Control of the flow rate in a transmission oil cooler

• US 7,976,419 B2
• Filed: 12/11/2008
• Issued: 07/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Hartinger, Chip, Gooden, James T., Frait, Steve A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wright; Dirk
• Application Number:
  US12/332,427
• Publication Number:
  US 20100151981A1
• Time in Patent Office: 943 Days
• Field of Search: 475/159, 184/6.21, 184/6.22, 184/6.12
• US Class Current: 475/159
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/0409 characterised by the problem to increase efficiency, e.g. by reducing splash losses
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/0435 Pressure control for supplying lubricant; Circuits or valves therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/0446 the supply forming part of the transmission control unit, e.g. for automatic transmissions
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 7/0635 by action on throttling means G05D7/0688, G05D7/0694 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/19991 Lubrication

Abstract

A system for controlling a flow rate in a vehicle transmission includes a source of fluid exiting a torque converter, an oil cooler, a source of control pressure, and a valve for regulating a rate of fluid flow from the torque converter to the cooler in response to the control pressure.

Claims

1. A fluid system for controlling a flow rate in a vehicle transmission, comprising:

a fluid source;

a cooler;

a source of control pressure;

a valve for regulating a rate of fluid flow from the fluid source to the cooler in response to the control pressure; and

a lube circuit communicating with the cooler.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the fluid source is one of a torque converter and a main regulator.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a bypass valve arranged in parallel with the cooler and hydraulically communicating with the fluid source and the valve.

4. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a bypass valve arranged in parallel with the cooler and hydraulically communicating with the source of fluid and the valve; and

wherein the lube circuit is located downstream from and communicating with the bypass valve.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the source of control pressure comprises:

a source of solenoid feed pressure;

a valve connected to the solenoid feed pressure source and actuated by a solenoid, for producing a variable magnitude of control pressure.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the source of control pressure comprises a source of line pressure control.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the source of control pressure produce a first pressure indicating that the transmission is operating in a reference gear and a second pressure indicating that the transmission is operating in a gear other than the reference gear.

8. A fluid system for controlling a flow rate in a transmission for an automotive vehicle, comprising:

a source of fluid;

a cooler;

a second source of control pressure;

a valve for controlling a rate of fluid flow from the first source to the cooler by changing an open state of a connection between the first source and a vent port in response to a change in the control pressure.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the fluid source is one of a torque converter and a main regulator.

10. The system of claim 8 further comprising a lube circuit located downstream from and communicating with the cooler.

11. The system of claim 8 further comprising:

a bypass valve arranged in parallel with the cooler and hydraulically communicating with the fluid source and the valve.

12. The system of claim 8 further comprising:

a bypass valve arranged in parallel with the cooler and hydraulically communicating with the fluid source and the valve;

a lube circuit located downstream from and communicating with the cooler and the bypass valve.

13. The system of claim 8 wherein the source of control pressure comprises:

a source of solenoid feed pressure;

a valve connected to the solenoid feed pressure source and actuated by a solenoid, for producing a variable magnitude of control pressure.

14. The system of claim 8 wherein the source of control pressure comprises a source of line pressure.

15. The system of claim 8 wherein the source of control pressure produce a first pressure indicating that the transmission is operating in a reference gear and a second pressure indicating that the transmission is operating in a gear other than the reference gear.