| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|
| 20090035129 | Vane air-cooling system for automatic transmission torque converter - A cooling system is provided for automatic transmission torque converter assemblies having a housing shell and flex plate. The cooling system includes a housing cover having opposing exterior and interior surfaces that define a wall portion and a preferably circular base portion. The base portion is configured to attach to the flex plate, preferably by one or more stud members, to be rotated thereby. The wall portion extends from a periphery of the base portion and is configured to attach to the housing shell. The cooling system also includes a plurality of vane members positioned along the outer periphery of the base portion. The vane members are configured to increase convective dissipation of heat from the torque converter assembly to surrounding ambient air by increasing the heat transfer coefficient and surface area. Optimally, the vanes have a turbine fin configuration, but may alternatively have curved fin or a straight-fin configuration. | 02-05-2009 |
| 20090098978 | Torque Converter Control Method And Apparatus - A method for controlling a torque converter having an internal lockup clutch includes detecting vehicle operating conditions and executing one of a stored plurality of torque converter clutch modes each corresponding to a different set of vehicle operating conditions. A fully-released mode corresponds to vehicle pre-launch, a partially-engaged mode corresponds to post-launch of the vehicle in first gear, downshift, coasting, throttle tip-in, or throttle tip-out; a first fully-engaged mode corresponds to steady-state operation in second gear or a higher; and a second fully-engaged mode corresponds to an upshift. Slippage across the converter is controlled only during the first fully-engaged mode. A vehicle is also provided having an engine, transmission, torque converter with lockup clutch, and controller having a control algorithm. The algorithm executes a different lockup clutch mode based on the detected vehicle operating conditions, and the slippage across the converter is controlled during only one lockup clutch mode. | 04-16-2009 |
| 20090149298 | Aggressive Torque Converter Clutch Slip Control Design through Driveline Torsional Velocity Measurements - A system and method for setting the slip of a torque converter for a plurality of selected engine speeds and transmission gears. The method includes populating a table off-line, typically using a dynamometer, with torque converter slips for a plurality of selected engine speeds and transmission gears. A speed sensor is used to measure vibrations transmitted through the torque converter to the driveline of the vehicle. The sensor signal is sent to an analyzing system where it is converted to the frequency domain. A separate minimum slip value for each selected engine speed and transmission gear is stored in a table so that during vehicle operation, a controller will instruct the torque converter clutch to set the desired converter slip for the current engine speed and transmission gear provided for a particular throttle position and/or engine torque. | 06-11-2009 |
| 20090150032 | EFFECTIVE DRIVELINE VIBRATION DETECTION ALGORITHM IN TRANSMISSION TCC SLIP CONTROL - A method for adjusting the slip of a torque converter for a plurality of selected engine speeds, transmission gears and engine torque. A sensor is used to determine vibrations transmitted through the torque converter to the driveline of the vehicle. The sensor signal is sent to a controller where it is converted to the frequency domain. If the amplitude of the frequency signal exceeds a threshold, then the algorithm increases/decreases the converter slip until the driveline vibrations equal a threshold. | 06-11-2009 |
| 20090152028 | HYBRID DRIVE POWERTRAINS WITH REDUCED PARASITIC LOSSES - An apparatus for reducing parasitic losses in a hybrid electric powertrain of a vehicle includes a drivetrain, an electric motor, and a connecting mechanism operative to selectively engage and disengage the drivetrain and the electric motor. | 06-18-2009 |
| 20090194381 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING A SELECTABLE ONE-WAY CLUTCH IN AN ELECTRO-MECHANICAL TRANSMISSION - A selectable one-way clutch includes a strut plate co-annular to a slide plate and a notch plate. The selectable one-way clutch is configured to transfer torque between a strut plate and a notch plate in a first direction when a displacement actuator moves a pin and a slide plate to a first position. The selectable one-way clutch is configured to disengage the strut plate from the notch plate when the displacement actuator moves the pin and the slide plate to the second position. | 08-06-2009 |
