There are disclosed an automatic gear change control apparatus for an automobile and a method of controlling such apparatus. A rotational output of an internal combustion engine is connected to drive wheels of the automobile and a load device.
When a gear shifting-up of an automatic transmission is to be effected, the load applied by the load device is increased, or the load is connected to an output rotation shaft of the engine via a selectively-connecting device, thereby reducing the rotational speed of the output rotation shaft of the engine to a required level.
??????????? In this project, the push button is used to activate/deactivate the solenoid valve. The switch is ?ON? at the time of gear changing; the solenoid valve is activated, so that the compressed goes to the pneumatic cylinder. Then the compressed air passes through the tube, and then pushes the pneumatic cylinder, so that the gear is changed from one speed to another speed with the help of gear box arrangement.
A method of controlling a gear change of an automobile, said automobile comprising an internal combustion engine; an automatic transmission connected to an output rotation shaft of said engine so as to transmit the rotational output of said engine to drive wheels of said automobile through any selected one of a plurality of gear ratios; a load device selectively connectable to said output rotation shaft of said engine via selectively-connecting means; and means for generating a gear change control signal for selecting one of said gear ratios of said automatic transmission in accordance with one of operational conditions of said automobile and said engine said method comprising the steps of controlling said selectively-connecting means when said gear change signal-generating means generates the control signal for shifting up the gear in said automatic transmission, in such a manner that said selectively-connecting means connects said load device to said output rotation shaft of said engine.
An automatic gear change control apparatus for an automobile, said automobile comprising an internal combustion engine; an automatic transmission connected to an output rotation shaft of said engine so as to transmit the rotational output of said engine to drive wheels of said automobile through any selected one of a plurality of gear ratios.
The apparatus comprising a load device for applying a load; means for connecting said load device to said output rotation shaft of said engine and for generating a gear change control signal for selecting one of said gear ratios of said automatic transmission in accordance with one of operational conditions of said automobile and said engine; and load control means for increasing the load of said load device when said gear change signal-generating means generates the control signal for shifting up the gear in said automatic transmission.
1.1 INTRODUCTION TO PNEUMATICS.
Pneumatics is a section of technology that deals with the study and application of pressurized gas to effect mechanical motion.
Pneumatic systems are extensively used in industry, where factories are commonly plumbed with compressed air or compressed inert gases. This is because a centrally located and electrically powered compressor that powers cylinders and other pneumatic devices through solenoid valves is often able to provide motive power in a cheaper, safer, more flexible, and more reliable way than a large number of electric motors andactuators.
Pneumatics also has applications in dentistry, construction, mining, and other areas.
Pneumatic systems in fixed installations such as factories use compressed air because a sustainable supply can be made by compressing atmospheric air. The air usually has moisture removed and a small quantity of oil added at the compressor, to avoid corrosion of mechanical components and to lubricate them.
Factory-plumbed, pneumatic-power users need not worry about poisonous leakages as the gas is commonly just air. Smaller or stand-alone systems can use other compressed gases which are an asphyxiation hazard, such as nitrogen - often referred to as OFN (oxygen-free nitrogen), when supplied in cylinders.
Any compressed gas other than air is an asphyxiation hazard - including nitrogen, which makes up 77% of air. Compressed oxygen (approx. 23% of air) would not asphyxiate, but it would be an extreme fire hazard, so is never used in pneumatically powered devices.
Portable pneumatic tools and small vehicles such as Robot Wars machines and other hobbyist applications are often powered by compressed carbon dioxide because containers designed to hold it such as soda stream canisters and fire extinguishers are readily available, and the phase change between liquid and gas makes it possible to obtain a larger volume of compressed gas from a lighter container than compressed air would allow. Carbon dioxide is an asphyxiant and can also be a freezing hazard when vented inappropriately.
Both pneumatics and hydraulics are applications of fluid power. Pneumatics uses an easily compressible gas such as air or a suitable pure gas, while hydraulics uses relatively incompressible liquid media such as oil. Most industrial pneumatic applications use pressures of about 80 to 100 pounds per square inch (550 to 690 kPa). Hydraulics applications commonly use from 1,000 to 5,000 psi (6.9 to 34 MPa), but specialized applications may exceed 10,000 psi (69 MPa).
