Granted Patent B2

US 7,510,496 · App. 11/422,384 · Granted Mar 31, 2009

Abstract

Claims (86)

1. An electro-hydraulic control system for an automatically shiftable transmission having first, second, and third selectively engageable torque transmitting mechanisms, wherein the automatically shiftable transmission is operable in a plurality of modes of operation including at least one reverse range, a neutral mode of operation, and a plurality of forward ranges, the electro-hydraulic control system comprising:

a main source of fluid pressure;

first, second, and third trim valves operable to effect the engagement of respective first, second, and third torque transmitting mechanisms;

a latch valve in fluid communication with the first torque transmitting mechanism;

an interlock valve in selective fluid communication with the latch valve;

wherein said first trim valve is in fluid communication with said main source of fluid pressure;

wherein said latch valve and said interlock valve are in fluid communication with said main source of fluid pressure;

wherein said first trim valve is operable to selectively and variably communicate fluid pressure to said latch valve to effect engagement of the first torque transmitting mechanism;

wherein said interlock valve is operable to selectively communicate fluid pressure to one of said second and third trim valve to effect engagement of the respective second and third torque transmitting mechanism; and

wherein the electro-hydraulic control system is operable to receive control signals from an electronic control unit and, based upon an interruption of said control signals, the electro-hydraulic control system is operable to default to one of a pair of default modes of operation, including:

a first default mode that is the same for each of the plurality of forward ranges; and

a second default mode that is the same for each of the at least one reverse range and the neutral mode of operation.

2. The electro-hydraulic control system of claim 1 , wherein said interlock valve is sufficiently configured to disallow fluid pressure to said second trim valve when fluid pressure is provided to said third trim valve and wherein said interlock valve is sufficiently configured to disallow fluid pressure to said third trim valve when fluid pressure is provided to said second trim valve.

3. The electro-hydraulic control system of claim 1 , further comprising a solenoid valve operable to command said latch valve and said interlock valve.

4. The electro-hydraulic control system of claim 3 , wherein said latch valve includes a differential area operable maintain said latch valve in position when the first toque transmitting mechanism is engaged.

5. The electro-hydraulic control system of claim 1 , wherein the automatically shiftable transmission has a fourth torque transmitting mechanism and the electro-hydraulic control system further comprises:

a fourth trim valve operable to effect the engagement of the fourth torque transmitting mechanism; and

wherein said interlock valve selectively communicates fluid pressure to said fourth trim valve to effect engagement of the fourth torque transmitting mechanism.

6. The electro-hydraulic control system of claim 5 , wherein said interlock valve is sufficiently configured to disallow fluid pressure to said second trim valve when fluid pressure is provided to said fourth trim valve and wherein said interlock valve is sufficiently configured to disallow fluid pressure to said fourth trim valve when fluid pressure is provided to said second trim valve.

7. The electro-hydraulic control system of claim 5 , further comprising a first, second, third, and fourth accumulator valve in fluid communication with a respective one of said first, second, third, and fourth trim valves and operable to improve control of the engagement of respective first, second, third, and fourth torque transmitting mechanisms.

8. The electro-hydraulic control system of claim 5 wherein the automatically shiftable transmission has a fifth torque transmitting mechanism and the electro-hydraulic control system further comprises:

a fifth trim valve in fluid communication with said main source of fluid pressure; and

wherein said fifth trim valve is operable to effect the engagement of the fifth torque transmitting mechanism.

9. The electro-hydraulic control system of claim 8 , wherein the interruption of said control signals is based upon an interruption of electrical power and the automatically shiftable transmission is operating in one of a reverse range and a neutral mode of operation, the electro-hydraulic control system is operable to default to the second default mode of operation, wherein the electro-hydraulic control system is operable to disengage the first, second, fourth and fifth torque transmitting devices and to engage the third torque transmitting device.

