Accumulator with solenoid valve

An accumulator for accumulating fluid from an external source, comprising:

• a canister having an inner surface, an end cap, an open end, and a closed end opposing the open end, wherein the end cap seals the open end of the canister, and wherein the end cap has an inner end cap surface, wherein the inner surface and the inner end cap surface both define an interior volume of the canister;
• a sleeve positioned within the interior volume of the canister, wherein the sleeve has an outer surface;
• a piston positioned within the interior volume, wherein the piston has a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the piston is slidingly engaged with the outer surface of the sleeve and the second end of the piston is slidingly engaged with the inner surface of the canister, and wherein the piston divides the interior volume of the canister into an air filled chamber and a fluid filled chamber, and wherein the inner surface of the canister and the outer surface of the sleeve define a fluid pathway that is in fluid communication with the fluid filled chamber, wherein the fluid pathway includes an entrance for allowing fluid to enter and exit the fluid pathway;
• a biasing member located in the air filled chamber of the canister, wherein the biasing member has a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the biasing member is engaged with the inner surface of the canister at the closed end and the second end of the biasing member is engaged with the piston, and wherein the biasing member exerts a biasing force on the piston in the direction of the open end of the canister;
• and
• a solenoid control valve assembly located within the interior volume of the canister, the solenoid control valve assembly having a valve biasing member, a valve body and a plunger, and wherein the valve body has a recess located therein that is in communication with the fluid pathway and receives the valve biasing member and the plunger, wherein the plunger is slidably engaged within the recess and is actuated by the valve body in a first direction to block the entrance of the fluid pathway, and wherein the plunger is actuated in a second direction by the valve biasing member to open the entrance of the fluid pathway.

An accumulator employed within the hydraulic system of an automatic transmission, wherein the accumulator is for accumulating hydraulic fluid from a control system of the automatic transmission, comprising:

• a canister having an inner surface, an end cap, an open end, and a closed end opposing the open end, wherein the end cap seals the open end of the canister, and wherein the end cap has an inner end cap surface and a cavity, wherein the inner surface and the inner end cap surface both define an interior volume of the canister;
• a sleeve positioned within the interior volume of the canister, wherein the sleeve has an outer surface;
• a piston positioned within the interior volume, wherein the piston has a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the piston is slidingly engaged with the outer surface of the sleeve and the second end of the piston is slidingly engaged with the inner surface of the canister, and wherein the piston divides the interior volume of the canister into an air filled chamber and a fluid filled chamber, and wherein the inner surface of the canister and the outer surface of the sleeve define a fluid pathway that is in fluid communication with the fluid filled chamber, wherein the fluid pathway includes an entrance for allowing fluid to enter and exit the fluid pathway;
• a biasing member located in the air filled chamber of the canister, wherein the biasing member has a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the biasing member is engaged with the inner surface of the canister at the closed end and the second end of the biasing member is engaged with the piston, and wherein the biasing member exerts a biasing force on the piston in the direction of the open end of the canister;
• a supply line received by the cavity located within the end cap of the canister, and wherein the supply line has a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the supply line connects to the control system of the automatic transmission and the second end of the supply line is received by the cavity in the end cap;
• and
• a solenoid control valve assembly located within the interior volume of the canister, the solenoid control valve assembly having a valve biasing member, a valve body and a plunger, and wherein the valve body has a recess located therein that is in communication with the fluid pathway and receives the valve biasing member and the plunger, wherein the plunger is slidably engaged within the recess and is actuated by the valve body in a first direction to block the entrance of the fluid pathway, and wherein the plunger is actuated in a second direction by the valve biasing member to open the entrance of the fluid pathway.