Machine element or mechanism – Rotary member or shaft indexing – e.g. – tool or work turret – Preselected indexed position
Patent
1990-09-27
1992-06-23
Wright, Dirk
Machine element or mechanism
Rotary member or shaft indexing, e.g., tool or work turret
Preselected indexed position
74877, 36442604, F16H 5924
Patent
active
051233010
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method of shifting gears in a vehicle automatic transmission in which the gears are shifted according to at least first and second different control modes.
A method for shifting gears in a vehicle having automatic transmission has been proposed, in which the gears may be changed either according to a "SPORT" mode or a so-called "ECONOMY" mode. In the SPORT mode the gears are shifted so as to give good acceleration. In the ECONOMY mode, the gears are shifted so as to give more economical fuel consumption. The vehicle is provided with a manually operable switch for changing over from one mode to the other, and located on the dashboard, for example. The driver can select a particular driving mode according to his or her requirements.
While this system has been successful to some extent, it is inconvenient in that the driver must operate the switch in order to change from one mode to the other. In a vehicle having automatic transmission it is desirable for the minimum action on the part of the driver to be required.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the invention is a method for changing gears which enables a change-over from one mode to the other in response to movements of the accelerator pedal.
The known ECONOMY mode for effecting gear changes, although intended to give good fuel consumption, is not entirely "consumption optimized". The reason for this is that if the gears are changed solely so as to give the minimum fuel consumption, the vehicle can seem very sluggish to drive from the driver's viewpoint. The known ECONOMY mode is therefore a compromise between optimum fuel economy and reasonable "drivability". For example, it is designed to enable the driver to achieve reasonable acceleration without the need to change to SPORT mode. In fact some production vehicles are not provided with the facility to change to SPORT mode. Since, in the present invention changes from one mode to the other are effected automatically by "foot movement" it is possible for one of the control modes to be a true "fuel-optimized" mode and the other to be the standard SPORT mode. The "fuel-optimized" mode can be used under steady state driving conditions (and is hereinafter referred to as the "steady-state driving mode") and can be even more economical than the known ECONOMY mode in terms of gasoline consumption because when the driver wants to accelerate, he can do so by switching to SPORT mode through suitable action on the accelerator pedal. Thus, the drivability and automotive dynamics are not impaired.
Thus, in the preferred embodiment of the invention the first control mode provides for shifting the gears primarily to achieve minimal fuel consumption. The gears are shifted mainly on the basis of consumption optimized shift curve characteristics which are derived for the particular engine. Departures from these characteristics in order to improve drivability may be necessary under certain driving conditions. The second control mode is preferably provided for shifting the gears primarily to achieve maximum acceleration, e.g. the standard SPORT mode.
The changeover from one control mode to another may be effected in dependance on the speed of movement of the accelerator pedal. For example a changeover may be effected when the speed of pedal movement in the positive direction exceeds a predetermined limit, i.e. the driver presses the accelerator pedal down at more than a predetermined speed.
Alternatively the changeover may be effected when the accelerator pedal is moved beyond a predetermined position, e.g. the driver presses the accelerator pedal down past a certain point.
The method also includes effecting changeover from the second control mode to the first control mode when the accelerator travels back a predetermined amount, for example when released, but only if the accelerator pedal does not subsequently travel forward at more than a predetermined rate during a predetermined time of acceleration after the accelerator pedal had moved back. However,
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Hagele Karl-Heinz
Zieher Peter
Robert & Bosch GmbH
Striker Michael J.
Wright Dirk
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