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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Control of a vehicle automatic transmission

Patent ·
OSTI ID:5819690

This patent describes a vehicle having vehicle brake means, an engine provided with engine output control means having an idle position, an automatic transmission comprising a torque converter having a turbine, a multiple-stage transmission gear mechanism connected with the turbine of the torque converter and having a neutral gear stage, a first gear stage and at least one higher gear stage. It also includes a gear stage selecting means for selecting one of the gear states, and a shift lever having a neutral range and at least one running range for operating the gear stage selecting means so that the neutral gear stage is selected when the shift lever is in the neutral range and one of the first and higher gear stages is selected when the shift lever is in the running range. The improvement consists of a shift position detecting means for detecting that the shift lever is in the running range, engine idle detecting means for detecting that the engine output control means is in the idle position, vehicle stop detecting means for detecting that the vehicle is substantially stopped, vehicle brake detecting means for detecting that the vehicle brake means is engaged. There is also a control means responsive to output signals from the detecting means to operate the gear stage selecting means when the shift lever is in the running range and the vehicle is stopped so that the gear mechanism is shifted to the higher gear stage in an instance where the engine output control means is in the idle position.

Assignee:
Mazda Motor Corp., Hiroshima
Patent Number(s):
US 4694709
OSTI ID:
5819690
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English