10. The electro-hydraulic control system of claim 8 , wherein the interruption of said control signals is based upon an interruption of electrical power and the automatically shiftable transmission is operating in one of the plurality of forward ranges, the electro-hydraulic control system is operable to default to the first default mode of operation, wherein the electro-hydraulic control system is operable to disengage the second, fourth, and fifth torque transmitting devices and to engage the first and third torque transmitting devices.

11. A transmission operable in a plurality of modes of operation including at least one reverse range, a neutral mode of operation, and a plurality of forward ranges, the transmission comprising:

first, second, and third selectively engageable torque transmitting mechanisms;

an electro-hydraulic control system including:

a main source of fluid pressure;

first, second, and third trim valves operable to effect the engagement of respective first, second, and third torque transmitting mechanisms;

a latch valve in fluid communication with the first torque transmitting mechanism;

an interlock valve in selective fluid communication with the latch valve;

wherein said first trim valve is in fluid communication with said main source of fluid pressure;

wherein said latch valve and said interlock valve are in fluid communication with said main source of fluid pressure;

wherein said first trim valve is operable to selectively and variably communicate fluid pressure to said latch valve to effect engagement of the first torque transmitting mechanism;

wherein said interlock valve is operable to selectively communicate fluid pressure to one of said second and third trim valve to effect engagement of the respective second and third torque transmitting mechanism; and

wherein the electro-hydraulic control system is operable to receive control signals from an electronic control unit and, based upon an interruption of said control signals, the electro-hydraulic control system is operable to default to one of a pair of drive-home modes of operation, including:

a first drive-home mode that is the same for each of the plurality of forward ranges; and

a second drive-home mode that is the same for each of the at least one reverse range and the neutral mode of operation.

12. The transmission of claim 11 , farther comprising:

a fifth torque transmitting mechanism;

wherein the electro-hydraulic control system further includes:

fifth trim valve in fluid communication with said main source of fluid pressure; and

wherein said fifth trim valve is operable to effect the engagement of said fifth torque transmitting mechanism.

13. The transmission of claim 11 , wherein said interlock valve is sufficiently configured to disallow fluid pressure to said second trim valve when fluid pressure is provided to said third trim valve and wherein said interlock valve is sufficiently configured to disallow fluid pressure to said third trim valve when fluid pressure is provided to said second trim valve.

14. The transmission of claim 11 , wherein said electro-hydraulic control system further includes a solenoid valve operable to command said latch valve and said interlock valve to a pressure set position.

15. The transmission of claim 14 , wherein said latch valve includes a differential area operable maintain said latch valve in said pressure set position when said first toque transmitting mechanism is engaged.

16. The transmission of claim 11 , further comprising:

a fourth torque transmitting mechanism;

wherein said electro-hydraulic control system further includes:

a fourth trim valve operable to effect the engagement of the fourth torque transmitting mechanism; and

wherein said interlock valve selectively communicates fluid pressure to said fourth trim valve to effect engagement of the fourth torque transmitting mechanism.

17. The transmission of claim 16 , wherein said interlock valve is sufficiently configured to disallow fluid pressure to said second trim valve when fluid pressure is provided to said fourth trim valve and wherein said interlock valve is sufficiently configured to disallow fluid pressure to said fourth trim valve when fluid pressure is provided to said second trim valve.

18. The transmission of claim 16 , further comprising a first, second, third, and fourth accumulator valve in fluid communication with a respective one of said first, second, third, and fourth trim valves and operable to improve control of the engagement of respective first, second, third, and fourth torque transmitting mechanisms.

19. An electro-hydraulic control system for an automatically shiftable transmission having first, second, and third selectively engageable torque transmitting mechanisms, wherein the automatically shiftable transmission is operable in a plurality of modes of operation including at least one reverse range, a neutral mode of operation, and a plurality of forward ranges, the electro-hydraulic control system comprising:

a main source of fluid pressure;

first, second, and third trim valves operable to effect the engagement of respective first, second, and third torque transmitting mechanisms;

a latch valve in fluid communication with the first torque transmitting mechanism;

an interlock valve in selective fluid communication with the latch valve;

wherein said first trim valve is in fluid communication with said main source of fluid pressure;