| 20090205918 | Rotary-Type Selectable One-Way Clutch - A transmission includes a selectable one-way clutch (SOWC) assembly. The SOWC assembly includes a rotatable pocket plate, a rotatable slide plate, and an annular piston having a ramped surface feature. The piston, which can be hydraulically actuated, moves axially toward the pocket plate when applied, and axially away from the pocket plate when released, to thereby select between two torque holding or operating modes of the SOWC assembly. The ramped surface feature of the piston engages an axial knob portion of the slide plate when the piston is applied to select to one operating mode, thus rotating the slide plate in one direction. A return spring moves the piston away from the pocket plate when the other operating mode is selected, and the slide plate is rotated via a spring in another direction. A guide pin maintains a relative position of the piston and the slide plate. | 08-20-2009 |
| 20090266667 | Rocker-Type Selectable One-Way Clutch With Neutral Position - A SOWC for use with a vehicle transmission is provided. The clutch includes outer and inner elements, also referred to as races, with the latter oriented concentrically within the former about an axis of rotation. A selection mechanism, which may be annular plates operatively connected with the side of the races and with one another, is selectively rotatable with respect to the inner and outer elements between different positions. Pivotable rocker elements are positioned between the races and are movable along cammed slots of the annular plates when the annular plates are rotated to establish a forward, a reverse, and a neutral operating mode corresponding with the different positions of the annular plates. In some embodiments, in the neutral operating mode, none of the rocker elements are in contact with the inner race. | 10-29-2009 |
| 20090277742 | Disc Clutch Assembly with Separating Device - A disc clutch assembly is provided that includes first and second sets of generally annular plates spaced alternately with one another. The plates of the first set have a friction interface. The first and second sets of plates are selectively engagable with one another at the friction interface for transferring torque loads. Separating devices are in contact with the plates radially inward of the friction interface. The separating devices are configured to bias the respective ones of the first and second sets of plates apart from one another when not selectively engaged. | 11-12-2009 |
| 20100018786 | Electric Drive System with a Selectable One-Way Clutch - A vehicle has a motor and axles which are selectively rotatable by the motor, a reduction gear set, a differential transferring torque from the motor to the axles, and selectable one-way clutch (SOWC) assemblies. The SOWC assemblies are connected to a different one of the axles, and are engaged to transfer torque to the drive axles whenever the motor is energized. The SOWC assemblies are disengaged when the motor is de-energized to prevent rotation of the rotor and various elements of the reduction gear set and differential. A method minimizes parasitic spin losses in an electric rear drive motor (eRDM) system. The method includes engaging a pair of SOWC assemblies when the motor is on to transfer torque from the motor to the axles, and disengaging the SOWC assemblies when the motor is off to prevent rotation of a rotor and of elements of the reduction gear set and differential. | 01-28-2010 |
| 20100018795 | Compact Selection Mechanism For a Selectable One-Way Clutch - A vehicle includes an automatic transmission having an engine, an input member, a stationary center support, and a selectable one-way clutch (SOWC) positioned within the stationary center support. A SOWC selection mechanism is formed integrally with the center support, and rotates a slide plate during a predetermined transmission operating mode. A piston in a first bore of the selection mechanism rotates the slide plate in a first rotational direction to engage the SOWC, and a return spring in a second bore of the selection mechanism rotates the SOWC in a second direction to disengage the SOWC. The slide plate has a tab portion, and the piston and the return spring alternately apply a respective first and second force to opposite sides of the tab portion to rotate the slide plate, either directly or via an adapter ring. | 01-28-2010 |
