Apparatuses and methods for improving automotive transmission converter rear side pressure
Three operational defects in the 8L series transmission, individually or in combination, produce a shudder complaint and potentially damage the torque converter. An incorrectly ported torque converter control valve is corrected by increasing length of an undersized third land to prevent mixing of three adjacent flow channels and a loss of lockup apply pressure. Start time of a torque converter enable valve regulation cycle is rescheduled to avoid causing excessive rear side pressure drop and significantly shortening time required to pressure up apply side of a converter clutch. A lockup solenoid is replaced with an anti-ballooning assembly to better control pressure and avoid complete transmission failure.
1 . A process for conserving and improving automotive transmission converter rear side pressure during a switching event, comprising:
a. sealing a leak along a torque converter control valve close to a cooler port simultaneously or slightly before opening a torque converter enable supply port at the torque converter control valve by replacing an OEM torque converter control valve with the torque converter control valve, whereby the leak is sealed via an increased length of a third land of the torque converter control valve, compared to the OEM torque converter control valve;
b. replacing an OEM torque converter enable valve with the torque converter enable valve, which increases a volume of continual non-oscillating pressure output without use of a counter-balance spring, and inherently dampens as a countermeasure to an effect of applied oscillating signal; and
rescheduling a torque converter enable valve regulation start time to begin before a switching time of the torque converter control valve, wherein an enable valve exhaust port is closed to prevent rear side venting of volume, or a start time of a torque converter fault valve and the torque converter control valve can be rescheduled to start after the torque converter enable valve start time; and
c. shortening a lockup apply cycle through with a torque converter enable valve having at least one non-squared land, which provides for greater flow volume delivery at a same pressure as an OEM enable valve, to fill and pressurize a torque converter rear side for faster lockup apply.
2 . The process of claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
d. removing an OEM damper from a damper bore and replacing the OEM damper with an anti-ballooning pressure relief valve assembly to provide emergency pressure blow-off and prevent run-away internal converter pressure.
3 . The process of claim 2 , wherein the anti-ballooning pressure relief valve assembly comprises:
a cylindrical sleeve having two opposing longitudinal ends, with an opening at each of the two opposing longitudinal ends;
an inner chamber longitudinally extending within the cylindrical sleeve between, and fluidly connected to, the opening at each of the two opposing longitudinal ends;
a choke area in the inner chamber with a smaller diameter compared to inner chamber;
a spring seat configured to be positioned within the opening of one longitudinal end of the two opposing longitudinal ends;
a valve member configured to be positioned within the inner chamber and removable seal the inner chamber along the choke area; and
a spring positionable between the spring seat and valve member.
4 . The process of claim 1 , wherein, during a solenoid signal, the torque converter enable valve begins a torque converter enable regulation cycle before switching of either the torque converter control valve or a torque converter fault valve.
5 . The process of claim 4 , wherein the torque converter enable valve begins to regulate at 68947.6 pascal (Pa), the torque converter fault valve begins to switch at 82,737.1 Pa, and the torque converter control valve begins to switch at 96,526.6 Pa.
6 . The process of claim 4 , wherein the torque converter enable valve begins to switch at 137,895 pascal (Pa), and the torque converter fault valve and the torque converter control valve begin to switch after 137,895 Pa.
7 . The process of claim 4 , wherein the torque converter enable valve begins to switch 20684.3 pascal (Pa) or less before the pressure necessary to begin to switch the torque converter control valve.
8 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the solenoid signal has a control valve switching time pressure of 110,316 to 186,158 pascal (Pa).
9 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the torque converter control valve comprises:
a first land being cylindrically shaped;
a second land being cylindrically shaped;
a third land being cylindrically shaped;
a fourth land being cylindrically shaped;
a first cylindrical member coaxially positioned between the first land and the second land to form a first groove;
a second cylindrical member coaxially positioned between the second land and the third land to form a second groove; and
a third cylindrical member coaxially positioned between the third land and the fourth land to form a third groove,
wherein a bevel circumferentially extends around an end of the first land adjacent to the first cylindrical member, and a length of the third land is greater than 4.8768 mm and is configured to close the cooler port in a valve body casting simultaneously or slightly before opening the torque converter enable supply port in the valve body casting at the torque converter control valve.
10 . The process of claim 9 , wherein the third land comprises two or more smaller lands, each smaller land of the two or more smaller lands being separated from adjacent smaller lands of the two or more smaller lands by a cylindrical member forming a groove therebetween.
11 . The process of claim 9 , wherein the length of the third land is equal to or greater than 5.207 mm.
12 . The process of claim 9 , wherein the length of the third land is about 6.1468 mm.
13 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the torque converter enable valve comprises:
a first land being cylindrically shaped;
a second land being cylindrically shaped;
a third land being cylindrically shaped;
a first cylindrical member coaxially positioned between the first land and the second land to form a first groove;
a second cylindrical member coaxially positioned between the second land and the third land to form a second groove;
a third cylindrical member extending from an end of the third land opposite to the second cylindrical member, a free end of the third cylindrical member having a bevel circumferentially extending therearound;
a chamber extending from an opening along the free end of the third cylindrical member and along a longitudinal length inside the torque converter enable valve, with a hole positioned along the second cylindrical member fluidly connecting the chamber to external environment,
wherein a second bevel is formed circumferentially along an end of the third land adjacent to the second cylindrical member.
14 . The process of claim 13 , wherein the first land, the second land, and the third land are grooved.
15 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the length of the third land of the torque converter control valve is greater than 4.8768 mm.