Valve assembly and system including same for controlling fluid flow to and from a clutch

A system for controlling fluid flow to and from at least one clutch, said system comprising:

• a motor;
• a pump configured to actuate the fluid flow to and from the at least one clutch;
• and
• a valve assembly for a manual transmission operably coupled to said motor and to said pump, said valve assembly comprising,
• a housing defining an interior, with said housing defining a first orifice operably coupled to said pump a second orifice operably coupled to the at least one clutch and a third orifice fluidly coupled to at least one of said first orifice and said second orifice;
• a piston operably coupled to said motor and disposed within said interior of said housing, with said piston movable between a first position for allowing the fluid flow between said first orifice and said second orifice, a second position for obstructing the fluid flow between said first orifice and said second orifice, and a third position for limiting the fluid flow between the first orifice and the second orifice;
• and
• a biasing member coupled to said piston, with said biasing member biasing said piston toward said first position,
• wherein said piston is movable into and able to be held in said third position using an equilibrium between fluid pressure proximate said third orifice and a force of said biasing member when said motor and said pump are off.

A method for controlling fluid flow to and from at least one clutch in a manual transmission, said method comprising:

• biasing a piston disposed within a housing towards a first position with a biasing member to allow the fluid flow between a first orifice and a second orifice, the first orifice, the second orifice, said third orifice fluidly coupled to at least one of said first orifice and said second orifice;
• energizing a motor when a pressure proximate the first orifice is equal to a pressure proximate the second orifice, wherein the energized motor moves the piston away from the motor and into a second position for obstructing the fluid flow between the first orifice and the second orifice;
• and
• moving and holding the piston into a third position for limiting the fluid flow between the first orifice and the second orifice using an equilibrium between fluid pressure proximate said third orifice and a force of said biasing member when said motor and said pump are off.