Adjustable Control Of Power Take-Off Subsystem Damping And System Thereof

• US 20140142820A1
• Filed: 11/18/2013
• Published: 05/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Allison Transmission Incorporated (Allison Transmission Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Allison Transmission Incorporated (Allison Transmission Holdings Incorporated)
• Inventors: Pociask, Michael B., Briceno, Jorge
• Granted Patent: US 9,079,493 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/53
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 25/06 from the transmission power take-off transmissions having power-take-off B60K17/28
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/02 including control of driveline clutches
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0638 Engine speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/305 Power absorbed by auxiliaries
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/1888 Control of power take off [PTO]
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2300/205 related or induced by the engine
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2300/423 Control of power take-off clutches
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2500/10412 Transmission line of a vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2500/10437 Power Take Off clutch
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2500/3067 Speed of the engine
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2500/70406 Pressure
• 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

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a method for controlling a power take-off assembly. The method includes providing a drive unit, a transmission having an output, a speed sensor, a controller including a memory unit and a processor, and the power take-off assembly including a clutch and a solenoid. The method also includes storing a first threshold in the memory unit, determining a current input speed of the drive unit with the speed sensor, and comparing the current input speed to the first threshold. The method further includes controlling an amount of hydraulic pressure supplied to the clutch and engaging the clutch.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a power take-off assembly, comprising:

providing a drive unit, a transmission including an output, a speed sensor, a controller including a memory unit and a processor, and the power take-off assembly including a clutch, and a solenoid;

storing a first threshold in the memory unit;

determining a current input speed of the drive unit with the speed sensor;

comparing the current input speed to the first threshold;

controlling an amount of hydraulic pressure supplied to the clutch; and

engaging the clutch.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the controlling step is performed if the current input speed is less than the first threshold.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing a second threshold in the memory unit of the controller;

determining a load induced on the drive unit; and

comparing the load to the second threshold.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the controlling step is performed if the current input speed is less than the first threshold and the load is less than the second threshold.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the controlling step comprises energizing the solenoid.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the controlling step comprises energizing the solenoid to supply full hydraulic pressure to the clutch.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the controlling step comprises energizing the solenoid to supply partial hydraulic pressure to the clutch.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting if a signal is received from an operator control switch; and

performing the controlling and engaging steps if there is no detected signal received.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a second solenoid;

energizing one of the first solenoid and the second solenoid; and

de-energizing the other of the first solenoid and the second solenoid.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing a set of instructions in the memory unit of the controller for slipping the clutch;

repeatedly performing the determining and comparing steps; and

executing the set of instructions with the processor so long as the current input speed remains below the first threshold.

11. A vehicle, comprising:

a drive unit for producing torque, the drive unit including an output;

a transmission including an input, a first output, and a second output, wherein the input is coupled to the output of the drive unit;

a controller including a memory unit and a processor, the controller electrically coupled to the transmission; and

a power take-off assembly coupled to the second output, the power take-off assembly including a clutch and a solenoid electrically coupled to the controller;

wherein, a set of instructions is stored in the memory unit of the controller, the set of instructions being executable by the processor to receive a current input speed of the drive unit, compare the current input speed to a first threshold, determine if the current input speed is less than the first threshold, energize or de-energize the solenoid, and operably control an amount of hydraulic pressure applied to the clutch.

12. The vehicle of claim 11, wherein the set of instructions stored in the memory unit are further executable by the processor to receive a load on the drive unit, compare the load to a second threshold, and determine if the load is less than the second threshold.

13. The vehicle of claim 11, further comprising an operator control switch electrically coupled to the controller, the operator control switch configured to be triggered for enabling and disabling the power take-off assembly;

wherein, the set of instructions stored in the memory unit are further executable by the processor to detect if a signal is received from the operator control switch and operably control the amount of hydraulic pressure applied to the clutch if no signal is detected.

14. The vehicle of claim 11, wherein the set of instructions stored in the memory unit are further executable by the processor to energize the solenoid to apply a maximum amount of hydraulic pressure to the clutch.

15. The vehicle of claim 11, wherein the set of instructions stored in the memory unit are further executable by the processor to energize the solenoid to apply a reduced amount of hydraulic pressure to the clutch.

16. The vehicle of claim 11, wherein the power take-off assembly comprises:

an input shaft;

an output shaft;

a first drive gear rotatably driven by the second output;

a first driven gear rotatably coupled to the input shaft, wherein the first driven gear is rotatably driven by the first drive gear;

a second drive gear rotatably coupled to the input shaft; and

a second driven gear rotatably coupled to the output shaft, wherein the second driven gear is rotatably driven by the second drive gear.

17. A method for controlling a hydraulically-controllable clutch of a power take-off assembly, comprising:

providing a drive unit, a transmission including an output, a speed sensor, a controller including a memory unit and a processor, an operator control switch, and the power take-off assembly including a clutch and a solenoid;

storing a first threshold and a second threshold in the memory unit;

determining a current input speed of the drive unit with the speed sensor;

determining a load induced on the drive unit;

comparing the current input speed to the first threshold;

comparing the load to the second threshold;

detecting if a signal indicative of enabling the power take-off assembly is received from the operator control switch;

controlling an amount of hydraulic pressure supplied to the clutch; and

engaging the clutch based on the amount of hydraulic pressure supplied thereto.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the controlling step is performed if the current input speed is less than the first threshold, the load is less than the second threshold, and no signal indicative of enabling the power take-off assembly is received from the operator control switch.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the controlling step comprises energizing or de-energizing the solenoid.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

storing a set of instructions in the memory unit of the controller for slipping the clutch;

repeatedly performing the determining a current input speed step of the drive unit with the speed sensor, determining a load induced on the drive unit, comparing the current input speed to the first threshold, comparing the current input speed to the first threshold, and detecting if a signal indicative of enabling the power take-off assembly is received from the operator control switch; and

executing the set of instructions with the processor so long as the current input speed remains below the first threshold, the load remains below the second threshold, and no signal indicative of enabling the power take-off assembly is received from the operator control switch.