Apparatuses and Methods for Improving Automotive Transmission Converter Rear Side Pressure
AssigneeSuperior Transmission Parts, Inc.
InventorDean MASON
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Three operational defects in the 8L series transmission, individually or in combination, produce a shudder complaint and potentially damage the torque converter. An incorrectly ported torque converter control valve is corrected by increasing length of an undersized third land to prevent mixing of three adjacent flow channels and a loss of lockup apply pressure. Start time of a torque converter enable valve regulation cycle is rescheduled to avoid causing excessive rear side pressure drop and significantly shortening time required to pressure up apply side of a converter clutch. A lockup solenoid is replaced with an anti-ballooning assembly to better control pressure and avoid complete transmission failure.
Claims15
A process for conserving and improving automotive transmission converter rear side pressure during a switching event, comprising:
- a. sealing a leak along a converter control valve close to a cooler port simultaneously or slightly before opening a torque converter enable supply port at the converter control valve;
- b. rescheduling a torque converter enable valve regulation start time to begin before a switching time of the converter control valve, wherein an enable valve exhaust port is closed to prevent rear side venting of volume;
- and
- c. shortening a lockup apply cycle through with a torque converter enable valve having at least one non-squared land, which provides for greater flow volume delivery at a same pressure as an OEM enable valve, to fill and pressurize a torque converter rear side for faster lockup apply.
A torque converter control valve, comprising:
- a first land being cylindrically shaped;
- a second land being cylindrically shaped;
- a third land being cylindrically shaped;
- a fourth land being cylindrically shaped;
- a first cylindrical member coaxially positioned between the first land and the second land to form a first groove;
- a second cylindrical member coaxially positioned between the second land and the third land to form a second groove;
- and
- a third cylindrical member coaxially positioned between the third land and the fourth land to form a third groove,
- wherein a bevel circumferentially extends around an end of the first land adjacent to the first cylindrical member, and a length of the third land is greater than 4.8768 mm and is configured to close a cooler port in a valve body casting simultaneously or slightly before opening a torque converter enable supply port in the valve body casting at the torque converter control valve.
A torque converter enable valve, comprising:
- a first land being cylindrically shaped;
- a second land being cylindrically shaped;
- a third land being cylindrically shaped;
- a first cylindrical member coaxially positioned between the first land and the second land to form a first groove;
- a second cylindrical member coaxially positioned between the second land and the third land to form a second groove;
- a third cylindrical member extending from an end of the third land opposite to the second cylindrical member, a free end of the third cylindrical member having a bevel circumferentially extending therearound;
- a chamber extending from an opening along the free end of the third cylindrical member and along a longitudinal length inside the torque converter enable valve, with a hole positioned along the second cylindrical member fluidly connecting the chamber to external environment,
- wherein a second bevel is formed circumferentially along an end of the third land adjacent to the second cylindrical member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.