Clutch control valve

A work vehicle configured for selectively applying power to a load and comprising:

• a vehicle structure;
• a plurality of ground support devices movably secured to the vehicle structure;
• an engine mounted on the vehicle structure;
• a source of hydraulic fluid at a pressure;
• a clutch for selectively coupling the engine to the load in response to a control signal, the clutch including a clutch actuator configured for engaging the clutch upon receipt of an actuating fluid at at least a first predetermined pressure, the clutch configured to dissipate heat of engagement to a flow of a lube fluid;
• and
• a clutch control valve located intermediate the fluid source and the clutch and disposed in the path of the actuating fluid and the lube fluid, the control valve including a valve body and a movable member, the movable member at least partially housed within the body and movable with respect to the body, wherein the control valve is configured to:
• control flow of the lube fluid to the clutch to a first predetermined rate while the clutch is not engaged;
• control flow of the lube fluid to the clutch to a second predetermined rate at least for a predetermined length of time prior to engagement of the clutch;
• control flow of the actuating fluid at a predetermined pressure to the clutch actuator after the flow rate of the lube fluid has been increased;
• control flow of the lube fluid to a third rate after the clutch has been engaged, which third rate may be equal to the first rate;
• and
• control flow of both the actuating fluid and the lube fluid by positioning of the movable member within the valve body;
• wherein the control valve is configured as a spool valve and the movable member is configured as a sliding member for controllably variable sliding within and with respect to the body, the sliding member including:
• an actuating fluid spool for engaging at least one actuating fluid port disposed within an actuating fluid cavity of the body;
• and
• a lube fluid spool for engaging at least one lube fluid port disposed within a lube fluid cavity of the valve body, the lube fluid cavity positioned coaxially with the actuating fluid cavity, and wherein the sliding member is positioned within the valve body by a spool actuator coupled to the sliding member and wherein the spool actuator is a proportional solenoid.

A work vehicle configured for selectively applying power to a load and comprising:

• a vehicle structure;
• a plurality of ground support devices movably secured to the vehicle structure;
• an engine mounted on the vehicle structure;
• a source of hydraulic fluid at a pressure;
• a clutch for selectively coupling the engine to the load in response to a control signal, the clutch including a clutch actuator configured for engaging the clutch upon receipt of an actuating fluid at at least a first predetermined pressure, the clutch configured to dissipate heat of engagement to a flow of a lube fluid;
• and
• a clutch control valve located intermediate the fluid source and the clutch and disposed in the path of the actuating fluid and the lube fluid, the control valve including a valve body and a movable member, the movable member at least partially housed within the body and movable with respect to the body, wherein the control valve is configured to:
• control flow of the lube fluid to the clutch to a first predetermined rate while the clutch is not engaged;
• control flow of the lube fluid to the clutch to a second predetermined rate at least for a predetermined length of time prior to engagement of the clutch;
• control flow of the actuating fluid at a predetermined pressure to the clutch actuator after the flow rate of the lube fluid has been increased;
• control flow of the lube fluid to a third rate after the clutch has been engaged, which third rate may be equal to the first rate;
• and
• control flow of both the actuating fluid and the lube fluid by positioning of the movable member within the valve body;
• wherein the control valve is configured as a spool valve and the movable member is configured as a sliding member for controllably variable sliding within and with respect to the body, the sliding member including:
• an actuating fluid spool for engaging at least one actuating fluid port disposed within an actuating fluid cavity of the body;
• and
• a lube fluid spool for engaging at least one lube fluid port disposed within a lube fluid cavity of the valve body, the lube fluid cavity positioned coaxially with the actuating fluid cavity, and wherein the sliding member is positioned within the valve body by a spool actuator coupled to the sliding member and wherein the spool actuator is a hydraulic piston disposed within a piston cavity of the valve body.

