A vehicle control apparatus for a vehicle provided with an engine, a continuously variable transmission (CVT) coupled to an output shaft of the engine, a motor coupled to a wheel, and an output clutch that transmits power from an output shaft of the CVT and the motor to the wheel includes a controller that is able to switch and execute either of an EV mode that allows, upon disengagement of the output clutch, power outputted from the motor to drive the wheel, and an HEV mode that allows, upon engagement of the output clutch, power outputted from the engine and the motor to drive the wheel, and that, in an adjustment of a gear ratio of the CVT during the EV mode, engages the output clutch and adjusts the gear ratio of the CVT, and thereafter disengages the output clutch before the gear ratio reaches a target gear ratio.

A transmission speed control system for a walk-behind lawn mower includes a transmission, a transmission positioning assembly, and an electronic control unit. The transmission is tiltable about and operably engaged with a drive axle shaft. The transmission positioning assembly tilts the transmission between first and second angular positions. A belt tension between a drive belt and a transmission pulley of the transmission continuously increases from a minimum belt tension when the transmission is in the first angular position to a maximum belt tension when the transmission is in the second angular position. The rotational drive force exerted on the drive axle shaft by the transmission and a resulting driving speed of the lawn mower vary proportionally with the belt tension. The electronic control unit controls the transmission positioning assembly to tilt the transmission based on target and detected driving speeds.

A transmission speed control system for a walk-behind lawn mower includes a transmission, a transmission positioning assembly, and an electronic control unit. The transmission is tiltable about and operably engaged with a drive axle shaft. The transmission positioning assembly tilts the transmission between first and second angular positions. A belt tension between a drive belt and a transmission pulley of the transmission continuously increases from a minimum belt tension when the transmission is in the first angular position to a maximum belt tension when the transmission is in the second angular position. The rotational drive force exerted on the drive axle shaft by the transmission and a resulting driving speed of the lawn mower vary proportionally with the belt tension. The electronic control unit controls the transmission positioning assembly to tilt the transmission based on target and detected driving speeds.

A continuously variable transmission pump limited stop controls system includes a continuously variable transmission (CVT) including primary and secondary variator pulleys. The primary and the secondary variator pulley each have a mating half with a conical face, defining a variable-width gap between each pulley and its mating half. A flexible member is positioned within the gap and is movable on the conical faces defining a CVT ratio. A secondary pulley valve controls flow of a fluid to the secondary variator pulley. A secondary pulley pressure boost system identifies if a rapid stop event is occurring and issues a command to fully open the secondary pulley valve during the rapid stop event. As the CVT ratio reaches a predetermined threshold of a desired relaunch ratio during the rapid stop event, an engine speed request is issued to an engine connected to the CVT to increase engine speed.

A continuously variable transmission pump limited stop controls system includes a continuously variable transmission (CVT) including primary and secondary variator pulleys. The primary and the secondary variator pulley each have a mating half with a conical face, defining a variable-width gap between each pulley and its mating half. A flexible member is positioned within the gap and is movable on the conical faces defining a CVT ratio. A secondary pulley valve controls flow of a fluid to the secondary variator pulley. A secondary pulley pressure boost system identifies if a rapid stop event is occurring and issues a command to fully open the secondary pulley valve during the rapid stop event. As the CVT ratio reaches a predetermined threshold of a desired relaunch ratio during the rapid stop event, an engine speed request is issued to an engine connected to the CVT to increase engine speed.

A vehicle control device is for a vehicle having a drive source, and an automatic transmission connected to the drive source, the automatic transmission having an engagement element for disconnecting/connecting transmission of a driving force and a variator placed further upstream than the engagement element. The vehicle control device includes first and second control units. The first control unit is configured to execute sailing stop control to stop the drive source and to put the automatic transmission into a neutral state when a sailing stop condition is established. The second control unit is configured to start the drive source and to implement downshifting of the variator when a size of a deceleration level is a prescribed value or greater when the sailing stop control is cancelled due to a prescribed sailing stop cancellation condition among sailing stop cancellation conditions being established, and to engage the engagement element after the downshifting.

A transmission including a variator capable of continuously changing a speed ratio, a stepped transmission mechanism arranged in series with the variator and in which a gear position is switched and a shilling control unit executing stepped shifting repeatedly performing a shifting suppression phase and an upshift phase when a stepped upshift shifting condition is satisfied is provided, and the shifting control unit completes a change from an n-th gear position of the stepped transmission mechanism to an n+1 gear position if the stepped transmission mechanism is at the n-th gear position before the through speed ratio reaches a Highest speed ratio of the variator when the stepped shifting is performed.

A continuously variable transmission (CVT) includes an input member, an output member, a variator assembly having a primary variator pulley operable for receiving an input torque via the input member, a secondary variator pulley operable for transmitting an output torque via the output member, and an endless rotatable drive element in frictional engagement with the primary and secondary variator pulleys, first and second speed sensors operable for measuring a respective rotational speed of the primary and secondary variator pulleys, and a controller. The controller executes a method to detect gross slip of the endless rotatable drive element with respect to the primary and secondary variator pulleys using the measured rotational speeds, and in response to the detected gross slip, to request a reduction in the input torque by a calculated amount over a calibrated duration until a level of the detected gross slip reaches a calibrated slip level.

A continuously variable transmission (CVT) includes an input member, an output member, a variator assembly having a primary variator pulley operable for receiving an input torque via the input member, a secondary variator pulley operable for transmitting an output torque via the output member, and an endless rotatable drive element in frictional engagement with the primary and secondary variator pulleys, first and second speed sensors operable for measuring a respective rotational speed of the primary and secondary variator pulleys, and a controller. The controller executes a method to detect gross slip of the endless rotatable drive element with respect to the primary and secondary variator pulleys using the measured rotational speeds, and in response to the detected gross slip, to request a reduction in the input torque by a calculated amount over a calibrated duration until a level of the detected gross slip reaches a calibrated slip level.

A transmission controller searches a mechanical High, which is a minimum value of a possible speed ratio of the continuously variable transmission (CVT), based on an actual speed ratio, sets a control High lower than the mechanical High by a predetermined amount, and controls a speed ratio of the CVT by setting a minimum value of a speed ratio range of the CVT at the control High.