| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|
| 20090000670 | CENTRIFUGE AND VENTING SYSTEM FOR A TRANSMISSION - A transmission having a shaft driven by a prime mover such as an engine or motor is provided. The transmission includes a first stationary element for supporting the shaft for rotation, and a torque transmitting device connectable to the shaft and rotatable about an axis. The torque transmitting device is actuated by a hydraulic fluid. A first passage is connected to the torque transmitting device and is in communication with the hydraulic fluid. The first passage extends radially inward from the torque transmitting device. A vent passage is located within the first stationary element and is in communication with the first passage. Rotation of the torque transmitting device about the axis separates entrained air from the fluid and urges air radially inward through the first passage and into the vent passage, thereby removing air from the hydraulic fluid and circuit. | 01-01-2009 |
| 20090071777 | Electro-Hydraulic Control System with Multiplexed Solenoid for Retarder Operation and Main Pressure Modulation - An electro-hydraulic control system is provided that utilizes a shift solenoid and shift valve to multiplex a single pressure control solenoid to control both modulation of a main pressure regulator valve and retarder operation (fill and pressure). | 03-19-2009 |
| 20090075772 | Electro-Hydraulic Control System for Transmission with Dual-Area Piston for Torque-Transmitting Mechanism - An electro-hydraulic control system is provided for a transmission with a torque-transmitting mechanism that has a dual area piston. When pressurized fluid is provided to a first of the two piston areas, the position of a spring-biased shift valve controls whether pressurized fluid communicates with the second piston area. A solenoid valve in fluid communication with the shift valve is energizable to direct pressurized fluid to the shift valve to urge the shift valve to the unstroked position to which the spring also urges. The shift valve may also be urged by pressurized fluid to the stroked position, but only when the solenoid valve is not energized. The spring maintains the shift valve in the unstroked position when pressurized fluid is directed to the shift valve to act both against and with the spring. | 03-19-2009 |
| 20090088296 | Control System for a Transmission with a Dual Area Apply Piston for a Torque-Transmitting Mechanism Engagement - A control system is provided for selectively actuating a dual area apply piston having first and second piston areas each selectively biased by hydraulic pressure within a respective first and second fill cavities. The control system includes a pressure regulator valve, a dual area activation valve, and a solenoid valve operable to selectively and variable operate the pressure regulator valve to effect biasing of the first and second piston areas by communicating hydraulic pressure to the first fill cavity and/or the second fill cavity. | 04-02-2009 |
| 20090258746 | MANUAL VALVE CONTROL FOR MULTI-SPEED PLANETARY TRANSMISSION - A manual valve control for a multi-speed vehicle transmission is provided. Electronic and hydraulic components are provided, including trim valve systems that are multiplexed by a shift valve and a manual valve. The trim valves and shift valve are self-diagnosing via a plurality of multiplexed pressure switches. The control enables single and double range shifts among the multiple forward speed ratios, including shifts to and from sixth and higher forward ratios, reverse and neutral. The control also includes a reduced engine load at stop feature. In addition, a power off/limp home feature provides a plurality of failure modes, including a failure mode for sixth and higher forward speed ratios. | 10-15-2009 |
| 20090258756 | FLY-BY-WIRE CONTROL FOR MULTI-SPEED PLANETARY TRANSMISSION - A fly-by-wire control for a multi-speed vehicle transmission is provided. Electronic and hydraulic components are provided, including trim valve systems that are multiplexed by logic valves. The trim valves and logic valves are self-diagnosing via a plurality of pressure switches. The control enables single and double range shifts among the multiple forward speed ratios, including shifts to and from sixth and higher forward ratios, reverse and neutral. The control also includes a reduced engine load at stop feature. In addition, a power off/limp home feature provides a plurality of failure modes, including a failure mode for sixth and higher forward speed ratios. | 10-15-2009 |
| 20090266068 | System for Selectively Routing Transmission Fluid to a Torque Converter - A torque converter coupled to a transmission has a torque converter operating mode and a lockup operating mode. A first pump may be configured to supply transmission fluid to a plurality of electro-hydraulic transmission components. A second pump may be configured to supply transmission fluid to a lubrication system of the transmission. A valve may be configured to route transmission fluid supplied by the second pump through the torque converter during the torque converter operating mode. Means may also be provided for selectively routing at least some of the transmission fluid supplied by the first pump through the torque converter. Illustratively, transmission fluid supplied by the first pump may, but need not, be routed to the torque converter only during the torque converter operating mode or only during the torque converter operating mode if the temperature of transmission fluid exiting the torque converter exceeds a threshold temperature. | 10-29-2009 |
| 20090272616 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CLUTCH PRESSURE CONTROL - A method, apparatus and system for controlling transmission clutch system output pressures is provided. A transmission control unit and a pressure control device including an electro-hydraulic valve and a pressure switch cooperate to provide self-calibrating clutch pressure control systems. | 11-05-2009 |
| 20090280954 | DUAL CLUTCH TORQUE CONVERTER CONTROL SYSTEM - A system for controlling a dual clutch torque converter that allows for independent control of the dual clutches includes a first valve assembly, a second valve assembly, a first solenoid, and a second solenoid. The first valve assembly is operable to control whether the dual clutches are released, trimmed, or engaged. The second valve assembly is operable to control which of the dual clutches are released, trimmed, or engaged. The first solenoid is operable to control the position of the first valve assembly and the second solenoid is operable to control the position of the second valve assembly. | 11-12-2009 |
