Patent GB-1440083-A (GB)
Title: Electronically controlled power transmission
IPC: B60W30/18
Filed: 1973-09-10
Abstract: 1440083 Change-speed control TWIN DISC Inc 10 Sept 1973 [8 Sept 1972] 42408/73 Heading F2D An automatic vehicle transmission comprises a change-speed gear connected to an engine through a torque converter having a lock-up clutch, a valve controlling engagement of the clutch in response to speed of the input shaft of the gear, a solenoid valve for inhibiting engagement of the clutch, manually operable ratio selector means providing electric output signals, means sensing the output speed of the gear, and electronic control means responsive to signals from the ratio selector means and the output speed sensing means to operate gear shifting solenoid valves and the inhibiting solenoid valve to prevent engagement of the lock-up clutch until a predetermined input speed to the change-speed gear for a particular ratio is reached. Gear arrangement.-The housing H of the torque converter, driven by the engine flywheel 2, carries a lock-up clutch 20 which is engageable by pressure fluid delivered through passages 26, 27, 29 to lock the turbine shaft 6 to the housing. The shaft 6 carries a retarder 57 and is connected to the input member 7 of a changespeed gear 8 with has an output shaft 40 and three countershafts each with a pair of clutches C1, C2; C3, C4 and C5, C6, a pair of gear wheels 41, 42; 43, 44 and 45, 56 meshing with wheels 47, 48 fixed on the output shaft, and other wheels 32, 32a &c. meshing with wheels 31 on the input member 7. The arrangement provides five forward speeds and reverse. A rotor 90 receives fluid from a lubrication valve LR and conduit 92 and delivers a pressure through a conduit 94 to a spool 98 of a lock-up valve LU which, when the speed of the rotor 90 reaches a predetermined value, is raised to admit pressure fluid from a pump P to a conduit 29 leading through a lock-up inhibitor valve SV to the lock-up clutch. The clutches 01 ... C6 are controlled by spools 51a ... 56a actuated by solenoids 116a ... 116f connected to an electronic controller EC. During a shift, fluid flowing through an orifice 101 in a conduit 105 leading to the shift spools causes a pressure drop to be applied to a valve LUF whereby that valve is operated to dump fluid from the conduit 94 so that the lock-up clutch is released. Function summary.-A manual selector ERS may be positioned to select any ratio and the mechanism will then progress automatically through the lower ratios until the selected ratio is established, the lock-up clutch coming into engagement in each ratio or only in the selected ratio, depending on the setting of a switch LS. Should engine speed exceed a predetermined value while the lock-up clutch is engaged a valve (not shown) is opened to admit fluid to the retarder 57. The valve is closed on disengagement of the lock-up clutch. An override switch cuts out automatic operation and allows the manual selector to control operation of the solenoids 116a ... 116f directly. Control circuits.-A first clutch 110 comprising solid state logic components delivers output signals to amplifiers 111a ... 111f acting as drivers for the solenoids 116a &c., to a driver 112 for the solenoid 115 of the lock-up inhibitor valve SV, and to a logic unit 118 connected to a driver 119 for a solenoid controlling the retarder valve. A second circuit comprises speed switches 124b ... 124e providing inputs to the circuit 110 and controlling the speeds at which ratio shifts are made, and a speed switch 124a which prevents ratio reversal at road speeds above  m.p.h. These switches are operational amplifiers incorporating adjustable set-points and hysteresis, and input signals to them are obtained from a speed sensor PS at the output of the change-speed gear and an engine throttle position sensor TPS. A time delay device 122 prevents hunting. A third circuit comprises a speed sensor PT on the shaft 6 feeding signals to the logic unit 118. Other inputs to the circuit 110 are from the manual selector ERS, which is a multicontact switch, and the switch LS.