A power transmission system for selectively transmitting power to a load and comprising:

• a power source;
• a source of hydraulic fluid at a pressure;
• a clutch for selectively coupling the power source to the load in response to a control signal, the clutch including a clutch actuator configured for engaging the clutch upon receipt of an actuating fluid at at least a first predetermined pressure, the clutch configured to dissipate heat of engagement to a flow of a lube fluid;
• and
• a clutch control valve including an electrical actuator located intermediate the fluid source and the clutch and disposed in the path of the actuating fluid and the lube fluid, the control valve configured to:
• control flow of the lube fluid to the clutch to a first predetermined rate while the clutch is not engaged in response to a first electrical signal applied to the electrical actuator;
• control flow of the lube fluid to the clutch to a second predetermined rate at least for a predetermined length of time prior to engagement of the clutch in response to a second electrical signal applied to the electrical actuator;
• and
• control flow of the actuating fluid at a predetermined pressure to the clutch actuator after the flow rate of the lube fluid has been increased.

A power transmission system for selectively transmitting power to a load and comprising:

• a power source;
• a source of hydraulic fluid at a pressure;
• a clutch for selectively coupling the power source to the load in response to a control signal, the clutch including a clutch actuator configured for engaging the clutch upon receipt of an actuating fluid at at least a first predetermined pressure, the clutch configured to dissipate heat of engagement to a flow of a lube fluid;
• and
• a clutch control valve located intermediate the fluid source and the clutch and disposed in the path of the actuating fluid and the lube fluid and including a valve body and a movable member, the movable member at least partially housed within the body and movable with respect to the body, wherein the control valve is configured to:
• control flow of the lube fluid to the clutch to a first predetermined rate while the clutch is not engaged;
• control flow of the lube fluid to the clutch to a second predetermined rate at least for a predetermined length of time prior to engagement of the clutch;
• control flow of the actuating fluid at a predetermined pressure to the clutch actuator after the flow rate of the lube fluid has been increased;
• control flow of the lube fluid to a third rate after the clutch has been engaged, which third rate may be equal to the first rate;
• and
• control flow of both the actuating fluid and the lube fluid by positioning of the movable member within the valve body,
• wherein the control valve is further configured as a spool valve and the movable member is configured as a sliding member for controllably variable sliding within and with respect to the body, the sliding member including
• an actuating fluid spool for engaging at least one actuating fluid port disposed within an actuating fluid cavity of the body, and
• a lube fluid spool for engaging at least one lube fluid port disposed within a lube fluid cavity of the valve body, the lube fluid cavity positioned coaxially with the actuating fluid cavity, wherein the sliding member is positioned within the valve body by a spool actuator coupled to the sliding member and wherein the spool actuator is a proportional solenoid.

A power transmission system for selectively transmitting power to a load and comprising:

• a power source;
• a source of hydraulic fluid at a pressure;
• a clutch for selectively coupling the power source to the load in response to a control signal, the clutch including a clutch actuator configured for engaging the clutch upon receipt of an actuating fluid at at least a first predetermined pressure, the clutch configured to dissipate heat of engagement to a flow of a lube fluid;
• and
• a clutch control valve located intermediate the fluid source and the clutch and disposed in the path of the actuating fluid and the lube fluid and including a valve body and a movable member, the movable member at least partially housed within the body and movable with respect to the body, wherein the control valve is configured to:
• control flow of the lube fluid to the clutch to a first predetermined rate while the clutch is not engaged;
• control flow of the lube fluid to the clutch to a second predetermined rate at least for a predetermined length of time prior to engagement of the clutch;
• control flow of the actuating fluid at a predetermined pressure to the clutch actuator after the flow rate of the lube fluid has been increased;
• control flow of the lube fluid to a third rate after the clutch has been engaged, which third rate may be equal to the first rate;
• and
• controll flow of both the actuating fluid and the lube fluid by positioning of the movable member within the valve body,
• wherein the control valve is further configured as a spool valve and the movable member is configured as a sliding member for controllably variable sliding within and with respect to the body, the sliding member including
• an actuating fluid spool for engaging at least one actuating fluid port disposed within an actuating fluid cavity of the body, and
• a lube fluid spool for engaging at least one lube fluid port disposed within a lube fluid cavity of the valve body, the lube fluid cavity positioned coaxially with the actuating fluid cavity, wherein the sliding member is positioned within the valve body by a spool actuator coupled lo the sliding member and wherein the spool actuator is a hydraulic piston disposed within a piston cavity of the valve body.

