Automatic fluid draining from a hydraulic system component of an automatic transmission

• US 6,944,529 B2
• Filed: 09/12/2003
• Issued: 09/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Person, Dennis, Becker, Lee
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gibson, Eric M.
• Application Number:
  US10/661,980
• Publication Number:
  US 20050060078A1
• Time in Patent Office: 732 Days
• Field of Search: 701/51, 701/66, 137/488, 137/487, 137/487.5, 477/34, 477/38, 477/50, 477/79
• US Class Current: 701/51
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2061/0037 characterised by controlled fluid supply to lubrication circuits of the gearing see also lubrication control F16H57/0446
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/0021 Generation or control of line pressure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/776 Control by pressures across flow line valve
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7762 Fluid pressure type

Abstract

In a hydraulic system for an automatic transmission, a method for automatically draining fluid from an oil cooler and related hydraulic lines when power is off to prevent fluid leakage, escape and outflow when they are disconnected from the system. A control system includes a source of relatively high pressure when power is on, an oil cooler, fluid circuit lines for supplying transmission oil to the cooler, a source of low pressure for containing fluid, such as an oil sump, and a valve hydraulically connected to the circuit, high pressure source, and low pressure source, the valve having a first state at which a hydraulic connection through the valve between the circuit and the source of low pressure is closed when power is on, and a second state at which a hydraulic connection through the valve between the circuit and the low pressure source is open when power is off.

Claims

1. A hydraulic system of an automatic transmission for draining fluid from a portion of the hydraulic system, comprising:

a fluid source for supplying fluid to the system;

an oil cooler through which hydraulic fluid flows;

a circuit hydraulically connecting the fluid source to the oil cooler;

a reservoir for containing fluid at relatively low pressure; and

a valve hydraulically connected by the circuit to the oil cooler, the fluid source and the reservoir, the valve having a first state at which a hydraulic connection through the valve between the fluid source and the reservoir is closed, and a hydraulic connection between the oil cooler and the reservoir is open, and a second state at which a hydraulic connection through the valve between the oil cooler and the fluid source is open.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the valve further comprises:

a chamber hydraulically connected to the circuit, the fluid source, and the reservoir through mutually spaced ports in the chamber;

a spool moveable in the chamber, including a first land on which a pressure force tending to move the spool to the first state is produced in response to fluid pressure, and a second land for opening and closing communication between the component and the reservoir as the spool moves in the chamber; and

a spring for biasing the spool to the second state in opposition to the pressure force.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a lubrication circuit hydraulically connected to the oil cooler; and

a second valve hydraulically connected to the fluid source and the lubrication circuit, disposed in parallel flow relation with the oil cooler, for alternately opening and closing a connection between the fluid source and the lubrication circuit through the second valve in response to a temperature of the fluid.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a lubrication circuit hydraulically connected to the circuit; and

a second valve hydraulically connected to the fluid source and the lubrication circuit, disposed in parallel flow relation with the oil cooler, for closing a connection between the fluid source and the lubrication circuit through the second valve when a temperature of the fluid is equal to or greater than a predetermined temperature, and for opening the connection between the fluid source and the lubrication circuit through the second valve when the temperature of the fluid is less than the predetermined temperature.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprises:

a lubrication circuit hydraulically connected to the circuit;

a second valve hydraulically connected to the fluid source and the lubrication circuit, disposed in parallel flow relation with the oil cooler, for alternately opening and closing a connection between the fluid source and the lubrication circuit through the second valve in response to a temperature of the fluid;

a torque converter including a bladed impeller wheel and a bladed turbine wheel hydrokinetically coupled to the impeller;

wherein the fluid source is a source of converter apply pressure for supplying pressurized fluid to the torque converter;

a first hydraulic path connecting the valve and the source of converter apply pressure; and

wherein the second valve closes the first hydraulic path against the passage of fluid from the torque converter when a temperature of the fluid is equal to or less than a predetermined temperature.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a lubrication circuit hydraulically connected to the circuit;

a second valve hydraulically connected to the fluid source and the lubrication circuit, disposed in parallel flow relation with the oil cooler, for alternately opening and closing a connection between the fluid source and the lubrication circuit through the second valve in response to a temperature of the fluid;

a torque converter including a bladed impeller wheel, a bladed turbine wheel hydrokinetically coupled to the impeller, and a bypass clutch that is engaged and disengaged in response to the differential pressure across the bypass clutch;

wherein the fluid source is a source of converter apply pressure for supplying pressurized fluid to the torque converter tending to engage the bypass clutch, and a source of converter release pressure supplied to the torque converter tending to disengage the bypass clutch;

a first hydraulic path connecting the valve and the source of converter apply pressure;

a second hydraulic path connecting the valve and the source of converter release pressure; and

wherein the second valve closes the first hydraulic path and second hydraulic path against the passage of fluid from the torque converter when a temperature of the fluid is equal to or less than a predetermined temperature.

