Method For Broadening The Function Of A Transmission Brake

Abstract

A method for controlling and regulating a transmission brake which, for the purpose of synchronization, determines a target rotational speed of a shaft that is to be synchronized on the basis of an actual rotational speed of a transmission shaft, and controls a transmission brake such that the determined target rotational speed is set for the shaft that is supposed to be synchronized. The transmission brake also carries out additional functions. These functions require no, or only minimal, additional hardware complexity in a cost-neutral way, but considerably increase the functional and practical value of the transmission brake. The comfort and speed of shifting operations, the protection, or as the case may be the detection of error states in sensors, clutch, main clutch, and motor control are improved, and undesirable transmission states avoided. It is also possible to account for and influence other conditions, such as the operation of ancillary devices.

1 - 16 . (canceled)  
   
   
       17 . A method for controlling and regulating a transmission brake in a transmission of a vehicle to carry out synchronization, a target rotational speed of a shaft, to be synchronized, is determined on a basis of an actual speed of a transmission shaft, and the transmission brake is controlled and regulated such that the determined target rotational speed is set for the shaft to be synchronized, and the transmission brake is further controlled and regulated to implement additional drive-train relevant functions, the method comprising the steps of: 
 taking into account a torque, dependent on inertial masses of ancillary devices connected to the transmission when controlling and regulating a braking torque; and    decelerating the ancillary devices, via the transmission brake, with an engaged clutch between a transmission idler gear and a transmission shaft.    
   
   
       18 . The method according to  claim 17 , further comprising the step of operating the transmission brake in a special mode to prevent unintentional coasting of the vehicle.  
   
   
       19 . The method according to  claim 18 , further comprising the step of employing the special mode to implement a function for rocking the vehicle out of ruts.  
   
   
       20 . The method according to  claim 17 , further comprising the step of at least partially compensating for a torque introduced into the transmission, through a main clutch located between the transmission and a vehicle drive motor, by controlling and regulating the transmission brake.  
   
   
       21 . The method according to  claim 20 , further comprising the step of at least partially compensating for a torque introduced in the transmission as a result of overshooting, during a rapid closure of the main clutch, torque being undesirably high and introduced via the main clutch, by a set braking torque of the transmission brake.  
   
   
       22 . The method according to  claim 17 , further comprising the step of eliminating tooth-on-tooth positions of the transmission by application of one of a constant torque and a pulsing braking torque from the transmission brake on a transmission shaft.  
   
   
       23 . The method according to  claim 17 , further comprising the step of at least one of checking a clutch path signal of the main clutch for plausibility and calibrating the clutch path signal of the main clutch by selective control and regulation of the transmission brake.  
   
   
       24 . The method according to  claim 23 , further comprising the step of at least one of calibrating the transmission brake by selective control of the torque transferred to the transmission input shaft, by the main clutch, and checking for plausibility a connection between an actuation signal of the transmission brake and the braking torque being set.  
   
   
       25 . The method according to  claim 17 , further comprising the step of at least one of checking the plausibility of a motor torque signal emitted by a motor control and calibrating the motor torque signal emitted by a motor control with the aid of a defined braking torque produced by the transmission brake.  
   
   
       26 . The method according  claim 17 , further comprising the step of determining if the transmission is in a neutral position by checking the targeted control of the transmission brake.  
   
   
       27 . The method according to  claim 17 , further comprising the step of taking into account a rotational speed difference, between the target rotational speed and an actual rotational speed of a braked transmission shaft, and at least one of a limiting value dependent on construction and operating conditions of the transmission brake, when setting at least one of a maximum allowable rotational speed gradient and a temperature limit value.  
   
   
       28 . The method according to  claim 17 , further comprising the step of controlling and regulating the braking torque depending on at least one of an inertial mass to be decelerated and a rotational energy to be reduced.  
   
   
       29 . The method according to  claim 17 , further comprising the step of controlling and regulating the braking torque depending on at least one parameter interpreted as a standard value for at least one of a desired shift speed and a certain shifting comfort.  
   
   
       30 . The method according to  claim 17 , further comprising the step of taking into account at least one of the known torque inertia of masses to be braked, the existing rotational speed gradients on the transmission brake, a natural rotational speed gradient of the masses to be braked, and a temperature of the transmission when setting the transmission torque.  
   
   
       31 . The method according to  claim 17 , further comprising the step of at least one of engaging or maintaining engagement of a main clutch with slippage, under motor operating conditions in which, the motor provides a braking torque and with disengagement of the main clutch, the transmission brake would be activated, taking into account the motor braking torque introduced into the transmission via the main clutch when determining the transmission braking torque.  
   
   
       32 . A method for synchronizing a transmission and implementing additional drive-train relevant functions by controlling and regulating a transmission brake, the method comprising the steps of: 
 detecting an actual speed of a transmission shaft;    determining a target rotational speed of a transmission shaft to be synchronized based on the actual speed of the transmission shaft;    determining a torque, which is dependent on inertial masses of one or more ancillary devices connected to the transmission;    at least partially engaging and disengaging the transmission brake to adjust the transmission shaft to the determined target rotational speed depending the actual speed of the transmission shaft, with the target rotational speed of the transmission shaft to be synchronized and the torque, which is dependent on the inertial masses of the one or more ancillary devices connected to the transmission; and    controlling the one or more ancillary devices, connected to the transmission, by at least partially engaging and disengaging the transmission brake.