Transmission Shift Assembly With Selective Actuator Release Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

In dog clutch transmissions with multiple gears and independent shift forks/sliding sleeves, the lack of synchronizer rings leads to potential blocking of the gearbox due to rapid movements, and existing FSM approaches react by shutting off power, which is inefficient and requires extensive monitoring.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a control system with power switching stages and release stages that proactively manage the power supply to actuators, ensuring only necessary components are active, using release signals to maintain functional safety and synchronize gear engagement with engine speed within a tolerance window.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If power supply is switched off reactively upon detecting unwanted control signals, then functional safety is maintained, but response time increases and false detections occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefunctional safetyVSAvoidresponse time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by proactively switching off power supply to actuators before unwanted control signals can cause harmful effects. The control unit deactivates power supply in advance based on predicted unsafe states, eliminating the need for reactive detection and response, thus reducing response time while maintaining functional safety

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Speed

If all actuators are kept active for rapid response, then shifting speed increases, but energy consumption increases and functional safety decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveshifting speedVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by dynamically adjusting the power supply state of actuators based on current driving situations and safety requirements. Instead of keeping all actuators constantly active or permanently deactivated, the system adaptively switches power supply on or off according to real-time conditions, optimizing both energy consumption and response capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The control unit proactively prepares actuators by maintaining power supply in situations where rapid response may be needed, while deactivating power supply in situations where it is safe to do so, thus reducing overall energy consumption while preserving shifting speed when necessary

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If extensive monitoring of actuator movements is implemented, then functional safety is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefunctional safetyVSAvoidmonitoring system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the monitoring function from a separate complex monitoring system and integrates it into the control unit's existing control logic. By combining control and monitoring functions in one unit, the system achieves comprehensive actuator monitoring without adding separate monitoring hardware, thus reducing device complexity while maintaining functional safety

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Ease of operation

If power supply is continuously provided to all actuators, then readiness for shifting is improved, but energy waste increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereadiness for shiftingVSAvoidenergy waste
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by dynamically controlling power supply to actuators based on actual shifting needs and driving situations. The system switches power supply on when shifting operations are required or anticipated, and switches it off when no shifting is needed, thus maintaining operational readiness when necessary while minimizing energy waste during normal operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4004408B1Assembly for shifting a transmission and method for operating the assembly
Publication Date: 2024.03.13 VITESCO TECH GERMANY GMBH
  • EP4004408B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4004408B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4004408B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to an assembly (1) for shifting a transmission (10), wherein the assembly (1) comprises: at least two power shift stages (2.1, 2.2) for a respective actuator (6.1, 6.2) for shifting a respective shift fork or sliding sleeve of the transmission (10) between a neutral position and at least one engaged position; and a control device (4) for controlling the power shift stages (2.1, 2.2), wherein each power shift stage (2.1, 2.2) is assigned a respective release stage (5.1, 5.2) which connects the respective power shift stage (2.1, 2.2) selectively to a voltage supply (7) or separates it from same, wherein the release stages (5.1, 5.2) are also connected to the control device (4) and can be controlled by same by means of release signals (F1, F2), wherein the control device (4) is configured such that no release signal (F1, F2) is activated or only exactly one release signal (F1, F2) is activated whose assigned actuator (6.1, 6.2) can be functionally safely actuated in a current driving situation.