Method and apparatus to determine constant speed torque on an engine
First Claim
1. An apparatus to determine the constant speed drive torque of a vehicle engine, said apparatus comprising:
- (a) a first means for providing a signal having a value that is representative of a momentary drive torque of such vehicle engine;
(b) a second means for providing a signal having a value that is representative of the weight of such vehicle connected to receive said signal value directly from said first means;
(c) a third means for providing a signal having a value that is representative of the acceleration of such vehcile at a preselected time and under preselected driving conditions connected to transmit said signal value directly to said second means;
(d) a fourth means for generating a signal having a value that is representative of a constant speed drive torque of such vehicle engine, said signal generating fourth means connected to receive said signal value directly from said first means and said signal value directly from said second means and said signal value directly from said third means, said signal generating fourth means determining said constant speed drive torque by subtracting the product of said weight representative signal value and said acceleration representative signal value from the value of said momentary drive torque representative signal and generating said signal value that is representative of said constant speed drive torque; and
(e) a fifth means connected to receive said signal value directly from said fourth means for controlling such vehicle in response to said constant speed drive torque representative signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for generating signal values that are representative of the vehicle engine'"'"'s momentary drive torque, the weight of the vehicle, and the acceleration of the vehicle. The constant speed drive torque is then determined in a computing device which subtracts the product of the signal value of the vehicle weight and the signal value of the vehicle acceleration from the signal value for the momentary drive torque and a signal value that is representative of the constant speed drive torque of the vehicle engine is generated. This constant speed drive torque signal value is applied in the method for governing a vehicle control device.
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Citations
56 Claims
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1. An apparatus to determine the constant speed drive torque of a vehicle engine, said apparatus comprising:
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(a) a first means for providing a signal having a value that is representative of a momentary drive torque of such vehicle engine; (b) a second means for providing a signal having a value that is representative of the weight of such vehicle connected to receive said signal value directly from said first means; (c) a third means for providing a signal having a value that is representative of the acceleration of such vehcile at a preselected time and under preselected driving conditions connected to transmit said signal value directly to said second means; (d) a fourth means for generating a signal having a value that is representative of a constant speed drive torque of such vehicle engine, said signal generating fourth means connected to receive said signal value directly from said first means and said signal value directly from said second means and said signal value directly from said third means, said signal generating fourth means determining said constant speed drive torque by subtracting the product of said weight representative signal value and said acceleration representative signal value from the value of said momentary drive torque representative signal and generating said signal value that is representative of said constant speed drive torque; and (e) a fifth means connected to receive said signal value directly from said fourth means for controlling such vehicle in response to said constant speed drive torque representative signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. An apparatus to determine the constant speed drvie torque of a vehicle engine, said apparatus comprising:
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(a) a first means for providing a signal having a value that is representative of the weight of said vehicle; (b) a second means for providing a signal having a value that is representative of the acceleration of such vehicle at a preselected time and under preselected driving conditions; (c) a third means for providing a signal having a value that is representative of the rotational speed of such vehicle engine'"'"'s drive shaft; (d) a fourth means for providing a signal having a value that is representative of the amount of fuel being supplied to such vehicle engine; (e) a fifth means for storing a plurality of functions, each of said functions having a unique value representative of a momentary drive torque of such vehicle engine with respect to said rotational speed of such drive shaft of such vehicle'"'"'s engine and such amount of fuel being supplied to such vehicle engine, said means for storing said plurality of functions electrically connected to said third means for providing said signal value representative of said rotational speed of such drive shaft of such vehicle engine and to said fourth means for providing said signal value representative of such amount of fuel being supplied to such vehicle engine; and (f) a signal generating sixth means for providing a signal having a value that is representative of said momentary drive torque of such vehicle engine to said second means, said signal generating sixth means generating said signal value by comparing said functions with said signal value representative of said rotational speed of such drive shaft an said signal value representative of such amount of fuel being supplied to such vehicle engine; (g) a seventh means for generating a signal having a value that is representative of a constant speed drive torque of such vehicle engine, said signal generating seventh means connected to receive said signal value directly from said sixth means and said signal value directly from said first means and said signal value directly from said second means, said signal generating seventh means determining said constant speed drive torque by subtracting the product of said weight representative signal value and said acceleration representative signal value from the value of said momentary drive torque representative signal and generating said signal value that is representative of said constant speed drive torque; and (h) an eighth means for controlling such vehicle in response to said constant speed drive torque representative signal, said eighth means connected in a manner to receive said constant speed drive torque representative signal value directly from said seventh means. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A control system which operates in conjunction with a motor vehicle transmission, said control system comprising:
