Torque converter hydraulic control system for an automatic transmission

• US 9,341,199 B2
• Filed: 08/07/2013
• Issued: 05/17/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Benson, Christopher G., Berger, Todd R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wiehe, Nathaniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): KRAFT, LOGAN M
• Application Number:
  US13/961,467
• Publication Number:
  US 20140047828A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,014 Days
• Field of Search: 603/37, 192/3.29
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 15/26 Locking mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2061/0037 characterised by controlled fluid supply to lubrication circuits of the gearing
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/04 Features relating to lubrication or cooling or heatingin hydrokinetic gearing F16H41/30; control of lubrication or cooling in hydrostatic gearing F16H61/4165
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/0206 Layout of electro-hydraulic control circuits, e.g. arrangement of valves for control of actuators selecting and moving final output members, e.g. shift forks F16H61/2807
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/143 using electric control means

Abstract

A torque converter hydraulic control subsystem for a transmission is provided. The torque converter hydraulic control subsystem includes a source of pressurized hydraulic fluid that communicates with a torque converter clutch (TCC) regulation valve, a TCC control valve, and a lubrication boost valve. The torque converter hydraulic control subsystem is configured to provide cooling and lubrication fluid flow to a torque converter in all modes of operation.

Claims

1. A system for a motor vehicle comprising:

a source of pressurized hydraulic fluid;

a torque converter actuator operable to engage a torque converter lock-up clutch, the torque converter actuator having a release side port and an apply side port;

a cooler subsystem;

a control valve assembly having a first port in communication with the source of pressurized hydraulic fluid, a second port in communication with the apply side port, a third port in communication with the cooler subsystem, a fourth port, a fifth port in communication with the source of pressurized hydraulic fluid, a sixth port in communication with the release side port, and a spool moveable between at least a first position and a second position, wherein the first and fourth ports are isolated, the second port communicates with the third port, and the fifth port communicates with the sixth port when the spool is in the first position, and wherein the first port communicates with the second port, the fourth port communicates with the third port, and the fifth port is isolated when the spool is in the second position; and

a boost valve assembly disposed directly between the fourth port and the source of pressurized hydraulic fluid, wherein the boost valve assembly communicates hydraulic fluid to the fourth port when the pressurized hydraulic fluid exceeds a threshold pressure,

wherein the boost valve assembly includes a first inlet in communication with the source of pressurized hydraulic fluid, a second inlet in communication with the source of pressurized hydraulic fluid through a first orifice, an outlet in direct communication with the fourth port, and a boost spool moveable between at least first and second positions wherein the boost spool prevents fluid communication between the first inlet and the outlet when in the first position and the boost spool allows fluid communication between the first inlet and the outlet when in the second position,

wherein the boost spool includes a first end, a second end in communication with the second inlet, and a biasing member in contact with the first end, wherein the boost spool is moved to the second position when a force acting on the second end by the pressurized hydraulic fluid exceeds a force acting on the first end by the biasing member,

further comprising a second orifice disposed directly between the outlet of the boost valve assembly and the fourth port of the control valve assembly,

wherein the outlet communicates directly with the source of pressurized hydraulic fluid through a third orifice.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein further comprising a control solenoid in direct fluid communication with the spool of the control valve, wherein the control solenoid selectively communicates a pressurized hydraulic fluid signal that acts on the spool to move the spool between the first and second positions.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the control solenoid is a normally low, variable force solenoid.

4. The system of claim 2 wherein the control valve assembly includes a signal port that communicates with a first end of the spool, and wherein the control solenoid is in direct fluid communication with the signal port.

5. The system of claim 2 further comprising a regulation valve assembly having a signal port in direct communication with the control solenoid, an inlet in communication with the source of pressurized hydraulic fluid, an outlet in direct communication with the first port of the control valve assembly, a feedback port, and a regulator spool moveable between a plurality of positions, wherein the signal port and the feedback port communicate with opposite ends of the regulator spool and the position of the regulator spool controls the amount of pressurized hydraulic fluid communicated from the inlet to the outlet.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the threshold pressure is defined as the pressure from the source of pressurized hydraulic fluid associated with normal operating conditions of the motor vehicle.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein hydraulic fluid communicated to the apply side port engages the torque converter lock-up clutch and hydraulic fluid communicated to the release side port disengages the torque converter lock-up clutch.

8. A system for a motor vehicle comprising:

a source of pressurized hydraulic fluid;

a torque converter actuator operable to engage a torque converter lock-up clutch, the torque converter actuator having a release side port and an apply side port;

a cooler subsystem;

a control valve assembly having first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth ports, and a spool moveable between at least a first position and a second position, wherein the first and fourth ports are isolated, the second port communicates with the third port, and the fifth port communicates with the sixth port when the spool is in the first position, and wherein the first port communicates with the second port, the fourth port communicates with the third port, and the fifth port is isolated when the spool is in the second position;

a boost valve assembly having an inlet in communication with the source of pressurized hydraulic fluid and an outlet;

a pressure regulator valve assembly having an inlet in communication with the source of pressurized hydraulic fluid and an outlet;

a first fluid line connected to the first port and to the outlet of the pressure regulator valve assembly;

a second fluid line connected to the second port and to the apply side port;

a third fluid line connected to the third port and to the cooler subsystem;

a fourth fluid line connected to the fourth port and the outlet of the boost valve assembly;

a fifth fluid line connected to the fifth port and to the source of pressurized hydraulic fluid; and

a sixth fluid line connected to the sixth port and to the release side port;

wherein the boost valve assembly communicates hydraulic fluid to the fourth port when the pressurized hydraulic fluid in the fifth fluid line exceeds a threshold pressure.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the control valve assembly includes an exhaust port and the sixth port communicates with the exhaust port when the spool is in the second position.