| 20100022342 | Front Wheel Drive Automatic Transmission with a Selectable One-Way Clutch - A vehicle includes a front-wheel drive (FWD) transmission having a case, a selectable one-way clutch (SOWC) indexed to the case, pressurized fluid, and a valve body assembly (VBA). The VBA has a piston in communication with the fluid, a return spring, and an actuator plate in continuous contact with or connected to each of the piston and a shift lever of the SOWC. Fluid moving the piston and plate in one direction locks the SOWC to enable a reverse mode, and the spring moves the piston and the plate in another direction to unlock the SOWC in a forward mode. A method prevents spin losses in the FWD transmission by positioning a two-mode SOWC within a case, positioning a VBA adjacently and externally to the case, and admitting pressurized fluid into the VBA to engage the SOWC only during a reverse operating mode. | 01-28-2010 |
| 20100022343 | Rear Wheel Drive Automatic Transmission with a Selectable One-Way Clutch - A vehicle includes a rear-wheel drive (RWD) automatic transmission having a stationary member, a two-mode selectable one-way clutch (SOWC), pressurized fluid, and a valve body assembly (VBA). The VBA has a piston, a return spring, and an actuator linkage in contact with the piston and a shift lever of the SOWC. Fluid moves the piston and linkage in one direction to lock the SOWC and enable a reverse mode having no spin losses, and the spring moves the piston and linkage in another direction to unlock the SOWC in a forward mode. A method reduces spin losses by admitting fluid into the VBA to move the piston in one direction to thereby rotate the shift lever of the SOWC to one angular position to lock a driving member of the transmission to the stationary member during reverse, engine braking first gear, and manual low speeds. | 01-28-2010 |
| 20100063693 | ENGAGEMENT OF SELECTABLE ONE-WAY CLUTCH OR MECHANICAL DIODE BY ACTIVE ENGINE SPEED CONTROL - A method for controlling a powertrain includes monitoring a transmission output speed, monitoring an engine output speed, and monitoring an engine braking request. When the engine braking request is present, a target engine output speed is determined based upon the transmission output speed. Speed of the engine is commanded to the target engine output speed. When the engine braking request is present, a selectable one-way clutch slip speed is determined based upon the transmission output speed and the engine output speed. The selectable one-way clutch slip speed is utilized to further command the speed of the engine to create a zero selectable one-way clutch slip speed. And when the selectable one-way clutch slip speed equals zero, the selectable one-way clutch is engaged. | 03-11-2010 |
| 20100063694 | ENGINE POWER MANAGEMENT FOR A SELECTABLE ONE-WAY CLUTCH OR MECHANICAL DIODE IN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS - A method for controlling a powertrain includes monitoring engagement status of said selectable one-way clutch, monitoring an upshift command, monitoring a speed of an engine to torque converter shaft, monitoring a speed of a torque converter to transmission shaft, when the monitoring detects engagement of the selectable one-way clutch and the upshift command, then determining a relative rotational speed of the torque converter based upon the speed of said engine to torque converter shaft and the speed of said torque converter to transmission shaft. A locked selectable one-way clutch condition is diagnosed based upon the relative rotational speed. A torque increase is commanded from the engine based upon the locked selectable one-way clutch condition. And disengagement of the selectable one-way clutch is commanded. | 03-11-2010 |
| 20100063698 | CONTROL OF SELECTABLE ONE-WAY CLUTCH IN A TRANSMISSION - A powertrain in a vehicle includes an electro-mechanical transmission having a selectable one-way clutch mechanically-operatively coupled to an internal combustion engine and configured to selectively transmit mechanical power to an output member. A control method includes monitoring a vehicle speed, monitoring a transmission gear state, comparing the vehicle speed to a threshold low speed range, transitioning a selectable one-way clutch into an engaged mode when said vehicle speed is not in a forward direction in excess of the threshold low speed range, and maintaining the selectable one-way clutch in the engaged mode based upon the transmission gear state remaining in a first gear state and the vehicle speed remaining within said threshold low speed range, a neutral state, or a reverse state. | 03-11-2010 |
| 20100084237 | Enhanced Pressure Balancing of an Oil Pump Rotor for an Automatic Transmission - A transmission includes a torque converter and an oil pump for providing fluid. The transmission has a stator shaft and a torque converter hub mounted on the stator shaft, defining an annular chamber between the stator shaft and the torque converter hub. A pump rotor for the oil pump is mounted on the torque converter hub. The torque converter hub extends beyond the pump rotor to fluidly seal the pump rotor from the annular chamber between the torque converter hub and the stator shaft. | 04-08-2010 |
