Transmission Output Shaft Oscillation Damping via Clutch Pressure Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fluctuations in torque output by a transmission output shaft cause oscillations, leading to shudder during vehicle operation, which existing systems fail to adequately address without mechanical dampers.
Innovation Solution
A control system using an output speed sensor and controller to monitor rotational speed, determine differences, and adjust clutch pressure to dampen oscillations without mechanical dampers, employing a computer-implemented model to compensate for torque fluctuations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a mechanical damper is coupled to the output shaft to reduce oscillations, then shudder is reduced, but device complexity and mechanical component requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical dampers with a control system that uses an output speed sensor to detect oscillations and a controller to modulate clutch pressure. This substitutes mechanical vibration damping with an electro-hydraulic control system that actively compensates for oscillations by adjusting clutch engagement pressure based on real-time speed feedback.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback control loop where the output speed sensor continuously monitors the rotational speed of the output shaft, detects oscillations, and feeds this information to the controller. The controller then adjusts the clutch pressure accordingly to dampen the detected oscillations, creating a closed-loop system that actively responds to and corrects shudder conditions.
2Stability of the object's composition
If clutch pressure is increased to dampen oscillations, then output shaft stability improves, but energy consumption and heat generation increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic clutch pressure modulation rather than static high pressure. The controller adjusts clutch pressure in real-time based on the amplitude and frequency of detected oscillations, applying pressure only when and where needed to dampen specific oscillation modes. This dynamic approach maintains stability while minimizing unnecessary energy consumption and heat generation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the pressure parameter of the clutch fluid dynamically in response to detected oscillations. Rather than maintaining constant high pressure, the system varies pressure levels according to the severity and characteristics of oscillations, thereby achieving stability with optimized energy consumption and reduced thermal load on the clutch components.
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.