Advantages of pneumatics
Simplicity of Design And Control
Machines are easily designed using standard cylinders & other components. Machines operate by simple ON - OFF type control.
Reliability
1.Pneumatic systems tend to have long operating lives and require very little maintenance.
2.Because gas is compressible, the equipment is less likely to be damaged by shock. The gas in pneumatics absorbs excessive force, whereas the fluid of hydraulics directly transfers force.
Storage
Compressed gas can be stored, allowing the use of machines when electrical power is lost.
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Safety
1.Very low chance of fire (compared to hydraulic oil).
2.Machines can be designed to be overload safe.
Advantages of hydraulics
1.Liquid (as a gas is also a 'fluid') does not absorb any of the supplied energy.
2.Capable of moving much higher loads and providing much higher forces due to the incompressibility.
The hydraulic working fluid is basically incompressible, leading to a minimum of spring action. When hydraulic fluid flow is stopped, the slightest motion of the load releases the pressure on the load; there is no need to "bleed off" pressurized air to release the pressure on the load.
Pneumatic logic systems (sometimes called air logic control) are often used to control industrial processes, consisting of primary logic units such as:
? And Units
? Or Units
? 'Relay or Booster' Units
? Latching Units
? 'Timer' Units
? Sorteberg relay
? Fluidics amplifiers with no moving parts other than the air itself
Pneumatic logic is a reliable and functional control method for industrial processes. In recent years, these systems have largely been replaced by electrical control systems, due to the smaller size and lower cost of electrical components. Pneumatic devices are still used in processes where compressed air is the only energy source available or upgrade cost, safety, and other considerations outweigh the advantage of modern digital control.
1.2 INTRODUCTION TO AUTOMATIC GEAR CHANGERS
An automatic transmission (also called automatic gearbox, or "Straight shift"') is one type of motor vehicle transmission that can automatically change gear ratios as the vehicle moves, freeing the driver from having to shift gears manually. Most automatic transmissions have a defined set of gear ranges, often with a parking pawl feature that locks the output shaft of the transmission.
Similar but larger devices are also used for heavy-duty commercial and industrial vehicles and equipment. Some machines with limited speed ranges or fixed engine speeds, such as some forklifts and lawn mowers, only use a torque converter to provide a variable gearing of the engine to the wheels.
Besides automatics, there are also other types of automated transmissions such as continuous variable transmissions (CVTs) and semi-automatic transmissions, that free the driver from having to shift gears manually, by using the transmission's computer to change gear, if for example the driver were redlining the engine. Despite superficial similarity to other transmissions, automatic transmissions differ significantly in internal operation and driver's feel from semi-automatics and CVTs. An automatic uses a torque converterinstead of clutch to manage the connection between the transmission gearing and the engine. In contrast, a CVT uses a belt or other torque transmission schema to allow an "infinite" number of gear ratios instead of a fixed number of gear ratios. A semi-automatic retains a clutch like a manual transmission, but controls the clutch throughelectrohydraulic means.
A conventional manual transmission is frequently the base equipment in a car, with the option being an automated transmission such as a conventional automatic, semi-automatic, or CVT. The ability to shift gears manually, often via paddle shifters, can also be found on certain automated transmissions (manumatics such as Tiptronic), semi-automatics (BMW SMG), and continuous variable transmissions (CVTs) (such as Lineartronic).
The first automatic transmissions were developed by General Motors during the 1930s and introduced in the 1940 Oldsmobile as the "Hydra-Matic" transmission. They were incorporated into GM-built tanks during WW-II and, after the war, GM marketed them as being "battle-tested."
Most cars sold in North America since the 1950s have been available with an automatic transmission. Conversely, automatic transmission is less popular in Europe, with 80% of drivers opting for manual transmission.[1] In some Asian markets and in Australia, automatic transmissions have become very popular since the 1990s.
Vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions are less complex to drive. Consequently, in some jurisdictions, drivers who have passed their driving test in a vehicle with an automatic transmission will not be licensed to drive a manual transmission vehicle. Conversely, a manual license will allow the driver to drive both manual and automatic vehicles. Examples of driving license restrictions areCroatia, Dominican Republic, Israel, United Kingdom, some states in Australia, France, Portugal, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Ireland, Belgium, Germany, Pakistan, the Netherlands, Sweden, Austria,Norway, Hungary, South Africa, Trinidad and Tobago, Japan, China, Hong Kong, Macau, Mauritius, South Korea, Romania, Singapore, Philippines, United Arab Emirates, India, Estonia, Finland, Saudi Arabia (in March 2012), Switzerland, Slovenia, Republic of Ireland and New Zealand (Restricted licence only).
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Conventionally, in order to select the transmission operating mode, the driver moves a selection lever located either on the steering column or on the floor (as with a manual on the floor, except that most automatic selectors on the floor don't move in the same type of pattern as a manual lever; most automatic levers only move vertically). In order to select modes, or to manually select specific gear ratios, the driver must push a button in (called the shift lock button) or pull the handle (only on column mounted shifters) out. Some vehicles position selector buttons for each mode on the cockpit instead, freeing up space on the central console. Vehicles conforming to US Government standards must have the modes ordered P-R-N-D-L (left to right, top to bottom, or clockwise). Prior to this, quadrant-selected automatic transmissions often used a P-N-D-L-R layout, or similar. Such a pattern led to a number of deaths and injuries owing to driver error causing unintentional gear selection, as well as the danger of having a selector (when worn) jump into Reverse from Low gear during engine braking maneuvers.
Automatic transmissions have various modes depending on the model and make of the transmission. Some of the common modes include
Park (P)
This selection mechanically locks the output shaft of transmission, restricting the vehicle from moving in any direction. A parking pawl prevents the transmission from rotating, and therefore the vehicle from moving, although the vehicle's non-driven roadwheels may still rotate freely. For this reason, it is recommended to use the hand brake (or parking brake) because this actually locks (in most cases) the rear wheels and prevents them from moving. This also increases the life of the transmission and the park pin mechanism, because parking on an incline with the transmission in park without the parking brake engaged will cause undue stress on the parking pin. An efficiently adjusted hand brake should also prevent the car from moving if a worn selector accidentally drops into reverse gear during early morning fast-idle engine warm-ups[citation needed]. It should be noted that locking the transmission output shaft using park does not positively lock the driving wheels. If one driving wheel has little vertical load it will tend to slip, and will rotate in the opposite direction to the more heavily loaded non-slipping wheel. Only a (properly adjusted) parking brake can be relied upon to positively lock both of the parking-braked wheels. (This is not the case with certain 1950's Chrysler products that carried their parking brake on the transmission tailshaft, a defect compounded by the provision of a bumper jack). It is typical of front-wheel-drive vehicles for the parking brake to be on the rear (non-driving) wheels, so use of both the parking brake and the transmission park lock provides the greatest security against unintended movement on slopes.
A car should be allowed to come to a complete stop before setting the transmission into park to prevent damage. Usually, Park (P) is one of only two selections in which the car's engine can be started, the other being Neutral (N). In many modern cars and trucks, the driver must have the foot brake applied before the transmission can be taken out of park. The Park position is omitted on buses/coaches with automatic transmission (on which a parking pawl is not practical), which must be placed in neutral with the parking brakes set. Advice is given in some owner's manuals (example: 1997 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme owner's manual) that if the vehicle is parked on a steep slope using the park lock only, it may not be possible to release the park lock (move the selector lever out of "P"). Another vehicle may be required to push the stuck vehicle uphill slightly to remove the loading on the park lock pawl.
Most automobiles require P or N to be set on the selector lever before the internal combustion engine can be started. This is typically achieved via a normally open inhibitor switch, which is wired in series with the starter motor engagement circuit, and is only closed when P or N is selected, thus completing the circuit (when the key is turned to the start position), in association with any other checks used on newer cars such as brakes needing to be applied.
