GB2303890A - System for adjusting the working range of a torque converter lockup damper clutch - Google Patents
System for adjusting the working range of a torque converter lockup damper clutch Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2303890A GB2303890A GB9619983A GB9619983A GB2303890A GB 2303890 A GB2303890 A GB 2303890A GB 9619983 A GB9619983 A GB 9619983A GB 9619983 A GB9619983 A GB 9619983A GB 2303890 A GB2303890 A GB 2303890A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- throttle valve
- damper clutch
- zone
- working range
- zones
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
Classifications
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16H—GEARING
- F16H61/00—Control functions within control units of change-speed- or reversing-gearings for conveying rotary motion ; Control of exclusively fluid gearing, friction gearing, gearings with endless flexible members or other particular types of gearing
- F16H61/14—Control of torque converter lock-up clutches
- F16H61/143—Control of torque converter lock-up clutches using electric control means
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16H—GEARING
- F16H59/00—Control inputs to control units of change-speed-, or reversing-gearings for conveying rotary motion
- F16H59/14—Inputs being a function of torque or torque demand
- F16H59/24—Inputs being a function of torque or torque demand dependent on the throttle opening
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16H—GEARING
- F16H59/00—Control inputs to control units of change-speed-, or reversing-gearings for conveying rotary motion
- F16H59/36—Inputs being a function of speed
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Control Of Transmission Device (AREA)
- Control Of Fluid Gearings (AREA)
Abstract
A system for adjusting the working range of a damper clutch with reference to a linear function representing the relationship between the throttle valve position and the revolution per minute (rpm) of the engine in an automatic transmission of a vehicle, includes a throttle valve position sensor for sensing the amount of opening of the throttle valve to generate an electrical position sensor signal, a shift controller for classifying the throttle valve positions into a first, a second, and a third zone respectively indicating a low, a medium, and a high speed, detecting the throttle valve position in a predetermined interval to determine in which one of the three zones is positioned said throttle valve to find out the frequencies of the throttle valve position appearing in said three zone.
Description
SYSTEM FOR ADJUSTING THE WORKING RANGE OF A DAMPER
CLUTCH IN AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
DESCRIPTION
The present invention concerns a system for adjusting the working range of a damper clutch in an automatic transmission of a vehicle according to the load applied to the engine and the driving habit of a driver.
Generally, the automatic transmission suffers an inferior fuel consumption rate, which is about 10% lower than that of the manual transmission, because the power of the engine is indirectly transmitted by means of a hydraulic pressure. Namely, the power loss is caused by the fluid slip of the torque converter in about 70%, mechanical drive in about 15%, and the slip of the clutch and band in the remaining part. The damper clutch is used to directly connect the pump of the torque converter with the turbine above a given vehicle speed in order to reduce the power loss due to the fluid slip, thus improving the fuel consumption rate as well as quietness.
The working range of the damper clutch is conventionally set with reference to the throttle valve position and the rpm (revolution per minute) of the engine. Especially, when the damper clutch is set to work in a lower shift phase, it works always from the lower shift phase regardless of the engine load.
However, in this case, the acceleration of the vehicle becomes less effective because of the damper clutch directly connecting the pump of the torque converter with the turbine. Additionally, if the working range of the damper clutch is set to be wide without considering the engine load caused by various systems equipped in the vehicle, the drive capability may be deteriorated.
According to the present invention there is provided a system for adjusting the working range of a damper clutch with reference to a linear function representing the relationship between the throttle valve position and the revolution per minute (rpm) of the engine in an automatic transmission of a vehicle, comprises:
a throttle valve position sensor for sensing the amount of opening of the throttle valve to generate an electrical position sensor signal; and
a shift controller for classifying the throttle valve positions into a first, a second, and a third zone respectively indicating a low, a medium, and a high speed, detecting the throttle valve position in a predetermined interval to determine in which one of the three zones is positioned the throttle valve to find out the frequencies of the throttle valve position appearing in the three zones during the predetermined interval, selecting the greatest frequency to determine one of the three zones as the zone to work the damper clutch, whereby the damper clutch is set to work in the low, medium, or high shift phase.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a process for adjusting the working range of a damper clutch with reference to a linear function representing the relationship between the throttle valve position and the engine rpm in an automatic transmission of a vehicle, which comprises the steps of:
The present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings attached only by way of example.
