PRESSURE CONTROLLED DRIVELINE MECHANICAL COUPLING

• US 20130153354A1
• Filed: 12/19/2011
• Published: 06/20/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Colvin, Daniel Scott, Nefcy, Bernard D., Kraska, Marvin Paul, Ortmann, Walter Joseph
• Granted Patent: US 9,145,049 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 192/3.58
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2006/4825 Electric machine connected or connectable to gearbox input shaft
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/48 Parallel type
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/2054 by controlling transmissions or clutches
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/02 including control of driveline clutches
• 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 2510/0275 Clutch torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/023 Clutch engagement rate
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2400/406 Hydraulic actuators
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2500/1066 Hybrid
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2500/3024 Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2500/501 Relating the actuator
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2500/50224 Drive-off
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 48/066 Control of fluid pressure, e.g. using an accumulator F16D48/062, F16D48/068 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 48/08 Regulating clutch take-up on starting
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/0031 using auxiliary pumps, e.g. pump driven by a different power source than the engine
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/914 Actuated, e.g. engaged or disengaged by electrical, hydraulic or mechanical means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/946 Characterized by control of driveline clutch

Abstract

A vehicle includes a motive power source, a transmission, and a clutch system. The vehicle further includes a controller that causes the clutch system to generate a generally constant clutch pressure to mechanically couple the motive power source and transmission as a line pressure associated with the transmission varies.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising:

an electric machine;

a transmission;

a clutch system configured to (i) receive a current having a magnitude that depends on a line pressure associated with the transmission and (ii) control a clutch pressure to mechanically couple the electric machine and transmission based on the magnitude; and

a controller configured to alter the magnitude based on the clutch pressure such that the clutch pressure remains generally equal to a target as the line pressure varies.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 further comprising a mechanical oil pump and electric oil pump each arranged to provide oil to the transmission to generate the line pressure.

3. The vehicle of claim 2 wherein the line pressure varies due to activation of the mechanical oil pump while the electric oil pump is on.

4. The vehicle of claim 1 further comprising a pressure sensor in communication with the controller and configured to sense the clutch pressure.

5. A vehicle comprising:

a motive power source;

a transmission;

a mechanical oil pump and electric oil pump each arranged to generate at least a portion of a line pressure associated with the transmission;

a clutch system; and

a controller configured to cause the clutch system to generate a generally constant clutch pressure to mechanically couple the motive power source and transmission as the line pressure varies due to activation of the mechanical oil pump while the electric oil pump is on.

6. The vehicle of claim 5 wherein causing the clutch system to generate a generally constant clutch pressure to mechanically couple the motive power source and transmission as the line pressure varies due to activation of the mechanical oil pump while the electric oil pump is on includes causing a non-constant current to be output to the clutch system.

7. The vehicle of claim 6 wherein a magnitude of the current is based on the clutch pressure.

8. The vehicle of claim 5 further comprising a pressure sensor in communication with the controller and configured to sense the clutch pressure.

9. The vehicle of claim 5 wherein the motive power source is an electric machine or internal combustion engine.

10. A method for controlling a clutch system comprising:

providing a current to the clutch system to mechanically couple an electric machine and transmission based on a target clutch pressure and a line pressure associated with the transmission;

receiving data about an actual clutch pressure; and

altering the current based on the data to keep the actual clutch pressure substantially equal to the target clutch pressure as the line pressure varies.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the line pressure varies due to activation of a mechanical oil pump while an electric oil pump is on.

12. The method of claim 10 further comprising selecting the target clutch pressure based on the line pressure.