7. A hydraulic system for an automatic transmission of a motor vehicle having a power source, for draining fluid from a component hydraulically connected to the system, comprising:

a fluid source supplying pressurized fluid to the system when the power source is operating;

a reservoir located at a first elevation, for containing fluid at relatively low pressure;

an oil cooler located at a higher elevation than the first elevation;

a circuit hydraulically connecting the fluid source to the cooler; and

a valve hydraulically connected by the circuit to the cooler, the fluid source, and the reservoir, the valve having a first state at which first state a hydraulic connection through the valve between the fluid source and the reservoir is closed, and a hydraulic connection between the oil cooler and the reservoir is open, and a second state at which second state a hydraulic connection through the valve between the cooler and the fluid source is open.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the valve further comprises:

a chamber hydraulically connected to the circuit, the fluid source, and the reservoir through mutually spaced ports in the chamber;

a spool moveable in the chamber, including a first land on which a pressure force tending to move the spool to the first state is produced in response to fluid pressure, and a second land for opening and closing communication between the cooler and the reservoir as the spool moves in the chamber; and

a spring for biasing the spool to the second state in opposition to the pressure force.

9. The system of claim 7, further comprising:

a lubrication circuit hydraulically connected to the oil cooler; and

a second valve hydraulically connected to the fluid source and the lubrication circuit, disposed in parallel flow relation with the cooler, for alternately opening and closing a connection between the fluid source and the lubrication circuit through the second valve in response to a temperature of the fluid.

10. The system of claim 7, further comprising:

a lubrication circuit hydraulically connected to the circuit; and

a second valve hydraulically connected to the fluid source and the lubrication circuit, disposed in parallel flow relation with the cooler, for closing a connection between the fluid source and the lubrication circuit through the second valve when a temperature of the fluid is equal to or greater than a predetermined temperature, and for opening the connection between the fluid source and the lubrication circuit through the second valve when the temperature of the fluid is less than the predetermined temperature.

11. The system of claim 7, further comprising:

a lubrication circuit hydraulically connected to the circuit;

a second valve hydraulically connected to the fluid source and the lubrication circuit, disposed in parallel flow relation with the oil cooler, for alternately opening and closing a connection between the fluid source and the lubrication circuit through the second valve in response to a temperature of the fluid;

a torque converter including a bladed impeller wheel and a bladed turbine wheel hydrokinetically coupled to the impeller;

wherein the fluid source is a source of converter apply pressure for supplying pressurized fluid to the torque converter;

a first hydraulic path connecting the valve and the source of converter apply pressure; and

wherein the second valve closes the first hydraulic path against the passage of fluid from the torque converter when a temperature of the fluid is equal to or less than a predetermined temperature.

12. The system of claim 7, further comprising:

a lubrication circuit hydraulically connected to the circuit;

a second valve hydraulically connected to the fluid source and the lubrication circuit, disposed in parallel flow relation with the oil cooler, for alternately opening and closing a connection between the fluid source and the lubrication circuit through the second valve in response to a temperature of the fluid;

a torque converter including a bladed impeller wheel, a bladed turbine wheel hydrokinetically coupled to the impeller, and bypass clutch that is engaged and disengaged in response to the differential pressure across the bypass clutch;

wherein the fluid source is a source of converter apply pressure for supplying pressurized fluid to the torque converter tending to engage the bypass clutch and a source of converter release pressure supplied to the torque converter tending to disengage the bypass clutch;

a first hydraulic path connecting the valve and the source of converter apply pressure;

a second hydraulic path connecting the valve and the source of converter release pressure; and

wherein the second valve closes the first hydraulic path and second hydraulic path against the passage of fluid from the torque converter when a temperature of the fluid is equal to or greater than a predetermined temperature.