초록 ▼

A system for protecting one or more drive line components from excessive inertial torque includes a torque converter disposed between an internal combustion engine and a transmission coupled thereto, wherein the torque converter is responsive to computer control to operate in a lockup mode to direct

A system for protecting one or more drive line components from excessive inertial torque includes a torque converter disposed between an internal combustion engine and a transmission coupled thereto, wherein the torque converter is responsive to computer control to operate in a lockup mode to directly couple the engine output shaft to the transmission input shaft and otherwise in a torque converter mode. Under conditions wherein drive line acceleration exceeds an acceleration threshold, wherein the acceleration threshold preferably corresponds to the weakest of the drive line components, a control computer is operable to force the torque converter to operate in a torque converter mode of operation to thereby electronically disengage direct connection between the engine and the transmission and then to modify fueling to thereby protect the various drive line components from damage due to excessive engine inertial torque. In an alternate embodiment, a control computer is operable to compute or otherwise estimate engine output torque and control the torque converter as just described if/when the estimated engine output torque exceeds a torque threshold corresponding to an input torque capacity of one or more of the drivetrain components.

대표청구항 ▼

A system for protecting one or more drive line components from excessive inertial torque includes a torque converter disposed between an internal combustion engine and a transmission coupled thereto, wherein the torque converter is responsive to computer control to operate in a lockup mode to direct

A system for protecting one or more drive line components from excessive inertial torque includes a torque converter disposed between an internal combustion engine and a transmission coupled thereto, wherein the torque converter is responsive to computer control to operate in a lockup mode to directly couple the engine output shaft to the transmission input shaft and otherwise in a torque converter mode. Under conditions wherein drive line acceleration exceeds an acceleration threshold, wherein the acceleration threshold preferably corresponds to the weakest of the drive line components, a control computer is operable to force the torque converter to operate in a torque converter mode of operation to thereby electronically disengage direct connection between the engine and the transmission and then to modify fueling to thereby protect the various drive line components from damage due to excessive engine inertial torque. In an alternate embodiment, a control computer is operable to compute or otherwise estimate engine output torque and control the torque converter as just described if/when the estimated engine output torque exceeds a torque threshold corresponding to an input torque capacity of one or more of the drivetrain components.