Provided are self-powered actively steerable converter dollies (SPASCDs) for long combination vehicles (LCVs), LCVs utilizing SPASCDs, and methods of operating such LCVs. These SPASCDs could be used with conventional tractors and/or specifically configured tractors. A SPASCD may include an electrical drive, which can generate power (e.g., to charge SPASCD's battery) or generate torque using the electrical power stored in SPASCD's battery (e.g., to assist the tractor during acceleration or going uphill). The SPASCD also comprises steerable wheels and a steering component, configured to change the steering angle of the steerable wheels. The steering angle may be changed in response to various inputs, such as the steering angle of the tractor's front steerable wheels, the steering angle of the steerable wheels of another trailer in the same LCV, sensor inputs, and the like. This steering feature allows change the track of the SPASCD, e.g., to follow the tractor's track.

A method for performing rotational speed synchronisation of a first transmission component having a first initial rotational speed with a second transmission component having a second initial rotational speed, so that they rotate with the same final rotational speed during a gear switch from an initial driving gear to a final driving gear in a stepped gear transmission for a hybrid electric or electric drive train having an electric traction motor. The method including calculating a total frictional work resulting from performing the total rotational speed synchronisation by means of a mechanical synchroniser of the stepped gear transmission only, and if the calculated total frictional work exceeds a maximal frictional work of the mechanical synchroniser, performing the rotational speed synchronisation by means of both the electric traction motor and the mechanical synchroniser.

An apparatus includes a torque circuit and a clutch circuit. The torque circuit is structured to monitor a torque demand level of an engine. The clutch circuit is structured to (i) disengage an engine clutch of a transmission to decouple the engine from the transmission in response to the torque demand level of the engine falling below a threshold torque level and (ii) disengage a motor-generator clutch of the transmission to decouple a motor-generator from the engine in response to the torque demand level of the engine falling below the threshold torque level. The motor-generator is directly coupled to the transmission.

A vehicle power supply apparatus includes first and second power supply systems, first and second switches, first and second switch controllers, a generator motor controller, an engine controller, and an idling stop determination unit. The idling stop determination unit determines whether or not to inhibit an idling stop control on the basis of a current of an first electrical energy accumulator of the first power supply system, a current of a second electrical energy accumulator of the second power supply system, or a voltage of a generator motor of the second power supply system, or any combination thereof, while recognizing a third control signal to be transmitted to the generator motor, a first control signal to be transmitted to the first switch, and a second control signal to be transmitted to the second switch.

Presented are engine-disconnect clutches with attendant control logic, methods for making/operating such disconnect clutches, and hybrid electric vehicles (HEV) equipped with an engine that is coupled to/decoupled from a transmission and electric motor via a disconnect clutch. A representative method for controlling an HEV powertrain includes receiving an HEV powertrain operation command, then determining a clutch mode of a multi-mode clutch device to execute the HEV powertrain operation. This multi-mode clutch device is operable in: a lock-lock mode, in which the clutch device transmits torque to and from the engine; a free-free mode, in which the clutch device disconnects the engine's output member from the transmission's input member, preventing torque transmission to and from the engine; a lock-free mode, in which the clutch device transmits torque from but not to the engine; and, a free-lock mode, in which the clutch device transmits torque to but not from the engine.

Methods and systems are provided for diagnostics of an intake air filter during vehicle-off conditions. In one example, the engine may be reverse rotated, unfueled, and air flow via the exhaust manifold and the intake manifold are estimated and compared to a baseline air flow. A blocked intake air flow may be indicated based on the comparison between air flow via the exhaust manifold and the intake manifold and the baseline air flow upon opening a secondary flow path to atmosphere.

A vehicle drive includes a gear set, a first motor/generator coupled to the gear set, a second motor/generator at least selectively rotationally engaged with the gear set, and an engine at least selectively coupled to the gear set and at least selectively coupled to the second motor/generator. The second motor/generator is electrically coupled to the first motor/generator by an electrical power transmission system. The first motor/generator and the second motor/generator are electrically coupled without an energy storage device configured to at least one of (a) provide electrical energy to the first motor/generator or the second motor/generator to power the first motor/generator or the second motor/generator and (b) be charged by electrical energy from the first motor/generator or the second motor/generator.

Methods and systems for a vehicle transmission are provided herein. The vehicle transmission includes an input interface configured to mechanically couple to a motive power source. The vehicle transmission further includes a first disconnect device releasably mechanically coupling a first output to a first drive axle and a second disconnect device releasably mechanically coupling a second output to a second drive axle.

A vehicle drive device includes: a rotating electrical machine; a speed change mechanism including an input member and an output member drivingly connected to wheels, and configured to change a speed ratio between the input member and the output member; a friction engagement device interposed between the rotating electrical machine and the input member and including a friction engagement element configured to connect and disconnect power transmission between the rotating electrical machine and the input member as an engagement pressure is supplied and discharged; and a control device that controls the rotating electrical machine and the friction engagement device. The control device performs learning control when the input member is held stationary and non-rotatable, the learning control being control in which the control device drives the rotating electrical machine while controlling the engagement pressure to an engagement start pressure at which the friction engagement element starts to engage, and learns the engagement start pressure based on a change in driving state of the rotating electrical machine at the time the friction engagement element starts to engage.

A vehicular control system is presented where the contact patches of the vehicle have reduced impact on an environment. Vehicular control systems include force sensors and terrain sensors that provide real-time or near real-time information about the operating environment of a vehicle. The force sensor data may be used to derive one or more forces which can be used to infer the nature of the vehicles contact patches. As the vehicular control system detects changes in a terrain attribute from the terrain sensors, the vehicular control system determines what the contact patches should be to address the terrain change and determines the necessary forces to give rise to the target contact patches. The vehicular control systems may then adjust the operational parameter values of the vehicle to generate the target contact patches to thereby reduce the impact on the environment.