TRANSMISSION FLUID EXPANSION RESERVOIR

• US 20130000761A1
• Filed: 06/30/2011
• Published: 01/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Stevens, Kenneth E.
• Granted Patent: US 9,581,237 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 137/593
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 11/061 Means for keeping lubricant level constant
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 11/029 Expansion reservoirs
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/0413 Controlled cooling or heating of lubricant; Temperature control therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/0447 Control of lubricant levels, e.g. lubricant level control dependent on temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F16N 19/006 Maintaining oil level level control in general G05D9/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86381 Head-establishing standpipe or expansion chamber [e.g., surge tanks]

Abstract

An active fluid reservoir for transmission fluid of an automatic transmission, in a first embodiment, comprehends an elongate reservoir disposed adjacent and parallel to fluid lines leading from the automatic transmission to the transmission oil (fluid) cooler (TOC). Depending upon available space, the reservoir may be associated with either the supply or return line or two smaller reservoirs associated with both lines. Thermally actuated valves at each end of the reservoir(s) open to allow fluid flow through the reservoir as fluid temperature increases and a diverter valve in the cooler line(s) closes to divert flow into the reservoir. In a second embodiment, the fluid reservoir comprehends a container, tank or similar storage device in fluid communication with a transmission oil cooler (TOC) line. Again, the device includes thermally actuated valves which open to provide fluid flow from the oil cooler line to the reservoir and a diverter valve in the oil cooler line which closes upon a temperature increase to divert flow to the reservoir.

Claims

1. A transmission fluid expansion reservoir assembly comprising, in combination,

a transmission cooler line,

a first valve disposed in said transmission cooler line,

a fluid reservoir,

a second valve disposed between said transmission cooler line and said fluid reservoir on a first side of said first valve,

a third valve disposed between said transmission cooler line and said fluid reservoir on a second side of said first valve, and

means connected to said first valve, said second valve and said third valve for closing said first valve while opening said second and third valves and closing said second and third valves while opening said first valve.

2. The transmission fluid expansion reservoir of claim 1 wherein said fluid reservoir is cylindrical and disposed parallel to said transmission cooler line.

3. The transmission fluid expansion reservoir of claim 1 wherein said fluid reservoir is disposed concentrically about said transmission cooler line.

4. The transmission fluid expansion reservoir of claim 1 wherein said fluid reservoir is a container.

5. The transmission fluid expansion reservoir of claim 1 wherein said means for opening and closing includes at least one bi-metal operator.

6. The transmission fluid expansion reservoir of claim 1 wherein said first, second and third valves are disc valves.

7. The transmission fluid expansion reservoir of claim 1 wherein said transmission cooler line supplies transmission oil to a transmission oil cooler.

8. A transmission fluid expansion reservoir assembly for an automatic transmission comprising, in combination,

a transmission cooler line,

a diverter valve disposed in said transmission cooler line,

a fluid reservoir,

an inlet valve disposed between said transmission cooler line and said fluid reservoir on one side of said first valve,

an outlet valve disposed between said transmission cooler line and said fluid reservoir on another side of said first valve, and

means connected to said diverter valve, said inlet valve and said outlet valve for closing said diverter valve while opening said inlet and outlet valves and closing said inlet and outlet valves while opening said diverter valve.

9. The transmission fluid expansion reservoir of claim 8 wherein said means for opening and closing includes at least one bi-metal operator.

10. The transmission fluid expansion reservoir of claim 8 wherein said diverter, inlet and outlet valves are disc valves.

11. The transmission fluid expansion reservoir of claim 8 wherein said transmission cooler line supplies transmission oil to a transmission oil cooler.

12. The transmission fluid expansion reservoir of claim 8 wherein said fluid reservoir is cylindrical and disposed parallel to said transmission cooler line.

13. The transmission fluid expansion reservoir of claim 8 wherein said fluid reservoir is disposed concentrically about said transmission cooler line.

14. The transmission fluid expansion reservoir of claim 8 wherein said fluid reservoir is a container.

15. An active transmission fluid expansion reservoir assembly for an automatic transmission comprising, in combination,

a transmission cooler line,

a diverter valve disposed in said transmission cooler line and including an operator for closing said diverter valve upon an increase in temperature,

a fluid reservoir,

an inlet valve disposed between said transmission cooler line and said fluid reservoir on one side of said diverter valve, said inlet valve including an operator for opening said inlet valve upon an increase in temperature, and

an outlet valve disposed between said transmission cooler line and said fluid reservoir on another side of said diverter valve, said outlet valve including an operator for opening said outlet valve upon an increase in temperature.

16. The transmission fluid expansion reservoir of claim 15 wherein said fluid reservoir is cylindrical and disposed parallel to said transmission cooler line.

17. The transmission fluid expansion reservoir of claim 15 wherein said fluid reservoir is disposed concentrically about said transmission cooler line.

18. The transmission fluid expansion reservoir of claim 15 wherein said fluid reservoir is a container.

19. The transmission fluid expansion reservoir of claim 15 wherein said diverter, inlet and outlet valves are disc valves.

20. The transmission fluid expansion reservoir of claim 15 wherein said valve operators are bi-metal actuators.