrangement (5) comprises at least a first drive axle (10, 20, 30) operatively connected to a first gear box (11) and a first propulsion unit (12). The drive arrangement (5) further comprises a second gear box (21) and a second propulsion unit (22) operatively connected to the first drive axle (10) or to an optional second drive axle (20, 30). The drive arrangement (5) further comprises at least one electronic control unit (ECU) adapted to govern gear transmission of the first and the second gear boxes (11, 21). The electronic control unit (ECU) is configured to automatically select between shifting gear on the first and the second gear boxes (11, 21) simultaneously, or sequentially. The drive arrangement and the method provides for a very versatile drive arrangement and gear synchronization providing comfort for the driver and the passengers as well as improved vehicle dynamics.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A drive arrangement for a vehicle, said drive arrangement ( 5 ) comprising at least a first drive axle ( 10 , 20 , 30 ) operatively connected to a first gear box ( 11 ) and a first propulsion unit ( 12 ), said drive arrangement ( 5 ) further comprising a second gear box ( 21 ) and a second propulsion unit ( 22 ) operatively connected to said first drive axle ( 10 ) or to an optional second drive axle ( 20 , 30 ), said drive arrangement ( 5 ) further comprising at least one electronic control unit (ECU) adapted to govern gear transmission of said first and said second gear boxes ( 11 , 21 ), characterized in that
said drive arrangement comprises at least one sensor ( 37 ) and said electronic control unit (ECU) is operatively connected to said at least one sensor ( 37 ),
said at least one sensor ( 37 ) is adapted to detect a prevailing condition for simultaneous gear shifting or a prevailing condition for sequential gear shifting,
said electronic control unit (ECU) is configured to automatically select simultaneous gear shifting on said first and said second gear boxes ( 11 , 21 ) if the prevailing condition for simultaneous gear shifting is detected,
said electronic control unit (ECU) is configured to automatically select sequential gear shifting on said first and said second gear boxes ( 11 , 21 ) if the prevailing condition for sequential gear shifting is detected,
wherein said prevailing condition for simultaneous gear shifting is one or more of the following conditions:
vehicle is free rolling;
high propulsive torque is applied on a low gear and subsequently no propulsive torque is applied, or
vehicle is in a stand still position, and

wherein said prevailing condition for sequential gear shifting is one or more of the following conditions:
vehicle is turning and propulsive torque is applied;
vehicle sensors indicate a tyre friction below a predetermined value or threshold level;
vehicle is accelerating, or
vehicle is decelerating.

2. The drive arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein a second drive axle ( 20 ) is operatively connected to said second gear box ( 21 ) and said second propulsion unit.

3. The drive arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein said first and said second gear boxes ( 11 , 22 ) are stepped transmission gear boxes.

4. The drive arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein said propulsion units ( 12 , 22 ) are electrical motors.

5. The drive arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein said drive arrangement comprises at least a third drive axle ( 30 ), said third drive axle is operatively connected to a third gear box ( 31 ) and a third propulsion unit ( 32 ).

6. The drive arrangement according to claim 5 , wherein said electronic control unit (ECU) is configured to shift gear on at least said first and said second gear boxes ( 11 , 21 ) simultaneously and sequentially thereafter shift gear on said third gear box ( 31 ).

7. The drive arrangement according to claim 5 , wherein said electronic control unit (ECU) is configured to shift gear on said third gear box ( 31 ) and sequentially thereafter shift gears on said first and said second gear boxes ( 11 , 21 ) simultaneously.

8. The drive arrangement according to claim 5 , wherein said electronic control unit (ECU) is configured to selectively shift gear on a pair of gear boxes ( 11 , 21 , 31 ) simultaneously.

9. The drive arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein said prevailing condition is based on one or more of the following conditions; acceleration, retardation, vehicle speed, amount of propulsive torque applied, gear status, vehicle dynamics, ambient environment conditions, steering angle, joint angle, amount of applied brake torque or the like.

10. The drive arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein said at least one sensor is one or more sensors selected from the list of; LIDAR, sonar, radar, IR, camera, GPS device, temperature sensor, tilt sensor, accelerometer, gyrometer, autonomous vehicle drive sensors, steering sensor such as combo sensor steering-torque, HVAC sensor, throttle position sensor, transmission sensor, brake position sensor, headlight range sensor, steering angle sensor, chassis level sensor, brake wear sensor, mirror sensor, passive wheel speed sensor, accelerator pedal angle sensor, cross traffic alert, radar such as rear or front radar, rear or front laser radar, tire pressure sensor, collision sensor, pedestrian warning IR sensor, front object radar, drowsiness sensor, ASCD, front object camera, night vision, lane departure sensor, energy storage monitoring unit, GPS, DGPS, 802.11p based sensor, front camera, rear camera, side camera, wheel encoder, ultrasonic sensor, gyroscope, transmission sensor, coolant sensor, oxygen sensor, mass or vane air flow sensor, speed sensor, EGR position sensor, engine oil and temperature sensor, or the like.

11. The drive arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein said prevailing condition is determined as a condition imposed on said vehicle within a predetermined amount of time such as within 10 seconds, 5 seconds or 3 seconds.

12. The drive arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein said first drive axle ( 10 ) is a front steering axle and said second drive axle ( 20 ) is a first rear axle.

13. The drive arrangement according to claim 12 , wherein if said drive arrangement comprising an additional third drive axle ( 30 ), said third drive axle is a second rear axle ( 30 ).

14. The drive arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein at least said first and said second drive axles ( 10 , 20 ) are parallel drive axles.

15. The drive arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein at least said first and said second drive axles ( 10 , 20 ) are each operatively connected with a first and a second wheel ( 15 , 16 , 25 , 26 ).

Assignees

• Volvo Truck Corp

Inventors

• Åsbogård Mattias
• Jerrelind Jonas
• Lauri Erik

Classifications

• B60K17/356

  having fluid or electric motor, for driving one or more wheels · CPC title

• F16H2306/20

  Timing of gear shifts · CPC title

• B60W2300/10

  Buses · CPC title

• F16H61/0213

  characterised by the method for generating shift signals · CPC title

• B60K1/02

  comprising more than one electric motor · CPC title