# US 8,465,396 B2 · Automatic transmission and hydraulic control method therefor

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- Number: US 8,465,396 B2
- Document ID: US8465396B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/075,773
- Filed: 2011-03-30
- Published: 2011-10-20
- Granted: 2013-06-18
- Earliest claimed: 2010-04-15
- Assignees: JATCO Ltd
- Applicants: Ikuhiro Iwamoto; Osamu Sato
- Inventors: Ikuhiro Iwamoto; Osamu Sato
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8465396B2

## CPC

- F16H 61/0437: {by using electrical signals (F16H61/0403 and F16H61/061 take precedence)}
- F16H 61/0206: {Layout of electro-hydraulic control circuits, e.g. arrangement of valves}
- F16H 61/686: with orbital gears
- F16H 2061/0485: {during range shift from neutral (N) to reverse (R)}
- F16H: GEARING

## Abstract

A manual valve disconnects a line pressure oil passage and an R position pressure oil passage when a selector is in a D position or an N position and causes the R position pressure oil passage and the line pressure oil passage to communicate when the selector is in an R position. A switching valve is switched to disconnect a low & reverse brake pressure oil passage and the R position pressure oil passage when the selector is in the D position or the N position and a vehicle is driving at a vehicle speed equal to or lower than a predetermined vehicle speed.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An automatic transmission which includes a planetary gear and a plurality of friction elements and realizes a plurality of gear positions by changing engaged states of the plurality of friction elements,
the plurality of friction elements including a reverse friction element which is engaged when a selector is in an R position and released when the selector is in a D position in which an engine brake is not activated, the automatic transmission comprising:
a hydraulic pressure source;
a switching valve and a manual valve arranged between the hydraulic pressure source and the reverse friction element and adapted to switch oil passages in conjunction with a selector operation, the switching valve being switched later than the manual valve;
a first oil passage connecting the reverse friction element and the switching valve;
a second oil passage connecting the hydraulic pressure source and the manual valve;
a third oil passage connecting the switching valve and the manual valve; and
a control unit which controls the switching of the switching valve;
wherein:
the manual valve disconnects the second and third oil passages when the selector is in the D position or the N position and causes the second and third oil passages to communicate when the selector is in the R position; and
the control unit switches the switching valve to disconnect the first and third oil passages when the selector is in the D position or the N position and a vehicle equipped with the automatic transmission is driving at a vehicle speed equal to or lower than a predetermined vehicle speed.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The automatic transmission according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined vehicle speed is an upper limit value of a vehicle speed at which a change to the R position is permitted during forward driving.

### Claim 3

A hydraulic control method in an automatic transmission including a planetary gear, a plurality of friction elements including a reverse friction element which is engaged when a selector is in an R position and released when the selector is in a D position in which an engine brake is not activated, a hydraulic pressure source, a switching valve and a manual valve arranged between the hydraulic pressure source and the reverse friction element and adapted to switch oil passages in conjunction with a selector operation, the switching valve being switched later than the manual valve, a first oil passage connecting the reverse friction element and the switching valve, a second oil passage connecting the hydraulic pressure source and the manual valve, and a third oil passage connecting the switching valve and the manual valve, the manual valve disconnecting the second and third oil passages when the selector is in the D position or the N position and causing the second and third oil passages to communicate when the selector is in the R position, a plurality of gear positions being realized by changing engaged states of the plurality of friction elements, wherein
switching the switching valve to disconnect the first and third oil passages when the selector is in the D position or the N position and a vehicle equipped with the automatic transmission is driving at a vehicle speed equal to or lower than a predetermined vehicle speed.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The hydraulic control method according to claim 3, wherein the predetermined vehicle speed is an upper limit value of a vehicle speed at which a change to the R position is permitted during forward driving.

### Claim 5

An automatic transmission which includes a planetary gear and a plurality of friction elements and realizes a plurality of gear positions by changing engaged states of the plurality of friction elements,
the plurality of friction elements including a reverse friction element which is engaged when a selector is in an R position and released when the selector is in a D position in which an engine brake is not activated, the automatic transmission comprising:
a hydraulic pressure source;
a switching valve and a manual valve arranged between the hydraulic pressure source and the reverse friction element and adapted to switch oil passages in conjunction with a selector operation, the switching valve being switched later than the manual valve;
a first oil passage connecting the reverse friction element and the switching valve;
a second oil passage connecting the hydraulic pressure source and the manual valve;
a third oil passage connecting the switching valve and the manual valve; and
control means for controlling the switching of the switching valve;
wherein:
the manual valve disconnects the second and third oil passages when the selector is in the D position or the N position and causes the second and third oil passages to communicate when the selector is in the R position; and
the control means switches the switching valve to disconnect the first and third oil passages when the selector is in the D position or the N position and a vehicle equipped with the automatic transmission is driving at a vehicle speed equal to or lower than a predetermined vehicle speed.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The automatic transmission according to claim 5, wherein the predetermined vehicle speed is an upper limit value of a vehicle speed at which a change to the R position is permitted during forward driving.