Power transfer system for vehicle with power-Interrupt auto-manual transmission, alternate means for providing torque to driveline, and engine throttle controls

• US 6,022,290 A
• Filed: 09/09/1998
• Issued: 02/08/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: FCA US LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Original Assignee: Chrysler Corporation (Stellantis NV)
• Inventors: Lyon, Kim
• Primary Examiner(s): Marmor, Charles A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Parekh, Ankur
• Application Number:
  US09/150,550
• Time in Patent Office: 517 Days
• Field of Search: 475/207, 475/208, 475/218, 475/219, 475/329, 475/330, 475/151, 74/333, 74/325, 74/331, 74/335, 74/665 P, 74/730.1, 74/732.1, 74/733.1, 192/3.55, 192/3.61, 192/3.62, 192/3.63, 180/65.2, 180/65.3, 180/65.4, 477/2, 477/3, 477/5
• US Class Current: 477/108
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/04 characterised by arrangement, location, or kind of gearing electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/105 the accumulator being a flywheel
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/12 by means of a chargeable fluidic accumulator
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/48 Parallel type
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/02 including control of driveline clutches
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/08 including control of electric propulsion units, e.g. motors or generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/11 Stepped gearings
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/26 for electrical energy, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/00 Control systems specially adapted for hybrid vehicles hybrid vehicle design, B60K6/00; electric vehicles B60L
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/30 Control strategies involving selection of transmission gear ratio control of change speed gearings, together with other vehicle sub-units B60W10/10; HEV transmission gearing B60K6/36; gearings and control thereof F16H
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0666 Engine torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/083 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/19 Improvement of gear change, e.g. by synchronisation or smoothing gear shift
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2061/0433 by torque supply with an electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 47/02 the fluid gearing being of the volumetric type
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/0403 Synchronisation before shifting
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/4096 with pressure accumulators
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/946 Characterized by control of driveline clutch
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/19014 : Plural prime movers selectively coupled to common output
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/19163 : with interrelated controls

Abstract

A power transfer system for a vehicle having a power source and a driveline, the power transfer system including a power-interrupt auto-manual transmission, an electronic control unit and electronic throttle controls. In the preferred embodiment, the power transfer system includes an epicyclic gearset for providing a level of drive torque to the driveline during the shifting of the transmission so as to eliminate the undesirable sensations experienced by the vehicle operator during the shifting of the transmission. The electronic throttle controls allow the rotational speed of the engine to be maintained at a desired level while the shift is being performed so as to improve fuel economy and reduce emissions. Alternate embodiments of the present invention utilize a secondary power source powered by a source of stored energy to provide the driveline with drive torque during a shift.

Claims

1. A power transfer system for a vehicle having a power source providing a source of input torque and a driveline, said power transfer system comprising:

a power-interrupt auto-manual transmission adapted for connection with said power source and said driveline to provide said driveline with a first level of drive torque, said power-interrupt auto-manual transmission including a plurality of gear ratios for controlling a speed of said vehicle and means for interrupting the distribution of said first level of drive torque to said driveline during a shift between said gear ratios;

means for providing a second level of drive torque to said driveline operable during at least a portion of said shift; and

engine throttle controls for controlling a delivery of air to said power source during at least a portion of said shift wherein said engine throttle controls are for controlling a rotational speed of said power source during said at least a portion of said shift to maintain said rotational speed of said power source at a speed substantially equal to the rotational speed of said power source just prior to said shift.

4. The power transfer system of claim 1 wherein said means for providing a second level of drive torque to said driveline includes an apparatus having a source of stored energy, said apparatus operably connected to said driveline and releasing said stored energy to create said second level of drive torque.

5. The power transfer system of claim 4 wherein said apparatus includes an electric motor and said source of stored energy is a flywheel generator.

6. The power transfer system of claim 4 wherein said apparatus includes an electric motor and said source of stored energy is an ultra-capacitor.

7. The power transfer system of claim 4 wherein said apparatus includes an electric motor and said source of stored energy is an electric battery.

8. The power transfer system of claim 4 wherein said apparatus includes a hydraulic motor and said source of stored energy is a device which accumulates pressurized hydraulic fluid.

2. A power transfer system for a vehicle having a power source providing a source of input torque and a driveline, said power transfer system comprising:

a power-interrupt auto-manual transmission adapted for connection with said power source and said driveline to provide said driveline with a first level of drive torque, said power-interrupt auto-manual transmission including a plurality of gear ratios for controlling a speed of said vehicle and means for interrupting the distribution of said first level of drive torque to said driveline during a shift between said gear ratios;

means for providing a second level of drive torque to said driveline operable during at least a portion of said shift; and

wherein said means for providing a second level of drive torque to said driveline is an apparatus adapted to divert at least a portion of said input torque from said power source to said driveline during said at least a portion of said shift.

3. The power transfer system of claim 2 wherein said apparatus is an epicyclical gearset having a first epicyclical gearset portion, a second epicyclical gearset portion and a shaft portion, said first epicyclical gearset portion adapted for connection to said power source, said second epicyclical gearset portion adapted for connection to said driveline, said shaft portion coupling said first and second epicyclical gearset portions to permit drive torque to be transmitted therebetween.

9. A power transfer system for a vehicle having a power source providing a source of input torque and a driveline, said power transfer system comprising:

a power-interrupt auto-manual transmission adapted for connection with said power source and said driveline to provide said driveline with a first level of drive torque, said power-interrupt auto-manual transmission including a plurality of gear ratios for controlling a speed of said vehicle and means for interrupting the distribution of said first level of drive torque to said driveline during a shift between said gear ratios; and

an epicyclical gearset adapted for connection with said power source and said driveline for diverting at least a portion of said input torque from said power source to said driveline so as to provide a second level of drive torque to said driveline during at least a portion of said shift.

10. The power transfer system of claim 9 further comprising engine throttle controls adapted for controlling a delivery of air to said power source during at least a portion of said shift.

11. The power transfer system of claim 10 wherein said engine throttle controls are adapted for controlling a rotational speed of said power source during at least a portion of said shift.