US 6,712,726 B1 · Lube regulated pressure regulator valve

Abstract

A Lube Regulated Pressure Regulator Valve including an internal check valve that passes transmission fluid from the hydraulic pump in an amount sufficient to fill the torque converter in the Park gear range and at low engine speeds is disclosed. The internal check valve opens at a substantially lower line pressure than is required to open the original equipment manufacture pressure regulator valve to ensure the torque converter is operational at engine startup. As engine speed increases and sufficient line pressure builds up within the torque converter charge circuit, the internal check valve is closed and the pressure regulator valve opens as it would normally to feed line pressure to the torque converter directly. When the engine is shut off, the internal check valve is biased to a closed position preventing automatic transmission fluid from draining back from the torque converter through the pressure regulator valve to the fluid sump.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An improved pressure regulator valve for an automotive transmission having a hydraulic pump, said pressure regulator valve including a valve piston having plurality of control diameters formed thereon for regulating the flow of automatic transmission fluid from the hydraulic pump through a torque converter charge circuit to a torque converter of said transmission responsive to pump operating speeds, wherein the improvement comprises:

an internal check valve integrated within said valve piston, said internal check valve being disposed in fluid communication with the hydraulic pump and the torque converter, said internal check valve opening at low pump speeds in response to lower pressure than is required to open the pressure regulator valve in its factory specified operating range.

A method for continuously filling a torque converter in an automatic transmission of a motor vehicle operating at low engine speed, wherein the transmission includes a hydraulic pump, a torque converter, and a pressure regulator valve disposed in the valve body of the transmission in fluid communication with the hydraulic pump via a pump output circuit and the torque converter via a torque converter charge circuit, said pressure regulator valve functioning to regulate the flow of automatic transmission fluid from the hydraulic pump to the torque converter responsive to pump operating speed, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a replacement pressure regulator valve including an internal check valve;
positioning said replacement pressure regulator valve within said valve body such that said internal check valve is disposed in fluid communication with a pump output circuit and the torque converter charge circuit;
opening said internal check valve at low engine speed such that transmission fluid is released to said torque converter via said torque converter charge circuit in response to less hydraulic pressure than is required to open said pressure regulator valve in its factory specified operating range;
and
closing said internal check valve at high engine speed when said pressure regulator valve opens in said factory specified operating range.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Lube regulated pressure regulator valve

Life of this patent

Lube regulated pressure regulator valve

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20