Automatic Shift Control System for a Powertrain and Method

• US 20140095036A1
• Filed: 10/23/2012
• Published: 04/03/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Hoff, Brian, Brickner, Chad, Shatters, Aaron, Harshberger, Wayne, Moloney, Kevin, Kamisetty, Sri Vidya, Rettig, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 9,097,344 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/65
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/103 of fluid type
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/11 Stepped gearings
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/30 Auxiliary equipments
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2530/10 Weight
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/15 Fork lift trucks, Industrial trucks
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/411 Bulldozers, Graders
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/417 Articulated frame vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/342 Buckets emptying overhead E02F3/348 - E02F3/358 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/431 for bucket-arms, front-end loaders, dumpers or the like
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/0841 Articulated frame, i.e. having at least one pivot point between two travelling gear units tractor-trailer combinations B62D53/00
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2079 Control of mechanical transmission for hydrostatic transmission or hydraulic torque converter E02F9/2253
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2253 Controlling the travelling speed of vehicles, e.g. adjusting travelling speed according to implement loads, control of hydrostatic transmission
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2061/0234 Adapting the ratios to special vehicle conditions
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 59/50 Inputs being a function of the status of the machine, e.g. position of doors or safety belts
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/68 specially adapted for stepped gearings

Abstract

A machine powertrain having a transmission includes a control device responsive to selectively vary the transmission ratio in response to a shift signal. A lift sensor associated with a machine implement monitors an implement position and provides a lift signal. A ground speed sensor monitors the ground speed and provides a ground speed signal. A controller monitors the lift and ground speed signals, compares the lift signal to a predetermined position range, compares the ground speed signal to a predetermined ground speed range and, when the ground speed signal is within the predetermined ground speed range and the lift signal is within the predetermined position range, provides the shift signal causing the selectively variable ratio of the transmission to change.

Claims

1. A machine, comprising an implement being liftable at a height and tiltable at an orientation, a transmission arranged to interconnect a prime mover of the machine with ground engaging members of the machine at a selectively variable ratio such that the machine can travel along a travel surface at a ground speed, the machine comprising:

a control device associated with the transmission and responsive to selectively vary the selectively variable ratio in response to a shift signal;

a lift sensor associated with the implement, the lift sensor configured to monitor a parameter indicative of a position of the implement with respect to the travel surface and provide a lift signal indicative of the position;

a ground speed sensor configured to monitor the ground speed of the machine and provide a ground speed signal indicative of the ground speed;

a controller associated with the control device, the lift sensor, and the ground speed sensor, the controller disposed to;

monitor the lift signal and the ground speed signal;

compare the lift signal to a predetermined position range;

compare the ground speed signal to a predetermined ground speed range; and

when the ground speed signal is within the predetermined ground speed range and the lift signal is within the predetermined position range, provide a shift signal to the control device, which shift signal causes the selectively variable ratio of the transmission to change.

2. The machine of claim 1, further comprising:

a tilt sensor associated with the implement, the tilt sensor configured to monitor a parameter indicative of an orientation of the implement with respect to the travel surface and provide a tilt signal indicative of the orientation to the controller;

wherein the controller is further configured to;

monitor the tilt signal,

compare the tilt signal to a predetermined tilt range; and

provide the shift signal to the control device to change the selectively variable ratio of the transmission when the ground speed signal is within the predetermined ground speed range, the lift signal is within the predetermined position range, and the tilt signal is within the predetermined tilt range.

3. The machine of claim 2, wherein the machine is a wheel loader having a pair of arms pivotally connected to a chassis thereof, wherein the implement is a bucket pivotally connected at a free end of the pair of arms, wherein the lift sensor monitors an inclination angle of the pair of arms relative to the chassis of the wheel loader, and wherein the tilt sensor monitors an orientation of the bucket with respect to the pair of arms.

4. The machine of claim 2, wherein the predetermined position range includes a first range, which corresponds to a high position of the implement, and a second range, which corresponds to a low position of the implement.

5. The machine of claim 1, wherein the change in the selectively variable ratio of the transmission is equivalent to a downshift gear change.

