System and method for controlling pump performance in a transmission

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9309792-B2
Application number	US-201313826527-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 14, 2013
Priority date	Mar 14, 2013
Publication date	Apr 12, 2016
Grant date	Apr 12, 2016

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a hydraulic system of a transmission having a controller and a variable displacement pump. The pump includes an inlet and outlet and is adapted to be driven by a torque-generating mechanism. The system also includes a lube circuit fluidly coupled to the pump. A lube regulator valve is disposed in the lube circuit, such that the lube regulator valve is configured to move between at least a regulated position and an unregulated position. The regulated position corresponds to a regulated pressure in the lube circuit. A pressure switch is fluidly coupled to the lube regulator valve and configured to move between a first position and a second position, where the switch is disposed in electrical communication with the controller. A solenoid is disposed in electrical communication with the controller and is controllably coupled to the pump to alter the displacement of the pump.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A hydraulic system of an automatic transmission, comprising:
a controller;
a variable displacement pump adapted to be driven by a torque-generating mechanism, the pump having an inlet and an outlet, where the pump is configured to generate fluid flow and pressure throughout the system;
a main circuit fluidly coupled to the pump;
a main regulator valve disposed in the main circuit, the main regulator valve being configured to move between at least a regulated position and an unregulated position, where the regulated position corresponds to a regulated pressure in the main circuit;
a pressure switch fluidly coupled to the main regulator valve and configured to move between a first position and a second position, where the switch is disposed in electrical communication with the controller;
a solenoid disposed in electrical communication with the controller, the solenoid controllably coupled to the pump to alter the displacement of the pump;
a lube circuit fluidly coupled to the pump and main circuit;
a lube regulator valve disposed in the lube circuit, the lube regulator valve being configured to move between at least a regulated position and an unregulated position where the regulated position corresponds to a regulated pressure in the lube circuit;
a second pressure switch fluidly coupled to the lube regulator valve and configured to move between a first position and a second position, where the second pressure switch is disposed in electrical communication with the controller; wherein
the lube regulator valve moves from the unregulated position to the regulated position once the fluid pressure in the lube circuit reaches a substantially regulated condition; and
the second pressure switch is configured to detect the movement of the lube regulator valve between the regulated position and unregulated position, where the pressure switch moves between the first position and the second position upon movement of the main regulator valve; and wherein
the movement of the second pressure switch between the first position and second position induces a signal triggered to the controller; and
the controller controllably actuates the solenoid based on the signal to adjust displacement of the pump.

2. The hydraulic system claim 1 , wherein, once the fluid pressure in the main circuit reaches a substantially regulated condition, the main regulator valve moves from the unregulated position to the regulated position.

3. The hydraulic system of claim 2 , wherein:
the pressure switch is configured to detect the movement of the main regulator valve between the regulated position and unregulated position; and
the pressure switch moves between the first position and the second position upon movement of the main regulator valve.

4. The hydraulic system of claim 3 , wherein:
the movement of the pressure switch between the first position and second position induces a signal triggered to the controller; and
the controller controllably actuates the solenoid based on the signal.

5. The hydraulic system of claim 1 , wherein:
the pump displacement is controllable between a first displacement and a second displacement, where the fluid flow distributed from the outlet is adjustably controlled based on the pump displacement; and
the actuation of the solenoid controllably adjusts pump displacement.

6. The hydraulic system of claim 1 , wherein the lube regulator valve moves to its regulated position after the main regulator valve moves to its regulated position.

7. A hydraulic system of a transmission, comprising:
a controller;
a variable displacement pump adapted to be driven by a torque-generating mechanism, the pump having an inlet and an outlet, where the pump is configured to generate fluid flow and pressure throughout the system;
a lube circuit fluidly coupled to the pump;
a lube regulator valve disposed in the lube circuit, the lube regulator valve being configured to move between at least a regulated position and an unregulated position, where the regulated position corresponds to a regulated pressure in the lube circuit;
a pressure switch fluidly coupled to the lube regulator valve and configured to move between a first position and a second position, where the switch is disposed in electrical communication with the controller; and
a solenoid disposed in electrical communication with the controller, the solenoid controllably coupled to the pump to alter the displacement of the pump,
wherein, once the fluid pressure in the lube circuit reaches a substantially regulated condition, the lube regulator valve moves from the unregulated position to the regulated position,
wherein, the pressure switch is configured to detect the movement of the lube regulator valve between the regulated position and unregulated position; and
the pressure switch moves between the first position and the second position upon movement of the lube regulator valve, wherein
the movement of the pressure switch between the first position and second position induces a signal triggered to the controller; and
the controller controllably actuates the solenoid based on the signal.

8. The hydraulic system of claim 7 , wherein:
the pump displacement is controllable between a first displacement and a second displacement, where the fluid flow distributed from the outlet is adjustably controlled based on the pump displacement; and
the actuation of the solenoid controllably adjusts pump displacement.

9. The hydraulic system of claim 7 , further comprising:
a main circuit fluidly coupled to the pump and lube circuit;
a main regulator valve disposed in the main circuit, the main regulator valve being configured to move between at least a regulated position and an unregulated position, where the regulated position corresponds to a regulated pressure in the main circuit;
a second pressure switch fluidly coupled to the main regulator valve and configured to move between a first position and a second position, where the second pressure switch is disposed in electrical communication with the controller.

10. The hydraulic system of claim 9 , wherein the solenoid is controllably actuated between a first condition and a second condition upon movement of at least one of the main regulator valve and the lube regulator valve to its regulated position.

11. A hydraulic system of a transmission, comprising:
a controller;
a variable displacement pump adapted to be driven by a torque-generating mechanism, the pump having an inlet and an outlet, where the pump is configured to generate fluid flow and pressure throughout the system;
a lube circuit fluidly coupled to the pump;
a lube regulator valve disposed in the lube circuit, the lube regulator valve being configured to move between at least a regulated position and an unregulated position, where the regulated position corresponds to a regulated pressure in the lube circuit;
a pressure switch fluidly coupled to the lube regulator valve and configured to move between a first position and a second position, where the switch is disposed in electrical communication with the controller; and
a solenoid disposed in electrical communication with the controller, the solenoid controllably coupled to the pump to alter the displacement of the pump; and
further comprising a temperature sensor disposed in electrical communication with the controller, the temperature sensor adapted to detect a temperature of the fluid in the transmission.

12. The hydraulic control system of claim 11 , further comprising a cooler circuit fluidly coupled to the pump and main circuit, where the cooler circuit is structured to receive fluid and adjust its temperature as

Assignees

• Allison Transm Inc
• Allison Transm Inc

Inventors

• Long Charles F
• Taylor Charles T

Classifications

• F16H57/04 Primary

  Features relating to lubrication or cooling {or heating} (control of lubrication or cooling in hydrostatic gearing F16H61/4165) · CPC title

• F16H57/0434

  relating to lubrication supply, e.g. pumps; Pressure control · CPC title

• F16H61/42

  involving adjustment of a pump or motor with adjustable output or capacity · CPC title

• F01M1/00 Primary

  Pressure lubrication · CPC title

• F16H57/0435

  Pressure control for supplying lubricant; Circuits or valves therefor · CPC title