Method and system for inhibiting operation in a commanded operating range state for a transmission of a powertrain system

• US 8,234,048 B2
• Filed: 10/03/2008
• Issued: 07/31/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG, Daimler AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG), Chrysler Group LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Original Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG, GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company), Daimler AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG), Chrysler Group LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Inventors: Buur, Hanne, Cawthorne, William R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hellner, Mark
• Assistant Examiner(s): Diacou, Ari M
• Application Number:
  US12/244,815
• Publication Number:
  US 20090105914A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,397 Days
• Field of Search: 701/53, 701/22, 477/110, 180/65.265, 903/915
• US Class Current: 701/53
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/445 Differential gearing distribution type
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/486 Operating parameters
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/104 Output speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/16 Ratio selector position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18009 related to particular drive situations
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2059/443 Detecting travel direction, e.g. the forward or reverse movement of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2312/09 Switching between forward and reverse rocking F16H2312/08
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/915 Specific drive or transmission adapted for hev

Abstract

A hybrid powertrain system includes torque generative devices to transfer power to an output member. An operator torque request, a rotational direction and speed of the output member, and a signal output from a transmission range selector are monitored. When a change in a direction of intended motion is determined, the powertrain system can change rotational direction of the output member when the speed of the output member is less than a threshold. The powertrain can inhibit a change in the rotational direction of the output member.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a hybrid powertrain system including torque generative devices operative to transfer mechanical power to an output member, the powertrain system signally connected to an operator-selectable transmission range selector, the method comprising:

monitoring an operator torque request via an accelerator pedal;

monitoring rotational direction and speed of the output member;

monitoring a signal output from the transmission range selector comprising a direction of intended motion;

detecting an operator-commanded change in the direction of intended motion from a first direction to a second direction when the operator torque request is a non-zero value;

commanding the powertrain system to change rotational direction of the output member and operating the powertrain system to transfer torque to the output member to achieve the operator torque request when the speed of the output member is less than a predetermined threshold; and

inhibiting a change in the rotational direction of the output member when the speed of the output member is greater than the predetermined threshold.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein inhibiting the change in the rotational direction of the output member when the speed of the output member is greater than the predetermined threshold further comprises reducing the torque output to the output member when the speed of the output member is greater than the predetermined threshold.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein inhibiting the change in the rotational direction of the output member when the speed of the output member is greater than the predetermined threshold further comprises reacting torque through the torque generative devices to generate a negative output torque to the output member coincident with the inhibiting the change in the rotational direction of the output member when the speed of the output member is greater than the predetermined threshold.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising subsequently commanding the powertrain system to change the rotational direction of the output member and operating the powertrain system to transfer torque to the output member to achieve the operator torque request when the speed of the output member is less than the predetermined threshold.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the operator-commanded change in the direction of intended motion from the first direction to the second direction when the operator torque request is a non-zero value further comprises verifying the operator-commanded change in the direction of intended motion from the first direction to the second direction prior to commanding the powertrain system to change the rotational direction of the output member.

5. A method for controlling a hybrid powertrain system including torque generative devices operative to transfer mechanical power to an output member, the powertrain system signally connected to an operator-selectable transmission range selector, the method comprising:

monitoring an operator torque request;

monitoring rotational direction and speed of the output member;

monitoring signal outputs from the transmission range selector comprising a range and a direction of intended motion;

detecting operator command to change the direction of intended motion from a first direction to a second direction coincident with a non-zero operator torque request;

verifying the command to change the direction of intended motion from the first direction to the second direction in response to the monitored signal outputs from the transmission range selector comprising a range and a direction of intended motion; and

inhibiting changing the rotational direction of the output member and reducing torque transferred to the output member when the speed of the output member is greater than a predetermined threshold.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising commanding the powertrain system to change rotational direction of the output member and operating the powertrain system to transfer torque to the output member to achieve the operator torque request when the speed of the output member is less than the predetermined threshold.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein reducing torque transferred to the output member when the speed of the output member is greater than the predetermined threshold comprises controlling the torque generative devices to generate a negative output torque to the output member when the speed of the output member is greater than the predetermined threshold.

8. A method for operating a powertrain system including an engine and a torque generative device operatively connected to a transmission, to transfer power to a driveline, the powertrain system signally connected to an operator-selectable transmission range selector, the method comprising:

monitoring an operator torque request via an accelerator pedal;

monitoring rotational direction and speed of the driveline;

monitoring signal outputs from the transmission range selector comprising a range and a direction of intended motion of the driveline;

detecting an operator command to change the direction of intended motion of the driveline from a first direction to a second direction when the operator torque request is a non-zero value;

comparing the signal outputs from the transmission range selector comprising the range and the direction of intended motion of the driveline to verify the command to change the direction of intended motion of the driveline from the first direction to the second direction; and

inhibiting changing the direction of intended motion of the driveline and reducing power transferred to the driveline when the speed of the driveline is greater than a predetermined threshold.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising commanding the powertrain system to change rotational direction of the driveline and operating the powertrain system to transfer power to the driveline to achieve the operator torque request when the speed of the driveline is less than the predetermined threshold in response to the verified command to change the direction of intended motion of the driveline from the first direction to the second direction.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein reducing power transferred to the driveline when the speed of the driveline is greater than the predetermined threshold comprises controlling the torque generative device to react torque through the driveline when the speed of the driveline is greater than the predetermined threshold.