Fig. 1 is a graph for illustrating the throttle valve positions to define the working range of the damper clutch according to the present invention; and
Figs. 2A and 2B are a flow chart for illustrating the process for controlling the working range of the damper clutch according to the present invention.
With reference to Figs. 2A and 2B, there is described the inventive system for adjusting the working range of a damper clutch. The shift controller 30 executes a routine for setting the damper clutch to work in a shift phase fitting the drive habit of a driver.
To this end, the throttle valve positions TH are firstly classified into three zones, of which the first zone is determined to indicate the opening of the throttle valve by 30%, the second zone between 30% and 60%, and the third zone more than 60%.
Then, in step S120, the first zone is assigned to a counter A, the second zone a counter B, and the third zone a counter C. Additionally established is a counter D to set an evaluation interval during which the frequency of the three zones is evaluated. In step
S130, the throttle valve position is detected to determine in which one of the three zones is positioned.
classifying the throttle valve positions into a first, a second, and a third zone respectively indicating a low, a medium, and a high speed;
assigning a counter parameter to each of the three zones;
detecting the throttle valve position in a predetermined interval to determine in which one of the three zones is positioned the throttle valve to find out the frequencies of the throttle valve position appearing in the three zones during the predetermined interval;
checking out whether the predetermined interval elapses;
selecting the greatest frequency to determine one of the three zones as the zone to work the damper clutch;
determining whether the greatest frequency exceeds a predetermined value required to change the working range of the damper clutch; and
setting the damper clutch to work in the low, medium, or high shift phase according to one of the three zones represented by the greatest frequency.
the throttle valve. Thus, if the throttle valve position is in the first zone or within the 30% opening in step S140, the counter A is increased by +1 in step S150 in order to evaluate the frequency of the first zone. Otherwise, if the throttle valve position is outside the first zone, a decision is made to know whether or not it is in the second zone or within the 60% opening in step S160. If being within the second zone, the counter B is increased by +1 in step S170 in order to evaluate the frequency of the second zone.
Otherwise, the throttle valve position is in the third zone, and therefore the counter C is increased by +1 in step S180 in order to evaluate the frequency of the third zone.
Then, the shift controller 30 checks out whether the evaluation time has elapsed in step S190. If the evaluation time has not elapsed, the process is returned to the step S130. Otherwise, the counter D is initialized, and the greatest one of the three frequencies is selected to compare with a predetermined frequency value in steps S200 and S210. If the greatest frequency is found to not exceed the predetermined frequency value in step S220, the drive habit of the driver is decided to have the ordinary mode to which the working range of the damper clutch has been set, and therefore the process is returned to the main routine. Otherwise, it is found out in step S230 which zone the greatest frequency represents.
If the greatest frequency is found to represent the first zone in step 240, the driver is decided to have a drive habit f a regular speed mode, and therefore the working range of the damper clutch is set to the second, third, fourth shift phases in step S250.
Namely, a driver having a drive habit of a moderate speed hardly applies an abrupt acceleration or a high speed, and therefore, it is desirable for the damper clutch to work from the lower shift phase in order to improve the fuel consumption rate.
Likewise, if the greatest frequency is found to represent the second zone in step 260, the working range of the damper clutch is set to the third, fourth shift phases in step S270. Or otherwise, the working range of the damper clutch is set to the fourth shift phase in step S280. Namely, if. the driver's drive habit is a high speed running, and the damper clutch is set to work from the lower shift phase, the driver's drive habit does not accommodate to the working mode of the damper clutch, and therefore it is desirable to set the damper clutch to the fourth shift phase in such high speed running.
