CLUTCH CHARACTERISTIC ADAPTION METHOD FOR AUTOMATIC DUAL CLUTCH TRANSMISSION

• US 20100114443A1
• Filed: 11/02/2009
• Published: 05/06/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Inventors: ZUBER, Dietmar, BÜHNER, Mario, MOSELER, Olaf, TERWART, Markus, LOCHER, Karl, BADER, Martin-Joachim
• Granted Patent: US 8,271,171 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/68
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2500/1026 Hydraulic
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2500/1086 Concentric shafts
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2500/3024 Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2500/30426 Speed of the output shaft
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2500/308 from the transmission
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2500/30816 Speed of the input shaft
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2500/50272 Gearing speed
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2500/70605 Adaptive correction; Modifying control system parameters, e.g. gains, constants, look-up tables
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 48/066 Control of fluid pressure, e.g. using an accumulator F16D48/062, F16D48/068 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2306/48 Synchronising of new gear
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2342/042 Point of engagement
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/0403 Synchronisation before shifting
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/688 with two inputs, e.g. selection of one of two torque-flow paths by clutches

Abstract

A method for clutch characteristic curve adaptation of an automatic dual-clutch transmission which comprises two sub-gearboxes each with an input shaft connected, via a friction clutch, to the drive shaft of a motor and several gears that are shifted via a friction-synchronized gear clutch. A value of the current touch point of the friction clutch can be determined with the motor running and the gears disengaged in a load-free sub-gearbox. The method includes the steps of starting synchronization of a gear clutch with a defined force of a regulator. Waiting until the gear clutch is synchronized. Engaging the friction clutch of the until the gear clutch is synchronizes. Determination the current touch point from the current synchronous torque of the gear clutch and the current regulating parameter of the associated clutch regulator. Then, adapting the clutch characteristic curve of the friction clutch in view of the current touch point.

Claims

1-25. -25. (canceled)

26. A method for clutch characteristic curve adaptation of an automatic dual-clutch transmission of a vehicle which comprises two sub-gearboxes each comprising an input shaft (3, 4) connected, via a friction clutch (K1, K2), to a drive shaft (2) of a drive motor (M) and a plurality of gears (G1-G6, R) that are shiftable via a friction-synchronized gear clutch (S1-S4), whereby a current value of a touch point of an associated friction clutch (K1, K2) is determined in conjunction with a partial engagement of the associated friction clutch (K1, K2) and acquisition of relevant operating parameters with the drive motor (M) operating and the plurality of gears (G1-G6, R) disengaged in a load-free sub-gearbox, the method comprising the steps of:

starting of the synchronous point of a gear clutch (S1, S3;

S2, S4) of the load-free sub-gearbox with a defined regulating force of an associated gear regulator (p_GK=p_Sync)

waiting until synchronization is attained for the gear clutch being synchronized (n_GE=n_Sync);

successively engaging the associated friction clutch (K1;

K2) of the same sub-gearbox until cessation of the synchronization at the gear clutch being synchronized is determined (n_GE≠

n_Sync);

ascertaining the current touch point (x_TP, p_TP) of the associated friction clutch from a current synchronous torque (M_Sync) of the gear clutch being synchronized and a current regulating parameter (x_K, p_K) of the associated clutch regulator; and

adapting a clutch characteristic curve of the associated friction clutch (K1, K2) with the current touch point (x_TP, _Ptp).

27. The method according to claim 26, further comprising the step of ascertaining the current touch point (x_TP, p_TP) and adapting the clutch characteristic curve when the vehicle is stopped in time proximity for the friction clutches (K1, K2) of both of the two sub-gearboxes.

28. The method according to claim 26, further comprising the step of the ascertaining the current touch point (x_TP, p_TP) and adapting the clutch characteristic curve, while driving, respectively for the associated friction clutch (K1, K2) of the currently load-free sub-gearbox.

29. The method according to claim 26, further comprising the step of checking a degree of engagement of the friction clutch (K1, K2) and completely disengaging an applicable friction clutch (K1, K2) if the friction clutch (K1, K2) is at least partially engaged before ascertaining the current touch point (x_TP, p_TP) of the friction clutch (K1, K2).

