Control method/system including determination of an updated value indicative of gross combination weight of vehicles
First Claim
1. A control method including determination of an updated value indicative of vehicular gross combination weight (GCW) in a vehicle having an at least partially automated mechanical transmission system, including a fuel-controlled engine, a multiple-speed change-gear transmission having a plurality of known gear ratios, an input shaft drivingly connectable to the engine and an output shaft drivingly connectable to vehicular drivewheels, first sensor means for providing an input signal indicative of drive torque to the drivewheels, second sensor means for providing an input signal indicative of vehicular acceleration and control means for receiving said input signals and processing same according to predetermined logic rules to issue command output signals to system actuators, said method comprising:
- determining a value indicative of current drivewheel torque (T);
determining a value indicative of current vehicle acceleration (A); and
determining, only immediately after an upshift into a target gear ratio, said updated value indicative of current vehicular gross combination weight (GCWi) as a function of the expression;
space="preserve" listing-type="equation">(T.sub.1 -T.sub.i)÷
((A.sub.1 -A.sub.i)* C)where;
i=an integer greater than 1;
T1 =a value indicative of wheel torque at time t1 selected as a time immediately prior to engagement of the target gear ratio;
T1 =0;
Ti =a value indicative of wheel torque at time ti ≠
0;
A1 =a value indicative of vehicle acceleration at time t1 selected asa time immediately prior to engagement of the target gear ratio;
Ai =a value indicative of vehicle acceleration at time ti ;
C=constant related to gear ratio, drivetrain characteristics and gravity; and
time ti is less than a reference time (REFTIME) after time t2 ; and
controlling shifting of said transmission system as a function of said updated value.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A control system/method for determining vehicular gross combined weight (GCW) is provided. GCW is determined immediately after upshifts of a transmission (10) and requires only input signals indicative of engine or driveline torque (DL), vehicle acceleration (dOS/dt) and currently engaged gear ratio (GR).
106 Citations
33 Claims
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1. A control method including determination of an updated value indicative of vehicular gross combination weight (GCW) in a vehicle having an at least partially automated mechanical transmission system, including a fuel-controlled engine, a multiple-speed change-gear transmission having a plurality of known gear ratios, an input shaft drivingly connectable to the engine and an output shaft drivingly connectable to vehicular drivewheels, first sensor means for providing an input signal indicative of drive torque to the drivewheels, second sensor means for providing an input signal indicative of vehicular acceleration and control means for receiving said input signals and processing same according to predetermined logic rules to issue command output signals to system actuators, said method comprising:
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determining a value indicative of current drivewheel torque (T); determining a value indicative of current vehicle acceleration (A); and determining, only immediately after an upshift into a target gear ratio, said updated value indicative of current vehicular gross combination weight (GCWi) as a function of the expression;
space="preserve" listing-type="equation">(T.sub.1 -T.sub.i)÷
((A.sub.1 -A.sub.i)* C)where; i=an integer greater than 1; T1 =a value indicative of wheel torque at time t1 selected as a time immediately prior to engagement of the target gear ratio; T1 =0; Ti =a value indicative of wheel torque at time ti ≠
0;A1 =a value indicative of vehicle acceleration at time t1 selected as a time immediately prior to engagement of the target gear ratio; Ai =a value indicative of vehicle acceleration at time ti ; C=constant related to gear ratio, drivetrain characteristics and gravity; and time ti is less than a reference time (REFTIME) after time t2 ; and controlling shifting of said transmission system as a function of said updated value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15)
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14. A control method including determination of an updated value indicative of vehicular gross combination weight (GCW) in a vehicle having an at least partially automated mechanical transmission system, including a fuel-controlled engine, a multiple-speed change-gear transmission having a plurality of known gear ratios, an input shaft drivingly connectable to the engine and an output shaft drivingly connectable to vehicular drivewheels, first sensor means for providing an input signal indicative of drive torque to the drivewheels, second sensor means for providing an input signal indicative of vehicular acceleration and a controller for receiving said input signals and processing same according to predetermined logic rules to issue command output signals to system actuators, said method comprising:
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determining a value indicative of current drivewheel torque (T); determining a value indicative of current vehicle acceleration (A); and determining, only immediately after an upshift into a target gear ratio, said updated value indicative of current vehicle gross combination weight (GCWi) as a function of the expression;
space="preserve" listing-type="equation">(T.sub.1 -T.sub.i)÷
((A.sub.1 -A.sub.i)* C)where; i=an integer greater than 1; T1 =a value indicative of wheel torque at time t1 selected as a time immediately prior to engagement of the target gear ratio; a value indicative of wheel torque at time ti ≈
T1 ;a value indicative of vehicle acceleration at time t1 selected as a time immediately prior to engagement of the target gear ratio; Ai =a value indicative of vehicle acceleration at time ti ; C=constant related to gear ratio, drivetrain characteristics and gravity; and time ti is less than a reference time (REFTIME) after time t1 ; and controlling shifting of said transmission system as a function of said updated value.
