POWER TRAIN CONTROL SYSTEM

• Main Author: SCHAEFER R,US
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 10.04.1973
• Subjects: BLASTING; ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GEARING; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVEFUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; HEATING; LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS; LIGHTING; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; MOTOR VEHICLES; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL; TRAILERS; TRANSPORTING; WEAPONS

A control system is shown for a multispeed forward and reverse track-laying vehicle power train, the control system having a manual forward and reverse control for effecting manual shifts between forward and reverse, a manual drive range control and an automatic drive range control for effecting manual and automatic drive range shifting operation and a steering control for effecting s steering operation. The manual forward and reverse control provides selection between forward and reverse drive in the lowest drive range and prevents such shifting by the operator in all of the higher drive ranges. The manual drive range control provides selection between the drive ranges with the selected drive range being established immediately on an upshift and by speed governed automatic shifting operation on a downshift. The automatic drive range control provides automatic shifting using separate speed controlled upshift biases, an engine torque demand controlled upshift inhibiting bias and an engine torque demand controlled downshift bias. Both the manual forward and reverse control and the manual drive range control are electrically activated and in the event there is an interruption in electrical power, the directional drive selected by the manual forward and reverse control is maintained while the range control, if under manual control, is automatically conditioned for automatic control to maintain power train control. A sequence control is effective to disengage the range drive to the load in the lowest drive range during shifting between forward and reverse to provide for engagement of the directional drive under no-load conditions. The steer control operates on a hydrostatic unit to control steering by controlling hydrostatic pump displacement while assuring straight vehicle no-drift motion when there is no steer demand. The controlling force effecting this pump displacement control is varied according to hydrostatic pump output to meet the varying steer load demands in both directions of steer. There is also provided a stroke or pump displacement limiter for limiting pump displacement regardless of the steer demanded by the operator to prevent pump overload. Hydrostatic system pressure is controlled by a pressure relief control in accordance with engine torque demand and vehicle speed to both prevent overloading of the hydrostatic pump and limit the degree of steer bias. The steer control signals the range control to inhibit automatic range shifting during steering operation. The hydrodynamic torque converter in the power train has a lockup drive which is normally disengaged on range shifting and is held engaged during low speed operation in each range to provide for utilization of vehicle momentum to provide power for steering while preventing engine stall.