6. The machine of claim 4, wherein the first range is above a high threshold, and wherein the second range is below a low threshold.

7. The machine of claim 6, wherein the predetermined tilt range is below a low angle threshold.

8. A method for predicting and managing a change in torque in a machine powertrain that includes a prime mover driving ground engaging members via a transmission having a selectively variable power transmission ratio, the method comprising:

monitoring at least one of a position and an orientation of a work implement of a machine;

monitoring a ground speed of the machine;

determining whether the at least one of the position and orientation of the work implement is within a respective predetermined range;

determining whether the ground speed is below a threshold value; and

when the at least one of the position and orientation of the work implement is determined to be within the respective predetermined range, and the ground speed is below the threshold value,

causing the transmission to downshift.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the machine is a wheel loader having a bucket connected at an end of a pair of lift arms, and wherein the change in torque occurs during at least one of a pile hit of the bucket with an aggregate material and a bucket payload unloading operation.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein causing the transmission to downshift includes unlocking a lockup clutch of a torque converter associated with the transmission.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein monitoring the position of the work implement includes providing a position signal from a position sensor associated with the work implement to an electronic controller.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein monitoring the orientation of the work implement includes providing an orientation signal from an orientation sensor associated with the work implement to an electronic controller.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein determining whether the position of the work implement is within a respective predetermined range includes determining a height of the work implement with respect to a travel surface of the machine and, further, determining whether the height of the machine is above an upper threshold height or below a lower threshold height.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the method includes determining whether both the position and orientation of the work implement are within their respective predetermined ranges when the height of the work implement is below the lower threshold height.

15. An automatic shift control system for a powertrain of a machine, the machine having an implement being liftable at a height and tiltable at an orientation, the powertrain including a transmission arranged to interconnect a prime mover of the machine with ground engaging members of the machine at a selectively variable ratio such that the machine can travel along a travel surface at a ground speed, the automatic shift control system further comprising:

a control device associated with the transmission and responsive to selectively vary the selectively variable ratio in response to a shift signal;

a lift sensor associated with the implement, the lift sensor configured to monitor a parameter indicative of a position of the implement with respect to the travel surface and provide a lift signal indicative of the position;

a ground speed sensor configured to monitor the ground speed of the machine and provide a ground speed signal indicative of the ground speed;

a controller associated with the control device, the lift sensor, and the ground speed sensor, the controller disposed to;

monitor the lift signal and the ground speed signal;

compare the lift signal to a predetermined position range;

compare the ground speed signal to a predetermined ground speed range; and

when the ground speed signal is within the predetermined ground speed range and the lift signal is within the predetermined position range, provide a shift signal to the control device, thus causing the selectively variable ratio of the transmission to change.

16. The automatic shift control system of claim 15, further comprising:

a tilt sensor associated with the implement, the tilt sensor configured to monitor a parameter indicative of an orientation of the implement with respect to the travel surface and provide a tilt signal indicative of the orientation to the controller;

wherein the controller is further configured to;

monitor the tilt signal,

compare the tilt signal to a predetermined tilt range; and

provide the shift signal to the control device to change the selectively variable ratio of the transmission when the ground speed signal is within the predetermined ground speed range, the lift signal is within the predetermined position range, and the tilt signal is within the predetermined tilt range.

17. The automatic shift control system of claim 15, wherein the machine is a wheel loader having a pair of arms pivotally connected to a chassis thereof, wherein the implement is a bucket pivotally connected at a free end of the pair of arms, wherein the lift sensor monitors an inclination angle of the pair of arms relative to the chassis of the wheel loader, and wherein the tilt sensor monitors an orientation of the bucket with respect to the pair of arms.

18. The automatic shift control system of claim 16, wherein the predetermined position range includes a first range, which corresponds to a high position of the implement, and a second range, which corresponds to a low position of the implement.

19. The automatic shift control system of claim 15, wherein the change in the selectively variable ratio of the transmission is equivalent to a downshift gear change.

20. The automatic shift control system of claim 18, wherein the first range is above a high threshold, wherein the second range is below a low threshold, and wherein the predetermined tilt range is below a low angle threshold.