Transmission control device

• US 10,480,644 B2
• Filed: 08/31/2017
• Issued: 11/19/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Powertrain Control Solutions, LLC
• Original Assignee: Powertrain Control Solutions, LLC
• Inventors: Turner, Charles R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hannon, Timothy
• Application Number:
  US15/692,699
• Publication Number:
  US 20170363202A1
• Time in Patent Office: 810 Days
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2061/165 Preventing reverse gear shifts if vehicle speed is too high for safe shifting
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2061/207 by neutral control
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2312/09 Switching between forward and reverse rocking F16H2312/08
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2312/10 Inching
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 59/02 Selector apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/0206 Layout of electro-hydraulic control circuits, e.g. arrangement of valves for control of actuators selecting and moving final output members, e.g. shift forks F16H61/2807
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/0272 characterised by initiating reverse gearshift
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/16 Inhibiting or initiating shift during unfavourable conditions, e.g. preventing forward reverse shift at high vehicle speed, preventing engine over speed unintentional control input F16H61/18
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20024 Fluid actuator

Abstract

An enhanced control system for an electronic automatic transmission enables the transmission to operate in a full neutral idle, a reverse lockout, and an inching mode. These functions improve the mileage and durability of the operation of the transmission. They also enable the inching mode for use especially in industrial applications.

Claims

1. An electronic automatic four-speed transmission for a vehicle, the transmission comprising:

an electronic automatic four-speed transmission;

a plurality of electronic solenoids that control a flow of hydraulic fluid in the transmission, wherein the hydraulic fluid in turn actuates an operation of the transmission in both forward and reverse gears;

an electronic control panel operatively connected to at least one of the electronic solenoids;

the electronic control panel comprising a manual switch that actuates the flow of incremental, preset amounts of the hydraulic fluid;

wherein the electronic control panel is adapted to be operable and remote from a driver seat of the vehicle that has the transmission operatively mounted therein; and

wherein the incremental, preset amounts of hydraulic fluid correspond to predetermined distances of movement of the vehicle.

2. The electronic automatic four-speed transmission as described in claim 1,

wherein the preset amount of hydraulic fluid corresponds to incremental movement of the vehicle of 20 centimeters.

3. The electronic automatic four-speed transmission as described in claim 1,

wherein the preset amount of hydraulic fluid corresponds to incremental movement of the vehicle of 5 to 40 centimeters.

4. The electronic automatic four-speed transmission as described in claim 1,

wherein the preset amount of hydraulic fluid corresponds to incremental movement of the vehicle of 10 to 30 centimeters.

5. The electronic automatic four-speed transmission as described in claim 1,

wherein the flow of hydraulic fluid has a predetermined rate of flow to control the speed of moving the predetermined distances.

6. The electronic automatic four-speed transmission as described in claim 1,

wherein the movement of the vehicle is in a reverse direction.

7. The electronic automatic four-speed transmission as described in claim 1,

wherein the electronic control panel is wirelessly connected to one of the plurality of electronic solenoids.

8. The electronic automatic four-speed transmission as described in claim 1,

wherein the electronic control panel is operatively connected to the plurality of the electronic solenoids.

9. The electronic automatic four-speed transmission as described in claim 1,

wherein the electronic control panel is also a personal, mobile smartphone.

10. The electronic automatic four-speed transmission as described in claim 1,

wherein the electronic control panel is mounted into a fixed position at a rear of the vehicle.

11. The electronic automatic four-speed transmission as described in claim 1,

wherein the vehicle comprises a plug that is operatively connected to the solenoids and the electronic control panel comprises a cable and connector that is adapted to be releasably inserted into the plug.

12. The electronic automatic four-speed transmission as described in claim 11,

wherein the plug is located at the rear of the vehicle.

13. The electronic automatic four-speed transmission as described in claim 1,

wherein the vehicle comprises a plurality of plugs that are operatively connected to the solenoids, and the electronic control panel comprises a cable and connector that is adapted to be releasably inserted into one of the plurality of plugs.

14. The electronic automatic four-speed transmission as described in claim 13,

wherein one plug is located at a rear of the vehicle.

15. The electronic automatic four-speed transmission as described in claim 13,

wherein one plug is located at a front of the vehicle.