LATCHING CLUTCH CONTROL SYSTEM

• US 20130296093A1
• Filed: 04/22/2013
• Published: 11/07/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Ross, Craig S., Otanez, Paul G.
• Granted Patent: US 9,249,844 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 475/127
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2048/0203 with an accumulator; Details thereof
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2048/0221 Valves for clutch control systems; Details thereof
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2048/0233 by rotary pump actuation
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2048/0257 Hydraulic circuit layouts, i.e. details of hydraulic circuit elements or the arrangement thereof
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 25/14 Fluid pressure control
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 48/02 Control by fluid pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 48/066 Control of fluid pressure, e.g. using an accumulator F16D48/062, F16D48/068 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2061/0034 Accumulators for fluid pressure supply; Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2200/003 characterised by the number of forward speeds
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2200/201 with three sets of orbital gears
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2312/14 Going to, or coming from standby operation, e.g. for engine start-stop operation at traffic lights
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 3/62 Gearings having three or more central gears F16H3/68 - F16H3/78 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 3/66 composed of a number of gear trains without drive passing from one train to another
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 47/04 the mechanical gearing being of the type with members having orbital motion
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/0021 Generation or control of line pressure

Abstract

A clutch latching system is provided for latching and draining a torque transmitting mechanism. The latching clutch control system may include a latching valve, a release valve, and an accumulator. The clutch latching system may include a clutch feed channel configured to provide hydraulic fluid from a pressurized source to a torque transmitting device when the torque transmitting device is engaged and the engine is running. A latching valve connects the clutch feed channel to the torque transmitting device. The latching valve is configured to selectively trap pressurized hydraulic fluid within the torque transmitting device. A hydraulic pressure storage circuit configured to selectively provide pressurized hydraulic fluid to the latching valve to unlatch the latching valve. A multiple speed transmission is also provided.

Claims

1. A hydraulic fluid latching system for a torque transmitting device of a transmission of a motor vehicle having an engine, the hydraulic fluid latching system comprising:

a clutch feed channel configured to provide hydraulic fluid from a pressurized source to a torque transmitting device when the torque transmitting device is engaged and the engine is running;

a latching valve connecting the clutch feed channel to the torque transmitting device, the latching valve configured to selectively trap pressurized hydraulic fluid within the torque transmitting device; and

a hydraulic pressure storage circuit configured to selectively provide pressurized hydraulic fluid to the latching valve to unlatch the latching valve.

2. The hydraulic fluid latching system of claim 1, wherein the hydraulic pressure storage circuit includes an accumulator.

3. The hydraulic fluid latching system of claim 2, the clutch feed channel having an inlet portion and a clutch portion, the hydraulic pressure storage circuit further comprising an inlet valve connecting the inlet portion to the clutch portion, the clutch portion being in communication with the latching valve, the inlet portion being in communication with the source of pressurized hydraulic fluid.

4. The hydraulic fluid latching system of claim 3, wherein pressurized hydraulic fluid is stored in the accumulator when the engine is on, the hydraulic pressure storage circuit configured to selectively provide the pressurized hydraulic fluid stored in the accumulator to the latching valve to unlatch the latching valve.

5. The hydraulic fluid latching system of claim 4, the hydraulic pressure storage circuit further comprising a release valve configured to selectively hold the pressurized hydraulic fluid within the accumulator, the release valve being configured to selectively open to allow the pressurized hydraulic fluid to flow from the accumulator to the latching valve to unlatch the latching valve.

6. The hydraulic fluid latching system of claim 5, wherein the inlet valve is normally open to allow pressurized hydraulic fluid to flow from the inlet portion to the clutch portion when the torque transmitting device is engaged, the hydraulic pressure storage circuit being configured to close the inlet valve to unlatch the latching valve.

7. The hydraulic fluid latching system of claim 6, further comprising a controller configured to monitor vehicle conditions and to determine whether the latching valve should be unlatched by the hydraulic pressure storage circuit, the controller being configured to selectively cause the hydraulic pressure storage circuit to unlatch the latching valve.