10. The system of claim 8 further comprising a blow-off valve connected to the sixth fluid line.

11. The system of claim 8 wherein the regulation valve assembly further includes a signal port, a feedback port connected to the first fluid line, and a regulator spool moveable between a plurality of positions, wherein the signal port and the feedback port communicate with opposite ends of the regulator spool and the position of the regulator spool controls the flow of pressurized hydraulic fluid communicated from the inlet of the regulator valve assembly to the outlet of the regulator valve assembly.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the control valve assembly includes a signal port, and the system further comprises a signal fluid line connected to the signal port of the control valve assembly and the signal port of the pressure regulator assembly and a control solenoid connected to the signal fluid line, wherein the control solenoid selectively communicates a pressurized hydraulic fluid signal that acts on the spool to move the spool between the first and second positions and acts on the regulator spool to move the regulator spool between the plurality of positions.

13. The system of claim 8 further comprising an eighth fluid line connected between the fourth fluid line and the fifth fluid line and an orifice disposed within the eighth fluid line.

14. A system for a motor vehicle comprising:

a source of pressurized hydraulic fluid;

a torque converter actuator operable to engage a torque converter lock-up clutch, the torque converter actuator having a release side port and an apply side port;

a cooler subsystem;

a control valve assembly having first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth ports, and a spool moveable between at least a first position and a second position, wherein the first and fourth ports are isolated, the second port communicates with the third port, and the fifth port communicates with the sixth port when the spool is in the first position, and wherein the first port communicates with the second port, the fourth port communicates with the third port, and the fifth port is isolated when the spool is in the second position;

a boost valve assembly having an inlet in communication with the source of pressurized hydraulic fluid and an outlet;

a pressure regulator valve assembly having an inlet in communication with the source of pressurized hydraulic fluid and an outlet;

a first fluid line connected to the first port and to the outlet of the pressure regulator valve assembly;

a second fluid line connected to the second port and to the apply side port;

a third fluid line connected to the third port and to the cooler subsystem;

a fourth fluid line connected to the fourth port and the outlet of the boost valve assembly;

a fifth fluid line connected to the fifth port and to the source of pressurized hydraulic fluid; and

a sixth fluid line connected to the sixth port and to the release side port;

wherein the boost valve assembly includes a second inlet connected to the fifth fluid line through a first orifice and a boost spool moveable between at least first and second positions, wherein the boost spool prevents fluid communication between the inlet and the outlet when in the first position and the boost spool allows fluid communication between the inlet and the outlet when in the second position.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the control valve assembly includes an exhaust port and the sixth port communicates with the exhaust port when the spool is in the second position.

16. The system of claim 14 further comprising a blow-off valve connected to the sixth fluid line.

17. The system of claim 14 wherein the regulation valve assembly further includes a signal port, a feedback port connected to the first fluid line, and a regulator spool moveable between a plurality of positions, wherein the signal port and the feedback port communicate with opposite ends of the regulator spool and the position of the regulator spool controls the flow of pressurized hydraulic fluid communicated from the inlet of the regulator valve assembly to the outlet of the regulator valve assembly.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the control valve assembly includes a signal port, and the system further comprises a signal fluid line connected to the signal port of the control valve assembly and the signal port of the pressure regulator assembly and a control solenoid connected to the signal fluid line, wherein the control solenoid selectively communicates a pressurized hydraulic fluid signal that acts on the spool to move the spool between the first and second positions and acts on the regulator spool to move the regulator spool between the plurality of positions.

19. The system of claim 14 further comprising an eighth fluid line connected between the fourth fluid line and the fifth fluid line and a second orifice disposed within the eighth fluid line.

20. A system for a motor vehicle comprising:

a source of pressurized hydraulic fluid;

a torque converter actuator operable to engage a torque converter lock-up clutch, the torque converter actuator having a release side port and an apply side port;

a cooler subsystem;

a control valve assembly having first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth ports, a signal port, and a spool moveable between at least a first position and a second position, wherein the first and fourth ports are isolated, the second port communicates with the third port, and the fifth port communicates with the sixth port when the spool is in the first position, and wherein the first port communicates with the second port, the fourth port communicates with the third port, and the fifth port is isolated when the spool is in the second position;

a boost valve assembly having an inlet in communication with the source of pressurized hydraulic fluid and an outlet;

a pressure regulator valve assembly having an inlet in communication with the source of pressurized hydraulic fluid, an outlet, a first signal port, a second signal port, a regulator spool moveable between at least a first position and a second position, and a shuttle in selective contact with the regulator spool and moveable between at least a first and a second position, wherein the first signal port communicates with an end of the regulator spool and the second signal port communicates with an end of the shuttle;

a first control solenoid;

a second control solenoid;

a first fluid line connected to the first port and to the outlet of the pressure regulator valve assembly;

a second fluid line connected to the second port and to the apply side port;

a third fluid line connected to the third port and to the cooler subsystem;

a fourth fluid line connected to the fourth port and the outlet of the boost valve assembly;

a fifth fluid line connected to the fifth port and to the source of pressurized hydraulic fluid;

a sixth fluid line connected to the sixth port and to the release side port;

a seventh fluid line connected to the signal port of the control valve assembly, the first signal port of the pressure regulator assembly and the first control solenoid; and

an eighth fluid line connected to the second signal port of the pressure regulator assembly and the second control solenoid.