30. The method according to claim 26, further comprising the step of verifying a shift status of the sub-gearbox in question, and if the gear (G1-G6, R) is engaged, the gear (G1-G6, R) is disengaged before ascertaining the current touch point (x_TP, p_TP) of the friction clutch (K1, K2).

31. The method according to claim 26, further comprising the step of first pre-filling the clutch regulator before engagement of the friction clutch (K1, K2) with a filling pressure (p_K—

_F) and a lower initializing pressure (p<sub>K—

I</sub>) when the friction clutch (K1, K2) has an actively engagable construction and the associated clutch regulator comprises one of a hydraulic and a pneumatic adjusting cylinder.

32. The method according to claim 26, further comprising the step of ascertaining the current synchronous point (p_Sync) of the applicable gear clutch (S1-S4) directly before ascertaining the current touch point (x_TP, p_TP) of the friction clutch (K1, K2).

33. The method according to claim 26, further comprising the step of starting each synchronous point (p_Sync) of the gear clutch (S1, S3;

S2, S4) of the same gear (G1, G3, G5;

G2, G4, G6, R) in the load-free sub-gearbox.

34. The method according to claim 26, further comprising the step of, when the vehicle is stopped, starting each synchronous point (p_Sync) of the gear clutch (S1;

S2) of a start gear (G1;

G2, R) in the load-free sub-gearbox.

35. The method according to claim 26, further comprising the step of, while driving, starting the synchronous point (p_Sync) of the gear clutch of either a higher or a lower gear (G5, G3;

G4, G2) requiring one of one, two or three gear jumps based on the gear (G4;

G3) engaged in the other sub-gearbox in the load-free sub-gearbox.

36. The method according to claim 26, further comprising the step of engaging the friction clutch (K1;

K2) of the load-free sub-gearbox as a gradual progression of the regulating parameter (p_K) of the respective clutch regulator with an applicable stage offset (Δ

p_St) and an applicable duration of holding (Δ

t_St) per engagement stage.

37. The method according to claim 36, further comprising the step of forming the stage offset (Δ

p_St) of the engagement stages of the regulating parameter (p_K) on a basis of an applicable stage jump (Δ

p_Sp) and a following applicable ramp jump (Δ

p_Rp).

38. The method according to claim 36, further comprising the step of ceasing ascertainment of the current touch point (x_TP, p_TP) of the friction clutch (K1, K2), when cancellation of the synchronization at the applicable gear clutch (S1, S3;

S2, S4) is determined before attainment of an applicable minimum number (n<sub>St—

min</sub>) of engagement stages, and is not established up to expiration of an applicable maximum number (n<sub>St—

max</sub>) of engagement stages of the regulating parameter (p_K) of the clutch regulator being clutch being synchronized.

39. The method according to claim 31, further comprising the step of lowering at least one of the filling pressure (p_K—

_F) and the initializing pressure (p<sub>K—

I</sub>) of the pre-filling of the clutch regulator with a subsequent ascertaining of the touch point (x_TP, p_TP) of the same friction clutch (K1, K2) when synchronization at the applicable gear clutch (S1, S3;

S2, S4) is cancelled before the attainment of a minimum number (n<sub>St—

min</sub>) of engagement stages, and raising at least one of the filling pressure (p<sub>K—

F</sub>) and the initializing pressure (p<sub>K—

I</sub>) of the pre-filling of the clutch regulator with a following determination of the touch point (x_TP, p_TP) of the same friction clutch (K1, K2) with a non-determined cessation of the synchronization at the gear clutch (S1, S3;

S2, S4) after expiration of the maximum number (n<sub>St—

max</sub>) of engagement stages.

40. The method according to claim 26, further comprising the step of the engaging the friction clutch (K1;

K2) of the load-free sub-gearbox in a ramp-like progression of the regulating parameter (p_K) of the respective clutch regulator with an applicable regulating gradient (dp_K/dt).

