# US 7,611,002 B2 · Apparatus for the operation of a hydrodynamic torque converter and a therewith corresponding converter bypassing clutch of a transmission apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,611,002 B2 - Document ID: US7611002B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/704,863 - Filed: 2007-02-09 - Published: 2007-08-16 - Granted: 2009-11-03 - Earliest claimed: 2006-02-10 - Assignees: ZF Friedrichshafen AG - Inventors: Georg Gierer; Thilo Schmidt - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7611002B2 ## CPC - F16H 61/143: {using electric control means} - F16H: GEARING ## Abstract An apparatus for operating a hydrodynamic torque converter and a corresponding converter-bypass clutch of a transmission, having a solenoid valve communicating with a variable pressure control valve. The respective valve stem assembly thereof having surfaces which react to an application of hydraulic pressure. Each valve being controlled by a pilot pressure countering a spring arrangement. A spent fluid flow side of the torque converter communicates with a spent fluid flow aperture of the solenoid valve. The valve stem assembly related, to the solenoid valve is blocked by a supply aperture of the solenoid valve and is in operational connection with an auxiliary pressure control valve. A supply aperture of the variable pressure controller valve is connected with an operational pressure aperture of the pressure control valve, which, can be connected with a piston space of the converter-bypass clutch, which pressurized hydraulic fluid can be applied. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus (100) for operating a hydrodynamic torque converter (1) and a corresponding converter-bypass clutch (2) of a transmission, the apparatus comprising: a solenoid valve (WDV) having a valve stem assembly (WDV_S) with a surface which reacts to a pilot pressure (p_VS), the solenoid valve (WDV) being controlled by the pilot pressure (p_VS) which biases a spring arrangement (WDV_F); a variable pressure control valve (WKV) having a valve stem assembly (WKV_S) with a surface which reacts to the pilot pressure (p_VS), the variable pressure control valve (WKV) being controlled by the pilot pressure (p_VS) which biases spring arrangement (WKV_F), the solenoid valve (WDV) and the pressure control valve (WKV) being operably connected; the solenoid valve (WDV) and the pressure control valve (WKV) each have a plurality of apertures (WDV_1-WDV_8, WKV_1-WKV_6), and each of the plurality of apertures (WDV_1-WDV_8, WKV_1-WKV_6) communicating with one or more control lines (L1 to L10); at least one of the one or more of the control lines (L1-L10) communicates with the torque converter (1) and the converter-bypass clutch (2) to apply pressurized hydraulic fluid to end areas of the torque converter (1) and the converter-bypass clutch (2) remote from the plurality of apertures (WDV_1 to WDV_8, WKV_1 to WKV_6); a second supply aperture (WDV_2) of the solenoid valve (WDV) is subjected to system pressure (p_sys), via a first control line (L2), and is connected to an input side of the torque converter (1) of the solenoid valve (WDV); a surface between a control space (24) of the solenoid valve (WDV), which is connected with the second supply aperture (WDV_2), and a first adjacent active surface (25) of the valve stem assembly (WDV_S) of the solenoid valve (WDV), has a surface area different than a surface between the control space (24) of the solenoid valve (WDV) and a second adjacent active surface (26) of the valve stem assembly (WDV_S) of the solenoid valve (WDV); a flow return side of the torque converter (1) communicates with a sixth flow return aperture (WDV_6) of the solenoid valve (WDV), a valve stem assembly associated with the solenoid valve (WDV) is blocked by the second supply aperture (WDV_2) of the solenoid valve (WDV) and communicates with an additional pressure control valve (11); a fourth supply aperture (WKV_4), of the variable pressure control valve (WKV), communicates with a third pilot pressure aperture (WKV_3) of the pressure control valve (WKV) which communicates with a piston space (27) of the converter-bypass clutch (2), the third pilot pressure aperture (WKV_3) of the pressure control valve (WKV) communicates with the converter-bypass clutch (2) when the piston space (27) of the converter-bypass clutch (2) is pressurized with hydraulic fluid; and the third pilot pressure aperture (WKV_3) of the variable pressure control valve (WKV) communicates with a fifth flow return aperture (WKV_5) of the pressure control valve (WKV) so that the pilot pressure (p_VS), exerted against the valve stem assembly (WKV_S) at a first pilot pressure aperture (WKV_1) of the pressure variable control valve (WKV), is subjected to an oppositely effective pressure. