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US 2010/0300828 A1Published application
Dual-Stage Regulator Valve Assembly
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorDerek Kinch
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present disclosure relates to dual-stage regulator valve assemblies for use with vehicle transmissions and methods of manufacturing the same. A dual-stage regulator valve is configured to increase a flow area in the valve during clutch fill thereby reducing transmission shift time. Transition between a clutch fill and a pressure control state is automated.
Claims20
A hydraulic control circuit for controlling a transmission clutch, comprising:
- a control valve body configured to be in fluid communication with the transmission clutch;
- and
- a regulator valve in the control valve body configured to direct fluid to the transmission clutch, the regulator valve including:
- a dual-stage plunger assembly;
- wherein a flow area in the regulator valve is greater when the dual-stage plunger assembly is operating in a second stage than when operating in a first stage.
2 more elements
A control valve body for controlling a transmission clutch, comprising:
- a spool valve configured to move within a bore in the body;
- a dual-stage plunger assembly at one end of the bore, the plunger assembly including:
- a plunger;
- a first spring between the spool valve and plunger;
- and
- a second spring between the plunger and the control valve body;
- wherein when the assembly is in a first stage the plunger is in a first position;
- wherein when the assembly is in a second stage the second spring compresses and the plunger moves into a second position;
- wherein a flow area across the spool valve is greater when the plunger is in the second position;
- wherein the dual-stage plunger assembly is configured to automatically transition between the first stage and the second stage when the transmission clutch approaches an end of fill;
- a flow control orifice in the control valve body at the bore;
- a first channel extending between the flow control orifice and the clutch;
- and
- a second channel extending between the dual stage plunger assembly and the first channel;
- wherein the second channel is configured to decrease pressure at one end of the plunger assembly during clutch fill thereby enabling the plunger assembly to operate in the second stage.
12 more elements
A control valve body for controlling a transmission clutch, comprising:
- a regulator valve configured to direct the fluid to the transmission clutch;
- and
- a control pressure circuit in fluid communication with the regulator valve, the control pressure circuit including:
- a latch valve;
- and
- a channel extending between the regulator valve and the latch valve;
- wherein the regulator valve has a first stage and second stage of operation and the flow area in the regulator valve is greater when the regulator valve is operating in the second stage than when operating in the first stage;
- wherein the control pressure circuit is configured to decrease pressure at one end of the regulator valve during clutch fill thereby enabling the assembly to operate in the second stage;
- wherein the regulator valve is configured to automatically transition between the first stage and the second stage when the transmission clutch approaches an end of fill.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.