Reverse (R)
This engages reverse gear within the transmission, permitting the vehicle to be driven backwards. In order for the driver to select reverse in modern transmissions, they must come to a complete stop, push the shift lock button in (or pull the shift lever forward in the case of a column shifter) and select reverse. Not coming to a complete stop can cause severe damage to the transmission[citation needed]. Many modern automatic transmissions have a safety mechanism in place, which does to some extent prevent (but does not completely avoid) inadvertently putting the car in reverse when the vehicle is moving forwards. This mechanism usually consists of a solenoid-controlled physical barrier on either side of the Reverse position, which is electronically engaged by a switch on the brake pedal. Therefore, the brake pedal needs to be depressed in order to allow the selection of reverse. Some electronic transmissions prevent or delay engagement of reverse gear altogether while the car is moving.
Some shifters with a shift button allow the driver to freely move the shifter from R to N or D, or simply moving the shifter to N or D without actually depressing the button. However, the driver cannot put back the shifter to R without depressing the shift button to prevent accidental shifting, especially at high speeds, which could damage the transmission.
Neutral/No gear (N)
This disengages all gear trains within the transmission, effectively disconnecting the transmission from the driven roadwheels, so the vehicle is able to move freely under its own weight and gain momentum without the motive force from the engine (engine braking). This is the only other selection in which the vehicle's engine can be started.
Drive (D)
This position allows the transmission to engage the full range of available forward gear trains, and therefore allows the vehicle to move forward and accelerate through its range of gears. The number of gear ratios a transmission has depends on the model, but they initially ranged from three (predominant before the 1990s), to four and five speeds (losing popularity to six-speed autos, though still favored by Chrysler and Honda/Acura)[citation needed]. Six-speed automatic transmissions are probably the most common offering in cars from 2010 in cars like Toyota Camry V6 models, the newerGM cars and trucks, Ford cars and trucks. However, seven-speed autos are becoming available in some cars (found in Mercedes 7G gearbox, Infiniti), as are eight-speed autos in models from 2006 introduced by Aisin Seiki Co. in Lexus, ZF and Hyundai Motor Company.
Overdrive ('D', 'OD', or a boxed [D] or the absence of an illuminated 'O/D OFF')
This mode is used in some transmissions to allow early computer-controlled transmissions to engage the automatic overdrive. In these transmissions, Drive (D) locks the automatic overdrive off, but is identical otherwise. OD (Overdrive) in these cars is engaged under steady speeds or low acceleration at approximately 35?45 mph (56?72 km/h). Under hard acceleration or below 35?45 mph (56?72 km/h), the transmission will automatically downshift. Vehicles with this option should be driven in this mode unless circumstances require a lower gear.
Third (3)
This mode limits the transmission to the first three gear ratios, or sometimes locks the transmission in third gear. This can be used to climb or going down hill. Some vehicles will automatically shift up out of third gear in this mode if a certain RPM range is reached in order to prevent engine damage. This gear is also recommended while towing a caravan.
Second (2 or S)
This mode limits the transmission to the first two gear ratios, or locks the transmission in second gear on Ford, Kia, and Honda models. This can be used to drive in adverse conditions such assnow and ice, as well as climbing or going down hills in the winter time. It is usually recommended to use second gear for starting on snow and ice, and use of this position enables this with an automatic transmission. Some vehicles will automatically shift up out of second gear in this mode if a certain RPM range is reached in order to prevent engine damage.
Although traditionally considered second gear, there are other names used. Chrysler models with a three-speed automatic since the late 1980s have called this gear 3 while using the traditional names for Drive and Low. Oldsmobile has called second gear as the 'Super' range ? which was first used on their 4-speed Hydramatic transmissions although the use of the term continued until the early 1980s when GM's Turbo Hydramatic automatic transmissions were standardized by all of their divisions years after the 4-speed Hydramatic was discontinued.
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