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the solenoid valve (WDV) has a lubrication and cooling oil aperture (WDV_5) to supply a lubrication and cooling oil circulation system (14) of a transmission apparatus with a lubrication and coaling oil, the lubrication and cooling oil circulation system (14) is located downstream of the solenoid valve (WDV). ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the sixth return flow aperture (WDV_6) of the solenoid valve (WDV), relative to positioning of the valve stem assembly (WDV_S) of the solenoid valve (WDV), is connected to a seventh return flow aperture (WDV_7) of the solenoid valve (WDV) in case of a valve stem related, blocked connection between the second supply aperture (WDV_2) and the third pilot pressure aperture (WDV_3) of the solenoid valve (WDV) and conversely, the sixth return flow aperture (WDV_6) of the solenoid valve (WDV), relative to the positioning of the valve stem assembly (WDV_S) of the solenoid valve (WDV) is connected with the lubrication and cooling oil aperture (WDV_5) in case of a valve stem related, open connection between the supply aperture (WDV) of the solenoid valve (WDV). ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the seventh return flow aperture (WDV_7) of the solenoid valve (WDV) is connected with a hydraulic reservoir (28), and an auxiliary pressure control valve (11) is located between the seventh return flow aperture (WDV_7) and the hydraulic reservoir (28) for adjusting of a minimal pressure in the torque converter (1). ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the third pilot pressure aperture (WKV_3) of the variable pressure controller valve (WKV), upon a valve stem related blockage between the fourth supply aperture (WKV_4) and the third pilot pressure aperture (WKV_3), is connected with a relief aperture (WKV_2) of the variable pressure control valve (WKV). ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the connection between the third pilot pressure aperture (WKV_3) and the second relief aperture (WKV_2) of the variable pressure control valve (WKV) is blocked by way of the valve stem (WKV_S) when there is a valve stem related open connection between the fourth supply aperture (WKV_4) and the third pilot pressure aperture (WKV_3) of the variable pressure control valve (WKV). ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the solenoid valve (WDV) has an fourth inlet aperture (WDV_4), which is subjected to a supply pressure by a throttle valve (17), the supply pressure being supplied to the second supply aperture (WDV_2) of the solenoid valve (WDV). ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the fourth input aperture (WDV_4) of the solenoid valve (WDV) communicates with a return fluid aperture upon blockage of a valve stem assembly between the second supply aperture (WDV_2) and the third pilot pressure aperture (WDV_3) of the solenoid valve (WDV) and upon a simultaneous blockage of the valve stem assembly between the sixth return flow aperture (WDV_6) and the seventh return flow aperture (WDV_7) of the solenoid valve (WDV) with the sixth return flow aperture (WDV_6) of the solenoid valve (WDV) in connection. ### Claim 9 (depends on 3) The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a second control line (L7), which communicates with the seventh return flow aperture (WDV_7) of the solenoid valve (WDV) of a line system (20), is blocked in an area of a hydraulic line system (22). ### Claim 10 An apparatus (100) for operating a hydrodynamic torque converter (1) and a corresponding converter-bypass clutch (2) of a transmission, the apparatus comprising: a solenoid valve (WDV) having a valve stem assembly (WDV_S) with a surface which reacts to a pilot pressure (p_VS), the solenoid valve (WDV) being controlled by the pilot pressure (p_VS) which biases a spring arrangement (WDV_F); a variable pressure control valve (WKV) having a valve stem assembly (WKV_S) with a surface which reacts to the pilot pressure (p_VS), the variable pressure control valve (WKV) being controlled by the pilot pressure (p_VS) which biases spring arrangement (WKV_F), the solenoid valve (WDV) and the pressure control valve (WKV) being operably connected; the solenoid valve (WDV) and the pressure control valve (WKV) each have a plurality of apertures (WDV_1-WDV_8, WKV_1-WKV_6), and each of the plurality of apertures (WDV_1-WDV_8, WKV_1-WKV_6) communicating with one or more control lines (L1 to L10); at least one of the or more of the control lines (L1-L10) communicates with the torque converter (1) and the converter-bypass clutch (2)to apply pressurized hydraulic fluid to end areas of the torque converter (1) and the converter-bypass clutch (2) remote from the plurality of apertures (WDV_1 to WDV_8 WKV_1 to WKV_6); a second