Method for operating a vehicle powertrain

• US 9,434,386 B2
• Filed: 01/22/2015
• Issued: 09/06/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Nedorezov, Felix, Jiang, Hong, Gibson, Alex O'Connor, Shelton, Matthew John, Huffmaster, Roger Lyle
• Primary Examiner(s): Kiswanto, Nicholas
• Application Number:
  US14/603,237
• Publication Number:
  US 20150151763A1
• Time in Patent Office: 593 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/02 including control of driveline clutches
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/244 Charge state
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/246 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2555/20 Ambient conditions, e.g. wind or rain
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/022 Clutch actuator position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18018 Start-stop drive, e.g. in a traffic jam
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/186 excessive wear or burn out of friction elements, e.g. clutches
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/192 Mitigating problems related to power-up or power-down of the driveline, e.g. start-up of a cold engine
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2023/126 Actuation by rocker lever; Rocker levers therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 21/06 at least two driving shafts or two driven shafts being concentric
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 25/10 Clutch systems with a plurality of fluid-actuated clutches arrangements or mounting of clutches in vehicles B60K17/00
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2500/3026 Stroke
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2500/3064 Temperature of the engine
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2500/3067 Speed of the engine
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2500/316 Other signal inputs not covered by the groups above
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2500/3161 Signal providing information about the state of engine accessories
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 28/00 Electrically-actuated clutches arrangements for synchronisation F16D23/02; clutches actuated directly by means of an electromagnet F16D27/00; automatic clutches F16D43/00 - F16D45/00; external control F16D48/00
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 48/08 Regulating clutch take-up on starting

Abstract

Methods and systems for controlling a vehicle powertrain that may be automatically stopped and started are presented. In one example, a method adjusts a position of a transmission clutch in response to battery current during engine cranking. The method may reduce clutch wear and improve vehicle launch from a stop.

Claims

1. A method for operating a vehicle powertrain, comprising:

adjusting a transmission clutch position in response to a battery current during engine cranking while starting an engine and in response to battery voltage and ambient temperature.

2. The method of claim 1, where a transmission clutch mechanically couples an output of an engine to a layshaft of a transmission.

3. The method of claim 2, where the transmission clutch is at least partially engaged and transfers torque from the engine to the layshaft.

4. The method of claim 2, where the transmission clutch is an electrically actuated clutch.

5. The method of claim 1, where battery current is determined via a shunt resistor.

6. The method of claim 1, where adjusting the transmission clutch position is in response to the battery current after the engine reaches cranking speed and not in response to battery current before the engine reaches cranking speed during engine cranking.