Planetary gear transmission systems or components – Fluid drive or control of planetary gearing – Control of differential planetary gearing
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-16
2001-01-23
Bonck, Rodney H. (Department: 3681)
Planetary gear transmission systems or components
Fluid drive or control of planetary gearing
Control of differential planetary gearing
C192S1030FA
Reexamination Certificate
active
06176800
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to a hydraulic coupling for use with a vehicle drivetrain within a housing thereof containing hydraulic fluid to rotatively couple a pair of rotary members about a rotational axis.
BACKGROUND ART
Hydraulic couplings have previously utilized hydraulic pumps to couple rotary members of a vehicle drivetrain. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,012,968 Kelbel discloses a differential mechanism wherein a hydraulic pump of the gerotor type is located radially outward from the axis of rotation of the two members and provides pumped hydraulic fluid to a clutch that controls operation of a bevel type planetary gear set to limit the differential action so as to thus have a limited slip function. U.S. Pat. No. 4,730,514 Shikata et al discloses another differential mechanism wherein a hydraulic pump controls operation of a bevel gear type planetary gear set that extends between two rotary members such that a limited slip function of the differential gear operation is also provided. Furthermore, U.S. Pat. No. 3,748,928 Shiber; U.S. Pat. No. 4,719,998 Hiramatsu et al; U.S. Pat. No. 4,719,998 Hiramatsu et al; U.S. Pat. No. 4,727,966 Hiramatsu et al; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,909,371 Okamoto et al disclose hydraulic pumps utilized within vehicle drivetrains to control actuation of a clutch that connects two rotary members of a vehicle drivetrain.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide an improved control valve for use in controlling rotative coupling of a pair of rotary members of a vehicle drivetrain.
In carrying out the above object, the control valve includes a valve element and a port through which pressurized hydraulic fluid selectively flows to control the coupling of the pair of rotary members. The port includes a main passage and a bleed passage that is communicated with the main passage. The valve element of the control valve is mounted for movement between an open position spaced from the main passage of the port and a closed position where the valve element closes the main passage of the port but permits pressurized hydraulic fluid to bleed through the bleed passage, and the bleed passage upon subsequent movement of the valve element to the open position is cleaned by fluid flow through both passages of the port.
In the preferred construction, the control valve has the valve element constructed as an elongated valve element having one portion that is mounted in a spaced relationship to the port and having a distal end that is movable between the open position spaced from the main passage of the port and the closed position that closes the main passage of the port but allows hydraulic fluid to bleed through the bleed passage. This elongated valve element is preferably constructed from a bimetallic strip so as to adjust for temperature changes during use.
The control valve has a valve body including an elongated mounting recess having one location at which the one portion of the elongated valve element is mounted and having an end at which the main passage of the port extends through the valve body. In one construction, the valve body defines the main passage of the port and also defines the bleed passage of the port. In another construction, the valve body defines the main passage of the port and the distal end of the valve element defines the bleed passage of the port.
The elongated valve element is disclosed in different constructions as having both a straight shape and a curved shape.
In one construction of the control valve, the valve body has an elongated mounting recess having one portion at which the one portion of the elongated valve element is mounted and has an end at which the main passage of the port extends through the valve body, and the valve element has a generally flat shape between the one portion and its distal end. The recess in this construction has a greater depth at the end thereof than at said portion thereof and is inclined therebetween. The recess has a curved surface providing its inclination between its one end and said one portion thereof where the valve element is mounted on the valve body. A connector is also disclosed for securing the valve body for use. This connector may be provided by an adhesive or one or more mechanical fasteners. The valve body is advantageously constructed as a plastic injection molding.
One construction of the control valve that is particularly adaptable for use in a supercharged circuit with a pair of the ports and has its valve body provided with an elongated mounting recess of a curved shape including opposite ends and a curved intermediate portion extending between its ends. The valve element in this construction is generally flat and has a pair of opposite ends as well as a curved intermediate portion extending between its ends and mounted within the recess at the curved intermediate portion of the recess. Each of the pair of ports has the same construction and the main passage of each port extends through the valve body at an associated end of the recess, and the recess has a greater depth at each end thereof than at the intermediate portion thereof and is inclined from each end thereof to its intermediate portion. This recess preferably has curved surfaces providing the inclination between each end thereof and its intermediate portion. Furthermore, like the straight construction of the control valve, the curved control valve is also disclosed as including a connector for securing the valve body for use. Likewise, the connector can be either an adhesive or one or more mechanical fasteners and the construction of the control valve is advantageously made as a plastic injection molding with the recess having curved surfaces providing the inclination between each end thereof and its intermediate portion.
The objects, features and advantages of the present invention are readily apparent from the following detailed description of the best modes for carrying out the invention when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.
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Okcuoglu Murat N.
Shaffer Theodore E.
Bliss McGlynn P.C.
Bonck Rodney H.
McLaren Automotive Group, Inc.
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