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.
Claims17
An improved automotive transmission having a valve body with oil flow circuity 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;
- 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.
In combination with a torque converter without a lockup clutch, a valve body having oil circuitry for directing oil to and from the torque converter, the valve body comprising:
- a check ball or valve movable to open and close the oil path to the torque converter and thereby control the oil pressure within the torque converter.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.