System and method for controlling loads on a dual mass flywheel attached to an engine based on engine speed

• US 8,798,880 B2
• Filed: 09/23/2011
• Issued: 08/05/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Cousins, William L., Partyka, James M.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TAN QUANG
• Application Number:
  US13/242,121
• Publication Number:
  US 20130080001A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,047 Days
• Field of Search: 701/54, 701/64, 340/439, 340/432, 280/260, 474/110
• US Class Current: 701/54
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2300/58 Engine torque vibration dampers, e.g. flywheels, dual-mass-springs
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2400/48 Vibration dampers, e.g. dual mass flywheels
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2059/366 Engine or motor speed
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2063/426 with means for advising the driver for proper shift action, e.g. prompting the driver with allowable selection range of ratios
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 63/42 Ratio indicator devices

Abstract

A system according to the principles of the present disclosure includes an engine speed module and a downshift indicator module. The engine speed module determines an engine speed when a clutch is engaged with a dual mass flywheel. The downshift indicator module generates a downshift indicator signal when the engine speed is less than a first speed, the downshift indicator signal indicating when to downshift a manual transmission.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

an engine speed module that determines an engine speed when a clutch is engaged with a dual mass flywheel; and

a downshift indicator module that generates a downshift indicator signal when the engine speed is less than a first speed, the downshift indicator signal indicating when to downshift a manual transmission, wherein the first speed is based on a predetermined relationship between the engine speed and oscillation of the dual mass flywheel.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first speed is greater than a resonant speed of the engine that causes the dual mass flywheel to oscillate at a resonant frequency.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein, when the clutch is disengaged from the dual mass flywheel, the engine speed module estimates the engine speed at a future time when the clutch is reengaged.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the engine speed module estimates the engine speed based on a selected gear of the manual transmission and vehicle speed.

5. The system of claim 4, further comprising a selected gear module that determines the selected gear based on a measured position of a gear selector.

6. The system of claim 5, further comprising a Hall effect sensor that generates a selector position signal indicating the measured position of the gear selector.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising an engine control module that stops the engine when the engine speed is less than a second speed.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the second speed is less than the first speed.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the second speed is greater than a resonant speed of the engine that causes the dual mass flywheel to oscillate at a resonant frequency.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising a shift indicator that in response to the downshift indicator signal, delivers at least one of a visual message, an audible message, and a tactile message indicating when to downshift the manual transmission.

11. A method comprising:

determining an engine speed when a clutch is engaged with a dual mass flywheel; and

generating a downshift indicator signal when the engine speed is less than a first speed, the downshift indicator signal indicating when to downshift a manual transmission, wherein the first speed is based on a predetermined relationship between the engine speed and oscillation of the dual mass flywheel.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the first speed is greater than a resonant speed of the engine that causes the dual mass flywheel to oscillate at a resonant frequency.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising, when the clutch is disengaged from the dual mass flywheel, estimating the engine speed at a future time when the clutch is reengaged.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising estimating the engine speed based on a selected gear of the manual transmission and vehicle speed.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising determining the selected gear based on a measured position of a gear selector.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising generating a lector position signal using a Hall effect sensor, the selector position signal indicating the measured position of the gear selector.

17. The method of claim 11, further comprising stopping the engine when the engine speed is less than a second speed.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the second speed is less than the first speed.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the second speed is greater than a resonant speed of the engine that causes the dual mass flywheel to oscillate at a resonant frequency.

20. The method of claim 11, further comprising, in response to the downshift indicator signal, using a shift indicator to deliver at least one of a visual message, an audible message, and a tactile message indicating when to downshift the manual transmission.