Accumulator assembly

• US 8,567,444 B2
• Filed: 06/03/2011
• Issued: 10/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Marin, Carlos E., Basin, Leonid
• Primary Examiner(s): Shaver, Kevin P
• Assistant Examiner(s): LUZECKY, CHRISTOPHER M
• Application Number:
  US13/152,974
• Publication Number:
  US 20120085450A1
• Time in Patent Office: 879 Days
• Field of Search: 138/26, 138/27, 138/28, 138/30, 138/31, 417/416, 417/417, 251/129.08, 137/625.61, 123/447, 180/53.4, 180/165, 280/216
• US Class Current: 138/31
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2400/4185 Mechanical assistance, i.e. using springs or accumulators without feedback control
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 1/24 with rigid separating means, e.g. pistons
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2201/21 using springs
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2201/31 having rigid separating means, e.g. pistons
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2201/40 Constructional details of accumulators not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/0021 Generation or control of line pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/067 using an accumulator
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8659 Variable orifice-type modulator

Abstract

An accumulator assembly for a motor vehicle powertrain includes an armature and a follower. Together the armature and the follower can selectively lock together. The accumulator assembly may include a biasing member and a solenoid. When the solenoid is de-energized, the biasing member pushes the armature towards the follower to lock the armature and the follower together. When the solenoid is energized, the armature is magnetically drawn towards the solenoid and away from the follower to unlock the two components and to compress the biasing member.

Claims

1. An accumulator assembly for a motor vehicle powertrain comprising:

a valve body having a longitudinal axis, the valve body having an inner surface that defines a bore;

an inner sleeve attached to and located within the valve body, the inner sleeve being coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the valve body;

a bearing element positioned near an end of the inner sleeve;

a follower located within the valve body and being coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the valve body, the follower having a ramp that is engagable with the bearing element and having an outer surface that together with the bore of the valve body define a chamber;

an armature positioned within the inner sleeve and being coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the valve body, the armature having a detent that accommodates the bearing element, wherein the armature and the follower are moveable along the longitudinal axis between an unlocked position and a locked position; and

a solenoid proximate the armature, the solenoid being operable to move the armature to the unlocked position,

wherein the bearing element engages the ramp of the follower in the locked position and disengages from the ramp in the unlocked position, the volume of the chamber in the locked position being greater than the volume of the chamber in the unlocked position, and

wherein when the motor vehicle remains on, the solenoid is de-activated and the armature and the follower lock together in the locked position, and wherein the volume of the chamber increases to draw the fluid into the chamber.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the solenoid includes a solenoid coil that is energized to magnetically draw the armature away from the follower to the unlocked position.

3. The assembly of claim 1 further comprising a first biasing member located between a body portion of the inner sleeve and the follower, the first biasing member being biased to push the follower and the armature away from each other.

4. The assembly of claim 3 wherein the first biasing member is a spring.

5. The assembly of claim 3 further comprising a second biasing member located partially within an aperture of the armature, second biasing member being biased to push the armature towards the follower.

6. The assembly of claim 5 wherein the second biasing member is a spring.

7. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the ramp includes a detent that engages with the bearing element in the locked position.

8. The assembly of claim 7 wherein the detent of the ramp is a circumferential groove.

9. The assembly of claim 7 wherein the detent of the ramp is a plurality of discrete detents.

10. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the detent on the armature is a circumferential groove.

11. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the detent on the armature is a plurality of discrete detents.

12. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the bearing element is a plurality of bearings.

13. An accumulator assembly for a motor vehicle powertrain comprising:

a valve body having a longitudinal axis, the valve body having an inner surface that defines a bore;

an inner sleeve attached to and located within the valve body, the inner sleeve being coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the valve body;

a bearing element positioned near an end of the inner sleeve;

a follower located within the valve body and being coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the valve body, the follower having a ramp that is engagable with the bearing element and having an outer surface that together with the bore of the valve body define a chamber; and

an armature positioned within the inner sleeve and being coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the valve body, the armature having a detent that accommodates the bearing element, wherein the armature and the follower are moveable along the longitudinal axis between an unlocked position and a locked position;

a solenoid coupled to the valve body proximate the armature, the solenoid having a coil operable to move the armature to the unlocked position when the solenoid is activated, and

wherein the bearing element engages the ramp of the follower in the locked position and disengages from the ramp in the unlocked position, the volume of the chamber in the locked position being greater than the volume of the chamber in the unlocked position, and

wherein when the motor vehicle remains on, the solenoid is de-activated and the armature and the follower lock together in the locked position, and wherein the volume of the chamber increases to draw the fluid into the chamber.

14. The assembly of claim 13 wherein when the motor vehicle is started, the solenoid is activated to move the armature to the unlocked position.

15. The assembly of claim 13 wherein when the motor vehicle is turned off, the chamber retains the fluid previously accumulated.

16. The assembly of claim 13 further comprising a first biasing member located between a body portion of the inner sleeve and the follower, the first biasing member being biased to push the follower and the armature away from each other, and further comprising a second biasing member located partially within an aperture of the armature, the second biasing member being biased to push the armature towards the follower.