Torque converter hydraulic control system for an automatic transmission
First Claim
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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.
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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.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system for a motor vehicle comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A system for a motor vehicle comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A system for a motor vehicle comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A system for a motor vehicle comprising:
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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.
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Specification