Pressure regulator valve assembly

A replacement pressure regulator valve assembly for an automatic transmission for maintaining a continuous flow of hydraulic fluid to the torque converter during high speed operation of the transmission to prevent torque converter overheating, said replacement pressure regulator valve comprising:

• a valve piston subassembly for regulating hydraulic pressure to fluid circuits within the valve body of the transmission including the line pressure circuit and the torque converter charge circuit;
• an internal check valve encapsulated within said valve piston subassembly in fluid communication with the line pressure circuit and the torque converter charge circuit such that hydraulic fluid is diverted, to the torque converter through said internal check valve responsive to a predetermined hydraulic fluid pressure;
• and
• an internal balance boost circuit formed within said valve piston subassembly wherein said internal balance boost circuit interconnects a regulated line pressure circuit and a balance circuit to divert regulated line pressure to the balance circuit to assist in shifting said valve piston subassembly from a high pressure position to a low pressure position.

A method of maintaining a continuous flow of hydraulic fluid to the torque converter of an automatic transmission having a valve body including a plurality of fluid circuits formed therein, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing a replacement pressure regulator valve assembly for installation within the valve body in fluid communication with a line pressure circuit and a torque converter charge circuit;
• diverting hydraulic fluid from the line pressure circuit to the torque converter charge circuit through said pressure regulator valve assembly when said pressure regulator valve assembly is in a high pressure position;
• passing hydraulic fluid from a regulated line pressure circuit to a balance circuit within the valve body to shift said pressure regulator valve assembly to a low pressure position;
• blocking the return flow of hydraulic fluid from the torque converter charge circuit through said fluid passage when the transmission is not operating.