Patent ID: 8206253

Claim:
A method for engaging a hydro-mechanical transmission ( 10 ) at startup, the hydro-mechanical transmission ( 10 ) having a hydrostatic transmission including: a first hydrostatic unit (CU); a second hydrostatic unit (RU) in fluid communication with the first hydrostatic unit (CU); a mechanical transmission ( 30 ) having a planetary gear system ( 32 ) including a first torque-coupling device (C 1 ), a second torque-coupling device (C 2 ), a third torque-coupling device (C 3 ) and a fourth torque-coupling device (C 4 ); a first element (S 1 ) coupled to an input shaft ( 12 ) and driven thereby; a second element (R 2 ) in driving engagement with the second hydrostatic unit (RU); a third element ( 28 ) selectively coupled to the first hydrostatic unit (CU) by the first torque-coupling device (C 1 ), a fourth element (S 2 ) selectively coupled to the first hydrostatic unit (CU) by the second torque-coupling device (C 2 ), the fourth element (S 2 ) drivingly coupled to the second element (R 2 ); a fifth element (S 3 ) coupled to an output shaft ( 46 ), the fifth element (S 3 ) being selectively coupled to the fourth element (S 2 ) by the fourth torque-coupling device (C 4 ), and a sixth element (R 3 ) selectively coupled to ground by a reverse brake ( 48 ) the method comprising the steps of: a.) engaging one or more of the torque-coupling devices (C 3 and/or 48 ) to stop the third element ( 28 ) thereby forcing the first torque-coupling device (C 1 ) speed to zero and causing a second element (R 2 ) speed (and therefore RU speed) to increase; b.) when the second element (R 2 ) speed is fast enough, triggering a second hydrostatic unit (RU) closed-loop control with a target of zero degrees (CU speed of zero); c.) when the first hydrostatic unit (CU) speed and first torque-coupling device (C 1 ) speed are near zero engaging the first torque-coupling device (C 1 ); d.) disengaging the one or more torque-coupling devices (C 3 and/or 48 ) and stopping the closed-loop control; e.) ramping the second hydrostatic unit (RU) down until the first hydrostatic unit (CU) speed is below a negative threshold; f.) ramping the second hydrostatic unit (RU) up until the first hydrostatic unit (CU) reaches a sufficient positive speed; and g.) ramping the second hydrostatic unit (RU) back to zero so gear can be engaged.