A motor vehicle powertrain system according to this invention controls the
magnitudes of torque produced by multiple power sources that drive the
vehicle wheels. The system includes a source of pressurized fluid, and a
pump/motor driveably connected to the wheels, which is driven in a
motoring mode by fluid from the fluid source and has a variable
volumetric displacement that changes in response to displacement of the
accelerator pedal. An engine, driveably connected to the wheels, includes
a throttle that opens and closes in response to displacement of the
accelerator pedal. A controller controls operation of the engine and
pump/motor such that they produce torque at various magnitudes. The
system determines a magnitude of desired wheel torque, a maximum
available engine wheel torque, a maximum available pump/motor wheel
torque, a difference in magnitude between the desired wheel torque and
the maximum available pump/motor wheel torque, operates the pump/motor as
a motor such that the pump/motor produces a magnitude of wheel torque
that is equal to the lesser of the desired wheel torque and the maximum
available pump/motor wheel torque, and operates the engine such that the
engine produces a magnitude of wheel torque that is equal to the lesser
of the maximum available engine wheel torque and the difference in torque
magnitude.