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(a) a first means for determining a momentary drive torque of such vehicle'"'"'s engine and for generating a signal having a value that is representative of said momentary drive torque; (b) a second means for determining the acceleration of such vehicle, said determination occurring at a preselected time and under preselected driving conditions, said second means generating a signal having a value that is representative of the acceleration of such vehicle; (c) a third means for determining the weight of such vehicle connected to receive at least one signal value directly from said first means and at least two signal values directly from said second means, said at least one signal value received from said first means and said at least two signal values received from said second means being transmitted to said third means for calculating said weight of such vehicle, said third means generating a signal having a value that is representative of said calculated weight; (d) a fourth means for generating a signal having a value that is representative of a constant speed drive torque of such vehicle engine'"'"'s drive shaft, said signal generating fourth means being connected to receive said signal value directly from said first means and said signal value directly from said second means and said signal value directly from said third means, said signal generating fourth means determining said constant speed drive torque by subtracting the product of said weight representative signal value and said acceleration representative signal value from the value of said momentary drive torque representative signal and generating said signal having a value that is representative of said constant speed drive torque; (e) a transmission control means for generating a signal initiating a gear change, said transmission control means equipped to receive said signal value directly from said second means representative of said acceleration and said signal value directly from said fourth means representative of said momentary drive torque; (f) a first comparator comparing said constant speed drive torque signal value with a plurality of values with respect to the engaged gear; (g) a second comparator comparing said constant speed drive torque signal value with a plurality of values with respect to other gears; and (h) output from said first comparator and said second comparator connected to said transmission control to determine an operating gear. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A motor vehicle transmission control system, said control system comprising:
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(a) a first means for determining a momentary drive torque of such vehicle'"'"'s engine and for generating a signal having a value that is representative of said momentary drive torque; (b) a second means for determining the acceleration of such vehicle, said determination occurring at a preselected time and under preselected driving conditions, said second means generating a signal having a value that is representative of said acceleration of such vehicle; (c) a third means for determining the weight of such vehicle connected to receive at least one signal value directly from said first means and at least two signal values directly from said second means, said at least one signal value received from said first means and said at least two signal values received from said second means being transmitted to said third means for calculating said weight of such vehicle, said third means generating a signal having a value that is representative of said calculated weight; (d) a fourth means for generating a signal having a value that is representative of said constant speed drive torque, said signal generating fourth means being connected to receive said signal value directly from said first means and said signal value directly from said second means and said signal value directly from said third means, said signal generating fourth means determining said constant speed drive torque by subtracting the product of said weight representative signal value and said acceleration representative signal value from the value of said momentary drive torque representative signal and generating said signal value that is representative of said constant speed drive torque; (e) a transmission control means for generating a signal for effectuating a required gear change connected to such vehicle'"'"'s transmission, said transmission control means is equipped to receive said signal value directly from said second means representative of said acceleration and to receive said signal value directly from said fourth means that is representative of said momentary drive torque; (f) new gear selection means in said transmission control means and connected to receive said signal value directly from said second means representative of said acceleration and connected to said means for generating a signal for effectuating said required gear change; (g) a test means for determining if said momentary drive torque of such vehicle engine is sufficient to maintain operation of such vehicle at substantially the same speed in said new gear, said test means connected to receive said signal value directly from said fourth means representative of said momentary drive torque and to said new gear selection means; and (h) a means for blocking said shifting into said new gear when said test means indicates said momentary drive torque of said vehicle engine, when transmitted through said new gear, is insufficient to maintain substantially the same speed, said blocking means connected to said test means and to said means for generating said signal for effectuating said required gear change. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. An energy efficient motor vehicle transmission control system, said control system comprising:
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(a) a first means for determining a momentary drive torque of such vehicle'"'"'s engine and for generating a signal having a value that is representative of said momentary drive torque; (b) a second means for determining the acceleration of such vehicle, said determination occurring at a preselected time and under preselected driving conditions, said second means generating a signal having a valve that is representative of said acceleration of such vehicle; (c) a third means for determining the weight of such vehicle connected to receive at least one signal value directly from said first means and at least two signal values directly from said second means, said at least one signal value received from said first means and said at least two signal values received from said second means being transmitted to said third means for calculating said weight of such vehicle, said third means generating a signal having a value that is representative of said calculated weight; (d) a fourth means for generating a signal having a value that is representative of said constant speed drive torque, said signal generating fourth means being connected to receive said signal value directly from said first means and said signal value directly from said second means and said signal value directly from said third means, said signal generating fourth means determining said constant speed drive torque by subtracting the product of said weight representative signal value and said accleration representative signal value from the value of said momentary drive torque representative signal and generating a signal having a value that is representative of said constant speed drive torque; (e) a transmission control means for generating a signal for making a required gear change connected to such vehicle'"'"'s transmission, said transmission control means is equipped to receive said signal value directly from said second means representative of said acceleration and said signal value directly from said fourth means that is representative of said constant speed drive torque; (f) means for comparing said constant speed drive torque signal value with a plurality of predetermined economical constant speed drive torque value limits for various gears; and (g) said comparing means including a means for generating a signal when a gear shift will be outside said predetermined economical constant speed drive torque value limits. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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42. A transmission control system of a motor vehicle, said control system comprising:
