Thermal valve assembly
First Claim
1. A thermal valve assembly for a transmission, the thermal valve assembly comprising:
- a body having a base portion with a plurality of opposing sidewalls extending therefrom;
a cover mounted with respect to said body and operable to at least partially close said body to form a volume;
an inlet orifice defined by said base portion;
an outlet orifice defined at least partially by at least one of said plurality of opposing sidewalls;
a plate operable to selectively close said inlet orifice;
a first post member fixed to and extending from said base portion and at least partially within said volume;
a second post member fixed to and extending from said base portion and at least partially within said volume, the second post member being spaced from the first post member;
wherein the plate is configured to slide along the first post member while the plate is pivoted about the second post member;
wherein the first post member and the second post member remain fixed to said base portion without movement relative to said base portion as the plate slides along the first post member and pivots about the second post member;
a first spring member disposed at least partially within said volume, said first spring member being operable to bias said plate against said base portion; and
wherein said first spring member has a variable stiffness characteristic responsive to temperature.
12 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A thermal valve assembly for a transmission is provided. The thermal valve assembly includes a body having a base portion having a plurality of opposing sidewalls extending therefrom. A cover is mounted with respect to the body and operates to at least partially close the body to form a volume. The base portion defines an inlet orifice, while at least one of the plurality of opposing sidewalls at least partially defines an outlet orifice. A plate is operable to selectively close the inlet orifice. A bi-metallic spring member is disposed at least partially within the volume. The bi-metallic spring member is operable to bias the plate against the base portion. Additionally, the bi-metallic spring member has a variable stiffness characteristic responsive to temperature.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A thermal valve assembly for a transmission, the thermal valve assembly comprising:
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a body having a base portion with a plurality of opposing sidewalls extending therefrom; a cover mounted with respect to said body and operable to at least partially close said body to form a volume; an inlet orifice defined by said base portion; an outlet orifice defined at least partially by at least one of said plurality of opposing sidewalls; a plate operable to selectively close said inlet orifice; a first post member fixed to and extending from said base portion and at least partially within said volume; a second post member fixed to and extending from said base portion and at least partially within said volume, the second post member being spaced from the first post member; wherein the plate is configured to slide along the first post member while the plate is pivoted about the second post member;
wherein the first post member and the second post member remain fixed to said base portion without movement relative to said base portion as the plate slides along the first post member and pivots about the second post member;a first spring member disposed at least partially within said volume, said first spring member being operable to bias said plate against said base portion; and wherein said first spring member has a variable stiffness characteristic responsive to temperature. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 14, 15)
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9. A thermal valve assembly mountable within an auxiliary sump volume of a transmission, the thermal valve assembly comprising:
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a body having a base portion with a plurality of opposing sidewalls extending therefrom; a cover mounted with respect to said body and operable to at least partially close said body to form a volume; an inlet orifice defined by said base portion; an outlet orifice defined at least partially by at least one of said plurality of opposing sidewalls; a plate operable to selectively close said inlet orifice;
said outlet orifice being in fluid communication with said inlet orifice when said plate does not close said inlet orifice and not being in fluid communication with said inlet orifice when said plate closes said inlet orifice;a bi-metallic spring member disposed at least partially within said volume, said bi-metallic spring member being operable to bias said plate against said base portion; a first post member fixed to and extending from said base portion and at least partially within said volume; a second post member fixed to and extending from said base portion and at least partially within said volume, the second post member being spaced from the first post member; wherein the plate is configured to slide along the first post member while the plate is pivoted about the second post member;
wherein the first post member and the second post member remain fixed to said base portion without movement relative to said base portion as the plate slides along the first post member and pivots about the second post member;wherein said first post member is configured to retain said bi-metallic spring member with respect to said body; wherein said plate defines a slot sufficiently configured for said sliding engagement of said first post member; and wherein said bi-metallic spring member has a variable stiffness characteristic responsive to temperature. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 16)
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17. A thermal valve assembly for a transmission, the thermal valve assembly comprising:
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a body having a base portion with a plurality of opposing sidewalls extending therefrom; a cover mounted with respect to said body and operable to at least partially close said body to form a volume; an inlet orifice defined by said base portion; an outlet orifice defined at least partially by at least one of said plurality of opposing sidewalls, the outlet orifice and the inlet orifice being at a substantially right angle to each other; a plate operable to selectively close said inlet orifice;
said outlet orifice being in fluid communication with said inlet orifice when said plate does not close said inlet orifice and not being in fluid communication with said inlet orifice when said plate closes said inlet orifice;a thermally responsive spring member disposed at least partially within said volume, said thermally responsive spring member being operable to bias said plate against said base portion; and wherein said thermally responsive spring member has a variable stiffness characteristic responsive to temperature. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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Specification