Apparatus and method for measuring the speed of a buried transmission component
First Claim
1. A transmission having a clutch assembly, comprising:
- a clutch housing with non-rotatable plates mounted with respect to a transmission ground;
a clutch hub rotatable with respect to said transmission ground and more radially inwardly nested in the transmission with respect to said clutch housing;
a speed sensor responsive to magnetic fields and mounted with respect to said clutch housing; and
a clutch fiber plate splined to said clutch hub for rotation therewith;
said clutch fiber plate having a steel core and a heterogeneous outer diameter on said steel core to enable said clutch fiber plate to generate magnetic field pulsations for speed sensing.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to the use of a magnetic sensor to detect the speed of transmission clutch plates or clutch hub. A clutch fiber plate, which is mechanically linked to a buried (or inwardly nested) transmission component, is serrated to generate detectable pulsations or fluctuations in the magnetic intensity of the clutch fiber plate as it rotates. The speed of the buried transmission component is useful in controlling a second clutch arrangement to reduce engine torsional pulses by generating a predetermined amount of slip upon engagement. Moreover, the sensor is configurable to determine the acceleration of the clutch fiber plate to control engine acceleration during a vehicle launch. The sensor is mounted to the transmission housing radially superjacent the clutch fiber plate; therefore, the axial space claim for the transmission does need not increase to accommodate the sensor.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A transmission having a clutch assembly, comprising:
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a clutch housing with non-rotatable plates mounted with respect to a transmission ground; a clutch hub rotatable with respect to said transmission ground and more radially inwardly nested in the transmission with respect to said clutch housing; a speed sensor responsive to magnetic fields and mounted with respect to said clutch housing; and a clutch fiber plate splined to said clutch hub for rotation therewith;
said clutch fiber plate having a steel core and a heterogeneous outer diameter on said steel core to enable said clutch fiber plate to generate magnetic field pulsations for speed sensing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A powertrain having a transmission with a predetermined allowable length, comprising:
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an internal combustion engine characterized as generating torsional pulses; a rotatable clutch fiber plate in a transmission clutch assembly of predetermined outer diameter, axially moveable for clutching the transmission;
said clutch fiber plate having teeth on an outer diameter thereof; anda speed sensor insertable radially adjacent said clutch fiber plate sufficiently toward the teeth to sense the speed of rotation of said clutch fiber plate irrespective of the axial movement of said clutch fiber plate without increasing the predetermined axial length of the transmission. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of controlling a transmission clutch assembly according to the speed of predetermined inwardly nested transmission components:
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monitoring the speed of an outer transmission component;
wherein said outer transmission component is mechanically linked to an inner transmission component;wherein said monitoring of the speed of an outer transmission component is conducted by a speed sensor responsive to the magnetic intensity generated by said outer transmission component; and wherein said outer transmission component has a heterogeneous outer diameter for generating pulsations in said magnetic intensity. - View Dependent Claims (12, 14)
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13. The method of clam 12, further comprising:
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hydraulically actuating a clutch in response to the monitored speed of said outer transmission component in a manner to produce a predetermined amount of slip; wherein said slip is configurable to eliminate or reduce the transmission of the engine torsional pulses to a vehicle driveline.
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Specification