CVT ratio rate control as a function of throttle release rate

• US 5,607,373 A
• Filed: 04/28/1995
• Issued: 03/04/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Ochiai, Tatsuo, Okahara, Hirofumi
• Primary Examiner(s): TA, KHOI QUANG
• Application Number:
  US08/430,724
• Time in Patent Office: 676 Days
• Field of Search: 477/44, 477/46, 477/48, 477/49, 477/905, 364/424.1
• US Class Current: 477/46
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2059/183 Rate of change of accelerator position, i.e. pedal or throttle change gradient
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2061/6611 Control to achieve a particular driver perception, e.g. for generating a shift shock sensation
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2061/6612 for engine braking
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 59/141 of rate of change of torque or torque demand
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 59/18 dependent on the position of the accelerator pedal
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/66259 using electrical or electronical sensing or control means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 477/905 Acceleration of throttle signal

Abstract

A control system for an engine-CVT drive-train includes a ratio control element positionable to various command positions in response to a rate of change per unit time of CVT ratio determined by a controller to establish various CVT ratios. The controller decreases the rate of change per unit time of CVT ratio as the rate of change per unit time of the position of a gas pedal toward a release position thereof increases.

Claims

1. A control system for a vehicle drive-train with an engine operable with a gas pedal and a continuously variable transmission (CVT) comprising:

a controller means for determining a rate of change per unit time of the positions of the gas pedal, and

a ratio control element positionable to various command positions in response to the rate of change per unit time determined by the controller means to establish various CVT ratios,

wherein the controller means decreases the rate of change per unit time of the CVT ratio as the rate of change per unit time of the positions of the gas pedal toward a released position thereof increases.

2. A control system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the controller means limits the rate of change per unit time of CVT ratio.