System and method for controlling a work vehicle transmission based on the detection of unintended vehicle motion

• US 10,316,959 B2
• Filed: 01/29/2016
• Issued: 06/11/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Blue Leaf IP Incorporated (CNH Industrial N.V.)
• Original Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC (CNH Industrial N.V.)
• Inventors: Kuros, Pawel
• Primary Examiner(s): Hutchinson, Alan D
• Application Number:
  US15/010,181
• Publication Number:
  US 20170219092A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,229 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18054 at stand still, e.g. engine in idling state hill holding B60W30/18118
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/22 Agricultural vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/221 Tractors
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2059/443 Detecting travel direction, e.g. the forward or reverse movement of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2059/663 Road slope
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 47/04 the mechanical gearing being of the type with members having orbital motion
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 59/48 Inputs being a function of acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/0204 for gearshift control, e.g. control functions for performing shifting or generation of shift signal

Abstract

A method for controlling the operation of a transmission of a work vehicle based on the detection of unintended vehicle motion may generally include determining an intended driving direction for the work vehicle while the vehicle is positioned on a sloped surface and initiating a shifting procedure within the transmission for engaging an on-coming clutch associated with moving the work vehicle in the intended driving direction, wherein the on-coming clutch is initially engaged at an initial ramp rate. In addition, the method may include monitoring an acceleration of the work vehicle as the on-coming clutch is being engaged, determining a current travel direction for the work vehicle based on the monitored acceleration and, when the current travel direction differs from the intended driving direction, adjusting the initial ramp rate for engaging the on-coming clutch to an increased ramp rate.

Claims

1. A method for controlling the operation of a transmission of a work vehicle based on the detection of unintended vehicle motion, the method comprising:

determining an intended driving direction for the work vehicle while the work vehicle is positioned on a sloped surface;

initiating a shifting procedure within the transmission for engaging an on-coming clutch associated with moving the work vehicle in the intended driving direction, the on-coming clutch being initially engaged at an initial ramp rate;

monitoring an acceleration of the work vehicle as the on-coming clutch is being engaged using an accelerometer positioned on or within the work vehicle;

comparing a first accelerometer measurement obtained prior to the initiation of the shifting procedure to a second accelerometer measurement obtained following the initiation of the shifting procedure to determine a current travel direction for the work vehicle; and

when the current travel direction differs from the intended driving direction, adjusting the initial ramp rate for engaging the on-coming clutch to an increased ramp rate.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein adjusting the initial ramp rate for engaging the on-coming clutch to the increased ramp rate comprises increasing a fluid pressure of hydraulic fluid being supplied to a clutch actuator associated with the on-coming clutch.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the on-coming clutch is associated with moving the work vehicle in a forward direction, wherein determining the current travel direction for the work vehicle comprises determining that the work vehicle is traveling in a reverse direction down the sloped surface based on the monitored acceleration.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the on-coming clutch is associated with moving the work vehicle in a reverse direction, wherein determining the current travel direction for the work vehicle comprises determining that the work vehicle is traveling in a forward direction down the sloped surface based on the monitored acceleration.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the intended driving direction for the work vehicle comprises receiving an operator input associated with the intended driving direction for the work vehicle.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the work vehicle is in a parked condition on the sloped surface prior to the initiation of the shifting procedure.

7. A system for controlling the operation of a transmission of a work vehicle based on the detection of unintended vehicle motion when the work vehicle is initially parked on a sloped surface, the system comprising:

an accelerometer located on or within the work vehicle; and

a controller communicatively coupled to the accelerometer, the controller including a processor and associated memory, the memory storing instructions that, when implemented by the processor, configure the controller to;

determine an intended driving direction for the work vehicle;

initiate a shifting procedure within the transmission for engaging an on-coming clutch associated with moving the work vehicle in the intended driving direction, the on-coming clutch being initially engaged at an initial ramp rate;

monitor an acceleration of the work vehicle as the on-coming clutch is being engaged based on sensor measurements received from the accelerometer;

compare a first accelerometer measurement obtained prior to the initiation of the shifting procedure to a second accelerometer measurement obtained following the initiation of the shifting procedure to determine a current travel direction for the work vehicle; and

when the current travel direction differs from the intended driving direction, adjust the initial ramp rate for engaging the on-coming clutch to an increased ramp rate.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the controller is configured to adjust the initial ramp rate by increasing a fluid pressure of hydraulic fluid being supplied to a clutch actuator associated with the on-coming clutch.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the on-coming clutch is associated with moving the work vehicle in a forward direction, wherein the controller is configured to adjust the initial ramp rate when the controller determines that the work vehicle is traveling in a reverse direction down the sloped surface based on the monitored acceleration.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the on-coming clutch is associated with moving the work vehicle in a reverse direction, wherein the controller is configured to adjust the initial ramp rate when the controller determines that the work vehicle is traveling in a forward direction down the sloped surface based on the monitored acceleration.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein the controller is configured to determine the intended driving direction for the work vehicle based on an operator input received via an input device communicatively coupled to the controller.

12. A work vehicle, comprising:

a chassis;

an engine supported on the chassis;

a transmission coupled to the engine; and

a controller communicatively coupled to the transmission, the controller including a processor and associated memory, the memory storing instructions that, when implemented by the processor, configure the controller to;

determine an intended driving direction for the work vehicle;

initiate a shifting procedure within the transmission for engaging an on-coming clutch associated with moving the work vehicle in the intended driving direction, the on-coming clutch being initially engaged at an initial ramp rate;

monitor an acceleration of the work vehicle as the on-coming clutch is being engaged;

compare a first accelerometer measurement obtained prior to the initiation of the shifting procedure to a second accelerometer measurement obtained following the initiation of the shifting procedure to determine a current travel direction for the work vehicle; and

when the current travel direction differs from the intended driving direction, adjust the initial ramp rate for engaging the on-coming clutch to an increased ramp rate; and

an accelerometer mounted on or within the work vehicle, the accelerometer being communicatively coupled to the controller.

13. The work vehicle of claim 12, wherein the controller is configured to adjust the initial ramp rate by increasing a fluid pressure of hydraulic fluid being supplied to a clutch actuator associated with the on-coming clutch.

14. The work vehicle of claim 12, wherein the on-coming clutch is associated with moving the work vehicle in a forward direction, wherein the controller is configured to adjust the initial ramp rate when the controller determines that the work vehicle is traveling in a reverse direction down the sloped surface based on the monitored acceleration.

15. The work vehicle of claim 12, wherein the on-coming clutch is associated with moving the work vehicle in a reverse direction, wherein the controller is configured to adjust the initial ramp rate when the controller determines that the work vehicle is traveling in a forward direction down the sloped surface based on the monitored acceleration.