APPARATUS AND METHOD TO CONTROL TRANSMISSION TORQUE OUTPUT DURING A GEAR-TO-GEAR SHIFT

• US 20080004779A1
• Filed: 06/30/2006
• Published: 01/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Sah, Jy-Jen F.
• Granted Patent: US 7,585,249 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/51
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/02 comprising more than one electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/26 characterised by the motors or the generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/365 with the gears having orbital motion
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/445 Differential gearing distribution type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/547 the transmission being a stepped gearing
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/26 Rail vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/421 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/486 Operating parameters
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/02 including control of driveline clutches
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/08 including control of electric propulsion units, e.g. motors or generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/115 with planetary gears
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/00 Control systems specially adapted for hybrid vehicles hybrid vehicle design, B60K6/00; electric vehicles B60L
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/30 Control strategies involving selection of transmission gear ratio control of change speed gearings, together with other vehicle sub-units B60W10/10; HEV transmission gearing B60K6/36; gearings and control thereof F16H
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/081 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/1015 Input shaft speed, e.g. turbine speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/104 Output speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/244 Charge state
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/10 Accelerator pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/12 Brake pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/16 : Ratio selector position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/027 : Clutch torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0644 : Engine speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/105 : Output torque
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2037/0866 : Power split variators with distributing differentials, with the output of the CVT connected or connectable to the output shaft
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2037/102 : the input or output shaft of the transmission is connected or connectable to two or more differentials
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2037/104 : Power split variators with one end of the CVT connected or connectable to two or more differentials
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2037/106 : with switching means to provide two variator modes or ranges
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 3/728 : with means to change ratio in the mechanical gearing
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 59/72 : dependent on oil characteristics, e.g. temperature, viscosity
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/0202 : the signals being electric F16H61/04 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 : Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 : Electric machine technologies in electromobility

Abstract

A control system is provided to effect a method to control torque output from a two-mode, compound-split, electro-mechanical transmission during gear-to-gear shifting event when an off-going torque-transfer device is disengaged. It includes a computer program which controls transmission operation. A predetermined preferred torque output from the transmission device is determined. Torque output from torque-generative devices device is controlled. Torque transmitted across a selectively actuated torque transfer device is controlled, and limited based upon available battery power. Actuation of the oncoming torque-transfer device is preferably based upon a temperature of the device during the shifting event. The temperature during the shifting event is determined based upon a rotational speed of an input shaft to the transmission and an elapsed time to shift.

Claims

1. Article of manufacture, comprising a storage medium having a computer program encoded therein for effecting a method to control torque output from a transmission device during a gear-to-gear shifting event when an off-going torque-transfer device is disengaged, the program comprising:

code comprising a predetermined preferred torque output from the transmission device;

code to control torque output from each of a plurality of torque-generative devices operative to transmit motive torque to the transmission device; and

,

code to control torque transmitted across a selectively actuated torque transfer device.

2. The article of manufacture of claim 1, wherein the code to control torque transmitted across a selectively actuated torque transfer device further comprises code to control torque output from each of the torque-generative devices to substantially match the predetermined preferred torque output from the transmission device.

3. The article of manufacture of claim 2, wherein the transmission comprises a two-mode, compound-split, electro-mechanical transmission.

4. The article of manufacture of claim 3, wherein the torque-generative devices comprise electrical machines.

5. The article of manufacture of claim 4, further comprising the plurality of torque-generative devices operative to transmit motive torque to the transmission device wherein the motive torque is limited based upon battery power.

6. The article of manufacture of claim 5, wherein the electrical machines are each operable to independently transmit motive torque to the transmission device.

7. The article of manufacture of claim 6, wherein the torque-generative devices further comprise an internal combustion engine.

8. The article of manufacture of claim 3, wherein the two-mode, compound-split, electro-mechanical transmission comprises a transmission including four torque-transfer devices operative to control the transmission in operating ranges comprising four fixed-gear modes and two continuously variable modes.

9. The article of manufacture of claim 8, wherein the powertrain system is operable to provide motive torque to a driveline of a vehicle.

10. The article of manufacture of claim 1, wherein the code comprising a predetermined preferred torque output from the transmission device comprises a series of time-based values for output torque derived based upon operator expectations during a shifting event.

11. The article of manufacture of claim 1, wherein the code to control torque transmitted across the selectively actuated torque transfer device further comprises code to control actuation of the torque-transfer device based upon a temperature of the selectively actuated torque-transfer device during the shifting event.

12. The article of manufacture of claim 11, wherein the temperature of the selectively actuated torque-transfer device during the shifting event is determined based upon a rotational speed of an input shaft to the transmission and an elapsed time to execute the shift event.

13. The article of manufacture of claim 1, wherein the code to control torque transmitted across the selectively actuated torque transfer device further comprises code to control actuation of the torque-transfer device based upon slippage of the selectively actuated torque-transfer device during the shifting event.

14. Control system, for a powertrain comprising a plurality of torque-generative devices operatively connected to a power transmission device operable in a plurality of fixed gear ratios each fixed gear ratio effected by selective actuation of a plurality of torque-transfer devices, the control system operable to execute a computer program to effect a method to control torque output from the power transmission device during a gear-to-gear shifting event when an off-going torque-transfer device is disengaged, the computer program comprising:

code comprising a predetermined preferred torque output from the transmission device;

code to control torque output from each of the torque-generative devices operative to transmit motive torque to the transmission device; and

,

code to control torque transmitted across a selectively actuated torque transfer device to optimize an operating temperature of the selectively actuated torque-transfer device.

15. The control system of claim 14, further comprising code to control torque output from each of the torque-generative devices operative to transmit motive torque to the transmission device during the shifting event.

16. The control system of claim 15, further comprising the control system operable to control torque output from each of the torque-generative devices and the selectively actuated torque-transfer device to substantially match the predetermined preferred torque output from the transmission device.

17. The control system of claim 16, wherein the torque-generative devices comprise an internal combustion engine, a first electrical machine, and a second electrical machine.

18. The control system of claim 14, wherein the magnitude of torque transmitted from the first and second electrical machines is determined based upon available electrical power transmittable from an electrical energy storage device.

19. Method for controlling torque output from a transmission device during a gear-to-gear shifting event when an off-going torque-transfer device is disengaged, comprising:

predetermining a preferred torque output from the transmission device;

controlling torque output from each of a plurality of torque-generative devices operative to transmit motive torque to the transmission device; and

,

controlling torque transmitted across a selectively actuated torque transfer device.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein controlling torque output from each of the plurality of torque-generative devices operative to transmit motive torque to the transmission device further comprises limiting torque output from each of the torque-generative devices based upon available battery power when the torque-generative devices comprise electrical machines.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein controlling torque transmitted across the selectively actuated torque transfer device further comprises controlling actuation of the torque transfer device based upon a temperature of the torque transfer device during the shift event.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising determining the temperature of the torque transfer device during the shift event based upon rotation of an input shaft to the transmission and an elapsed time to shift.