Governor spring bracket assembly
AssigneeSonnax Industries, Inc.
InventorFrank Luisi
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A governor spring bracket assembly that attaches to an exterior surface of a shaft-mounted governor valve assembly for an automatic transmission is disclosed. The present governor spring bracket assembly functions to counterbalance the effect of centrifugal force on the governor valve weights, which is generated by rotation of the governor with the transmission output shaft. The present governor spring bracket assembly aligns and supports a calibrated compression spring in functional engagement with the primary governor valve weight to return it to its closed position in relation to the governor output circuit at low output shaft speeds thereby preventing excessive governor output pressure, 2nd gear starts, and improper shift timing.
Claims15
An external governor spring bracket assembly for use in combination with a shaft-mounted governor valve assembly in an automatic transmission, said governor valve assembly including a primary valve weight disposed in opening and closing relation to a governor fluid outlet, said spring bracket assembly comprising:
- a compression spring disposed in coaxial engagement with said primary valve weight;
- and
- a governor spring bracket conforming generally to an external surface of said governor valve assembly, said bracket including perpendicular mounting tabs integrally formed on opposed side edges of said bracket at opposite ends thereof for attachment to said governor valve assembly, wherein said bracket supports said compression spring in engagement with said primary governor weight, said compression spring urging said primary governor weight to a closed condition in relation to said governor fluid outlet thereby preventing excessive governor output pressure at low shaft speed.
An improved shaft-mounted governor valve assembly for use in combination with an automatic transmission, wherein said governor valve assembly includes a primary valve weight and a secondary valve weight actuated by centrifugal force to open and close a governor fluid outlet, wherein the improvement comprises:
- a governor spring bracket assembly comprising a compression spring and a governor spring bracket conforming generally to an external surface of said governor valve assembly, said bracket including perpendicular mounting tabs integrally formed on opposed side edges of said bracket at opposite ends thereof for attachment to said governor valve assembly, wherein said bracket supports said compression spring in functional engagement with said primary governor weight, said compression spring urging said primary governor weight to a closed condition in relation to said governor fluid outlet thereby preventing excessive governor output pressure at low output shaft speed.
A method of counterbalancing centrifugal force acting on a governor valve weight within a shaft-mounted governor valve assembly in an automatic transmission, wherein said valve weight is actuated by said centrifugal force to open a governor fluid outlet upon rotation of said governor valve assembly, said method comprising the steps of:
- providing a governor spring bracket assembly including a compression spring and a governor spring bracket conforming to an external surface of said governor valve assembly;
- forming perpendicular mounting tabs on opposed side edges of said bracket to fit said external surface of said governor valve assembly;
- positioning said compression spring intermediate said bracket and said primary governor weight in coaxial alignment such that said spring engages said weight;
- attaching said governor spring bracket assembly onto said external surface of said governor valve assembly with said mounting tabs;
- and
- spring biasing said primary governor weight radially inward to a closed position in relation to said governor fluid outlet to counterbalance said centrifugal force thereby preventing excessive governor output pressure at low output shaft speed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.