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US 6,267,212 B1Granted
Automatic controlled transmission
AssigneeZF Batavia, L.L.C.
InventorArmin Gierling
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The invention concerns an automatic controlled transmission having a hydrodynamic converter (1) and a lock-up clutch (10) between an input shaft (7) and an output shaft (8) of the converter (1) wherein the lock-up clutch (10) is actuated by the differential pressure between an intake (14) and return flow (15) of the converter (1) and traversed by a coolant current. It is proposed that the coolant flow be controlled depending on the temperature of the oil. Thereby the transmitting capacity of the lock-up clutch (10) when engaged state is not impaired even when for cooling a larger coolant flow rate through the converter (1) is provided.
Claims11
An automatic controlled transmission comprising:
- an input shaft (7) connected to an output shaft (8) by a hydrodynamic converter (1) and a lock-up clutch (10);
- a coolant intake (14) providing a coolant flow to the hydrodynamic converter and the lock-up clutch (10) and a coolant return (15) discharging the coolant from the hydrodynamic converter and the lock-up clutch (10);
- a piston (12) connected with and actuating the lock-up clutch (10) according to a pressure differential occurring between the coolant flow intake (14) and the coolant return (15), the piston being traversed by the coolant flow, at a rate controlled by a temperature-dependent bypass control valve according to the temperature of the oil;
- and
- wherein the temperature-dependent bypass control valve (23) is radially positioned proximate friction surfaces (11, 25) of said lock-up clutch (10), to regulate the rate of coolant flow traversing the piston according to a temperature of the coolant flow,
- said temperature-dependent bypass control valve being responsive to the temperature of the oil to reduce the coolant flow to the frictional surfaces of the lock-up clutch when the frictional surfaces of the lock-up clutch are at normal operating temperature and
- to thereby increase the level of power that the lock-up clutch is capable of transferring through the friction surfaces and to the output shaft when the friction surfaces are at normal operating temperature.
4 more elements
An automatic controlled transmission comprising:
- an input shaft (7) connected to an output shaft (8) by a hydrodynamic converter (1) and a lock-up clutch (10);
- a coolant intake (14) providing a coolant flow to the hydrodynamic converter and the lock-up clutch (10) and a coolant return (15) discharging the coolant from the hydrodynamic converter and the lock-up clutch (10);
- a piston (12) connected with and actuating the lock-up clutch (10) according to a pressure differential occurring between the coolant flow intake (14) and the coolant return (15), the piston being traversed by the coolant flow at a rate controlled according to the temperature of the coolant flow, and
- wherein a temperature-dependent bypass control valve is radially positioned proximate friction surfaces (11, 25) of said lock-up clutch (10) and the temperature-dependent bypass control valve has one of a temperature dependent aperture (24) and a temperature dependent nozzle regulating the coolant flow rate through the temperature-dependent bypass control valve, and wherein
- said temperature-dependent bypass control valve is responsive to the temperature of the oil to reduce the coolant flow to the frictional surfaces of the lock-up clutch when the frictional surfaces of the lock-up clutch are at normal operating temperature and
- to thereby increase the level of power that the lock-up clutch is capable of transferring through the friction surfaces and to the output shaft when the friction surfaces are at normal operating temperature.
3 more elements
An automatic controlled transmission comprising:
- an input shaft (7) connected to an output shaft (8) by a hydrodynamic converter (1) and a lock-up clutch (10);
- a coolant intake (14) providing a coolant flow to the hydrodynamic converter and the lock-up clutch (10) and a coolant return (15) discharging the coolant from the hydrodynamic converter and the lock-up clutch (10);
- a piston (12) connected with and actuating the lock-up clutch (10) according to a pressure differential occurring between the coolant flow intake (14) and the coolant return (15), the piston being traversed by the coolant flow, at a rate controlled by a temperature-dependant bypass control valve according to the temperature of the oil, a friction lining (11) of said lock-up clutch (10) is supported by a surface located opposite the piston and located for engagement with the piston (12) during lock-up, and the temperature-dependent bypass control valve has one of a temperature dependent aperture (24) and a temperature dependent nozzle regulating the coolant flow rate through the bypass;
- and
- wherein the temperature-dependent bypass control valve is (23) radially positioned proximate friction surfaces (11, 25) of said lock-up clutch (10), to regulate the rate of coolant flow traversing the piston according to a temperature of the coolant flow, and wherein
- said temperature-dependent bypass control valve is responsive to the temperature of the oil to reduce the coolant flow to the frictional surfaces of the lock-up clutch when the frictional surfaces of the lock-up clutch are at normal operating temperature and
- to thereby increase the level of power that the lock-up clutch is capable of transferring through the friction surfaces and to the output shaft when the friction surfaces are at normal operating temperature.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.