8. The hydraulic fluid latching system of claim 6, the accumulator being a first accumulator and the release valve being a first release valve, the hydraulic pressure storage circuit further comprising a second accumulator and a second release valve, wherein pressurized hydraulic fluid is stored in the second accumulator when the engine is on, the second release valve being configured to selectively hold the pressurized hydraulic fluid within the second accumulator, the second release valve being configured to selectively open to allow the pressurized hydraulic fluid to flow from the second accumulator to an inlet valve closing channel to close the inlet valve.

9. The hydraulic fluid latching system of claim 8, the hydraulic pressure storage circuit comprising a first one-way valve disposed between the source of pressurized hydraulic fluid and the first accumulator, the hydraulic pressure storage circuit comprising a second one-way valve disposed between the source of pressurized hydraulic fluid and the second accumulator, the first and second one-way valves configured to allow pressurized hydraulic fluid to flow from the source to the accumulators when the engine is on.

10. The hydraulic fluid latching system of claim 9, the hydraulic pressure storage circuit further comprising a release control line in communication with the first and second release valves, the release control line configured to open the first and second release valves to allow the pressurized hydraulic fluid to be released from the first and second accumulators.

11. The hydraulic fluid latching system of claim 10, the hydraulic pressure storage circuit further comprising an inlet closure line disposed between the second release valve and the inlet valve and an unlatching line disposed between the first release valve and the latching valve, the unlatching line defining a first orifice therein to drain hydraulic fluid to a sump, the inlet closure line defining a second orifice therein to drain hydraulic fluid to the sump.

12. The hydraulic fluid latching system of claim 6, the hydraulic pressure storage circuit further comprising a release control line configured to open the release valve to allow the pressurized hydraulic fluid to be released from the accumulator.

13. The hydraulic fluid latching system of claim 12, the hydraulic pressure storage circuit further comprising an inlet closure line disposed between the release valve and the inlet valve and an unlatching line disposed between the release valve and the latching valve, the unlatching line defining an orifice therein, the hydraulic pressure storage circuit further comprising a one-way valve disposed between the release valve and the clutch portion of the clutch feed channel.

14. The hydraulic fluid latching system of claim 13, the orifice being a first orifice, the hydraulic pressure storage circuit further comprising a sump line in communication with the inlet closure line and the unlatching line, the sump line defining a second orifice therein to drain hydraulic fluid to a sump.

15. The hydraulic fluid latching system of claim 14, the one-way valve being a first one-way valve, the hydraulic pressure storage circuit comprising a second one-way valve disposed between the source of pressurized hydraulic fluid and the accumulator, and an accumulator line connecting the second one-way valve to the accumulator, the second one-way valve configured to allow pressurized hydraulic fluid to flow from the source to the accumulator when the engine is on, the accumulator line defining a third orifice therein.

16. The hydraulic fluid latching system of claim 6, wherein the release valve has an inlet port that is normally open and connects an accumulator charge line to the accumulator, the release valve being configured to close the inlet port when the release valve is opened to allow pressurized hydraulic fluid to flow from the accumulator to the latching valve.

17. The hydraulic fluid latching system of claim 6, wherein the inlet valve has first and second inlet ports, the first inlet port being normally open to connect the inlet portion of the clutch feed channel to the clutch portion of the clutch feed channel, the second inlet port being normally closed and connecting a release line to the clutch portion of the clutch feed channel, the first inlet port being configured to close when the second inlet port opens.

