Multiple speed transmission having fuel economy mode

• US 20070276570A1
• Filed: 05/23/2006
• Published: 11/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Inventors: AbuSamra, Muneer
• Granted Patent: US 7,684,919 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/54
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/11 Stepped gearings
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/1882 characterised by the working point of the engine, e.g. by using engine output chart
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2061/0015 Transmission control for optimising fuel consumptions
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2300/14 Selecting a state of operation, e.g. depending on two wheel or four wheel drive mode
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/0213 characterised by the method for generating shift signals
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 63/42 Ratio indicator devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/84 Data processing systems or methods, management, administration

Abstract

An method of operating a multiple speed (gear ratio) mechanical transmission and engine combination to optimize (reduce) fuel consumption comprises the steps of determining a fuel efficiency map for an engine, providing a multiple speed mechanical transmission controller having data and program storage capabilities, providing data regarding the fuel efficiency map to the controller and providing a control algorithm in the controller whereby operation of the engine/transmission combination is optimized for fuel economy in accordance with the fuel efficiency map.

Claims

1. A method of operating an engine and multiple speed transmission comprising the steps of:

providing a mechanical transmission;

providing a controller for said transmission having a memory;

storing a portion of a fuel map for an internal combustion engine having an operating region of optimum efficiency in said memory;

providing an upshift command when a speed of such engine is above a speed associated with said operating region of optimum efficiency by a first predetermined value;

providing a downshift command when speed is below a speed associated with said operating region of optimum efficiency by a second predetermined value.

2. The method of operating an engine and a multiple speed transmission of claim 1 further including the step of providing an operator manipulable device for selecting said method of operation.

3. The method of operating an engine and a multiple speed transmission of claim 1 wherein a vehicle operator may manually select or de-select said method of operation.

4. The method of operating an engine and a multiple speed transmission of claim 1 wherein the controller receives speed data from an engine.

5. The method of operating an engine and a multiple speed transmission of claim 1 wherein said method operates in the highest three gears of said transmission.

6. The method of operating an engine and a multiple speed transmission of claim 1 wherein said stored portion of said fuel map includes engine speed and engine load data.

7. The method of operating an engine and a multiple speed transmission of claim 1 wherein said predetermined values are less than 200 r.p.m.

8. The method of operating an engine and a multiple speed transmission of claim 1, wherein said mechanical transmission is an automated mechanical transmission and said shift commands are provided to a transmission actuator.

9. The method of operating an engine and a multiple speed transmission of claim 1, wherein said mechanical transmission is a manual transmission and said shift commands are provided to an indicator.

10. An operating mode for an engine and multiple speed transmission providing improved fuel efficiency comprising the steps of:

providing a multiple speed transmission;

providing a controller for said transmission having a data storage feature;

storing at least a portion of a fuel map for an internal combustion engine having an operating condition of optimum efficiency in said data storage feature;

providing an upshift command when a speed of such internal combustion engine is above a speed associated with said operating condition of optimum efficiency by a first predetermined value;

providing a downshift command when such speed is below a speed associated with said operating condition of optimum efficiency by a first predetermined value.

11. The operating mode for an engine and multiple speed transmission of claim 10 further including the step of providing an operator manipulable device for selecting said method of operation.

12. The operating mode for an engine and multiple speed transmission of claim 10 wherein a vehicle operator may manually select or de-select said method of operation.

13. The operating mode for an engine and multiple speed transmission of claim 10 wherein the controller receives speed data from such engine.

14. The operating mode for an engine and multiple speed transmission of claim 10 wherein said method operates in the highest three gears of said transmission.

15. The operating mode for an engine and multiple speed transmission of claim 10 wherein said stored portion of said fuel map includes data regarding engine speed and engine load.

16. The operating mode for an engine and multiple speed transmission of claim 10 wherein said predetermined values are less than 200 r.p.m.

17. The operating mode for an engine and a multiple speed transmission of claim 10, wherein said mechanical transmission is an automated mechanical transmission and said shift commands are provided to a transmission actuator.

18. The operating mode for an engine and a multiple speed transmission of claim 10, wherein said mechanical transmission is a manual transmission and said shift commands are provided to an indicator.

19. An operating method for an engine and multiple speed transmission having improved fuel efficiency comprising the steps of:

providing a multiple speed transmission;

providing a controller for said transmission having a memory;

storing data from a fuel map for an internal combustion engine regarding an operating condition of optimum efficiency in said memory;

providing an upshift command when a speed is of such engine is above a speed associated with said operating condition of optimum efficiency by a first predetermined value;

providing a downshift command when speed is below a speed associated with said operating condition of optimum efficiency by a second predetermined value.

20. The operating method for an engine and multiple speed transmission of claim 19 further including the step of providing an operator manipulable device for selecting said method of operation.

21. The operating method for an engine and multiple speed transmission of claim 19 wherein the controller receives speed data from such engine.

22. The operating method for an engine and multiple speed transmission of claim 19 wherein said stored portion of said fuel map includes data regarding engine speed and engine load.

23. The operating method for an engine and multiple speed transmission of claim 19 wherein said predetermined values are less than 200 r.p.m.

24. The operating method for an engine and multiple speed transmission of claim 19 wherein said transmission is an automated mechanical transmission and said shift commands are provided to a transmission actuator.

25. The operating method for an engine and multiple speed transmission of claim 19 wherein said transmission is a manual transmission and said shift commands are provided to an indicator.