Method and device for operating especially an automatic or automated gearbox comprising a parking brake and a runaway locking mechanism

• US 20070135261A1
• Filed: 02/07/2007
• Published: 06/14/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co.KG (INA-Holding Schaeffler GmbH & Co. KG)
• Original Assignee: LuK Lamellen und Kupplungsbau Beteiligungs KG
• Inventors: Berger, Reinhard, Pollak, Burkhard, Schweizer, Alexander, Lang, Dietmar, Kupper, Klaus, Benz, Jurgen
• Granted Patent: US 7,374,511 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 477/96
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/113 with two input flow paths, e.g. double clutch transmission selection of one of the torque flow paths by the corresponding input clutch
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18054 at stand still, e.g. engine in idling state hill holding B60W30/18118
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2061/223 Electrical gear shift lock, e.g. locking of lever in park or neutral position by electric means if brake is not applied; Key interlock, i.e. locking the key if lever is not in park position
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2061/226 Manual distress release of the locking means for shift levers, e.g. to allow towing of vehicle in case of breakdown for parking locks F16H63/3491
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2312/022 Preparing to drive off
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2312/12 Parking
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/22 Locking of the control input devices constructional features of locking or disabling mechanisms F16H63/34
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/688 with two inputs, e.g. selection of one of two torque-flow paths by clutches
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/70 specially adapted for change-speed gearing in group arrangement, i.e. with separate change-speed gear trains arranged in series, e.g. range or overdrive-type gearing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 63/3433 Details of latch mechanisms, e.g. for keeping pawls out of engagement
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 63/48 Signals to a parking brake or parking lock; Control of parking locks or brakes being part of the transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/19251 Control mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20085 Restriction of shift, gear selection, or gear engagement

Abstract

The invention relates to methods and devices for actuating a parking brake in a gearbox which is actuated in an automated manner, whereby gear changes are carried out by means of at least one electrically driven actuator, gear positions can be selected by means of a selector device, and the parking brake can be activated by means of the selector device when the vehicle is stationary or moving slowly. The invention also relates to a vehicle provided with an additional gearbox. The ignition key can only be removed, according to the inventive methods and devices, when the gearbox is in the P state and the additional gearbox is not in the N state. The invention further relates to a method and device, whereby the additional gearbox can only be shifted in the N state when the gearbox is not in the P state. Disclosed are also methods and a device for carrying out the same, by which means automated manual gearboxes, especially parallel gearboxes, are controlled in such a way that the vehicle can be safely parked and can set off in a reliable and comfortable manner.

Claims

1-12. -12. (canceled)

13. A device for the actuation of a parking lock of an automatically actuated transmission comprising a mechanical spring device that activates the parking lock and an actuator.

14. The device as described in claim 13, characterized by a mechanical emergency unlocking device that is actuated via the selector device and by means of which the activated parking lock may be deactivated.

15. A device according to claim 13 for the actuation of a parking lock of an automatically actuated transmission comprising a selector device for controlling an actuator that activates the parking lock, wherein the spring device is provided against which the selector device may be moved for the activation of the parking lock, the actuator for the activation of the parking lock being triggered via the detection of the movement of the selector device of the actuator for the activation of the parking lock and the selector device being locked after a successful activation of the parking lock.

16. A method for the control of the operability of an additional transmission of a vehicle, which additional transmission is disposed between a transmission, which may be shifted into a P operating mode that blocks the rotation of an output shaft, and the vehicle wheels and may be shifted into an N operating state in which its output shaft may rotate freely when decoupled from the input shaft, in which method the additional transmission may only be shifted into the N state if the transmission is not located in its P state.

18. A device for practicing the method of claim 16 for controlling the operability of an additional transmission of a vehicle that is arranged between a transmission, which may be shifted into a P operating state that blocks the rotation of an output shaft, and may be shifted into an N operating state in which its output shaft may rotate freely when decoupled from the input shaft, which device contains:

a detection device for the detection of the operating state of the transmission,

a detection device for the detection of the operating state of the additional transmission,

a locking device to block the shiftability of the additional transmission into the N state and

a control device connected to the detection devices and the locking device, wherein the control device controls the locking device in such a manner that the additional transmission may only be shifted into its N state if the transmission is not located in its P state.

