Valve piston repositioning apparatus and method

• US 8,234,784 B2
• Filed: 02/13/2008
• Issued: 08/07/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Steven W. Younger
• Original Assignee: Steven W. Younger
• Inventors: Younger, Steven W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Banks, Derris
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kue, Kaying
• Application Number:
  US12/030,592
• Publication Number:
  US 20090199403A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,637 Days
• Field of Search: 29225-230, 2940201-40208, 298/01, 298/08, 298/901.21, 298/880.1
• US Class Current: 29/888.041
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 13/0402 for linearly sliding valves, e.g. spool valves
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2061/0253 Details of electro hydraulic valves, e.g. lands, ports, spools or springs
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/0276 Elements specially adapted for hydraulic control units, e.g. valves
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49229 Prime mover or fluid pump making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4925 Repairing, converting, servicing or salvaging
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49407 Repairing, converting, servicing or salvaging
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49723 including reconditioning of part
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49726 Removing material
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53443 Means to assemble or disassemble container and fluid component
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53474 Means to insert or extract pen point
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53565 Plural spring engagement
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53617 Transmission spring

Abstract

Apparatus and method for extending the life of a booster valve in an automatic transmission. The booster valve commonly resides in the pump stator body and is modulated by reverse oil pressure and pressure control solenoid pressure signals. Pressure signals from the reverse oil pressure and the pressure control solenoid force a booster valve piston towards a pressure regulator valve piston also generally residing in the pump stator body. The booster valve piston slides inside a booster valve sleeve, and over time, the booster valve sleeve wears and the performance of the booster valve degrades or fails. The present invention replaces an original inner booster valve spring with a longer (or in some cases shorter) replacement booster valve spring to shift the operating range of the booster valve piston to an unworn portion of the booster valve sleeve to extend the life of the booster valve.

Claims

1. A method for extending the life of an automatic transmission booster valve, the method comprising:

partially disassembling the automatic transmission;

disassembling a booster valve assembly including an original booster valve piston and an original booster valve sleeve from the automatic transmission;

removing an original booster valve spring of the booster valve assembly;

replacing the original booster valve spring with a replacement booster valve spring configured to shift an operating range of a booster valve piston from a worn portion of a booster valve passage to an unworn portion of the booster valve passage;

removing ⅛

inches of material from a spooled end portion of the booster valve piston;

reassembling the booster valve assembly using the original booster valve piston and the original booster valve sleeve into the automatic transmission; and

reassembling the automatic transmission.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein replacing the original booster valve spring with a replacement spring comprises replacing the original booster valve spring with a longer replacement booster valve spring configured to shift the operating range of the booster valve piston from the worn portion of the booster valve passage to the unworn portion of the booster valve passage.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein replacing the original booster valve spring with a longer replacement booster valve spring comprises replacing the original booster valve spring with a longer and higher spring rate replacement booster valve spring configured to shift the operating range of the booster valve piston from the worn portion of a booster valve passage to the unworn portion of the booster valve passage.

4. The method of claim 2, the method further including inserting a bumper shim inside the replacement booster valve spring between the booster valve piston and a pressure regulator valve piston to prevent contact between the booster valve piston and the pressure regulator valve piston.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein replacing the original booster valve spring with a replacement booster valve spring comprises replacing the original booster valve spring with a shorter replacement booster valve spring configured to shift an operating range of the booster valve piston from the worn portion of the booster valve passage to the unworn portion of the booster valve passage.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein replacing the original booster valve spring with a replacement booster valve spring comprises replacing an original booster valve inner spring residing inside an outer spring with a replacement inner booster valve spring configured to shift an operating range of the booster valve from a worn portion of a booster valve passage to an unworn portion of the booster valve passage.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the inner booster valve spring is made from approximately 0.0625 inch diameter chrome silicon wire with a free length of approximately 1.12 inches, a coil inside diameter of approximately 0.269 inches and a coil outside diameter is approximately 0.394 inches.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the inner booster valve spring has a free length of approximately 1.12 inches and a spring rate of approximately 70.837 pound-feet/inch.

9. A method for extending the life of an automatic transmission booster valve, the method comprising:

partially disassembling the automatic transmission to access a pump stator body of the automatic transmission;

removing an original booster valve sleeve and an original booster valve piston from the pump stator body;

removing an original inner booster valve spring normally residing between the booster valve piston and a pressure regulator valve piston inside an outer spring;

replacing the original inner booster valve spring with a replacement inner booster valve spring having a longer length L and higher spring rate than the original inner booster valve spring, the replacement inner booster valve spring configured to shift an operating range of the booster valve piston from a worn portion of a booster valve passage in the booster valve sleeve to an unworn portion of the booster valve passage;

inserting a bumper shim inside the replacement inner booster valve spring between the pressure regulator valve piston and the booster valve piston,

reassembling the booster valve assembly using the original booster valve piston and the original booster valve sleeve into the pump stator body; and

reassembling the automatic transmission wherein the inner booster valve spring has a free length of 1.12 inches and a spring rate of 70.837 pound-feet/inch;

wherein the bumper shim is made from material selected from the group consisting of steel and aluminum and is between 0.12 inches and 0.15 inches in length; and

wherein the bumper shim is between 0.258 inches and 0.260 inches in diameter.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein inserting the bumper shim inside the replacement inner booster valve spring comprises inserting a bumper shim inside the replacement booster valve spring between the booster valve piston and a pressure regulator valve piston and aligned with the booster valve piston and a pressure regulator valve piston to prevent contact between the booster valve piston and the pressure regulator valve piston.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein inserting the bumper shim inside the replacement inner booster valve spring comprises inserting a bumper shim inside the replacement booster valve spring between the booster valve piston and a pressure regulator valve piston and aligned coaxially with the booster valve piston and a pressure regulator valve piston to prevent contact between the booster valve piston and the pressure regulator valve piston.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the inner booster valve spring is made from approximately 0.0625 inch diameter chrome silicon wire with a free length of approximately 1.12 inches, a coil inside diameter of approximately 0.269 inches and a coil outside diameter is approximately 0.394 inches.