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(a) a first means for determining a momentary drive torque of such vehicle'"'"'s engine and for generating a signal having a value that is representative of said momentary drive torque; (b) a second means for determining the acceleration of such vehicle, said determination occurring at a preselected time and under preselected driving conditions, said second means generating a signal having a value that is representative of said acceleration of such vehicle; (c) a third means for determining the weight of such vehicle connected to receive at least one signal value directly from said first means and at least two signal value directly from said second means, said at least one signal value received from said first means and said at least two signal values received from said second means being transmitted to said third means for calculating said weight of such vehicle, said third means generating a signal having a value that is representative of said calculated weight; (d) a fourth means for generating a signal having a value that is representative of said constant speed drive torque, said signal generating fourth means being connected to receive said signal value directly from said first means and said signal value directly from said second means and said signal value directly from said third means, said signal generating fourth means determining said constant speed drive torque by subtracting the product of said weight representation signal value and said acceleration representation signal value from the value of said momentary drive torque representative signal and generating said signal value that is representative of said constant speed drive torque; (e) a transmission control means for generating a signal for effectuating a gear change is connected to such vehicle'"'"'s transmission, said transmission control means is equipped to receive said signal value directly from said second means representative of said acceleration and said signal value directly from said fourth means representative of said constant speed drive torque; and (f) a comparator means for comparing said signal value representative of said constant speed drive torque with at least one optimum torque value and controlling gear shift changes in response to said comparison, said comparing means includes a signal generating means connected to said transmission control means for generating said signal for effectuating said gear change. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
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49. A method of determining the constant speed drive torque of an engine in a vehicle, and controlling gear changes in a transmission control system of such vehicle in response to said constant speed drive torque determination, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) determining a momentary drive torque of such vehicle engine; (b) generating at least one signal value that is representative of said momentary drive torque determined in step (a); (c) transmitting said signal value generated in step (b) directly to an apparatus for computing the weight of such vehicle and directly to an apparatus for determining said constant speed drive torque of said engine; (d) determining the weight of such vehicle; (e) generating at least one signal value that is representative of said weight of such vehicle determined in step (d); (f) transmitting said signal value generated in step (e) directly to said apparatus for determining said constant speed drive torque of said engine; (g) determining the acceleration of such vehicle; (h) generating a signal value that is representative of said acceleration determining the step (g) at a preselected time and under a preselected driving condition of such vehicle; (i) transmitting said signal value generated in step (h) directly to said apparatus for computing said weight of such vehicle and directly to said apparatus for determining said constant speed drive torque of said engine and directly to said transmission control system; (j) determining a constant speed drive torque from said signals transmitted in steps (c,f and i) by subtracting the product of said signal value in step (f) and said signal value in step (i) from said signal value in step (c); (k) generating a signal value that is representative of said constant speed drive torque of such vehicle engine; (l) transmitting said signal value generated in step (k) directly to said transmission control system; and (m) governing such gear changes in such vehicle in response to said constant speed drive torque signal value transmitted in step (l). - View Dependent Claims (50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55)
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56. A method of determining the constant speed drive torque of an engine in a vehicle, and controlling gear changes in the transmission control system of such vehicle in response to such constant speed drive torque determination, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) determining a momentary drive torque of such vehicle engine; (b) generating at least one signal value that is representative of said momentary drive torque determined in step (a); (c) determining the weight of such vehicle; (d) generating at least one signal value that is representative of said weight of such vehicle determined in step (c); (e) determining the accleration of such vehicle; (f) generating a signal value that is representative of said acceleration determined in step (e) at a preselected time and under a preselected driving condition of such vehicle; (g) transmitting said signal value generated in step (b) directly to a means for determining said weight of such vehicle in step (c) and directly to a means for determining said constant speed drive torque of such vehicle engine; (h) transmitting said signal value generated in step (d) directly to said means for determining said constant speed drive torque of such vehicle engine; (i) transmitting said signal value generated in step (f) directly to said means for determining said weight of such vehicle and directly to said means for determining said constant speed drive torque of such vehicle engine and directly to such transmission control system of such vehicle; (j) determining a constant speed drive torque from said signals generated in steps (b, d and f) by subtracting the product of said signal value in step (d) and said signal value in step (f) from said signal value in step (b); (k) generating a signal value that is representative of said constant speed drive torque of such vehicle engine; (l) transmitting said signal value generated in step (k) directly to such transmission control system of such vehicle; and (m) controlling such gear changes in such vehicle in response to said constant speed drive torque signal value generated in step (k).
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Specification