TRANSMISSION HEATING AND STORAGE DEVICE

• US 20110226089A1
• Filed: 03/22/2010
• Published: 09/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: RIEDEL, PAULO A., SILVA, RENATO FREITAS
• Granted Patent: US 8,978,515 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 74/606.A
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/0413 Controlled cooling or heating of lubricant; Temperature control therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/0494 with variable gear ratio or for reversing rotary motion
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 20/02 using latent heat
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 20/028 Control arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/14 Thermal energy storage
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/2186 Gear casings
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/2189 Cooling

Abstract

A heat storage and release system for a transmission includes a material capable of super cooling within an operating temperature range of the transmission. The material is in thermal communication with the transmission. An energy input device is associated with the material and operable to input energy to the material to initiate an exothermic phase change within the material in order to deliver heat to the transmission.

Claims

1. A heat storage and release system for a transmission, the heat storage and release system comprising:

a material capable of super cooling within an operating temperature range of the transmission, wherein the material is in thermal communication with the transmission;

an energy input device associated with the material and operable to input energy to the material to initiate an exothermic phase change within the material in order to deliver heat to the transmission.

2. The heat storage and release system of claim 1, wherein the exothermic phase change is from a super cooled, liquid state to a solid state of the material.

3. The heat storage and release system of claim 2, wherein the material is further configured to absorb heat generated by the transmission to thereby undergo a phase change from the solid state to a liquid state.

4. The heat storage and release system of claim 1, wherein the exothermic phase change may be initiated before the operation of the transmission.

5. The heat storage and release system of claim 1, wherein the material comprises sodium acetate or sodium ethanaote.

6. The heat storage and release system of claim 1, further comprising a housing in association with the transmission, wherein the material is located within the housing.

7. The heat storage and release system of claim 6 wherein the housing is coupled to a sump in the transmission.

8. The heat storage and release system of claim 1, wherein the material is in thermal communication with a hydraulic fluid.

9. The heat storage and release system of claim 1, wherein the energy input device comprises a mechanical input device configured to input mechanical energy to the material suitable for initiating the exothermic phase change.

10. A system in a transmission, the system comprising:

a transmission hydraulic fluid; and

a heat storage and release system in contact with the hydraulic fluid, the heat storage and release system comprising;

a housing that defines a cavity;

a material capable of storing and releasing heat, wherein the material is in thermal communication with the transmission hydraulic fluid; and

an energy input device associated with the material and operable to input energy to the material to initiate an exothermic phase change within the material in order to deliver heat to the transmission hydraulic fluid.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the exothermic phase change is from a super cooled, liquid state to a solid state of the material.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the material is further configured to absorb heat generated by the transmission hydraulic fluid to thereby undergo a phase change from the solid state to a liquid state.

13. The system of claim 10 wherein the exothermic phase change may be initiated before the operation of the transmission.

14. The system of claim 10 wherein the material comprises sodium acetate or sodium ethanaote.

15. The system of claim 10 wherein the housing is coupled to a sump in the transmission.

16. The system of claim 10 wherein the energy input device comprises a mechanical input device configured to input mechanical energy to the material suitable for initiating the exothermic phase change.

17. A transmission comprising:

a transmission case;

a sump located at a bottom of the transmission case;

a hydraulic fluid disposed within the sump; and

a heat storage and release system in contact with the hydraulic fluid, the heat storage and release system comprising;

a housing that defines a cavity, wherein the housing is connected to a portion of the sump;

a material capable of storing and releasing heat, wherein the material is in thermal communication with the hydraulic fluid; and

an energy input device associated with the material and operable to input energy to the material to initiate an exothermic phase change within the material in order to deliver heat to the hydraulic fluid.

18. The transmission of claim 17 wherein the exothermic phase change is from a super cooled, liquid state to a solid state of the material.

19. The transmission of claim 17 wherein the material is further configured to absorb heat generated by the hydraulic fluid to thereby undergo a phase change from the solid state to a liquid state.

20. The transmission of claim 17 wherein the material comprises sodium acetate or sodium ethanaote.

21. The transmission of claim 17 wherein the housing is coupled to a front differential cover connected to the sump.

22. The system of claim 17 wherein the energy input device comprises a mechanical input device configured to input mechanical energy to the material suitable for initiating the exothermic phase change.

23. The transmission of claim 17 wherein the energy input device is activated by a transmission control module.