Finally, the shift controller 30 controls the damper clutch drive to work the damper clutch (not shown) according to the throttle valve position and engine rpm.
As described above, according to the present invention, the working range of the damper clutch may be changed according to the driver's drive habit and an effective means is provided to accommodate the working range of the damper clutch to the driver's drive habit.
U.K. Patent Application No. 9519617.6 from which this application is divided describes how the working range of the damper clutch may be changed according to the load applied to the engine, so that the fuel consumption may be improved.
Claims (6)
1. A system for adjusting the working range of a damper clutch with reference to a linear function representing the relationship between the throttle valve position and the revolution per minute (rpm) of the engine in an automatic transmission of a vehicle, comprising:
a throttle valve position sensor for sensing the amount of opening of said throttle valve to generate an electrical position sensor signal; and
a shift controller for classifying the throttle valve positions into a first, a second, and a third zone respectively indicating a low, a medium, and a high speed, detecting the throttle valve position in a predetermined interval to determine in which one of the three zones is positioned said throttle valve to find out the frequencies of the throttle valve position appearing in said three zones during said predetermined interval, selecting the greatest frequency to determine one of said three zones as the zone to work said damper clutch, whereby said damper clutch is set to work in the low, medium, or high shift phase.
2. A system for adjusting the working range of a damper clutch as claimed in claim 1, wherein said shift controller controls said damper clutch to work in the second, third, and fourth shift phases if said greatest frequency belongs to said first zone, in the third and fourth shift phases if to said second zone, and in the fourth shift phase if to said third zone.
3. A process for adjusting the working range of a damper clutch with reference to a linear function representing the relationship between the throttle valve position and the engine rpm in an automatic transmission of a vehicle, comprising the steps of:
classifying the throttle valve positions into a first, a second, and a third zone respectively indicating a low, a medium, and a high speed;
assigning a counter parameter to each of said three zones;
detecting the throttle valve position in a predetermined interval to.determine in which one of the three zones is positioned said throttle valve to find out the frequencies of the throttle valve position appearing in said three zones during said predetermined interval;
checking out whether said predetermined interval elapses;;
selecting the greatest frequency to determine one of said three zones as the zone to work said damper clutch;
determining whether said greatest frequency exceeds a predetermined value required to change the working range of said damper clutch; and
setting said damper clutch to work in the low, medium, or high shift phase according to one of the three zones represented by said greatest frequency.
4. A process for adjusting the working range of a damper clutch as defined in Claim 3, wherein said damper clutch is set to work in the second, third, and fourth phases if said greatest frequency belongs to said first zone, in the third and fourth shift phases if to said second zone, and in the fourth shift phase if to said third zone.
5. A system for adjusting the working range of a damper clutch constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
6. A process for adjusting the working range of a damper clutch substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| KR1019940024310A KR100222548B1 (en) | 1994-09-27 | 1994-09-27 | Operation range regulating apparatus and method of damper clutch |
| GB9519617A GB2293633B (en) | 1994-09-27 | 1995-09-26 | System for adjusting the working range of a damper clutch in an automatic transmission |
Publications (3)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB9619983D0 GB9619983D0 (en) | 1996-11-13 |
| GB2303890A true GB2303890A (en) | 1997-03-05 |
| GB2303890B GB2303890B (en) | 1997-08-27 |
Family
ID=26307824
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9619983A Expired - Fee Related GB2303890B (en) | 1994-09-27 | 1995-09-26 | System for adjusting the working range of a damper clutch in an automatic transmission |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB2303890B (en) |
Citations (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4579208A (en) * | 1983-01-19 | 1986-04-01 | Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha | Automatic transmission for automotive vehicles |
-
1995
- 1995-09-26 GB GB9619983A patent/GB2303890B/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Patent Citations (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4579208A (en) * | 1983-01-19 | 1986-04-01 | Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha | Automatic transmission for automotive vehicles |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB9619983D0 (en) | 1996-11-13 |
| GB2303890B (en) | 1997-08-27 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCNP | Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee |
Effective date: 20050926 |