| 20100122883 | SELECTABLE ONE-WAY CLUTCH WITH RADIAL INTEGRATED FORWARD/REVERSE ROCKERS - A selectable one-way clutch assembly (SOWC) includes a first race, a second race, a plurality of rockers, and a selector ring. The first race and the second race each surround the first axis. Each of the rockers selectively hold torque in a rotational direction to establish a clutch operating mode. The selector ring defines a plurality of windows and is configured to rotates about the first axis to align at least one of the windows to establish one of the plurality of different clutch operating modes. The SOWC is engaged by rotating the selector ring about the first axis to align at least one of windows in a predetermined manner. Alignment allows at least one of the rockers to engage the second race in a radial direction to hold torque in at least one rotational direction. | 05-20-2010 |
| 20100122888 | HYDRAULIC ONE-WAY DISC CLUTCH ASSEMBLY - A hydraulic one-way clutch assembly (HOWC) is configured for use in a vehicle transmission. The HOWC assembly includes a non-rotatable disc and a rotatable disc. The non-rotatable disc extends about an axis and defines at least one exhaust port extending therethrough. The rotatable disc extends about the axis and is disposed axially adjacent the non-rotatable disc. The rotatable disc is configured to rotate relative to the non-rotatable disc, about the axis, between a closed position and an open position. The rotatable disc covers the exhaust passage when the rotatable disc is in the closed position to prevent fluid from flowing out through the at least one exhaust port. The rotatable disc uncovers the exhaust port when the rotatable disc is in the closed position to allow fluid to flow out through the at least one exhaust port. | 05-20-2010 |
| 20100140041 | ROTARY-TYPE SELECTABLE ONE-WAY CLUTCH - A selectable one-way clutch (SOWC) assembly uses hydraulic-actuation to select operating modes within a rotating housing. Two races of the SOWC assembly can rotate at disparate speeds, i.e., one race is not grounded prior to actuation. The SOWC assembly has a pair of races keyed to different housings and hubs. The housing and hub can be attached to different elements of a gear train, for example, which can be rotating during the various gear states. A hydraulic actuator or multiple actuators can be keyed to the housing, with axial motion of the actuator or actuators selecting a state or operating mode of the SOWC assembly. The actuator has axially-extending tabs that engage radially-extending fingers of the selector plate, thus rotating the selector plate in different directions when applied or released. Multiple actuators can be used in conjunction with multiple selector plates to provide additional SOWC operating modes. | 06-10-2010 |
| 20100234159 | HYBRID TRANSMISSION WITH INTEGRATED TORQUE MACHINE - A hybrid transmission device for a hybrid powertrain system having an integrated torque machine to transfer power among an input member, the torque machine and an output member in one of a plurality of fixed gear and continuously variable states is operative in a plurality of fixed gear states, a continuously variable state, and a torque machine state. | 09-16-2010 |
| 20100234166 | MULTI-SPEED TRANSMISSION WITH SELECTABLE ONE-WAY BRAKING CLUTCH - A multi-speed transmission for a vehicle is provided with a selectable one-way braking clutch (SOWBC). The transmission has one or more planetary gear sets, and a set of intermeshing gears, which may be a planetary gear set. Multiple torque-transmitting mechanisms are engagable in different combinations to establish at least one reverse speed ratio and multiple forward speed ratios between an input member and an output member. A selectable one-way braking clutch is configured to brake in one rotational direction and is selectively reversible to brake in an opposite rotational direction, and freewheels in some speed ratios. | 09-16-2010 |
| 20100234167 | MULTI-SPEED TRANSMISSION WITH SELECTABLE ONE-WAY BRAKING CLUTCH - A multi-speed transmission for a vehicle is provided with a selectable one-way braking clutch (SOWBC). The transmission has an input member connected for common rotation with one of the members of four planetary gear sets and an output member connected for common rotation with another of the members of the planetary gear sets. Four interconnecting members connect different members of the planetary gear sets for common rotation. A first brake is selectively engagable to ground the first member of the first planetary gear set to the stationary member. A first, a second, and a third rotating clutch are each selectively engagable to connect a different respective pair of the members of the planetary gear sets for common rotation. A selectable one-way braking clutch is configured to brake in one rotational direction and is selectively reversible to brake in an opposite rotational direction, and freewheels in some speed ratios. | 09-16-2010 |
