In one aspect, a method of controlling gear shifting in response to a driving mode change, the method including determining a maximum number of allowable low-level gear-shifting steps according to a result of determining a state of a transmission, computing an immediate post-gear-shifting expected speed of a turbine for each step included that is within the maximum number of allowable low-level gear-shifting steps, using a current speed of an output shaft of the transmission and a gear ratio of each step and comparing the computed expected speed of the turbine with a preset allowable speed thereof for each step, setting the lowest-level gear-shifting step, among gear-shifting steps at which the expected speed of the turbine and the allowable speed thereof satisfy a predetermined condition, is set to be a target gear-shifting step, and executing gear-shifting control for shifting a current gear-shifting step down to the target gear-shifting step.

A vehicle includes a drive wheel, an engine, an accelerator pedal, a torque converter, a clutch, and a controller. The drive wheel is configured to propel the vehicle. The engine is configured to generate power and to deliver power to the drive wheel to accelerate the vehicle. The accelerator pedal is configured to generate an acceleration request based on a pedal position. The torque converter is disposed between the engine and the drive wheel. The clutch is disposed between the engine and the drive wheel and is configured to bypass the torque converter. The controller is programmed to, in response to depressing the accelerator pedal to a position that corresponds with accelerating the vehicle at a desired magnitude, adjust the torque of the engine to accelerate the vehicle at the desired magnitude, regardless of the state of the clutch.

Described herein are systems and techniques for utilizing a powered axle that includes a plurality of transmissions. The powered axle may include separate transmissions to power wheels on opposite ends of the powered axle. Each transmission of the powered axle may be operated independently of the other transmission. As such, the plurality of transmissions of the powered axle may be shifted independently of each other. Various control schemes may be provided for operation of such transmissions.

The working machine includes a traveling device, a traveling motor, a hydraulic pump including a swashplate, a prime mover to drive the hydraulic pump, a first servo-cylinder to set an angle of the swashplate, a charge pump to supply pilot fluid to the first servo-cylinder, a switching valve shiftable between a traveling position to supply the pilot fluid from the charge pump to the first servo-cylinder and a neutral position to stop the pilot fluid supply to the first servo-cylinder, a switching operation member operable to select either a traveling mode or a neutral mode, and a controller to shift the switching valve between the traveling position and the neutral position. The controller holds the switching valve at the neutral position after the switching operation member is operated to select the traveling mode until a rotation speed of the prime mover becomes not less than a first predetermined rotation speed.

A method of controlling an automatic transmission connected to an engine in a motor vehicle includes receiving an input signal generated via an application of force by a switch inside the vehicle. The switch has a predetermined travel and is configured to request a transmission speed-ratio change via an output signal indicative of the received input signal. The output signal is received via a controller programmed with a permitted engine speed range. The transmission is commanded to execute a change from a currently selected speed-ratio to another speed-ratio if the requested speed-ratio change would generate an engine speed within the permitted engine speed range. The switch is commanded to execute full travel under the application of force if the speed-ratio change in the transmission was commanded. Alternatively, the switch is commanded to execute partial travel under the application of force if the speed-ratio change in the transmission was not commanded.

Systems and methods for operating a driveline system are disclosed and include a step-variable transmission. A continuously variable transmission (CVT) is coupled between an input source and the step-variable transmission. The CVT receives a first torque from the input source and outputs a second torque. The CVT has a plurality of planetary members in rolling contact with an inner race and an outer race. A radial distance between the planetary members and a drive-transmitting member corresponds to a transmission ratio of the CVT.

An apparatus for controlling shifting of a vehicle and a method therefor are provided, where the apparatus includes a storage storing a power map in which a demand power corresponding to a vehicle speed and an accelerator position sensor (APS) value is recorded and storing an energy consumption map of a power source for each gear stage. The apparatus includes a controller that detects a current demand power based on the power map, generates a power graph representing the detected demand power as the number of revolution and a torque of the power source for each gear stage, and matches the generated power graph with the energy consumption map of the power source to control a shift to a gear stage which consumes minimum energy.

A method of operating a vehicle having an engine, a throttle valve and a throttle operator. A continuously variable transmission operatively connected to the engine has a driving pulley, a driven pulley, and a belt operatively connecting the driving and driven pulleys. A ground engaging member is operatively connected to the driven pulley. A piston is operatively connected to the driving pulley for applying a piston force thereto and thereby changing an effective diameter of the driving pulley. A control unit controls actuation of the piston and the piston force. The method includes detecting a stall condition indicative of the vehicle being stalled, and, responsive to the detection, setting the piston force to be zero.

A hydrostatic travel drive includes a hydraulic pump for the purpose of supplying pressure medium to a hydraulic motor of the travel drive that can be coupled to an output, which pump can be coupled to a drive machine. The hydraulic pump has an actuating cylinder with at least one cylinder chamber and a swept volume which can be adjusted via the actuating cylinder, and at least one electrically activatable pressure valve via which the cylinder chamber can be charged with an adjustingly active actuating pressure. The travel drive further includes device via which a pressure of the hydraulic pump can be limited by means of influencing the actuating pressure.

A controller includes a control unit configured to perform stepwise shift that upshifts a CVT in a stepped manner to accelerate a vehicle. The control unit performs a downshift control configured to downshift the continuously variable transmission in a case in which an accelerator pedal is continuously stepped on from before prohibition of the stepwise shift to after prohibition of the stepwise shift.