Transmission

• US 6,591,705 B1
• Filed: 06/23/2000
• Issued: 07/15/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: LuK Lamellen und Kupplungsbau Beteiligungs KG
• Original Assignee: LuK Lamellen und Kupplungsbau Beteiligungs KG
• Inventors: Brandt, Martin, Hirt, Gunter, Berger, Reinhard, Reik, Wolfgang
• Primary Examiner(s): Bonck, Rodney H
• Assistant Examiner(s): HO, HA DINH
• Application Number:
  US09/602,862
• Time in Patent Office: 1,117 Days
• Field of Search: 743/35, 743/29, 743/40, 743/43, 743/45, 743/56, 747/45, 743/39
• US Class Current: 74/343
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/20 for control of the vehicle or its driving motor to achieve a desired performance, e.g. speed, torque, programmed variation of speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/421 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/423 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/441 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/461 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/507 Operating parameters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/10 by alarm
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/145 Structure borne vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/02 including control of driveline clutches
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/11 Stepped gearings
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0638 Engine speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0657 Engine torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/021 Clutch engagement state
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/1005 Transmission ratio engaged
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18 Propelling the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2003/007 with two flow paths, one being directly connected to the input, the other being connected to the input though a clutch
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2061/0422 by an electric machine, e.g. by accelerating or braking the input shaft
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2061/0429 by torque supply with a clutch in parallel torque path
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2200/0047 the gear ratios comprising five forward speeds
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2200/0052 : the gear ratios comprising six forward speeds
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2306/48 : Synchronising of new gear
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 3/006 : power being selectively transmitted by either one of the parallel flow paths
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 3/089 : all of the meshing gears being supported by a pair of parallel shafts, one being the input shaft and the other the output shaft, there being no countershaft involved
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 3/0915 : with coaxial input and output shafts
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 3/12 : with means for synchronisation not incorporated in the clutches
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 3/126 : using an electric drive
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/0403 : Synchronisation before shifting
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 63/46 : Signals to a clutch outside the gearbox
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 : Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 : Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 : Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 : Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/19251 : Control mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/19312 : Direct clutch and drive
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/19321 : Direct clutch and drive

Abstract

A shiftable gear transmission has a plurality of gear pairs with free gears that can be engaged to one of the shafts by means of shift clutches and fixed gears that are permanently locked to one of the shafts. A start-up clutch arranged at the input side of the transmission couples and uncouples the torque flow. At least one of the shift clutches is a power-shift clutch with the ability to transmit a greater amount of torque than the other shift clutches. The start-up clutch and the power-shift clutch are controlled by at least one actuator unit.

Claims

1. A transmission, shiftable between a plurality of gear ratios and comprising a plurality of shafts, free gears that can be brought to a rotation-locked engagement with one of said plurality of shafts by means of shift clutches, fixed gears that are permanently rotation-locked to one of said plurality of shafts, and a single start-up clutch arranged at an input side of the transmission to couple and uncouple a total flow of torque between a combustion engine and the transmission, wherein each of the gear ratios is formed by one of the free gears cooperating with one of the fixed gears, and wherein one of the shift clutches comprises a power-shift clutch with the ability to transmit a greater amount of torque than the other shift clutches, said power shift clutch comprising a friction clutch and being assigned to one of the gear ratios, wherein the power-shift clutch is arranged so that it is always brought into engagement when the transmission is shifted from one ratio to another and the start-up clutch is at least partially engaged during shifting such that a previously engaged gear is shifted out of engagement and a new gear is synchronized and brought into engagement, the power-shift clutch being arranged at a gear with a higher ratio than a ratio of at least one gear that is shiftable in a power/shift mode in which a torque bypass is established by the power-shift clutch.

2. The transmission of claim 1, wherein the power-shift clutch can be engaged when the start-up clutch is in an at least partially engaged condition.

3. The transmission of claim 1, wherein the power-shift clutch can be engaged while the start-up clutch is in a fully engaged condition.

4. The transmission of claim 1, wherein the plurality of gear ratios includes a highest ratio, and wherein among the free gears the one of the highest ratio has the power-shift clutch provided to couple said highest-ratio free gear to one of said plurality of shafts by engaging the power-shift clutch.

5. The transmission of claim 1, wherein a clutch by which at least one of said free gears is coupled to one of said plurality of shafts is a form-locking clutch.

6. The transmission of claim 1, wherein a clutch by which at least one of said free gears is coupled to one of said plurality of shafts is a friction clutch.

7. The transmission of claim 1, wherein a clutch by which at one of said free gears is coupled to a shaft has a synchronizing device.

8. The transmission of claim 1, wherein the start-up clutch is arranged in a space within a bell housing.

9. The transmission of claim 1, wherein the power-shift clutch is arranged in a space within a bell housing.

10. The transmission of claim 1, wherein the start-up clutch and the power-shift clutch are dry-friction clutches.

11. The transmission of claim 1, wherein the start-up clutch is arranged inside the transmission housing.

12. The transmission of claim 1, wherein the power-shift clutch is arranged inside the transmission housing.

13. The transmission of claim 1, wherein the start-up clutch is a friction clutch.

14. The transmission of claim 1, further comprising an electro-mechanical energy converter serving at least one of the functions of starting the engine of the vehicle and of generating electrical energy from kinetic energy.

15. The transmission of claim 14, wherein the electro-mechanical energy converter interacts with the transmission by way of a fixed gear.

16. The transmission of claim 14, wherein the electro-mechanical energy converter is mechanically interfaced with an input shaft of the transmission.