| 20100261574 | AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WITH NORMALLY ENGAGED DISC CLUTCHES - An automatic variable transmission with normally engaged disc clutches includes a main transmission pump connected to the transmission and at least one clutch located within the transmission. The clutch is in an engaged position when the main transmission pump is not operating. The clutch assembly includes a piston moveable between an engaged position and a disengaged position and at least one spring is operably connected to the piston. The piston is operable to move the at least one spring between the engaged position and a disengaged position. A plurality of clutch plates may transfer torque when the at least one spring is in the engaged position. | 10-14-2010 |
| 20100263978 | TORQUE TRANSMITTING DEVICE - A torque transmitting device includes a plurality of clutch plates, a ramp member that is selectively rotatable about an axis and that defines a ramp surface, a worm gear that is operatively connected to the ramp member for rotation therewith about the axis, and a roller element contacting the ramp surface. The ramp surface is configured such that, when the ramp member is rotated about the axis, the roller element exerts a reaction force on the ramp surface that urges the ramp member to move in a first axial direction and thereby transmit the reaction force to the clutch plates | 10-21-2010 |
| 20110060509 | DESIRED TORQUE CONVERTER CLUTCH SLIP FEEDBACK RECOVERY ALGORITHM FOR TIP-IN MANEUVERS - A powertrain includes an engine, a transmission, and a torque converter located between the engine and the transmission. Subsequent to a rapid increase in engine torque commands, torque converter slip is controlled by monitoring a measured torque converter slip after the rapid increase in engine torque commands, determining a maximum measured torque converter slip value resulting from the rapid increase in engine torque commands based upon the measured torque converter slip, determining a target value to which to reduce the torque converter slip, determining a recovery profile to reduce the torque converter slip from the maximum measured torque converter slip to the target value, and utilizing the recovery profile to controllably reduce the torque controller slip. Determining the recovery profile includes commanding reducing slip through the profile at commanded torque converter slip values selected to prevent the torque converter slip from reaching zero. | 03-10-2011 |
| 20110136607 | SYNCHRONIZER IN ELECTRO-MECHANICAL TRANSMISSION - An electro-mechanical transmission includes a plurality of transmission components and at least one synchronizer configured to selectively engage and disengage at least two of the transmission components to effect operation in a speed range in the transmission. The synchronizer further includes a plurality of input components associated with one of the transmission components and a plurality of output components including a clutching mechanism configured to engage to at least one of the input components when the synchronizer is activated and disengage from the input component when the synchronizer is deactivated. | 06-09-2011 |
| 20110166757 | CLOSED-LOOP FEEDBACK CONTROL AND REDUCTION OF THE TORQUE CONVERTER CLUTCH SLIP FOR ENHANCED DRIVABILITY FOR HEAVY TIP-IN MANEUVERS - A method for responding to a rapid change in engine torque includes monitoring a change in engine torque and determining a rapid change in engine torque when the change in engine torque exceeds a threshold change in engine torque. Subsequent to determining a rapid change in engine torque, an increase in the torque converter slip is provided by reducing the torque converter clutch pressure command by a selected value and thereafter the feedback control is deactivated for a predetermined duration. Subsequent to the predetermined duration, the feedback control is reactivated to decrease the torque converter slip toward a desired torque converter slip value. | 07-07-2011 |
| 20110166758 | STOCHASTIC DETECTION OF TORQUE CONVERTER SLIP SPEED AND RELATED CONTROL - A method for controlling torque converter slip includes operating the torque converter in a controlled slip mode, monitoring slip in the torque converter, statistically analyzing the monitored slip to determine a likely condition of the torque converter, and utilizing the likely condition of the torque converter to control the torque converter slip. | 07-07-2011 |
