Transmission Clutch Pressure Control for Output Shaft Shudder
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicle transmissions often experience oscillations in the output shaft due to fluctuations in torque output, leading to shudder during vehicle operation, which current systems struggle to effectively mitigate without mechanical dampers.
Innovation Solution
A control system is implemented in the vehicle's transmission, featuring an output speed sensor and a controller that monitors the rotational speed of the output shaft, calculates adjustments to clutch pressure, and applies a compensated clutch pressure to the torque-transmitting mechanism to dampen oscillations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a mechanical damper is coupled to the output shaft to dampen oscillations, then oscillation dampening is improved, but device complexity and mechanical component requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical damper system with an electro-hydraulic control system. The controller receives input from a sensor detecting output shaft oscillations and adjusts the clutch actuator accordingly, eliminating the need for mechanical dampers while achieving oscillation dampening through electronic control and hydraulic pressure modulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a sensor and controller as intermediary components between the output shaft and the clutch actuator. The sensor detects oscillations and transmits this information to the controller, which then modulates the clutch actuator pressure to dampen oscillations, creating a feedback-based control loop that replaces direct mechanical damping.
2Ease of operation
If clutch pressure is adjusted to dampen oscillations, then ride quality is improved, but control system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback control system where a sensor continuously monitors output shaft oscillations and provides input signals to the controller. The controller processes this feedback information and dynamically adjusts the clutch actuator pressure to dampen oscillations, creating a closed-loop control system that automatically adapts to varying oscillation conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the clutch pressure dynamic and adjustable in real-time based on detected oscillation conditions. The controller modulates the clutch actuator pressure dynamically during operation, allowing the system to adapt to changing oscillation patterns and improve ride quality under various driving conditions rather than using fixed mechanical damping.
Data Source
AI summary
Vehicles, transmissions, and methods of dampening oscillations at an output shaft of a transmission are disclosed. A vehicle includes a chassis, a plurality of wheels coupled to the chassis, and a powertrain mounted to the chassis that includes a transmission. The transmission includes an input shaft to receive torque from a drive unit, an output shaft to transmit torque to a load, at least one torque-transmitting mechanism coupled between the input shaft and the output shaft, and a control system having an output speed sensor to provide an input signal indicative of a rotational speed of the output shaft and a controller communicatively coupled to the output speed sensor.