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16. A control system including determining an updated value indicative of vehicular gross combination weight (GCW) and for controlling an onboard vehicle mechanism as a function thereof in a vehicle having an at least partially automated mechanical transmission system, including a fuel-controlled engine, a multiple-speed change-gear transmission having a plurality of known gear ratios, an input shaft drivingly connectable to the engine and an output shaft drivingly connectable to vehicular drivewheels, first sensor means for providing an input signal indicative of drive torque to the drivewheels, second sensor means for providing an input signal indicative of vehicular acceleration and a control means for receiving said input signals and processing same according to predetermined logic rules to issue command output signals to system actuators, said system comprising:
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means for determining a value indicative of current drivewheel torque (T); means for determining a value indicative of current vehicle acceleration (A); means for determining, only immediately after an upshift into a target gear ratio, said updated value indicative of current vehicle gross combination weight (GCWi) as a function of the expression;
space="preserve" listing-type="equation">(T.sub.1 -T.sub.i)÷
((A.sub.1 -A.sub.i)* C)where; i=an integer greater than 1; T1 =a value indicative of wheel torque at time t1 selected as a time immediately prior to engagement of the target gear ratio; T1 =0; Ti =a value indicative of wheel torque at time ti ≠
0;A1 =a value indicative of vehicle acceleration at time ti selected as a time immediately prior to engagement of the target gear ratio; Ai =a value indicative of vehicle acceleration at time ti ; C=constant related to gear ratio, drivetrain characteristics and gravity; time ti is less than a reference time (REFTIME) after time t1 ; means for controlling shifting of said transmission system as a function of said updated value; and means for issuing command output signals to at least one of said system actuators as a function of said updated value. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A control system including determining an updated value indicative of vehicular gross combination weight (GCW) in a vehicle having an at least partially automated mechanical transmission system, including a fuel-controlled engine, a multiple-speed change-gear transmission having a plurality of known gear ratios, an input shaft drivingly connectable to the engine and an output shaft drivingly connectable to vehicular drivewheels, first sensor means for providing an input signal indicative of drive torque to the drivewheels, second sensor means for providing an input signal indicative of vehicular acceleration and a controller for receiving said input signals and processing same according to predetermined logic rules to issue command output signals to system actuators, said controller having a memory for storing logic rules:
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for determining a value indicative of current drivewheel torque (T); for determining a value indicative of current vehicle acceleration (A); for determining, only immediately after an upshift into a target gear ratio, said value indicative of GCWi as a function of the expression;
space="preserve" listing-type="equation">(T.sub.1 -T.sub.i)÷
((A.sub.1 -A.sub.i)* C)where; i=an integer greater than 1; T1 =a value indicative of wheel torque at time t1 selected as a time immediately prior to engagement of the target gear ratio; Ti =a value indicative of wheel torque at time ti ≠
T1 ;A1 =a value indicative of vehicle acceleration at time t1 selected as a time immediately prior to engagement of the target gear ratio; Ai =a value indicative of vehicle acceleration at time ti ; C=constant related to gear ratio, drivetrain characteristics and gravity; time ti is less than a reference time (REFTIME) after time t1 ; for controlling shifting of said transmission system as a function of said updated value; and for issuing command output signals to at least one of said system actuators as a function of said updated value.
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25. A control method for controlling at least partially automated implementation of selected shifts of a vehicular mechanical change gear transmission system comprising a controlled fuel throttle controlled engine (E) having a determined torque capacity, a multi-speed change gear mechanical transmission (10) having a plurality of known gear ratios, an input shaft (16) and an output shaft (90) adapted to drive vehicular drive wheels, a first sensor (98) for providing a first input signal indicative of transmission input shaft (16) rotational speed, a second sensor (100) for providing a second input signal indicative of vehicle speed, a third sensor (DL) for providing an input signal indicative of engine torque, means for differentiating said second signal with respect to time to determine a fourth signal indicative of current vehicle acceleration, and a transmission actuator (112, 70, 96) for controlling shifting of the transmission, said control method including:
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predetermining a minimum acceptable vehicle acceleration (AMIN) after an upshift; determining, only immediately after an upshift into a target gear ratio, a value indicative of GCWi as a function of the expression;
space="preserve" listing-type="equation">(T.sub.1 -T.sub.i)÷
(A.sub.1 -A.sub.i)* C)where; i=an integer greater than 1; T1 =a value indicative of wheel torque at time t1 selected as a time immediately prior to engagement of the target gear ratio; T1 =0; Ti =a value indicative of wheel torque at time ti ≠
0;A1 =a value indicative of vehicle acceleration at time ti selected as a time immediately prior to engagement of the target gear ratio; Ai =a value indicative of vehicle acceleration at time ti ; C=a constant related to gear ration, drivetrain characteristics and gravity; and time ti is less than a reference time (REFTIME) after time ti ; determining the desirability of an upshift from a currently engaged transmission ratio to a target transmission ratio; determining an expected required drivewheel torque (TREQ) to maintain at least said minimum vehicle acceleration (AMIN) under current vehicle operating conditions, as a function of said GCW; determining as a function of (i) the expected required drivewheel torque (TREQ) to maintain at least said minimum vehicle acceleration (AMIN) under current vehicle operating conditions, (ii) the gear ratio of the selected target gear ratio and (iii) the expected maximum available torque to the drivewheels in the target transmission ratio, if said expected maximum available torque will at least equal said expected required drivewheel torque upon engagement of the target transmission ratio if the selected shift is implemented; and controlling said transmission by causing the initiation of a selected upshift only upon a determination of that said maximum available torque will at least equal said expected required drivewheel torque upon engagement of the target transmission ratio. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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Specification