TEMPERATURE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR TRANSMISSION

• US 20130092349A1
• Filed: 10/14/2011
• Published: 04/18/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Curtis, Tami A., Duhaime, Michael L., Tata, Anthony P., Bock, Peter Donald
• Granted Patent: US 9,022,176 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 165/51
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 5/002 Cooling
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/0413 Controlled cooling or heating of lubricant; Temperature control therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F16N 39/02 by cooling heat-exchangers in general F28

Abstract

An active/passive system for managing the temperature of fluid within an automatic transmission includes two heat exchangers, an active solenoid valve and a passive wax motor valve. A first heat exchanger provides transmission fluid heating and receives a flow of engine coolant. A second heat exchanger provides transmission fluid cooling and is exposed to ambient air. The solenoid valve which is preferably driven by a signal from a transmission control module (TCM) and the wax motor valve cooperate to provide three states of operation: transmission fluid heating, that is, heat added, cooling, that is, heat removed and pass-through or bypass (without heating or cooling).

Claims

1. A temperature control system for an automatic transmission comprising, in combination,

a first three way valve having a fluid inlet, a first fluid outlet and a second fluid outlet,

a first heat exchanger having a first flow path including a first inlet in fluid communication with said first fluid outlet of said first three way valve and a first outlet and a second fluid flow path isolated from and in thermal communication with said first flow path, said second flow path including a second inlet in fluid communication with engine coolant,

a second three way valve having a fluid inlet in fluid communication with said second fluid outlet of said first three way valve, a first fluid outlet and a second fluid outlet, said second fluid outlet of said second three way valve in fluid communication with said first outlet of said first heat exchanger, and

a second heat exchanger having a first flow path including a first inlet in fluid communication with said first fluid outlet of said second three way valve and a first outlet in fluid communication with said first outlet of said first heat exchanger and said second fluid outlet of said second three way valve and a second flow path isolated from and in thermal communication with said first flow path, said second flow path of said second heat exchanger in communication with ambient air.

2. The temperature control system for an automatic transmission of claim 1 wherein said fluid inlet of said first three way valve is supplied with transmission fluid from an automatic transmission.

3. The temperature control system for an automatic transmission of claim 1 wherein said second fluid outlet of said first three way valve and said second fluid outlet of said second three way valve communicate through a return line to a transmission.

4. The temperature control system for an automatic transmission of claim 1 wherein said first three way valve is a solenoid valve having a two piston spool and a return spring and said second three way valve includes a wax motor.

5. The temperature control system for an automatic transmission of claim 1 wherein said first flow paths of said first and said second heat exchangers are in fluid communication through a return line to an automatic transmission.

6. The temperature control system for an automatic transmission of claim 1 wherein said first three way valve includes a valve spool having at least two spaced apart pistons and a housing defining said first fluid outlet and said second fluid outlet, wherein said pistons are axially spaced apart a distance greater than a spacing between said outlets.

7. The temperature control system for an automatic transmission of claim 1 further including a transmission control module and wherein said first three way valve is a solenoid valve controlled by said transmission control module.

8. A temperature control system for an automatic transmission comprising, in combination,

a first diverter valve having a fluid inlet, a first fluid outlet and a second fluid outlet,

a first heat exchanger having a first flow path including a first inlet in fluid communication with said first fluid outlet of said first diverter valve and a first outlet and a second fluid flow path isolated from and in thermal communication with said first flow path, said second flow path including a second inlet in fluid communication with engine coolant,

a second diverter valve having a fluid inlet in fluid communication with said second fluid outlet of said first diverter valve, a first fluid outlet and a second fluid outlet, said second fluid outlet of said second diverter valve in fluid communication with said first outlet of said first heat exchanger, and

a second heat exchanger having a first flow path including a first inlet in fluid communication with said first fluid outlet of said second diverter valve and a first outlet in fluid communication with said first outlet of said first heat exchanger and said second fluid outlet of said second diverter valve and a second flow path isolated from and in thermal communication with said first flow path, said second flow path of said second heat exchanger in communication with ambient air.

9. The temperature control system for an automatic transmission of claim 8 further including a transmission control module and wherein said first diverter valve is a solenoid valve controlled by said transmission control module.

10. The temperature control system for an automatic transmission of claim 8 wherein said first diverter valve includes a valve spool having at least two spaced apart pistons and a housing defining said first fluid outlet and said second fluid outlet, wherein said pistons are axially spaced apart a distance greater than a spacing between said outlets.

11. The temperature control system for an automatic transmission of claim 8 wherein said first diverter valve is a solenoid valve having a two piston spool and a return spring and said second diverter valve includes a wax motor.

12. The temperature control system for an automatic transmission of claim 8 wherein said fluid inlet of said first diverter valve is supplied with transmission fluid from an automatic transmission.

13. The temperature control system for an automatic transmission of claim 8 wherein said second fluid outlet of said first diverter valve and said second fluid outlet of said second diverter valve communicate through a return line to a transmission.

14. A temperature control system for an automatic transmission comprising, in combination,

a first valve having a fluid inlet for receiving fluid from an automatic transmission, a first fluid outlet and a second fluid outlet,

a first heat exchanger having a first flow path including a first inlet in fluid communication with said first fluid outlet of said first valve and a first outlet and a second fluid flow path isolated from and in thermal communication with said first flow path, said second flow path including a second inlet in fluid communication with engine coolant,

a second valve having a fluid inlet in fluid communication with said second fluid outlet of said first valve, a first fluid outlet and a second fluid outlet, said second fluid outlet of said second valve in fluid communication with said second fluid outlet of said first valve, and

a second heat exchanger having a first flow path including a first inlet in fluid communication with said first fluid outlet of said second valve and a first outlet in fluid communication with said first outlet of said first heat exchanger and said second fluid outlet of said second valve and a second flow path isolated from and in thermal communication with said first flow path, said second flow path of said second heat exchanger in communication with ambient air.

15. The temperature control system for an automatic transmission of claim 14 wherein said first valve is a two position solenoid valve and said second valve includes a wax motor.

16. The temperature control system for an automatic transmission of claim 14 further including a transmission control module and wherein said first valve is a solenoid valve controlled by said transmission control module.

17. The temperature control system for an automatic transmission of claim 14 wherein said first valve includes a valve spool having at least two spaced apart pistons and a housing defining said first fluid outlet and said second fluid outlet, wherein said pistons are axially spaced apart a distance greater than a spacing between said outlets.

18. The temperature control system for an automatic transmission of claim 14 wherein said fluid inlet of said first valve is supplied with transmission fluid from an automatic transmission.