Patent ID: 6278925
Filing Date: 2001-08-21
Classification: F16H,Y10T

Abstract:
A method for determining with the aid of an electronic computer system the power-on torque magnitude in a powertrain of a motor vehicle having an engine, and an automatic transmission having a torque converter that includes a bypass clutch for mechanically connecting and disconnecting the impeller and turbine of the torque converter, the impeller connected to the engine, the turbine connected to a transmission input shaft, comprising the steps of:repetitively determining that the torque converter clutch is disengaged;repetitively determining that the speed ratio across the torque converter is within a predetermined speed range;repetitively determining that the rate of vehicle deceleration is lower than a predetermined deceleration rate;repetitively determining the magnitude of torque produced by the engine;repetitively storing successive engine torque magnitudes in retrievable electronic memory;deleting from memory the stored torque magnitudes, if any of the stored torque magnitudes is greater than a predetermined magnitude from the other stored torque magnitudes;setting the power-on torque magnitude equal to the maximum stored torque magnitude, if all stored torque magnitudes are within a predetermined range of torque magnitudes; andadding to the maximum stored torque magnitude the corresponding magnitude of engine torque currently driving accessory equipment; andusing the sum of the torque magnitudes as the power-on torque magnitude.