17. (canceled)

19. A method for the parking of a vehicle equipped with an automated-shift transmission including the following steps:

a) checking whether the vehicle is at a standstill and the ignition is off;

if yes

b) checking whether a starting gear is engaged;

if yes

c) checking whether clutch is engaged;

if yes

d) terminating of the parking procedure.

20. The method of claim 19 where the automated-shift transmission is equipped with a parking lock further including checking that the parking lock is engaged before termination of the parking procedure.

21. The method as described in claim 19, wherein the starting gear engaged in step b) is a function of the gear that was engaged in the preceding operating cycle of the vehicle.

22. The method as described in claim 19, wherein the automated-shift transmission is an automated twin-clutch transmission having two partial transmissions and clutches assigned thereto in which method in step b) a gear is shifted in each partial transmission and both clutches are engaged in step c).

23. The method of claim 20 further including checking that all gears are disengaged before termination of the parking procedure.

24. The method as described in claim 23 further including checking that a parking brake is actuated before termination of the parking procedure.

25. The method as described in claim 24, wherein the removability of an ignition key is only enabled if all procedural steps are satisfied.

26. A method for enabling a starting operation in a vehicle equipped with an automated-shift transmission, including the following steps:

a) checking whether ignition is on and engine off;

if yes

b) checking whether a vehicle brake or parking lock is actuated;

if yes

c) checking whether clutch is disengaged;

if yes

d) enabling of starter operation.

27. The method as described in claim 26, including the following steps that follow step d):

e) checking whether the vehicle moves with or after the engine turns, without a change of the driving program into a driving gear having been made;

if yes

f) cancellation of the starter enabling and shutdown of the engine.

28. The method as described in claim 26, wherein, in the step in which the disengagement of the clutch is checked, in a twin-clutch transmission the disengagement of both clutches is checked.

29. The method as described in claim 26, wherein a starting gear is engaged no later than enabling of the starter.

30. The method as described in claim 26, wherein the starting gear is a function of a gear in which the vehicle was driven in a preceding operating cycle.

31. The method as described in claim 26, wherein, in a twin-clutch transmission, a first and a second forward gears or a forward gear and a reverse gear are engaged no later than during enabling of the starter.

32. The method as described in claim 31, wherein, during shifting of the transmission into a drive gear, a clutch associated with a selected starting gear is engaged, and a vehicle brake or parking lock is released.

33. The method as described in claim 32, wherein when the vehicle is at a standstill and there is a change of a setting of a control unit of a transmission, a corresponding change of a transmission state only occurs if the setting of the control unit is maintained during a predetermined period of time.

34. The method of claim 26 wherein the automated-shift transmission has a parking lock.

41. The method of claim 26 wherein the automated-shift transmission has a parking lock and checking whether the ignition is disengaged prior to enabling the starter.

35-40. -40. (canceled)

42-47. -47. (canceled)

48. A vehicle control system comprising:

a first automatic-shift transmission having a first detection device monitoring the operating state of the first automatic-shift transmission and a first selector device operatively arranged to actuate said first automatic-shift transmission;

a second automatic-shift transmission having a second detection device monitoring the operating state of the second automatic-shift transmission and a second selector device operatively arranged to actuate said second automatic-shift transmission;

means to prevent movement of said second selector device;

an ignition switch having means to prevent the removal of an ignition key;

a control unit operatively arranged to;

determine the positions of said first and second selector devices and said ignition switch;

activate said means to prevent movement of said second selector device; and

, activate said means to prevent the removal of said ignition key from said ignition switch; and

,

means for holding the vehicle at a standstill.

49. The vehicle control system recited in claim 48, wherein the means for holding the vehicle at a standstill comprises a mechanical parking lock operatively arranged to prevent rotation of an output shaft of said first automatic-shift transmission.

50. The vehicle control system recited in claim 48, wherein the means for holding the vehicle at a standstill comprises a braking system that may be operated by a control device via at least one actuator.

51. The vehicle control system recited in claim 48 further comprising means to detect the location of a vehicle operator.

52. The vehicle control system recited in claim 48 further comprising means to detect an operational status of an engine of a vehicle.

53. The vehicle control system recited in claim 48 further comprising means to detect an operational status of a vehicle service brake.

54. The vehicle control system recited in claim 48 further comprising a starter switch operatively arranged to start and stop said engine.