41. The method according to claim 40, further comprising the step of stopping determination of the current touch point (x_TP, p_TP) of the friction clutch (K1, K2), if cessation of the synchronization at the applicable gear clutch (S1, S3;

S2, S4) is determined before attainment of an applicable minimum engagement time (Δ

t<sub>E—

min</sub>) and cessation of the synchronization at the applicable gear clutch (S1, S3;

S2, S4) is not determined up to the expiration of an applicable maximum engagement time (Δ

t<sub>E—

max</sub>) of the clutch regulator being synchronized.

42. The method according to claim 31, further comprising the step of lowering at least one of the filling pressure (p_K—

_F) and the initializing pressure (p<sub>K—

I</sub>) of the pre-filling of the clutch regulator with a following determination of the touch point (x_TP, p_TP) of the same friction clutch (K1, K2), with cancellation of the synchronization at the applicable gear clutch (S1, S3;

S2, S4) before the attainment of a minimum engagement time (Δ

t<sub>E—

min</sub>), and raising at least one of the filling pressure (p<sub>K—

F</sub>) and the initializing pressure (p<sub>K—

I</sub>) of the pre-filling of the clutch regulator with a following determination of the touch point (X_TP, P_TP) of the same friction clutch (K1, K2) when cancellation of the synchronization at the gear clutch (S1, S3;

S2, S4) is not established after expiration of the maximum engagement time (Δ

t<sub>E—

max</sub>).

43. The method according to claim 33, further comprising the step of storing a gear-related error report in an error memory after an applicable number of interruptions of the determination of the current touch point (x_TP, p_TP) by synchronization of the same gear clutch (S1, S3;

S2, S4) and determining a gear clutch (S1, S3;

S2, S4) of another gear (G1, G3, G5;

G2, G4, G6, R) of the same sub-gearbox for a following determination of the current touch point (x_TP, p_TP) of the friction clutch (K1, K2).

44. The method according to claim 26, further comprising the step of canceling the synchronization at the applicable gear clutch (S1, S3;

S2, S4) when a rotational speed difference (Δ

n_GK) at the gear clutch has either reached or exceeded a determined rotational speed difference threshold (Δ

n<sub>GK—

max</sub>).

45. The method according to claim 26, further comprising the step of canceling the synchronization at the respective gear clutch (S1, S3;

S2, S4) when the rotational speed difference (Δ

n_GE, Δ

n_K) either between the two input shafts (3, 4) or at the friction clutch in question (K1;

K2) has either reached or exceeded an established rotational speed difference threshold (Δ

n<sub>GE—

min</sub>, Δ

n<sub>K—

min</sub>).

46. The method according to claim 26, further comprising the step of only starting ascertaining of the current touch point (x_TP, p_TP) of the friction clutch (K1, K2) when operation of the vehicle is largely static, and discontinuing ascertaining of the current touch point (x_TP, p_TP) of the friction clutch (K1, K2) when either operation of the vehicle interferes with ascertaining of the current touch point (x_TP, p_TP) of the friction clutch (K1, K2) or stationary operation of the vehicle stops.

47. The method according to claim 26, further comprising the step of determining a regulating path (x_Gk) of either the associated gear regulator or an associated transmission element by at least one distance sensor, and ceasing the determination of the current touch point (x_TP, p_TP) of the friction clutch (K1, K2) either upon reaching or exceeding a predetermined boundary regulating position (x_GK—

_max).

48. The method according to claim 26, further comprising the step of ascertaining a roadway condition during driving by at least one sensor, and ceasing the determination of the current touch point (x_TP, p_TP) of the friction clutch upon recognition of an unfavorable roadway conditions.

49. The method according to claim 26, further comprising the step of sensing a simulated drive on a roller dynamometer by at least one sensor, and ceasing the determination of the current touch point (x_TP, p_TP) of the friction clutch (K1, K2) upon recognition of a roller dynamometer drive.

50. The method according to claim 26, further comprising the step of completely disengaging the friction clutch (K1, K2) after a successful sequence and after cessation of the determination of the current touch point (x_TP, p_TP), moving the applicable gear regulator to the neutral position, and, if needed, engaging either the previously disengaged gear (G1, G3, G5;

G2, G4, G6, R) or the gear requested in the interim.