supply aperture (WDV_2) of the solenoid valve (WDV) is subjected to system pressure (p_sys), via a first control line (L2), and is connected to an input side of the torque converter (1) of the solenoid valve (WDV); a surface between a control space (24) of the solenoid valve (WDV), which is connected with the second supply aperture (WDV_2), and a first adjacent active surface (25) of the valve stem assembly (WDV_S) of the solenoid valve (WDV), has a surface area different than a surface between the control space (24) of the solenoid valve (WDV) and a second adjacent active surface (26) of the valve stem assembly (WDV_S) of the solenoid valve (WDV); a flow return side of the torque converter (1) communicates with a sixth flow return aperture (WDV_6) of the solenoid valve (WDV), a valve stem assembly associated with the solenoid valve (WDV) is blocked by the second supply aperture (WDV_2) of the solenoid valve (WDV) and communicates with an additional pressure control valve (11); a fourth supply aperture (WKV_4), of the variable pressure control valve (WKV), communicates with a third pilot pressure aperture (WKV_3) of the pressure control valve (WKV) which communicates with a piston space (27) of the converter-bypass clutch (2), the third pilot pressure aperture (WKV_3) of the pressure control valve (WKV) communicates with the converter-bypass clutch (2) when the piston space (27) of the converter-bypass clutch (2) is pressurized with hydraulic fluid; and the third pilot pressure aperture (WKV_3) of the variable pressure controller valve (WKV), upon a valve stem related blockage between the fourth supply aperture (WKV_4) and the third pilot pressure aperture (WKV_3), is connected with a relief aperture (WKV_2) of the variable pressure control valve (WKV). ### Claim 11 An apparatus (100) for operating a hydrodynamic torque converter (1) and a corresponding converter-bypass clutch (2) of a transmission, the apparatus comprising: a solenoid valve (WDV) having a valve stem assembly (WDV_S) with a surface which reacts to a pilot pressure (p_VS), the solenoid valve (WDV) being controlled by the pilot pressure (p_VS) which biases a spring arrangement (WDV_F); a variable pressure control valve (WKV) having a valve stem assembly (WKV_S) with a surface which reacts to the pilot pressure (p_VS), the variable pressure control valve (WKV) being controlled by the pilot pressure (p_VS) which biases spring arrangement (WKV_F), the solenoid valve (WDV) and the pressure control valve (WKV) being operably connected; the solenoid valve (WDV) and the pressure control valve (WKV) each have a plurality of apertures (WDV_1-WDV_8, WKV_1-WKV_6), and each of the plurality of apertures (WDV_1-WDV 8, WKV_1-WKV_6) communicating with one or more control lines (L1 to L10); at least one of the one or more of the control lines (L1-L10) communicates with the torque converter (1) and the converter-bypass clutch (2) to apply pressurized hydraulic fluid to end areas of the torque converter (1) and the converter-bypass clutch (2) remote from the plurality of apertures (WDV_1 to WDV_8, WKV_1 to WKV_6); a second supply aperture (WDV_2) of the solenoid valve (WDV) is subjected to system pressure (p_sys), via a first control line (L2), and is connected to an input side of the torque converter (1) of the solenoid valve (WDV); a surface between a control space (24) of the solenoid valve (WDV), which is connected with the second supply aperture (WDV_2), and a first adjacent active surface (25) of the valve stem assembly (WDV_S) of the solenoid valve (WDV), has a surface area different than a surface between the control space (24) of the solenoid valve (WDV) and a second adjacent active surface (26) of the valve stem assembly (WDV_S) of the solenoid valve (WDV); a flow return side of the torque converter (1) communicates with a sixth flow return aperture (WDV_6) of the solenoid valve (WDV)I a valve stem assembly associated with the solenoid valve (WDV) is blocked by the second supply aperture (WDV_2) of the solenoid valve (WDV) and communicates with an additional pressure control valve (11); a fourth supply aperture (WKV_4), of the variable pressure control valve (WKV), communicates with a third pilot pressure aperture (WKV_3) of the pressure control valve (WKV) which communicates with a piston space (27) of the converter-bypass clutch (2), the third pilot pressure aperture (WKV_3) of the pressure control valve (WKV) communicates with the converter-bypass clutch (2) when the piston space (27) of the converter-bypass clutch (2), is pressurized with hydraulic fluid; and the solenoid valve (WDV) has an fourth inlet aperture (WDV_4), which is subjected to a supply pressure by a throttle valve (17), the supply pressure being supplied to the second supply aperture (WDV_2) of the solenoid valve (WDV).