Abstract:
It is known for a central electronic control unit in a motor vehicle to exchange data through a serial data bus with other control units, e.g. those for fuel injection, ignition timing, and braking. Prior art systems transmitted these data automatically, regardless of whether all these parameters were relevant to the actual operating state of the vehicle, thereby resulting in heavy loading of the serial bus. The present invention determines which parameters are irrelevant to the current operating state and suppresses transmission, or even calculation, of these irrelevant parameters.
Abstract:
An engine speed control system for controlling the engine speed of an engine (30) for driving an industrial vehicle includes a control unit (50, 70, 85, 95) provided with an internal memory (72) and a first control system which reads a desired engine speed corresponding to an angular displacement of the accelerator pedal (44) detected by an accelerator pedal displacement detecting means (52) from the memory (72) when the running speed of the vehicle is not higher than a maximum running speed set by a maximum running speed setting means (56, 58, 76) connected to the control unit (50, 70, 85, 95) and controls an actuator (38) so as to regulate the opening of a throttle valve (36) of the carburetor (32) such that the engine speed coincides with the desired engine speed read from the memory (72), and a second control system that reads an upper limit desired engine speed for the engine (30) corresponding to the preset maximum running speed when the running speed reaches the preset maximum running speed and controls the actuator (38) so as to regulate the opening of the throttle valve (36) such that the engine speed coincides with the upper limit desired engine speed read from the memory (72).
Abstract:
A throttle opening limiting system is provided for a marine propulsion unit comprising a throttle, a manually operated throttle control device and an intermediate linkage arrangement operatively connecting the manually operated throttle control device to the throttle. The intermediate linkage arrangement further comprises a means for setting a distinct and different maximum obtainable throttle opening position for each of a forward, a neutral and a reverse operative state of the marine propulsion unit. The throttle opening limiting system is fully openable in the forward operative state, is limited to an intermediate position in the reverse operative state, and is limited to a smaller opening position in the neutral operative state than the intermediate position of the reverse operative state. The throttle opening limiting system is capable of preventing overspeed engine rotation in both the neutral and reverse transmission operative states, while nevertheless securing the necessary thrust required for proper running of the craft in the reverse operative state.
Abstract:
An electronic control for the automatic transmission of a motor vehicle receives input signal in digital, analog, and pulsed form from signal generating devices responsive to operating conditions in the apparatus, processes them in accordance with a stored program and provides output signals to operate various tranducers. The electronic control is embodied in a stack of customized circuit boards. Each board is connected to a control bus (for information exchange between boards) and to an I/O signal bus (for information exchange between the apparatus and the electronic control). A connector board is connected to an electric power supply, to the signal generating devices, to the transducers and to visual display devices. A CPU (central processing unit) board protects against data loss in low/off power conditions. An input signal board employs high-speed logic circuits for measuring time length between leading edges of pulsed input signals to ascertain magnitude and rate of change of the rotational speed of certain components and actuates clutch solenoids accordingly. An output signal board embodies improved transducer-drive circuits for the clutch solenoids.
Abstract:
A diagnostic apparatus for a continuously variable transmission the speed ratio and/or the rate of variation in the speed ratio of which are controlled by a shift-regulating device controlled by command signals from a control system. The diagnostic apparatus, which checks if the speed ratio is normally controlled, comprises: a detecting device for detecting an actual speed ratio and/or an actual rate of variation in the speed ratio; a memory storing data for determining normal ranges of the speed ratio and/or normal ranges of the rate of variation in the speed ratio, the normal ranges corresponding to shifting conditions of the transmission which are established by the shift-regulating device according to the command signals; and a judging device for selecting one of the normal ranges of the speed ratio, and/or one of the normal ranges of the rate of variation in the speed ratio, based on the command signals, the judging device checking whether the detected actual speed ratio and/or the detected actual rate of variation in the speed ratio fall within the selected normal ranges.
Abstract:
A throttle valve assembly for displacing the plungers of at least two contiguous throttle valves in correspondence with the degree of throttle opening of an engine includes a first cam rotatably mounted on a stationary bracket fixed to the throttle valve bodies and having a cam face for displacing the plunger of the first throttle valve and an axially extending boss, a second cam rotatably mounted on the bracket and having a cam face for displacing the plunger of the second throttle valve and an axially extending boss, the first and second cams being coupled via coupling means formed on the opposing bosses, and a cable operatively associated with the engine torque demand for rotating the cams. The cam faces of the cams are formed to have a shape capable of providing the desired throttle pressure characteristic, the shapes of the cam faces differing from each other in order to obtain the optimum speed-change performance.
Abstract:
A control (100) for positioning and locking the auxiliary transmission section (13) of a compound change gear transmission (11) in neutral is provided. The control includes a selector switch (132) for activating or deactivating the control and a monitoring device (42) for sensing if the main transmission section (12) is in neutral. The control, once activated, will retain the auxiliary transmission section in neutral until the selector switch is switched to a deactivated position (M) simultaneously with the main transmission section shifted to neutral.
Abstract:
Apparatus (19) for sensing forces (29) such as in a power transmission apparatus (10) and magnifying the sensed forces suitably to provide an output (28) such as for use in controlling associated equipment (12, 18) to limit the forces. The sensing apparatus (19) includes a flexible beam (30) having a first portion (34) which is fixedly retained as to a fixed portion (23, 24) of the wall member defining the deflectible portion (22). Beam (30) further includes a second portion (33) which is connected to a deflectible wall portion (22) of the wall member (21) which is deflected as a function of force transmission through the apparatus. The flexible beam (30) is provided with a distal arm (31) which is swung by the deflection of the beam to provide an output signal (28) at the distal end (32) of the arm so as to provide a preselected magnification of the deflection of the deflectible wall portion (22). A stabilizer (57 ) is provided for stabilizing movement of the arm (31) by the deflectible beam (30).
Abstract:
A gear shift control system for an automatic transmission comprises an air flow sensor for sensing the quantity of air taken into an internal combustion engine and supplying a corresponding electrical signal to a differentiator which provides a derivative of the sensed intake air quantity. A vehicle speed sensor senses the speed of rotation of the engine crankshaft to generate a corresponding signal. A gear shift decision circuit is receptive of signals from the air flow sensor and vehicle speed sensor to define a gear shift control line on a two-dimensional coordinate system as a function of the received input signals on respective coordinate axes. The derivative of the sensed air quantity is used to shift the gear shift control line to a higher speed side of the coordinate system to permit the transmission to effect downshift operation.
Abstract:
A guidance control system is disclosed for a traction vehicle arranged to be displaced along a guide path which consists of a plurality of closed loop vertical antennae embedded beneath the surface along the path of travel. The vehicle is in two way radio communication with wayside stations equipment. Destination information in binary coded form is encoded on the vehicle and sent to the proximate loop antenna; the fact that this coded information is received at a particular segmented antenna at once identifies the location of the vehicle as well as conveys the destination intelligence. A central processor, receiving the location and destination information, of this and all other vehicles, serves as a master control to discipline each vehicle from one segmented loop to the next. From the central processor the wayside station sends traction signals to each segmented antenna loop respectively. Additionally, the fact that traction signals are sent to the vehicle over a single segmented loop at a time, establishes a magnetic field over a narrow region, and a dual antennae arrangement on the vehicle senses the magnetic field to produce error signals to steer the vehicle with precision back to the guide path.