Pressure controlled driveline mechanical coupling

• US 9,458,900 B2
• Filed: 09/15/2015
• Issued: 10/04/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Colvin, Daniel Scott, Nefcy, Bernard D., Kraska, Marvin Paul, Ortmann, Walter Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Hlavka, David J
• Application Number:
  US14/854,547
• Publication Number:
  US 20160003314A1
• Time in Patent Office: 385 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2006/4825 Electric machine connected or connectable to gearbox input shaft
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/48 Parallel type
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/2054 by controlling transmissions or clutches
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/02 including control of driveline clutches
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/00 Control systems specially adapted for hybrid vehicles hybrid vehicle design, B60K6/00; electric vehicles B60L
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0275 Clutch torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/023 Clutch engagement rate
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2400/406 Hydraulic actuators
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2500/1066 Hybrid
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2500/3024 Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2500/501 Relating the actuator
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2500/50224 Drive-off
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 48/066 Control of fluid pressure, e.g. using an accumulator F16D48/062, F16D48/068 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 48/08 Regulating clutch take-up on starting
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/0031 using auxiliary pumps, e.g. pump driven by a different power source than the engine
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/914 Actuated, e.g. engaged or disengaged by electrical, hydraulic or mechanical means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/946 Characterized by control of driveline clutch

Abstract

A vehicle includes a motive power source, a transmission, and a clutch system. The vehicle further includes a controller that causes the clutch system to generate a generally constant clutch pressure to mechanically couple the motive power source and transmission as a line pressure associated with the transmission varies.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

by a controller,

generating and outputting a command to provide current to a clutch system to mechanically couple an electric machine and transmission based on received data indicative of a target clutch pressure and transmission line pressure; and

altering the command based on received data indicative of actual clutch pressure such that the actual clutch pressure is maintained equal to the target clutch pressure as the transmission line pressure varies.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising selecting the target clutch pressure based on the data indicative of the transmission line pressure.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the line pressure varies due to activation of a mechanical oil pump while an electric oil pump is on.

4. A vehicle system comprising:

a controller configured to

generate and output a command to provide current to a clutch system to mechanically couple an electric machine and transmission based on received data indicative of a target clutch pressure and transmission line pressure, and

alter the command based on received data indicative of actual clutch pressure such that the actual clutch pressure is maintained equal to the target clutch pressure as the line pressure varies.

5. The vehicle system of claim 4, wherein the controller is further configured to select the target clutch pressure based on the data indicative of the transmission line pressure.

6. The vehicle system of claim 4, wherein the line pressure varies due to activation of a mechanical oil pump while an electric oil pump is on.