Patent ID: 6371882
Filing Date: 2002-04-16
Classification: F16H,Y10T

Abstract:
A control system for a continuously variable transmission having a plurality of force transfer members and a plurality of mechanical clutches each associated with one or more of the members and each disposed for selectively connecting and disconnecting the associated member to an input or output of the transmission, the control system comprising:a plurality of clutch actuators, each adapted to be connected to at least one of the mechanical clutches and each being operable for engaging and disengaging said one of the clutches for, respectively, connecting and disconnecting at least one of the members to the input or output of the transmission; a first electrical motor/generator connected to a first member of the transmission and operable in a motor mode for controllably rotating the first member and in a generator mode for being controllably rotated by the first member to generate electrical energy, said first motor/generator having a speed adjustment significantly faster than that typical of a hydraulic pump/motor; a second electrical motor/generator adapted to be connected to a second member of the transmission and operable in a motor mode for controllably rotating the second member and in a generator mode controllably rotated by the second member while generating electrical energy said second motor/generator having a speed adjustment significantly faster than that typical of a hydraulic pump/motor; a conductive path connecting said first and second motor/generators; a sensor for sensing a parameter representative of a rotational speed of the input or output of the transmission; and a processor operably connected to said sensor, said motor/generators and said clutch actuators, said processor being operable for operating one of said motor/generators in said generator mode while operating another of said motor/generators in said motor mode powered by said one of said motor/generators such that selected members of the transmission are rotated at adjustably controlled speeds corresponding to said sensed parameter for disconnecting one of the selected members from the input or output of the transmission and connecting another of the selected members to the input or output of the transmission, said processor operable for dithering the torque for facilitating disconnection of the one member, whereby said processor is adapted to rapidly adjust the speed of the motor/generators to produce adjustments to said controlled speeds of said selected members significantly faster than a typical response time of a hydraulic pump/motor so as to significantly reduce mechanical clutch engagement time.