Patent application number | Description | Published |
20110024258 | Transmission with Durability Enhancement Techniques - The present disclosure relates to durability enhancement techniques for a dry-clutch vehicle transmission. A cooling system that provides a direct convective cooling path to friction surfaces is disclosed. Also disclosed is a continuously variable clutch wear compensation assembly configured to adjust the position of clutch assembly components on-demand or as needed. | 02-03-2011 |
20130238204 | METHOD FOR OPERATING A VEHICLE POWERTRAIN - 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. | 09-12-2013 |
20130292223 | Pre-Staging and Boosting for Downshifts to Increase Regenerative Braking - A hybrid vehicle has a battery, a regenerative braking system, a transmission, and a controller. The controller boosts and strokes a hydraulic cylinder of an on-coming clutch when the state-of-charge of the battery allows regenerative braking and in response to a pedal actuation. The controller boosts and strokes the hydraulic cylinder before a disconnect clutch is opened and the transmission is downshifted to increase regenerative braking efficiency. | 11-07-2013 |
20130296107 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR STARTING A TURBOCHARGED ENGINE IN A HYBRID VEHICLE - A vehicle with a modular hybrid transmission that has a combustion engine including a turbocharger and an e-machine use barometric pressure, road grade, and estimated vehicle mass to develop a turbo lag estimate. If it is determined that undesirable turbo lag is likely, the system opens a disconnect clutch between the engine and the e-machine and the engine is started independently of the e-machine. The e-machine is then used to launch the vehicle while the engine is started. | 11-07-2013 |
20130296109 | Method and Apparatus for Starting an Engine of a Modular Hybrid Transmission Based Upon Demanded Torque - A control system including a method and apparatus for operating a hybrid vehicle. A disconnect clutch selectively separates an electric machine from a combustion engine. If a wide open throttle or high torque command is requested and the combustion engine is shut down, a 12 volt starter may be used to start the combustion engine while disconnected from the electric machine and all of the electric machine torque available may be used for traction. | 11-07-2013 |
20130296110 | Modulating Engine Torque to Synchronization Engine Speed with Motor Speed for Disconnect Clutch Engagement in Hybrid Vehicle - A system and method for controlling a hybrid vehicle having an engine, a traction motor, and a transmission selectively coupled in series by a clutch include modulating engine torque while the clutch is disengaged and while engine speed is less than motor speed to increase the engine speed. The clutch is engaged to connect the engine to the motor in response to the engine speed exceeding the motor speed. | 11-07-2013 |
20130296111 | ENGINE RESTART TORQUE SPIKE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR A HYBRID VEHICLE - A method for controlling a hybrid vehicle having a traction motor between an engine and a step ratio automatic transmission during a startup of the hybrid vehicle. The method includes performing at least one of adjusting a clutch or an oil pressure to change a transmission tie-up force or downshifting the transmission in response to an actuation rate of a vehicle driver demand. | 11-07-2013 |
20130296117 | SYSTEM AND APPARATUS FOR ENGINE FLARE CONTROL DURING TRANSMISSION GEAR SHIFT - A vehicle includes an engine, an electric machine, a transmission, and at least one controller. The at least one controller, in response to a gear shift of the transmission that causes a speed of the engine to exceed a predetermined speed, commands a change in current to the electric machine such that the speed of the engine decreases to a target speed to avoid engine flare. | 11-07-2013 |
20130296127 | TORQUE HOLE FILLING IN A HYBRID VEHICLE DURING AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTING - A system and method for reducing torque disturbances during a shift event for a hybrid vehicle having an engine selectively coupled to a traction motor and an automatic transmission to control or compensate actual transmission input shaft torque based on measured transmission input torque by controlling a torque source, such as a traction motor. The system and method may include an engine, a transmission, a traction motor between the engine and the transmission with the engine being selectively coupled to the motor and the transmission by a disconnect clutch and a controller configured to control motor torque to cause an actual transmission input shaft torque to achieve a target transmission input shaft torque during a transmission shift event. | 11-07-2013 |
20140277867 | Vehicle Mass Detection System - A vehicle system and a method for calculating a vehicle mass is provided. In at least one embodiment, the system and the method measure current consumed by an electric machine of the vehicle to calculate vehicle mass. A controller of the vehicle uses the calculated mass to control operation of the vehicle, for example a four wheel drive, transmission, stability control, or brake system of the vehicle. A GPS and tire speed sensor system may be incorporated to detect the presence of a towed object, for example a trailer, and to further adjust operation of the vehicle. | 09-18-2014 |
20150046049 | METHOD OF OPERATING A TRANSMISSION - A method of controlling a launch clutch during an engine restart event commands a positive torque capacity before the engine reaches idle speed. Early application of the launch clutch reduces the time delay between brake pedal release and vehicle acceleration. To avoid excessive drag on the engine during the restart event, the torque capacity is adjusted using closed loop control. A controller calculates a maximum rate of change of torque capacity based on measured engine speed and an engine acceleration and does not increase the commanded torque capacity faster than the calculated rate. In some circumstances the maximum rate of change may be negative, resulting in a reduction in commanded torque capacity. | 02-12-2015 |