18. A hydraulic control system in a transmission having a torque transmitting, in a motor vehicle having an engine, the hydraulic control system comprising:

a source of pressurized hydraulic fluid for providing a pressurized hydraulic fluid;

a main line circuit in fluid communication with the source of pressurized hydraulic fluid;

a clutch feed channel in fluid communication with the source of pressurized hydraulic fluid, the clutch feed channel being configured to provide hydraulic fluid from the source to the torque transmitting device when the torque transmitting device is engaged and the engine is running;

a latching valve connecting the clutch feed channel to the torque transmitting device, the latching valve configured to selectively trap pressurized hydraulic fluid within the torque transmitting device, the clutch feed channel having an inlet portion and a clutch portion, the clutch portion being in communication with the latching valve, the inlet portion being in communication with the source of pressurized hydraulic fluid;

an inlet valve connecting the inlet portion of the clutch feed channel to the clutch portion of the clutch feed channel;

an accumulator, wherein pressurized hydraulic fluid is stored in the accumulator when the engine is on; and

a release valve configured to selectively hold the pressurized hydraulic fluid within the accumulator, the release valve being configured to selectively open to allow the pressurized hydraulic fluid to flow from the accumulator to the latching valve to unlatch the latching valve.

19. A multiple speed automatic transmission for use with a vehicle having an engine, the multiple speed automatic transmission comprising:

an input member;

an output member;

first, second, and third planetary gear sets each having first, second and third members;

a first interconnecting member continuously interconnecting the first member of the first planetary gear set with the second member of the second planetary gear set;

a second interconnecting member continuously interconnecting the second member of the first planetary gear set with the third member of the third planetary gear set;

a third interconnecting member continuously interconnecting the third member of the second planetary gear set with the second member of the third planetary gear set; and

five torque transmitting devices each selectively engageable to interconnect at least one of the first, second, and third members with at least one other of the first members, second members, third members and a stationary member,

wherein the torque transmitting devices are selectively engageable to establish a plurality of forward speed ratios and at least one reverse speed ratio between the input member and the output member,

wherein a first torque transmitting device of the five torque transmitting devices is in communication with a clutch feed channel configured to provide hydraulic fluid from a pressurized source to the first torque transmitting device when the first torque transmitting device is engaged and the engine is running, and

wherein a latching valve connects the clutch feed channel to the first torque transmitting device, the latching valve being configured to selectively trap pressurized hydraulic fluid within the first torque transmitting device, a hydraulic pressure storage circuit being configured to selectively provide pressurized hydraulic fluid to the latching valve to unlatch the latching valve.

20. The multiple speed automatic transmission of claim 19, wherein the first torque transmitting device is selectively engageable to interconnect the third member of the first planetary gear set with the stationary member;

a second torque transmitting device of the five torque transmitting devices is selectively engageable to interconnect the first member of the third planetary gear set with the first member of the second planetary gear set;

a third of the five torque transmitting devices is selectively engageable to interconnect the second member of the third planetary gear set and the third member of the second planetary gear set with the first member of the second planetary gear set;

a fourth of the five torque transmitting devices is selectively engageable to interconnect the second member of the third planetary gear set and the third member of the second planetary gear set with the stationary member; and

a fifth of the five torque transmitting devices is selectively engageable to interconnect the first member of the third planetary gear set with the stationary member.

21. The multiple speed automatic transmission of claim 20, wherein the input member is continuously connected for common rotation with the first member of the second planetary gear set, and the output member is continuously connected for common rotation with the second member of the first planetary gear set and the third member of the third planetary gear set.

22. The multiple speed automatic transmission of claim 21, wherein the hydraulic pressure storage circuit includes an accumulator, the clutch feed channel having an inlet portion and a clutch portion, the hydraulic pressure storage circuit further comprising an inlet valve connecting the inlet portion to the clutch portion, the clutch portion being in communication with the latching valve, the inlet portion being in communication with the source of pressurized hydraulic fluid,

wherein pressurized hydraulic fluid is stored in the accumulator when the engine is on, the hydraulic pressure storage circuit further comprising a release valve configured to selectively hold the pressurized fluid within the accumulator, the release valve being configured to selectively open to allow the pressurized hydraulic fluid to flow from the accumulator to the latching valve to unlatch the latching valve, and

wherein the inlet valve is normally open to allow hydraulic fluid to flow from the inlet portion to the clutch portion when the torque transmitting device is engaged, the hydraulic pressure storage circuit being configured to close the inlet valve to unlatch the latching valve.