POPOFF VALVE IN HYDRAULIC ARRANGEMENT FOR MULTI-CLUTCH ASSEMBLY

• US 20190186560A1
• Filed: 12/14/2017
• Published: 06/20/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co.KG (INA-Holding Schaeffler GmbH & Co. KG)
• Original Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co.KG (INA-Holding Schaeffler GmbH & Co. KG)
• Inventors: Haines, Larry, Sturgin, Todd, Hixenbaugh, Joshua
• Granted Patent: US 10,641,348 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2048/0209 characterised by fluid valves having control pistons, e.g. spools
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2048/0221 Valves for clutch control systems; Details thereof
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2048/0257 Hydraulic circuit layouts, i.e. details of hydraulic circuit elements or the arrangement thereof
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 48/0206 in a system with a plurality of fluid-actuated clutches

Abstract

An arrangement for a multi-clutch assembly including a popoff valve is disclosed. The arrangement also includes a first clutch, a second clutch, and a spool valve assembly. Depending on the mode, the popoff valve either provides a flowpath for residual hydraulic fluid from a latching chamber of the spool valve assembly to a vent of the popoff valve, or provides a flowpath for supplying hydraulic fluid to the latching chamber of the spool valve assembly via a fluid connection from a supply inlet to a latch port of the popoff valve.

Claims

1. An arrangement for a multi-clutch assembly, the arrangement comprising:

a first clutch connected to a hydraulic circuit;

a second clutch connected to the hydraulic circuit;

a spool valve assembly arranged between a primary hydraulic fluid source and the first clutch and the second clutch, the spool valve assembly including a housing with a movable valve body arranged therein, a first end of the housing defining a first inlet and a first chamber connected to an auxiliary hydraulic fluid source, a spool spring at a second end of the housing engages the valve body, the second end of the housing defining a first latch port and a second chamber, the housing defines a first outlet in fluid communication with the first clutch, a second outlet in fluid communication with the second clutch, and a primary feed inlet connected to the primary hydraulic fluid source;

a popoff valve including a supply inlet in fluid connection with the second outlet of the spool valve assembly, a second latch port in fluid connection with the first latch port of the spool valve assembly, and a vent;

(a) in a first mode, the valve body is forced upward by the spool spring to an upper position, hydraulic fluid at a first pressure level is provided to the second clutch such that the second clutch is disengaged, and the popoff valve provides a flowpath for residual hydraulic fluid from the second chamber of the housing of the spool valve assembly to the vent of the popoff valve;

(b) in a second mode, the valve body is forced downward by pressure supplied to the first chamber of the spool valve assembly to a lower position, hydraulic fluid is provided to the first clutch via the spool valve assembly to engage the first clutch, and the popoff valve provides the flowpath for residual hydraulic fluid from the second chamber of the housing of the spool valve assembly to the vent of the popoff valve; and

(c) in a third mode, pressure in the first chamber drops and the valve body is forced upward by the spool spring to the upper position, hydraulic fluid at a second pressure level greater than the first pressure level is provided to the second clutch to engage the second clutch, and the popoff valve provides a flowpath for supplying hydraulic fluid to the second chamber of the housing of the spool valve assembly via a fluid connection from the supply inlet to the second latch port of the popoff valve.

2. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the first mode corresponds to a startup mode, the second mode corresponds to a low gear mode, and the third mode corresponds to a high gear mode.

3. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the popoff valve comprises a closing body arranged within a popoff housing and a popoff spring that biases the closing body.

4. The arrangement of claim 3, wherein the closing body is driven against the popoff spring in the third mode to compress the popoff spring and provide a passage between the supply inlet and the second latch port of the popoff valve.

5. The arrangement of claim 3, wherein in the first mode and the second mode the popoff spring biases the closing body to (1) close a passage between the supply inlet and the second latch port, and (2) open a ventilation passage between the second latch port and the vent.

6. The arrangement of claim 3, wherein the popoff spring is partially received within a pocket defined by the closing body.

7. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the primary feed inlet of the housing of the spool valve assembly is arranged axially between the first outlet and the second outlet.

8. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the vent is defined on an axial end of the popoff valve, and the second latch port and the supply inlet are defined on a radial surface of the popoff valve.

9. An arrangement for a multi-clutch assembly, the arrangement comprising:

a first clutch connected to a hydraulic circuit;

a second clutch connected to the hydraulic circuit;

a spool valve assembly arranged between a primary hydraulic fluid source and the first clutch and the second clutch, the spool valve assembly providing a flowpath to either the first clutch or the second clutch depending on a position of a movable valve body, the spool valve assembly including a spring and a latch chamber on one side of the movable valve body and a control chamber on an opposite side of the movable valve body;

a popoff valve including a supply inlet in fluid connection with an outlet of the spool valve assembly, a latch port in fluid connection with the latch chamber of the spool valve assembly, and a vent;

(a) in a first mode, the valve body is forced upward by the spring, hydraulic fluid at a first pressure level is provided to the second clutch such that the second clutch is disengaged, and the popoff valve provides a flowpath for residual hydraulic fluid from the latch chamber of the spool valve assembly to the vent of the popoff valve;

(b) in a second mode, the valve body is forced downward by pressure supplied to the control chamber of the spool valve assembly, hydraulic fluid is provided to the first clutch via the spool valve assembly to engage the first clutch, and the popoff valve provides the flowpath for residual hydraulic fluid from the latch chamber of the spool valve assembly to the vent of the popoff valve; and

(c) in a third mode, pressure in the control chamber drops and the valve body is forced upward by the spring, hydraulic fluid at a second pressure level greater than the first pressure level is provided to the second clutch to engage the second clutch, and the popoff valve provides a flowpath for supplying hydraulic fluid to the latch chamber of the spool valve assembly via a fluid connection from the supply inlet to the latch port of the popoff valve.

10. The arrangement of claim 9, wherein the first mode corresponds to a startup mode, the second mode corresponds to a low gear mode, and the third mode corresponds to a high gear mode.

11. The arrangement of claim 9, wherein the popoff valve comprises a closing body arranged within a popoff housing and a popoff spring that biases the closing body.

12. The arrangement of claim 11, wherein the closing body is driven against the popoff spring in the third mode to compress the popoff spring and provide a passage between the supply inlet and the latch port of the popoff valve.

13. The arrangement of claim 11, wherein in the first mode and the second mode the popoff spring biases the closing body to (1) close a passage between the supply inlet and the latch port, and (2) open a ventilation passage between the latch port and the vent.

14. The arrangement of claim 11, wherein the popoff spring is partially received within a pocket defined by the closing body.

15. The arrangement of claim 9, wherein the vent is defined on an axial end of the popoff valve, and the latch port and the supply inlet are defined on a radial surface of the popoff valve.