Patent ID: 11898626
Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Field: Mechanical elements (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC F  Y | IPC F

Claim 1:
2. A method for bypassing a torque converter in a powertrain, comprising:
operating the powertrain including:
operating a torque generating device including an output shaft; and
operating a transmission assembly including:
a transmission output shaft;
a torque converter;
a torque converter bypass shaft;
a disconnect clutch selectively coupling the torque converter with the torque generating device;
a torque converter clutch selectively coupling the torque converter bypass shaft with the torque generating device; and
a selectable one-way clutch connecting the transmission output shaft and the torque converter in one direction; and

within a computerized processor,
monitoring vehicle operation conditions; and
controlling the disconnect clutch and the torque converter clutch based upon the vehicle operation conditions, wherein the controlling includes:
when operation of the torque converter is desirable, engaging the disconnect clutch to cause an impeller of the torque converter to spin with the output shaft of the torque generating device and disengaging the torque converter clutch to disconnect the torque converter bypass shaft from the output shaft of the torque generating device; and
when the operation of the torque converter is not desirable, disengaging the disconnect clutch to disconnect the impeller from the output shaft of the torque generating device and engaging the torque converter clutch cause the torque converter bypass shaft to spin with the output shaft of the torque generating device;

wherein the torque generating device is a motor-generator unit that utilizes electrical energy to generate a motor-generator output torque and generates electrical energy from a torque transmitted to the output shaft of the motor-generator unit; and
wherein operation of the torque converter is not desirable when the speed of the motor-generator, when acting as a motor, exceeds a maximum rotational speed limitation imposed by the torque converter.