Evaluation of transmission data

• US 6,687,586 B2
• Filed: 11/21/2001
• Issued: 02/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Inventors: Rüchardt, Christoph, Härdtle, Wilhelm
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mancho, Ronnie M
• Application Number:
  US09/988,790
• Publication Number:
  US 20020077730A1
• Time in Patent Office: 804 Days
• Field of Search: 701/29, 701/51, 701/52, 701/53, 701/35, 701/54, 701/55, 701/69, 701/56, 701/80, 701/30, 340/439, 340/459, 340/438, 340/441, 340/461, 477/110, 477/169, 477/107, 477/54, 477/111, 477/78, 477/51, 477/52
• US Class Current: 701/30
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0808 Diagnosing performance data testing of vehicles G01M17/00; testing of electrical installation on vehicles G01R31/005
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0816 Indicating performance data, e.g. occurrence of a malfunction
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0841 Registering performance data recording measured values G01D; information storage G11B

Abstract

In a method for determining evaluation data for transmissions in vehicles, data is measured in the vehicle via sensors, the measured data is used to form intermediate data specific to the vehicle and then, from the measured data and the intermediate data, evaluation data is determined which is shown, stored or transmitted to a data collecting station.

Claims

1. A method for determining transmission evaluation data for a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

measuring vehicle data via a plurality of sensors;

forming intermediate data, specific to the vehicle, from the measured data;

determining the transmission evaluation data for the vehicle from the measured data and the intermediate data; and

calculating a transmission servicing interval based on the transmission evaluation data, the intermediate data is calculated from the measured data and the intermediate data comprises;

a weight of the vehicle,

a tractional resistance of the vehicle,

a number of starting operations of the vehicle,

a friction work accumulated in a clutch of the vehicle,

a maximum oil temperature, and

an operating time of the transmission of the vehicle.

2. The method for determining transmission evaluation data according to claim 1, further comprising the step of only allowing an authorization control to access a transmission control date memory.

3. The method for determining transmission evaluation data according to claim 2 further comprising the step of transmitting the data via telemetry from the vehicle to a central data center.

4. The method for determining transmission evaluation data according to claim 2, further comprising the step of displaying the data via a display of the vehicle.

5. The method for determining transmission evaluation data according to claim 2 further comprising the step of synchronizing the evaluation data of the transmission with evaluation data of other drive components of the vehicle.

6. A method for determining transmission evaluation data for a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

obtaining measured data via a plurality of sensors measuring at least a degree of engagement of a clutch and a dwell time of the clutch in the engagement;

forming vehicle transmission specific intermediate date from the measured data, the intermediate data comprising at least a friction work accumulated in the clutch of the vehicle according to the degree of engagement of the clutch and the dwell time of the clutch in the engagement;

determining at selected time intervals the transmission evaluation data for the vehicle from the measured data and the intermediate data;

storing the data in a transmission control data memory such that the data is prevented against overwriting;

obtaining indications of damage and wear of the transmission from the stored transmission evaluation data; and

calculating a transmission servicing interval based on the indications of damage and wear of the transmission from the stored transmission evaluation data.