Torque converter transmission and valve arrangement therefor
AssigneeS.R.M. Hydromekanik Aktiebolag
InventorKarl Gustav Ahlen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
For a torque converter transmission, a valve arranged to control the flow of fluid therein. Flow between five axially spaced apart ports, and in particular from a central port to a pair of adjacent control ports and from the control ports to respective adjacent vent ports is controlled by axially spaced apart disc valve elements operatively associated with one or more axially movable elongated members, each disc element being axially movable against a mating valve seat. The valve may control flow to the working chamber of the torque converter or serve other functions such as controlling the mode of operation of the torque converter.
Claims46
A torque converter having a working chamber with at least a pump part and a turbine part, said pump part having at least one ring of pump blades and said turbine part having at least one ring of turbine blades,
- a fluid communication system within the torque converter for controlling its mode of operation,
- a valve device for controlling the flow of fluid in said fluid communication system,
- said valve device comprising,
- an elongated bore,
- at least five ports opening into said bore including a high pressure port, a pair of control ports in communication with the fluid communication system of the torque converter and located, longitudinally, one on each side of said high pressure port, and a pair of low pressure ports located, longitudinally, one beyond each control port on the side thereof opposite from said high pressure port,
- a first pair of abutment means located, longitudinally, one between the high pressure port and each of the control ports, and a second pair of abutment means located, longitudinally, one between each control port and its adjacent low pressure port, each of the abutment means including surfaces located in a radial plane constituting means for defining a valve seat for a disc valve element adapted to move axially thereagainst,
- elongated means located within the bore and movable axially therein,
- a first pair of valve discs mounted on said elongated means, one between the high pressure port and each of said control ports and arranged to cooperate with the valve seat of the corresponding one of the first pair of abutment means and openable away from its valve seat towards the high pressure port,
- a second pair of valve discs mounted on the elongated means, one between each control port and its adjacent low pressure port and arranged to cooperate with the valve seat of the corresponding one of the second pair of abutment means in a direction from its respective low pressure port towards its respective control port such that it is openable towards its respective low pressure port,
- and means operatively associated with the elongated means for selectively opening said valve discs upon axial movement of the elongated means.
A valve device comprising,
- an elongated bore,
- at least five ports opening into said bore including a high pressure port, a pair of control ports located, longitudinally, one on each side of said high pressure port, and a pair of low pressure ports located, longitudinally, one beyond each control port on the side thereof opposite from said high pressure port,
- a first pair of abutment means located, longitudinally, one between the high pressure port and each of the control ports, and a second pair of abutment means located, longitudinally, one between each control port and its adjacent low pressure port, each of the abutment means including surfaces located in a radial plane constituting means for defining a valve seat for a disc valve element adapted to move axially thereagainst,
- elongated means located within the bore and movable axially therein,
- a first pair of valve discs mounted on said elongated means, one between the high pressure port and each of said control ports and arranged to cooperate with the valve seat of the corresponding one of the first pair of abutment means and openable away from its valve seat towards the high pressure port,
- a second pair of valve discs mounted on the elongated means, one between each control port and its adjacent low pressure port and arranged to cooperate with the valve seat of the corresponding one of the second pair of abutment means in a direction from its respective low pressure port towards its respective control port such that it is openable towards its respective low pressure port,
- and means operatively associated with the elongated means for selectively opening said valve discs upon axial movement of the elongated means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.