| 20100035722 | CONTROL FOR TORQUE CONVERTER HAVING MULTIPLE SELECTIVELY ENGAGEABLE CONVERTER COUPLERS - An apparatus and method of controlling a torque transmitting apparatus having multiple selectively engageable couplers is provided. The multiple couplers may be selectively engaged and disengaged to provide a mechanical, friction or fluid coupling between portions of the torque transmitting apparatus and other components of a vehicle powertrain during various operational stages. The control apparatus includes a fluid pressure control device and a fluid flow control device. | 02-11-2010 |
| 20110028270 | ELECTRONICALLY CONTROLLED RANGE VALVE FOR MULTI-SPEED PLANETARY TRANSMISSION - A shift by wire control for a multi-speed vehicle transmission is provided. The control includes a shift by wire shift valve in fluid communication with other shift valves and clutch trim valves to provide double blocking features in the neutral range and a reverse range. The shift by wire valve is configured with multiple differential areas to provide failure modes for all forward ranges. | 02-03-2011 |
| 20110130237 | MANUAL VALVE CONTROL FOR MULTI-SPEED PLANETARY TRANSMISSION - A manual valve control for a multi-speed vehicle transmission is provided. Electronic and hydraulic components are provided, including trim valve systems that are multiplexed by a shift valve and a manual valve. The trim valves and shift valve are self-diagnosing via a plurality of multiplexed pressure switches. The control enables single and double range shifts among the multiple forward speed ratios, including shifts to and from sixth and higher forward ratios, reverse and neutral. The control also includes a reduced engine load at stop feature. In addition, a power off/limp home feature provides a plurality of failure modes, including a failure mode for sixth and higher forward speed ratios. | 06-02-2011 |
| 20110138898 | VARIATOR FAULT DETECTION SYSTEM - A variator fault detection system for a continuously variable transmission is incorporated into a hydraulic control circuit that controls fluid pressure applied to a variator of the continuously variable transmission. The hydraulic control circuit for the variator includes a number of electrically-controlled shift valves and pressure control valves. Sensing devices are multiplexed to these valves to detect a number of different possible fault states relating to the variator shift valves and the variator pressure control valves. | 06-16-2011 |
| 20110140017 | Fast Valve Actuation System for An Automatic Transmission - A fast valve actuation system for an automatic vehicle transmission includes a pair of spring-biased shift valves. Solenoids control the application of pressurized hydraulic fluid to the head of each of the shift valves. Each shift valve has at least one port that is coupled to a fluid chamber of a torque transferring mechanism of an automatic transmission. The position of each of the shift valves determines whether its ports are connected with fluid pressure. Fluid passages connect the head of each shift valve to the spring pocket of the other shift valve. | 06-16-2011 |
| 20110143882 | System and Method for Multiplexing Gear Engagement Control and Providing Fault Protection in a Toroidal Traction Drive Automatic Transmission - An apparatus for multiplexing gear engagement control in an automatic transmission is provided. At least two friction engagement devices are configured to selectively engage and disengage a different gear ratio of the transmission. A trim system is configured to selectively supply engagement and disengagement pressures to at least one fluid passageway. A first control valve is fluidly coupled directly to the at least one fluid passageway and directly to each of the at least two friction engagement devices. The first control valve is configured to selectively route the engagement and disengagement pressures through the first control valve directly to the at least two friction devices. | 06-16-2011 |
| 20110144870 | FAIL-TO-NEUTRAL SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR A TOROIDAL TRACTION DRIVE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION - A fail-to-neutral diagnostic technique for a transmission that includes a variator may include monitoring a state of a pressure differential valve fluidly coupled to a high side pressure applied to at least one actuator coupled to at least one corresponding roller of the variator and also fluidly coupled to a low side pressure applied to the at least one actuator, determining from the state of the pressure differential valve a variator torque sign corresponding to whether torque transferred by the at least one roller is positive or negative, determining an expected variator torque sign based on current operating conditions of the transmission, and commanding the transmission to a true neutral condition if the determined variator torque sign is different from the expected variator torque sign. | 06-16-2011 |
| 20110144872 | VARIATOR LOCKOUT VALVE SYSTEM - A variator lockout valve system for a continuously variable transmission includes a pair of shift valves. Each shift valve has at least one port that is fluidly coupled to a variator of the continuously variable transmission. Electro-hydraulic actuators control the position of each of the shift valves. When the shift valves are in one position, pressure control valves supply fluid pressure to the variator. If one of the shift valves is in another position, one of the pressure control valves is blocked from supplying fluid pressure to the variator. | 06-16-2011 |
| 20110144925 | System and Method for Detecting Clutch-Related Faults in an Automatic Transmission - A fault diagnostic method for an automatic transmission may include monitoring an operating state of a trim system configured to selectively supply clutch engagement pressure and exhaust to at least one clutch control valve, determining an expected operating state of the trim system based on current operating conditions of the transmission, and generating a fault signal if the monitored operating state of the trim system is different from the expected operating state of the trim system. | 06-16-2011 |
