Transmission torque converter
AssigneeGoerend Transmission, Inc.
InventorJames W. Weissenfluh
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A valve body for an automotive transmission includes a pressure regulator valve in the casting for controlling oil pressure within the torque converter. The valve has a bore to provide fluid communication with an exhaust circuitry in the transmission when the valve is moved by oil pressure from a first position to a second position. The regulator valve prevents excessive pressure and damage from ballooning of the torque converter housing. In an alternative non-lockup torque converter, a check ball in a modified separator plate moves to open and close an oil path in the plate to thereby control oil pressure.
Claims9
An improved automotive transmission having a valve body with oil flow circuitry and a torque converter in fluid communication with the oil flow circuitry, the improvement comprising;
- a pressure regulator valve in the valve body for controlling oil pressure within the torque converter and being movable between a first position and a second position;
- a spring to bias the regulator valve to the first position;
- and
- the pressure regulator valve having a hole for fluid communication with an exhaust in the circuitry when the valve is in the second position.
A method of controlling oil pressure within a torque converter of an automatic transmission having a valve body with oil circuitry, comprising:
- directing oil through a hole in a pressure regulating valve to a line in the oil circuitry;
- and
- biasing the regulator valve to a first position with a spring.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.