Thermal valve assembly stand tube

• US 7,766,126 B2
• Filed: 08/03/2006
• Issued: 08/03/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Berger, Todd R., Coleman, Steven A., Buczkowski, Bradley A., Loe, Derril A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ridley; Richard W
• Assistant Examiner(s): DIAZ, THOMAS C
• Application Number:
  US11/462,109
• Publication Number:
  US 20080047394A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,461 Days
• Field of Search: 746/06.R, 746/06.A, 137/265, 137/468, 137/572, 137/576, 137/599.11, 180/339, 184/6.22, 184/6.23, 184/7.3, 184/11.1, 184/13.1, 210/167.08, 210/254
• US Class Current: 184/6.12
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/0423 Lubricant guiding means mounted or supported on the casing, e.g. shields or baffles for collecting lubricant, tubes or pipes means for guiding lubricant into an axial channel of a shaft F16H57/0426; lubrication by injection, injection nozzles or tubes therefore F16H57/0456
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/0447 Control of lubricant levels, e.g. lubricant level control dependent on temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/045 Lubricant storage reservoirs, e.g. reservoirs in addition to a gear sump for collecting lubricant in the upper part of a gear case
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/0489 with endless flexible members, e.g. belt CVTs
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7737 Thermal responsive
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86228 With communicating opening in common walls of tanks or compartments
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/2186 Gear casings

Abstract

An integral stand tube for regulating fluid level within a transmission is provided. The stand tube includes an upper opening, at least one lower opening, and an internal volume defined by at least one internal passage for directing fluid from a valve body-side of a transmission to a main sump located on a gear-side of the transmission. The lower opening is operatively connected to a thermal valve assembly and a fluid passage formed in the transmission case between the auxiliary sump of the valve body-side and the main sump of the gear-side. Fluid passing from auxiliary sump to main sump bypasses dynamic transmission components to thereby minimize fluid aeration due to contact therebetween.

Claims

1. A transmission having a gear-side with dynamic transmission components lubricatable by a fluid and a valve body-side having a transmission valve body assembly, the transmission comprising:

a case at least partially defining a main sump volume containing the dynamic transmission components and an auxiliary sump volume containing the transmission valve body assembly, the case defining an upper fluid gate near the top of the case and a lower fluid gate near the bottom of the case, wherein the upper fluid gate and the lower fluid gate each allow fluid to flow from the valve body-side of the case to the gear-side of the case; and

a stand tube positioned within the case on the valve body-side, and adapted to direct fluid through the lower fluid gate before the fluid reaches the upper fluid gate;

wherein the stand tube defines an internal volume having a top opening in the auxiliary sump volume, and a bottom opening in direct fluid communication with the main sump volume through the lower fluid gate so that the fluid by-passes the dynamic components by passing through the stand tube to the lower fluid gate.

2. The transmission of claim 1, including a thermal valve assembly at least partially disposed within the auxiliary sump volume and operable to selectively communicate fluid from the auxiliary sump volume to the main sump volume through the lower fluid gate irrespective of whether the fluid is communicated from the bottom opening of the stand tube.

3. The transmission of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the stand tube is configured to substantially conform to an internal profile of the case.

4. The transmission of claim 1, wherein the stand tube is at least partially molded into the case.

5. The transmission of claim 1, wherein the stand tube is constructed at least partially of temperature resistant nylon.

6. A stand tube for a transmission, the transmission having a gear-side with dynamic transmission components that are lubricatable by a fluid, a valve body-side having a transmission valve body assembly, and a case at least partially defining a main sump volume on the gear-side, an auxiliary sump volume on the valve body-side, an upper fluid gate between the gear-side and the valve body-side near a top of the case, and a lower fluid gate between the gear-side and the valve body-side near a bottom of the case, the stand tube defining

a plurality of internal fluid passages and at least one sidewall forming an internal volume, a top opening and a bottom opening;

wherein the stand tube is configured to direct fluid from the valve body-side directly to the gear-side through the lower fluid gate before the fluid reaches the upper fluid gate, thereby minimizing contact between the fluid and the dynamic components of the transmission.

7. The stand tube of claim 6, wherein the plurality of internal fluid passages includes:

a first fluid passage having an upper inlet and a lower outlet connected to the lower fluid gate;

a second fluid passage having a lower inlet positioned in the auxiliary sump volume and adapted to allow fluid to enter the second passage from the auxiliary sump volume, and an upper outlet positioned below the upper inlet of the first fluid passage to allow fluid rising within the second passage to thereby enter the first passage; and

a main opening positioned above and substantially spanning the upper inlet of the first fluid passage and the upper outlet of the second fluid passage, whereby fluid in the auxiliary sump volume may directly enter the first passage through the main opening.

8. The stand tube of claim 7, wherein the transmission includes a thermal valve assembly, and wherein the stand tube includes a flange operatively connected to the bottom opening, and wherein the lower outlet of the first passage is configured for connection to the lower fluid gate to by-pass the thermal valve assembly disposed between the stand tube and the lower fluid gate to direct the fluid from the auxiliary sump volume to the main sump volume.

9. The stand tube of claim 7, wherein at least one sidewall is configured to substantially conform to the internal profile of the case.

10. The stand tube of claim 7, wherein the stand tube is at least partially molded into the case.

11. The stand tube of claim 7, wherein the stand tube is constructed of temperature-resistant nylon.