Patent ID: 8726754

Claim:
A method of reversing a driving direction of a vehicle, designed as a work machine, from a first driving direction to an opposite second driving direction, the vehicle being equipped with a hydrodynamic torque converter with a bypass clutch and a transmission for shifting from the first driving direction to the second driving direction, the bypass clutch being engageable in order to directly connect an input drive of the hydrodynamic torque converter to an output drive of the hydrodynamic torque converter, and the bypass clutch being disengageable in order to separate a direct connection between the input drive of the hydrodynamic torque converter and the output drive of the hydrodynamic torque converter, and the driving direction being redirected from a driving speed, in the first driving direction, to a driving speed, in the second driving direction, the method comprising the steps of: disengaging the bypass clutch; disengaging a previously engaged first driving direction clutch; driving the vehicle in the first driving direction; engaging a second driving direction clutch, for driving the vehicle in the second driving direction; reducing a speed of the vehicle in the first driving direction and subsequently accelerating a speed of the vehicle in the second driving direction, and following conclusion of the reversal of the driving direction of the vehicle, upon desired torque being present in the clutches, again engaging the bypass clutch.