Transmission heating and storage device

• US 8,978,515 B2
• Filed: 03/22/2010
• Issued: 03/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Silva, Renato Freitas, Riedel, Paulo A
• Primary Examiner(s): Krause, Justin
• Application Number:
  US12/728,751
• Publication Number:
  US 20110226089A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,821 Days
• Field of Search: 746/06.A, 746/06.R, 123/41.14, 123/196.AB, 123/142.5 R, 165/104.11, 165/104.14, 165/104.21, 165/104.25, 165/10
• US Class Current: 74/606.A
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/0413 Controlled cooling or heating of lubricant; Temperature control therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/0494 with variable gear ratio or for reversing rotary motion
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 20/02 using latent heat
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 20/028 Control arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/14 Thermal energy storage
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/2186 Gear casings
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/2189 Cooling

Abstract

A heat storage and release system for a transmission includes a material capable of super cooling within an operating temperature range of the transmission. The material is in thermal communication with the transmission. An energy input device is associated with the material and operable to input energy to the material to initiate an exothermic phase change within the material in order to deliver heat to the transmission.

Claims

1. A transmission comprising:

a transmission control module;

an input shaft;

an output shaft;

a gear arrangement connected between the input shaft and the output shaft for providing a plurality of speed ratios between the input shaft and the output shaft;

a transmission case enclosing the gear arrangement;

a sump located at a bottom of the transmission case;

a hydraulic fluid disposed within the sump; and

a heat storage and release system submerged within the hydraulic fluid, the heat storage and release system comprising;

a housing that defines a cavity, wherein the housing is connected to a bottom surface of the sump;

a material disposed within the housing capable of storing and releasing heat, wherein the material is in thermal communication with the hydraulic fluid through the housing; and

an energy input device electrically coupled to the transmission control module and associated with the material and operable to input energy to the material when electrically activated by the transmission control module to initiate an exothermic phase change within the material in order to deliver heat to the hydraulic fluid.

2. The transmission of claim 1 wherein the exothermic phase change is from a super cooled, liquid state to a solid state of the material.

3. The transmission of claim 1 wherein the material is further configured to absorb heat generated by the hydraulic fluid to thereby undergo a phase change from the solid state to a liquid state.

4. The transmission of claim 1 wherein the material comprises sodium acetate or sodium ethanaote.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the energy input device comprises a mechanical input device configured to input mechanical energy to the material suitable for initiating the exothermic phase change.

6. A transmission comprising:

a transmission control module;

an input shaft;

an output shaft;

a gear arrangement connected between the input shaft and the output shaft for providing a plurality of speed ratios between the input shaft and the output shaft;

a transmission case enclosing the gear arrangement;

a sump located at a bottom of the transmission case;

a hydraulic fluid disposed within the sump; and

a heat storage and release system completely submerged within the hydraulic fluid, the heat storage and release system comprising;

a housing that defines a cavity, wherein the housing is connected to an absolute bottom surface of the sump;

a material disposed within the housing capable of storing and releasing heat, wherein the material is in thermal communication with the hydraulic fluid through the housing; and

an energy input device associated with the material and operable to input energy to the material to initiate an exothermic phase change within the material in order to deliver heat to the hydraulic fluid, wherein the energy input device is connected to the transmission control module.