Vehicle propulsion system and method for a vehicle

• US 10,330,193 B2
• Filed: 05/02/2017
• Issued: 06/25/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Sime, Karl A, Dlugoss, Randall B
• Primary Examiner(s): Pang, Roger L
• Application Number:
  US15/584,349
• Publication Number:
  US 20180320785A1
• Time in Patent Office: 784 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/02 including control of driveline clutches
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/11 Stepped gearings
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0638 Engine speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0685 Engine crank angle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/021 Clutch engagement state
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18018 Start-stop drive, e.g. in a traffic jam
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18027 Drive off, accelerating from standstill
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/181 Preparing for stopping
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2500/3026 Stroke
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2500/30402 Clutch friction coefficient
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2500/30406 Clutch slip
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2500/30408 Relative rotational position of the input and output parts, e.g. for facilitating positive clutch engagement
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2500/3041 from the input shaft
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2500/3067 Speed of the engine
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2312/14 Going to, or coming from standby operation, e.g. for engine start-stop operation at traffic lights
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/143 using electric control means
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 63/46 Signals to a clutch outside the gearbox

Abstract

A vehicle propulsion system includes an engine including a crankshaft and adapted to generate torque, a crankshaft sensor that outputs a signal that is indicative of a rotary position of the crankshaft, a transmission with a clutch that is connected to the engine to receive the torque from the engine, a drive member connected to the transmission to receive torque from the transmission, and a controller that commands operation of the clutch based upon the signal from the crankshaft sensor for controlling engine compression pulse disturbances as the engine speed changes from an elevated rpm to low or zero rpm as well as low or zero rpm to an elevated rpm.

Claims

1. A vehicle propulsion system, the system comprising:

an engine including a crankshaft and adapted to generate torque;

a crankshaft sensor that outputs a signal that is indicative of a rotary position of the crankshaft;

a transmission with a clutch that is connected to the engine to receive the torque from the engine;

a drive member connected to the transmission to receive torque from the transmission; and

a controller that commands operation of the clutch based upon the signal from the crankshaft sensor during a transition between an engine operating condition and an engine stop condition, wherein the controller commands operation of the clutch such that the clutch only partially engages, and wherein the controller commands operation of the clutch above a predetermined engine speed.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller commands operation of the clutch in response to the signal from the crankshaft sensor indicating a predetermined position of a piston within a cylinder within the engine.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller controls the clutch operation to activate the clutch to reduce a pulse in an engine speed profile.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the engine further includes a piston in a cylinder connected to the crankshaft and wherein the controller commands operation of the clutch to engage during one of a compression stroke and a combustion stroke of the piston.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the crankshaft sensor signal comprises an absolute engine position relative to top dead center of a piston within a cylinder in one of a combustion stroke and a compression stroke of the piston.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the controller compensates for an inherent delay in a hydraulic clutch control system by commanding actuation of the clutch by a predetermined amount prior to top dead center.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the predetermined engine speed corresponds to a lower engine speed within a predetermined range of engine speeds.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the predetermined range of engine speeds corresponds to range in which a frequency of a plurality of pulses approximates a resonant frequency of the propulsion system.

9. A method for controlling a vehicle propulsion system that includes an engine including a crankshaft and adapted to generate torque, a crankshaft sensor that outputs a signal that is indicative of a rotary position of the crankshaft, a transmission with a clutch that is connected to the engine to receive the torque from the engine, a drive member connected to the transmission to receive torque from the transmission, and a controller that commands operation of the clutch based upon the signal from the crankshaft sensor, the method comprising:

determining whether the vehicle propulsion system is transitioning from an engine operating condition to an engine stop condition; and

controlling operation of the clutch when the vehicle propulsion system transitions between an engine operating condition and an engine stop condition, wherein controlling operation of the clutch only partially engages the clutch, and wherein controlling operation of the clutch is above a predetermined engine speed.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein controlling operation of the clutch is in response to the signal from the crankshaft sensor indicating a predetermined position of a piston within a cylinder within the engine.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein controlling operation of the clutch reduces a pulse in an engine speed profile.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the engine further includes a piston in a cylinder connected to the crankshaft and wherein controlling operation of the clutch is during one of a compression stroke and a combustion stroke of the piston.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the crankshaft sensor signal comprises an absolute engine position relative to top dead center of a piston within a cylinder in one of a combustion stroke and a compression stroke of the piston.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein controlling operation of the clutch compensates for an inherent delay in a hydraulic clutch control system by commanding actuation of the clutch by a predetermined amount of time prior to top dead center.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the predetermined engine speed corresponds to a lower engine speed within a predetermined range of engine speeds.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the predetermined range of engine speeds corresponds to range in which a frequency of a plurality of pulses approximates a resonant frequency of the propulsion system.