wherein said latch valve and said interlock valve are in fluid communication with said main source of fluid pressure;

wherein said first trim valve is operable to selectively and variably communicate fluid pressure to said latch valve to effect engagement of the first torque transmitting mechanism;

wherein said latch valve includes a differential area operable maintain said latch valve in a pressure set position when the first toque transmitting mechanism is engaged;

wherein said interlock valve is operable to selectively communicate fluid pressure to one of said second and third trim valve to effect engagement of the respective second and third torque transmitting mechanism;

wherein said interlock valve is sufficiently configured to disallow fluid pressure to said second trim valve when fluid pressure is provided to said third trim valve and wherein said interlock valve is sufficiently configured to disallow fluid pressure to said third trim valve when fluid pressure is provided to said second trim valve; and

wherein the electro-hydraulic control system is operable to receive control signals from an electronic control unit and, based upon an interruption of said control signals, the electro-hydraulic control system is operable to default to one of a pair of drive-home modes of operation, including:

a first drive-home mode that is the same for each of the plurality of forward ranges; and

a second drive-home mode that is the same for each of the at least one reverse range and the neutral mode of operation.

20. The electro-hydraulic control system of claim 19 , wherein the automatically shiftable transmission has a fourth torque transmitting mechanism and the electro-hydraulic control system further comprises:

a fourth trim valve operable to effect the engagement of the fourth torque transmitting mechanism;

wherein said interlock valve selectively communicates fluid pressure to said fourth trim valve to effect engagement of the fourth torque transmitting mechanism; and

wherein said interlock valve is sufficiently configured to disallow fluid pressure to said second trim valve when fluid pressure is provided to said fourth trim valve and wherein said interlock valve is sufficiently configured to disallow fluid pressure to said fourth trim valve when fluid pressure is provided to said second trim valve.

21. The electro-hydraulic control system of claim 20 , further comprising a first, second, third, and fourth accumulator valve in fluid communication with a respective one of said first, second, third, and fourth trim valves and operable to improve control of the engagement of respective first, second, third, and fourth torque transmitting mechanisms.

22. An electro-hydraulic control system for an automatically shiftable transmission having a plurality of selectively engageable torque transmitting mechanisms, wherein the automatically shiftable transmission is operable in a plurality of modes of operation including at least one reverse range, a neutral mode of operation, and a plurality of forward ranges, the electro-hydraulic control system comprising:

a main source of fluid pressure;

first, second, and third trim valves operable to effect the engagement of respective first, second, and third torque transmitting mechanisms;

a latch valve in fluid communication with the first torque transmitting mechanism;

an interlock valve in selective fluid communication with the latch valve;

wherein said first trim valve is in fluid communication with said main source of fluid pressure;

wherein said latch valve and said interlock valve are in fluid communication with said main source of fluid pressure;

wherein said first trim valve is operable to selectively and variably communicate fluid pressure to said latch valve to effect engagement of the first torque transmitting mechanism;

wherein said interlock valve is operable to selectively communicated fluid pressure to one of said second and third trim valve to effect engagement of the respective second and third torque transmitting mechanism; wherein the electro-hydraulic control system is operable to lock out at least one torque transmitting mechanism based upon the mode of operation; and wherein the electro-hydraulic control system is operable to receive control signals from an electronic control unit and, based upon an interruption of said control signals, the electro-hydraulic control system is operable to default to one of a pair of default modes of operation, including:

a first default mode that is the same for each of the plurality of forward ranges; and

a second default mode that is the same for each of the at least one reverse range and the neutral mode of operation.

23. The electro-hydraulic control system of claim 22 , wherein when the mode of operation is one of a first forward range, a second forward range, and a third forward range, the electro-hydraulic control system prevents engagement of the second torque transmitting mechanism.

24. The electro-hydraulic control system of claim 22 , wherein when the mode of operation is one of a third forward range and a fourth forward range, the electro-hydraulic control system prevents engagement of both the fourth and fifth torque transmitting mechanisms.

Assignments (14)