A control apparatus for a hydraulically operated wet disk clutch, the clutch including a piston actuated by actuating fluid at a predetermined actuating fluid pressure and coupled to at least one clutch disk, a chamber surrounding the at least one clutch disk and at least one pressure disk and containing a controllably variable amount of lube fluid for lubrication of the clutch and for removal of heat generated by friction during engagement of the clutch disks, the control apparatus comprising:

• a means for controlling flow of the lube fluid to the clutch to a first predetermined rate while the clutch is not engaged in response to a first electrical valve command;
• a means for controlling flow of the lube fluid to the clutch to a second predetermined rate at least for a predetermined length of time prior to engagement of the clutch in response to a second electrical valve command;
• and
• a means for controlling flow of the actuating fluid at a predetermined pressure to the clutch actuator after the flow rate of the lube fluid has been increased.

A control apparatus for a hydraulically operated wet disk clutch, the clutch including a piston actuated by actuating fluid at a predetermined actuating fluid pressure and coupled to at least one clutch disk, a chamber surrounding the at least one clutch disk and at least one pressure disk, and containing a controllably variable amount of lube fluid for lubrication of the clutch and for removal of heat generated by friction during engagement of the clutch disks, the control apparatus comprising:

• a means for controlling flow of the lube fluid to the clutch to a first predetermined rate while the clutch is not engaged;
• a means for controlling flow of the lube fluid to the clutch to a second predetermined rate at least for a predetermined length of time prior to engagement of the clutch;
• and
• a means for controlling flow of the actuating fluid at a predetermined pressure to the clutch actuator after the flow rate of the lube fluid has been increased, wherein the means for controlling flow is a control valve having a valve body and a movable member, and wherein the movable member is at least partially housed within the body and movable with respect to the body, and wherein the control valve is further configured to control flow of both the actuating fluid and the lube fluid by positioning of the movable member within the valve body and further wherein the control valve is configured as a spool valve and wherein the movable member is configured as a sliding member for controllably variable sliding within and with respect to the body, the sliding member comprising an actuating fluid spool for engaging at least one actuating fluid port disposed within an actuating fluid cavity of the body and a lube fluid spool for engaging at least one lube fluid port disposed within a lube fluid cavity of the valve body, the lube fluid cavity positioned coaxially with the actuating fluid cavity, wherein the spool actuator is a proportional solenoid.

A control apparatus for a hydraulically operated wet disk clutch, the clutch including a piston actuated by actuating fluid at a predetermined actuating fluid pressure and coupled to at least one clutch disk, a chamber surrounding the at least one clutch disk and at least one pressure disk, and containing a controllably variable amount of lube fluid for lubrication of the clutch and for removal of heat generated by friction during engagement of the clutch disks, the control apparatus comprising:

• a means for controlling flow of the lube fluid to the clutch to a first predetermined rate while the clutch is not engaged;
• a means for controlling flow of the lube fluid to the clutch to a second predetermined rate at least for a predetermined length of time prior to engagement of the clutch;
• and
• a means for controlling flow of the actuating fluid at a predetermined pressure to the clutch actuator after the flow rate of the lube fluid has been increased, wherein the means for controlling flow is a control valve having a valve body and a movable member, and wherein the movable member is at least partially housed within the body and movable with respect to the body, and wherein the control valve is further configured to control flow of both the actuating fluid and the lube fluid by positioning of the movable member within the valve body and further wherein the control valve is configured as a spool valve and wherein the movable member is configured as a sliding member for controllably variable sliding within and with respect to the body, the sliding member comprising an actuating fluid spool for engaging at least one actuating fluid port disposed within an actuating fluid cavity of the body and a lube fluid spool for engaging at least one lube fluid port disposed within a lube fluid cavity of the valve body, the lube fluid cavity positioned coaxially with the actuating fluid cavity, wherein the spool actuator is a hydraulic piston disposed within a piston cavity of the valve body.