IP Library Granted Patent US 12,366,291
Granted Patent B2
US 12,366,291 · App. 18/567,871 · Granted Jul 22, 2025

Valve module with active valve oiling

Inventors: Matthias Grenzhäuser (Bühl, DE); Christopher Schneider (Bad Herrenalb, DE)
Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
F16H61/0009F15B21/047F16H2061/0037
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,366,291
App. No.
18/567,871
Granted
Jul 22, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

The valve module can be installed regardless of an oil level, for example of an oil level of an oil sump of a motor vehicle. By means of a buffer volume having an overflow it is always guaranteed that a leakage flow conveyed past a valve piston includes no air but consists solely of hydraulic medium, since the overflow guarantees a level of hydraulic medium which lies above an upper face of the valve piston in a preferred installation position. As a result, foaming of the hydraulic medium can be prevented. The valve module can also be installed above the oil sump, for example in an upper region of a gearbox of the motor vehicle. In addition, the oil from the overflow can be used for cooling/lubrication of further drive train components.

Claims (26)

1. A valve module configured for installation in a predetermined installation position within a hydraulic control system, the valve module comprising:

a valve including a valve piston configured to be displaced in an actuating direction within a housing, the housing having a plurality of openings configured to be opened and closed via displacement of the valve piston, and

a first opening of the plurality of openings is configured as a tank connection, and the valve is connected to a reservoir for a hydraulic medium via the tank connection, and

the tank connection is fluidly connected to a buffer volume having an overflow arranged above an upper face of the valve piston when the valve module is installed in the predetermined installation position.

2. The valve module according to claim 1 , wherein the buffer volume is fluidly connected to a hydraulic circuit via a flow limiter, and the buffer volume is configured to be filled via the flow limiter.

3. The valve module according to claim 2 , wherein at least one orifice is configured as a flow limiter.

4. The valve module according to claim 1 , further comprising at least one leakage line fluidly connected to the buffer volume, the at least one leakage line configured to guide leakage flows from other hydraulic components into the buffer volume.

5. The valve module according to claim 1 , wherein the overflow of the buffer volume is fluidly connected to a lubrication line, and hydraulic medium can be discharged as lubricant or coolant via the lubrication line.

6. A drive train for a motor vehicle, comprising the valve module according to claim 1 .

7. The drive train according to claim 6 , further comprising at least one electric motor configured for providing torque.

8. The drive train according to claim 7 , further comprising an internal combustion engine configured for providing torque.

9. A motor vehicle comprising:

at least one valve module according to claim 1 and a drive train comprising an electric motor configured for providing torque.

10. The motor vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the drive train further comprises an internal combustion configured for providing torque.

11. The valve module according to claim 1 , wherein the valve piston is configured to be displaced against a compression spring arranged at a first longitudinal end of the valve piston.

12. The valve module according to claim 11 , wherein the at least one opening extends away from the valve piston in a direction orthogonal to the actuating direction.

13. The valve module according to claim 11 , wherein the tank connection is arranged at a second longitudinal end of the valve piston.

14. The valve module according to claim 13 , wherein a second opening of the plurality of openings is a pump connection, and the pump connection is arranged between the compression spring and the tank connection in a longitudinal direction of the valve piston.

15. The valve module according to claim 14 , wherein a third opening of the plurality of openings is a parking lock connection, and the parking lock connection is arranged between the compression spring and the tank connection in a longitudinal direction of the valve piston.

16. The valve module according to claim 3 , further comprising at least one leakage line fluidly connected to the buffer volume, the at least one leakage line configured to guide leakage flows from other hydraulic components into the buffer volume.

17. The valve module according to claim 16 , wherein the overflow of the buffer volume is fluidly connected to a lubrication line, and hydraulic medium can be discharged as lubricant or coolant via the lubrication line.

18. The valve module according to claim 16 , wherein the valve piston is configured to be displaced against a compression spring arranged at a first longitudinal end of the valve piston.

19. The valve module according to claim 18 , wherein the tank connection is arranged at a second longitudinal end of the valve piston.

20. The valve module according to claim 19 , wherein:

a second opening of the plurality of openings is a pump connection, and the pump connection is arranged between the compression spring and the tank connection in a longitudinal direction of the valve piston; and

a third opening of the plurality of openings is a parking lock connection, and the parking lock connection is arranged between the compression spring and the tank connection in a longitudinal direction of the valve piston.

Priority Claims (1)
DE 10 2021 115 301.8 · Jun 14, 2021 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240280171A1 · Aug 22, 2024
References Cited (6)
US 5435227A · Frey · 1995 [cited by examiner]
US 10724623B2 · Ono · 2020 [cited by examiner]
US 11635075B1 · Giarratana · 2023 [cited by examiner]
US 20170363203A1 · Roskowski et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
DE 102010056286B3 · 2012 [cited by applicant]
DE 102018219113A1 · 2020 [cited by applicant]