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

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11060607-B2
Application number	US-201916596429-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 8, 2019
Priority date	Dec 22, 2016
Publication date	Jul 13, 2021
Grant date	Jul 13, 2021

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.

First claim

What is claimed is:

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 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;
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;
a vehicle environment logic configured to perform an operation a) to interpret a motive torque value, a vehicle grade value, and a vehicle acceleration value;
a mass estimation logic configured to perform an operation b) to determine a first correlation comprising a first correlation between the motive torque value and the vehicle grade value, a second correlation between the motive torque value and the vehicle acceleration value, and a third correlation between the vehicle grade value and the vehicle acceleration value;
wherein the mass estimation logic is further configured to perform an operation c) to adapt an estimated vehicle mass value, an estimated vehicle drag value, and an estimated vehicle effective inertia value in response to the first correlation, the second correlation, and the third correlation;
a model consistency logic to perform an operation d) to determine an adaptation consistency value, and in response to the adaptation consistency value, to adjust an adaptation rate of the adapting; and
wherein the vehicle environment logic, the mass estimation logic, and the model consistency logics are further configured to iteratively perform operations a), b), c), and d) to provide an updated estimated vehicle mass value; and
a launch characterization logic configured to interpret at least one launch parameter, the at least one launch parameter including the updated estimated vehicle mass value.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the means for providing the consistent lock-up time of the clutch further comprises utilizing the at least one launch parameter and the clutch torque profile.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the clutch torque request time comprises at least one request condition selected from the request conditions selected from: a service brake pedal release event; a service brake pedal decrease event; a gear engagement request event; and a prime mover torque increase event.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the clutch lock-up event comprises a clutch slip value being lower than a clutch lock-up slip threshold value.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein model consistency logic is further configured to perform the operation c) to slow or halt an adapting the estimated values in response to the first correlation, the second correlation, and the third correlation having an unexpected correlation configuration, and to increase the adapting rate or continue the adapting the estimated values in response to the first correlation, the second correlation, and the third correlation having an expected correlation configuration.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the expected correlation configuration comprises at least one correlation selected from the correlations consisting of:
a positive correlation for the first correlation and the second correlation, and a negative correlation for the third correlation; and
a linearity value corresponding to each of the first correlation, the second correlation, and the third correlation.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the unexpected correlation configuration comprises at least one correlation selected from the correlations consisting of:
a negative correlation for the first correlation or the second correlation;
a positive correlation for the third correlation; and
a non-linear correlation corresponding to any one or more of the first correlation, the second correlation, and the third correlation.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the model consistency logic is further configured to perform the operation c) to adjust the adaptation rate by:
increasing or holding an adjustment step size in at least one of the estimated vehicle mass value, the estimated vehicle effective inertia value, or the estimated vehicle drag value in response to:
an adaptation result comprising at least one result selected from the results consisting of: monotonically changing each estimated value; and monotonically changing at least one of the estimated values and holding the other estimated values at a same value.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the model consistency logic is further configured to perform the operation c) to adjust the adaptation rate by:
decreasing an adjustment step size in at least one of the estimated vehicle mass value, the estimated vehicle effective inertia value, or the estimated vehicle drag value in response to:
changing a direction of adaptation in at least one of the estimated values;
wherein the clutch torque profile comprises a first clutch engagement position value, and wherein the clutch control logic is further configured to utilize the first clutch engagement position value as a maximum zero torque position;
wherein the clutch characterization logic is further configured to interpret the clutch torque profile by performing a clutch first engagement position test, the clutch first engagement position test comprising: determining that an input shaft speed is zero, the clutch control logic positioning the clutch at the first clutch engagement position value, and comparing an acceleration of the input shaft speed of the transmission to a first expected acceleration value of the input shaft speed.

10. 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 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;
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;
a backlash indication logic configured to identify an imminent backlash crossing event at a first gear mesh by performing at least one operation selected from the operations consisting of:
determining that an imminent rotational direction of the first gear mesh in a transmission is an opposite rotational direction to an established rotational direction of the first gear mesh;
determining that a speed change between a first shaft comprising gears on one side of the first gear mesh and a second shaft comprising gears on an opposing side of the first gear mesh is likely to induce a

Assignees

• Eaton Cummins Automated Trans Tech Llc
• Eaton Cummins Automated Trans Technologies

Inventors

• Connolly Thomas
• Furner Joseph Paul
• Chen Sipei
• Hawarden Jeff
• Mckenzie Ian Daniel
• Deboer Christopher

Classifications

• F16H57/0494

  with variable gear ratio or for reversing rotary motion · CPC title

• F16H61/682

  with interruption of drive · CPC title

• F16H2061/2853

  Electromagnetic solenoids · CPC title

• B60W2710/1005

  Transmission ratio engaged · CPC title

• F16H57/0478

  Synchromesh devices · CPC title