Machine element or mechanism – Gearing – Interchangeably locked
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-15
2001-12-11
Marmor, Charles A. (Department: 3681)
Machine element or mechanism
Gearing
Interchangeably locked
C074S473120, C074S089140, C324S207200
Reexamination Certificate
active
06327927
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to motor vehicles in general, and more particularly to improvements in power trains for use in motor vehicles. Still more particularly, the invention relates to improvements in arrangements for actuating or operating automated torque transmitting systems (such as friction clutches or hydrokinetic torque converters with lockup or bypass clutches) and/or automated transmissions (hereinafter called gearboxes) in the power trains of motor vehicles.
It is known to operate or actuate an automated gearbox or an automated clutch by a control unit which receives signals from one or more sensors, electronic circuits and/or other monitoring means and transmits signals to one or more actuators which directly actuate or operate a gearbox to select a particular gear ratio and/or to shift into a selected gear ratio; the same actuator or additional actuator(s) can be utilized as a means for automatically selecting the. torque to be transmitted by an automated clutch or another automated torque transmitting system between a prime mover (such as an internal combustion engine or a hybrid prime mover in a motor vehicle) and the input element of a gearbox in the power train of a motor vehicle. The connection between one or more actuators and the actuated part(s) of a gearbox and/or a clutch can include one or more driving units. For example, the means for actuating or operating an automated gearbox can comprise a control unit (such as a computerized electronic circuit), a first actuator which operates a gear ratio selecting component of the gearbox by way of a first driving unit, and a second actuator which operates or actuates, by way of a second driving unit, a component which shifts the gearbox into a selected ratio. One and the same component of the automated gearbox can be used to first select a given gear ratio and to thereupon shift the gearbox into the thus selected gear ratio.
An actuator of the above outlined character can be a hydraulically operated actuator. A drawback of such clutch or gearbox actuating means is that the hydraulically operated actuator or actuators occupy much space and comprise a large number of parts. This contributes to the cost and bulk of the clutch and/or gearbox, to the cost and bulk of the actuating means for the clutch and/or gearbox, and to the cost and bulk of the entire power train. As a rule, hydraulically operated actuator comprise accumulators for pressurized fluids, numerous valves, numerous conduits, several cylinder and piston assemblies and/or other components or constituents.
Another drawback of heretofore known power trains which comprise automated torque transmitting systems and/or automated gearboxes is that the sensors which they employ to monitor the speed, acceleration, distances covered and/or other parameters which are to be considered for automatic shifting of a gearbox and/or for automatic selection of torque to be transmitted by an automated clutch are too bulky and/or unreliable and/or insufficiently sensitive for utilization in such power trains.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
An object of the invention is to provide the power train of a motor vehicle with novel and improved (such as compact, simple and inexpensive) actuating means for one or more automated parts of the power train.
Another object of the invention is to provide a power train with novel and improved means for actuating (such as selecting a particular gear ratio and shifting into the selected gear ratio) an automated gearbox and/or an automated torque transmitting system, e.g., a friction clutch or a hydrokinetic torque converter between a combustion engine or another prime mover and an automated or manually actuatable gearbox.
A further object of the invention is to provide a power train which is designed to simplify the tasks of the operator of a motor vehicle and which contributes to the comfort and safety of the occupant(s) of the motor vehicle.
An additional object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved automated gearbox which can be utilized in the above outlined power train.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved combination of an automated gearbox and/or an automated torque transmitting system and the actuating means therefor.
A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved (particularly compact, simple, reliable and inexpensive) power train which can be utilized with advantage in existing makes of motor vehicles.
Another object of the invention is to provide novel and improved signal generating means for use in the above outlined power train.
An additional object of the invention is to provide novel and improved transmissions for use between one or more actuators and the mobile component(s) of an automated gearbox and/or an automated torque transmitting system in the power train of a motor vehicle, such as a passenger car or a truck.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a motor vehicle which embodies the above outlined power train.
A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved method of operating or actuating an automated torque transmitting system and/or an automatic or automated gearbox in the power train of a motor vehicle.
Another object of the invention is to provide novel and improved velocity monitoring and indicating sensor means for use in the above outlined actuating or operating means for automated constituents of power trains in motor vehicles.
An additional object of the invention is to provide novel and improved actuators for use in the above outlined actuating means for automated clutches and/or gearboxes in the power trains of motor vehicles.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved method of operating or actuating an automated gearbox and/or an automated torque transmitting system in the power train of a motor vehicle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a power train which can be utilized with advantage in a motor vehicle and comprises a prime mover (such as a combustion engine or a hybrid prime mover), an automatically operable gearbox having a plurality of gear ratios (such as neutral, reverse and two or more forward gear ratios), means (e.g., a friction clutch of a hydrokinetic torque converter with a bypass or lockup clutch) for transmitting torque between the prime mover and the gearbox, and means for operating the gearbox. The operating means comprises a signal receiving and signal transmitting control unit, monitoring means including at least one sensor arranged to transmit signals to the control unit, and actuating means including at least one actuator which is responsive to signals from the control unit to select gear ratios and to shift the gearbox into selected gear ratios. The at least one actuator includes first and second driving units, a first transmission arranged to transmit motion from the first driving unit to a gear ratio selecting first component of the gearbox, and a second transmission interposed between the second driving unit and a second component forming part of and arranged to shift the gearbox into a selected ratio, e.g., the ratio selected by the first component of the automated transmission.
The monitoring means can further comprise at least one circuit (e.g., an electronic circuit for the prime mover) which also serves to transmit signals to the control means.
At least one of the transmissions can constitute a single-stage or a multi-stage transmission. For example, at least one of the transmissions can include one or more worm gearings, spur gearings, bevel gearings and hypoid gearings.
The at least one actuator can further include a housing or casing and at least a portion of at least one of the two driving units can be confined in such housing. The housing can further accommodate at least a portion of that transmission which is driven by the at least one driving unit. In addition to, or in lieu of at least a portion of at least one of the driving units and at least a portion of
Deimel Andreas
Rogg Andreas
Darby & Darby
LuK Getriebe-Systeme GmbH
Marmor Charles A.
Parekh Ankur
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