Christopher Alan Rhoades

US Patent:

8568271, Oct 29, 2013

Filed:

Apr 19, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/089664

Inventors:

Jason Stoller - Morton IL, US
Adam J. Vaccari - Peoria IL, US
Michael D Beyer - Chillicothe IL, US
Christopher A Rhoades - Metamora IL, US

Assignee:

Caterpillar Inc. - Peoria IL

International Classification:

B60K 31/00
B60K 31/04
F16H 61/662

US Classification:

477 42, 701 54

Abstract:

A method for preventing shift hunting in a powertrain including an engine and a transmission having a variator, a first gearset, and a second gearset is disclosed. The method includes operating the engine at a first substantially constant speed, detecting a shift condition, and operating the engine at a second substantially constant speed as a function of detecting the shift condition. The second speed is different than the first speed.

US Patent:

20120065853, Mar 15, 2012

Filed:

Sep 10, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/879647

Inventors:

Jason Stoller - Morton IL, US
Adam J. Vaccari - Peoria IL, US
Michael D. Beyer - Chillicothe IL, US
Christopher A. Rhoades - Metamora IL, US

Assignee:

Caterpillar Inc. - Peoria IL

International Classification:

F16H 61/10

US Classification:

701 58

Abstract:

A method for preventing shift hunting in a powertrain is disclosed. The powertrain includes an engine and a transmission having a variator, a first gearset, and a second gearset. The engine is operated at a first substantially constant speed. A first transmission shift condition is detected. A desired transmission output torque is determined. The transmission is operated at a transmission torque different than the desired torque as a function of the first shift condition.

US Patent:

20120065854, Mar 15, 2012

Filed:

Sep 10, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/879719

Inventors:

Jason Stoller - Morton IL, US
Adam J. Vaccari - Peoria IL, US
Michael D. Beyer - Chillicothe IL, US
Christopher A. Rhoades - Metamora IL, US

Assignee:

Caterpillar Inc. - Peoria IL

International Classification:

F16H 61/10

US Classification:

701 60

Abstract:

A method for preventing shift hunting in a powertrain is disclosed. The powertrain includes an engine and a transmission having a variator, a first gearset, and a second gearset. The engine is operated at a first substantially constant speed. A first transmission shift condition is detected. One or more shift hunting prevention methods are selected as a function of operating parameters from a group of shift hunting prevention methods. The one or more shift hunting prevention methods are implemented as a function of detecting the first transmission shift condition.

US Patent:

20130325270, Dec 5, 2013

Filed:

May 31, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/485390

Inventors:

Michael Beyer - Chillicothe IL, US
Adam Vaccari - Peoria IL, US
Christopher Rhoades - Metamora IL, US
Adam Nackers - East Peoria IL, US
Brian Lister - Edwards IL, US
Mike Barngrover - Brimfield IL, US

Assignee:

CATERPILLAR INC. - Peoria IL

International Classification:

F16H 59/14
F16H 59/42
F16H 59/48
F16H 59/40

US Classification:

701 51

Abstract:

A method of controlling a transmission () for a machine is disclosed. The transmission includes a variator (). The transmission is operated in a first operating range (). It is determined whether a current speed ratio is within a first predetermined range of a speed ratio associated with a first synchronous point () lying between the first operating range () and the second operating range (). A desired speed ratio is determined and it is determined if the desired speed ratio is within a second predetermined range of the speed ratio. A shift between the first and second operating ranges () is prevented and the variator () is controlled to hold the current speed ratio if the desired speed ratio is within the second predetermined range or the rate of acceleration of the machine is below the threshold acceleration.

US Patent:

20130325271, Dec 5, 2013

Filed:

May 31, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/484632

Inventors:

Brian Lister - Edwards IL, US
Christopher Rhoades - Metamora IL, US
Michael Beyer - Chillicothe IL, US
Michael Barngrover - Brimfield IL, US

Assignee:

CATERPILLAR INC. - Peoria IL

International Classification:

G06F 7/00
B60W 10/101
B60W 30/00
B60W 10/06

US Classification:

701 54, 701 51

Abstract:

A transmission includes a transmission output speed (TOS) sensor providing a signal indicative of an output speed of the transmission. A controller estimates an actual torque output of the transmission and determines, in real time, a first TOS acceleration based on the signal provided by the transmission output speed sensor and a second TOS acceleration based on the actual torque estimation. The first and second accelerations are compared and a torque transient trigger is activated when the divergence exceeds a threshold value.

US Patent:

20130325272, Dec 5, 2013

Filed:

Jun 1, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/486123

Inventors:

Michael D. Beyer - Chillicothe IL, US
Chad T. Brickner - Aurora IL, US
Christopher Rhoades - Metamora IL, US

Assignee:

CATERPILLAR INC. - Peoria IL

International Classification:

G06F 7/00
B60W 10/101
B60W 30/00
B60W 10/06

US Classification:

701 54, 701 58, 701 60

Abstract:

A powertrain includes an engine, a transmission having a first input connected to an engine output shaft, and a variator. The variator includes a pump connected to the engine output shaft and a motor connected to a second input of the transmission. The pump has a variable setting that is determinable by a position of a pump actuator in response to a command signal. A controller associated is disposed to control operation of the variator, at least in part, by providing the command signal to the pump actuator. The command signal is determined based on an operator command and on a compensation term, which depends on a correlation function of a parameter related to the speed ratio between a pump speed and a motor speed and a flow characteristic of the pump actuator.