System and method for filling torque converter with fluid

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10480649-B2
Application number	US-201815894143-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 12, 2018
Priority date	Feb 12, 2018
Publication date	Nov 19, 2019
Grant date	Nov 19, 2019

Abstract

A vehicle includes a transmission having a torque converter, a device configured to generate line pressure, and at least one fluid path connecting the device in fluid communication with the torque converter. A controller is programmed to, responsive to an engine-off time exceeding a threshold and a parameter indicative of departure being present, command the device to generate line pressure so that fluid is supplied to the torque converter. The device may be a transmission pump or an accumulator.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of refilling a torque converter of a vehicle comprising:
via a controller: responsive to an engine-off time exceeding a threshold and a parameter indicative of departure being present, filling the torque converter with fluid.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the filling the torque converter includes energizing a transmission pump to supply the fluid to the torque converter.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the transmission pump is electric.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the filling the torque converter includes discharging an accumulator to supply the fluid to the torque converter.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the filling the torque converter includes:
supplying fluid to the torque converter via a first fluid path, and
responsive to a speed difference between an engine and a turbine of the torque converter being less than a threshold, (i) ceasing to supply fluid via the first path, and (ii) supplying fluid to the torque converter via a second fluid path.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the parameter indicative of departure includes the vehicle being unlocked, a door being opened, detection of a key within the vehicle, or a brake pedal being depressed.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the filling the torque converter is further responsive the vehicle being OFF.

8. A vehicle comprising:
a transmission including a torque converter, a valve body, and first and second fluid paths connecting between the torque converter and the valve body; and
a controller programmed to, responsive to engine-off time exceeding a threshold, supply fluid to the torque converter via the first fluid path, and, responsive to the engine-off time being less than the threshold, supply fluid to the torque converter via the second fluid path.

9. The vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the torque converter further includes a bypass clutch.

10. The vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the controller is further programmed to, responsive to a request to engage the clutch, supply the fluid to the torque converter via the first fluid path.

11. The vehicle of claim 10 , wherein the controller is further programmed to, responsive to a request to disengage the clutch, supply the fluid to the torque converter via the second fluid path.

12. The vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the bypass clutch includes an apply side and a release side, and wherein the first fluid path has an orifice located on the apply side and the second fluid path has an orifice located on the release side.

13. The vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the torque converter includes a turbine and an impeller fixed to an engine, and wherein the controller is further programmed to, responsive to a speed difference between the engine and the turbine being less than a threshold, supply fluid to the torque converter via the second fluid path.

14. A vehicle comprising:
a transmission including a torque converter, a device configured to generate line pressure, and at least one fluid path connecting the device in fluid communication with the torque converter; and
a controller programmed to, responsive to an engine-off time exceeding a threshold and a parameter indicative of departure being present, command the device to generate line pressure so that fluid is supplied to the torque converter.

15. The vehicle of claim 14 , wherein the command the device is further responsive to the vehicle being OFF.

16. The vehicle of claim 14 , wherein the device is an electric transmission pump or an accumulator.

17. The vehicle of claim 14 further comprising a clutch-control valve configured to receive the line pressure, and wherein the at least one fluid path includes a clutch-apply fluid path and a clutch-release fluid path that are each connected between the clutch-control valve and the torque converter, and wherein the clutch-control valve is actuatable to supply fluid to the torque converter via either the clutch-apply path or the clutch-release path.

18. The vehicle of claim 17 , wherein the controller is further programmed to, command the clutch-control valve to supply fluid to the torque converter via the clutch-apply path, and, responsive to a speed difference between an engine and a turbine being less than a threshold, command the valve to supply fluid to the torque converter via the clutch-release path.

19. The vehicle of claim 18 , wherein the clutch-apply path has a higher flow rate than the clutch-release path.

20. The vehicle of claim 14 , wherein the parameter indicative of departure includes the vehicle being unlocked, a door being opened, detection of a key within the vehicle, or a brake pedal being depressed.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Morrison Kendrick
• Fedullo Timothy

Classifications

• F16H41/24

  Details · CPC title

• F16H41/04

  Combined pump-turbine units · CPC title

• F16H2312/20

  Start-up or shut-down · CPC title

• F16H2061/0034

  Accumulators for fluid pressure supply; Control thereof · CPC title

• F16H61/143

  using electric control means · CPC title