Semi-automatic mechanical transmission control and control method
First Claim
1. A method of controlling a semi-automatic mechanical change gear transmission system (10) comprising a manual fuel throttle control (24), a fuel throttle controlled engine (14), a multi-speed change gear mechanical transmission (12), a friction master clutch (16) interposed the engine and transmission, a manually operated shift selection lever (1) moveable in a first direction from a centered position to select upshifts and in a second direction from said centered position to select downshifts from the currently engaged gear ratio, a central processing unit (38) for receiving inputs indicative of transmission input shaft and output shaft rotational speeds, of vehicle speed, of engine speed, of currently engaged ration and of operation of said shift selection lever and for processing same according to predetermined logic rules to issue command output signals to non-manually controlled operators including a clutch operator (30), a fuel throttle control operator (26), and a transmission operator (34), said processing unit sensing operation of said manual shift selection lever including the direction of movement thereof and a number of displacements of said lever within a predetermined period of time from said centered position, said method comprising the steps of:
- determining in a first mode of operation a transmission gear ratio selected by the operator to be shifted directly into from the currently engaged ratio by assuming each repetition of displacement from the centered position of said shift selection lever in a given direction indicates operator selection of a change of one additional consecutive ratio in said direction, andselecting automatically in a second mode of operation interpretation of a single displacement of said shift selection lever from the centered position in the second direction as an operator selection of a downshift directly into an optimum pull-away transmission ratio if vehicle speed is greater than a predetermined vehicle speed reference value and engine speed is less than a predetermined engine speed reference value.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A control and control method for a semi-automatic mechanical transmission system (10) is provided for sensing operator request for a direct downshift into an optimum pull-away ratio and for automatically determining and engaging the optimum pull-away ratio.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method of controlling a semi-automatic mechanical change gear transmission system (10) comprising a manual fuel throttle control (24), a fuel throttle controlled engine (14), a multi-speed change gear mechanical transmission (12), a friction master clutch (16) interposed the engine and transmission, a manually operated shift selection lever (1) moveable in a first direction from a centered position to select upshifts and in a second direction from said centered position to select downshifts from the currently engaged gear ratio, a central processing unit (38) for receiving inputs indicative of transmission input shaft and output shaft rotational speeds, of vehicle speed, of engine speed, of currently engaged ration and of operation of said shift selection lever and for processing same according to predetermined logic rules to issue command output signals to non-manually controlled operators including a clutch operator (30), a fuel throttle control operator (26), and a transmission operator (34), said processing unit sensing operation of said manual shift selection lever including the direction of movement thereof and a number of displacements of said lever within a predetermined period of time from said centered position, said method comprising the steps of:
- determining in a first mode of operation a transmission gear ratio selected by the operator to be shifted directly into from the currently engaged ratio by assuming each repetition of displacement from the centered position of said shift selection lever in a given direction indicates operator selection of a change of one additional consecutive ratio in said direction, and
selecting automatically in a second mode of operation interpretation of a single displacement of said shift selection lever from the centered position in the second direction as an operator selection of a downshift directly into an optimum pull-away transmission ratio if vehicle speed is greater than a predetermined vehicle speed reference value and engine speed is less than a predetermined engine speed reference value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
- determining in a first mode of operation a transmission gear ratio selected by the operator to be shifted directly into from the currently engaged ratio by assuming each repetition of displacement from the centered position of said shift selection lever in a given direction indicates operator selection of a change of one additional consecutive ratio in said direction, and
- 13. A control for a semi-automatic mechanical change gear transmission system (10) comprising a manual fuel throttle control (24), a fuel throttle controlled engine (14), a multi-speed change gear mechanical transmission (12), a friction master clutch (16) interposed the engine and transmission, a manually operated shift selection lever (1) moveable in a first direction from a centered position to select upshifts and in a second direction from said centered position to select downshifts from the currently engaged gear ratio, a central processing unit (38) for receiving inputs indicative of transmission input shaft and output shaft rotational speeds, of vehicle speed, of engine speed and of operation of said shift selection lever and for processing same according to predetermined logic rules to determined currently engaged gear ratio and to issue command output signals to non-manually controlled operators including a clutch operator (30), a fuel throttle control operator (26), and a transmission operator (34), logic rules causing said processing unit in a first mode of operation, to determine the transmission gear ratio selected by the operator to be shifted into from the currently engaged ratio by assuming each displacement from the centered position of said shift selection lever in a given direction indicates operator selection of a change in ratio in said direction and in a second mode of operation causing said processing unit to interpret a single displacement of said shift selection lever from the centered position in the second direction as an operator selection of a downshift directly into an optimum pull-away ratio if vehicle speed is greater than a predetermined vehicle speed reference value and engine speed is less than a predetermined engine speed reference value.
Specification