Methods for control of transmission and prime mover

• US 8,818,661 B2
• Filed: 08/04/2009
• Issued: 08/26/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fallbrook Intellectual Property Company LLC (Fallbrook Technologies Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Fallbrook Intellectual Property Company LLC (Fallbrook Technologies Incorporated)
• Inventors: Keilers, Cyril, Rogers, David, Diehl, Eric, Orand, Austin, Bartholomew, Mark Edward, Vasiliotis, Christopher M., McDaniel, Loren T., Carter, Jeremy
• Primary Examiner(s): MARC-COLEMAN, MARTHE Y
• Application Number:
  US13/054,767
• Publication Number:
  US 20110184614A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,848 Days
• Field of Search: 701/54, 701/51, 701/61, 477/107, 477/5, 477/76, 477/78, 477/47, 477/40, 477/48, 476/40, 745/022, 744/731.4
• US Class Current: 701/54
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/421 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/423 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/08 including control of electric propulsion units, e.g. motors or generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/105 of electric type
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/108 Friction gearings
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/081 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/28 Wheel speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/10 Accelerator pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/106 Rate of change
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/083 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/1005 Transmission ratio engaged
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/248 Current for loading or unloading
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/188 Controlling power parameters of the driveline, e.g. determining the required power
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/6648 controlling of shifting being influenced by a signal derived from the engine and the main coupling
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 Electric machine technologies in electromobility

Abstract

A method of controlling a prime mover and a continuously variable transmission (CVT) is described. The CVT has a group of spherical power adjusters. Each power adjuster has a tiltable axis of rotation. A method of optimizing a vehicle having a drive motor and a continuously variable transmission is also described. The CVT has a plurality of spherical power adjusters, each power adjuster having a tiltable axis of rotation. A drive system having a prime mover and a continuously variable transmission can be optimized in another method.

Claims

1. A method of optimizing a drive system having a prime mover and a continuously variable transmission (CVT), the CVT having a plurality of spherical power adjusters, each power adjuster having a tiltable axis of rotation, the method comprising the steps of:

selecting a desired range of current of the prime mover;

selecting a predetermined speed of a vehicle equipped with the drive system;

applying a load to the CVT and the prime mover and operating the CVT and the prime mover at the predetermined speed;

monitoring a current draw of the prime mover;

comparing the current draw to the desired range of current; and

adjusting a ratio of the CVT based at least in part on the comparison.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting a desired range of current comprises receiving a variable indicative of an efficiency of the prime mover.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of recording the ratio of the CVT to thereby form a table.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of evaluating the completeness of the table.

5. The method claim 4, wherein the method is performed for a range of prime mover operating speeds and vehicle speeds until the table is complete.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of providing a vehicle equipped with the drive system.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein adjusting the ratio of the CVT comprises the step of tilting the tiltable axis of rotation for each power adjuster.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein tilting the tiltable axis of rotation for each power adjuster comprises the step of rotating an actuator operably coupled to the CVT.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein tilting the tiltable axis of rotation for each power adjuster comprises the step of axially translating an idler of the CVT.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of selecting a desired range of efficiency of the CVT.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of monitoring the efficiency of the CVT based at least in part on speed ratio.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of comparing the efficiency of the CVT to the desired range of efficiency of the CVT.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the desired range of current of the prime mover is selected based on a parameter of the prime mover.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein monitoring the current draw of the prime mover comprises monitoring a sensor to determine the current draw of the prime mover when the CVT and the prime mover are operated at the predetermined speed.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising recording the ratio of the CVT, the predetermined vehicle speed, and the comparison of the current draw of the prime mover to the desired range of current of the prime mover in a table.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the table includes one or more of a current peak of the prime mover, a current efficiency of the prime mover, and a mode selected by a user.