Working fluid pressure control system for startup friction elements of R TO N TO D shifts

• US 5,733,220 A
• Filed: 08/14/1996
• Issued: 03/31/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Transtechnology Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Jatco Limited (Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Iizuka, Naonori
• Primary Examiner(s): Ta, Khoi Q.
• Application Number:
  US08/696,694
• Time in Patent Office: 594 Days
• Field of Search: 477/116, 477/117, 477/143, 477/156, 477/158, 477/174
• US Class Current: 477/116
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2059/385 Turbine speed
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2059/6807 Status of gear-change operation, e.g. clutch fully engaged
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2061/0488 during range shift from neutral (N) to drive (D)
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 59/70 dependent on the ratio established
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/061 using electric control means

Abstract

A working fluid pressure control system for an automatic power transmission includes a pre-charge pressure regulating mechanism for temporarily elevating a working fluid pressure abruptly and subsequently drop the working fluid pressure for generating a pre-charging constant pressure for a start-up friction element, and a detecting portion for detecting an operational range before selection of neutral range. When selection is made from neutral range to a traveling range, and the traveling range is different from the operational range before selection of the neutral range, the pre-charge pressure regulating mechanism is actuated when judgement is made that the start-up friction element engaged in the operational range before selection of neutral range is released, thus selection being performed within a short period without accompanying with a shock.

Claims

1. A working fluid pressure control system for an automatic power transmission, comprising:

pre-charge pressure regulating means for temporarily elevating a working fluid pressure abruptly and subsequently dropping abruptly and whereby generating a pre-charging constant pressure for a start-up friction element;

capacity adjustment pressure regulating means for gradually elevating said working fluid pressure from a dropped point of said pre-charge pressure for generating a capacity adjusting pressure for said start-up friction element,

means for detecting an operational range before selection of neutral range,

means, being active when the operational range before selection of the neutral range is different from a traveling range selected from the neutral range, for making judgement whether the start-up friction element which has been engaged in the operational range before selection of the neutral range, is released or not; and

wherein said pre-charge pressure regulating means is operated in response to judgement that the start-up friction element which has been engaged in the operational range before selection of the neutral range, is released.

2. A working fluid pressure control system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said making judgement means makes judgement that the start-up friction element which has been engaged in the operational range before selection of the neutral range, is released, after expiration of a predetermine period from selection from said operational range before selection of neutral range to said traveling range.

3. A working fluid pressure control system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said predetermine period is set depending upon a temperature of the working fluid.

4. A working fluid pressure control system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said making judgement means includes means for detecting a turbine speed, and judges releasing of the start-up friction element which has been engaged in the operational range before selection of the neutral range when said turbine speed exceeds a predetermined rotation speed.

5. A working fluid pressure control system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said operational range before selection of the neutral range is reverse range and said traveling range is forward drive range.

6. A working fluid pressure control system for an automatic power transmission comprising:

pre-charge pressure regulating means, responsive to selection from neutral range to a traveling range, for temporarily elevating a working fluid pressure abruptly until detection of initiation of engagement of a start-up friction element corresponding to the selected traveling range and supplying a predetermined hydraulic pressure after initiation of engagement,

means for detecting an operational range before selection of neutral range,

means, being active when the operational range before selection of the neutral range is different from said traveling range selected from the neutral range, for making judgement whether the start-up friction element which has been engaged in the operational range before selection of the neutral range, is released or not; and

wherein said pre-charge pressure regulating means is operated in response to judgement that the start-up friction element which has been engaged in the operational range before selection of the neutral range, is released.

7. A working fluid pressure control system as claimed in claim 6, wherein said operational range before selection of the neutral range is reverse range and said traveling range is forward drive range.

8. A working fluid pressure control system as claimed in claim 7, wherein said making judgement means includes means for detecting a turbine speed, and judges releasing of the start-up friction element which has been engaged in the operational range before selection of the neutral range when said turbine speed exceeds a predetermined rotation speed.

9. A working fluid pressure control system as claimed in claim 8, further comprising:

means for detecting initiation of engagement of said start-up friction element corresponding to said traveling range, and wherein said imitation detecting means includes means for detecting a turbine speed, and makes judgement that engagement is initiated when an increasing rate of the turbine speed is varied into negative.