Patent ID: 8914186

Claim:
A method of controlling thermal loading in a multi-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT) that is paired with an internal combustion engine in a vehicle, the method comprising: detecting via a controller operation of the vehicle; ascertaining via the controller a degree of thermal loading on the DCT; selecting via the controller a remedial action corresponding to the ascertained degree of thermal loading; and activating via the controller the selected remedial action such that the thermal loading on the DCT is reduced; wherein said ascertaining the degree of thermal loading includes identifying a subsystem of the DCT that is impacted by the thermal loading by detecting via a plurality of sensors the thermal loading on a controls subsystem and a clutch subsystem of the vehicle; and wherein the controls subsystem includes at least one of a power module, a fluid pump, an accumulator, and a control fluid, and the clutch subsystem includes an odd-ratio clutch and an even-ratio clutch.