Automatic transmission control circuit with electrically operated valves

Claim 2

A multiple ratio power transmission mechanism comprising planetary gear elements forming plural torque delivery paths of different speed ratios between a driving member and a driven member, clutch means and brake means for controlling the relative motion of the elements of the gear units to condition said mechanism for speed ratio changes, servo means for actuating said clutch and brake means, a fluid pressure source, conduit structure connecting said pressure source and said servo means, said conduit structure including selectively operable pressure distributor valves for establishing and disestablishing a fluid connection between said pressure source and pressure sensitive parts of said servo means, a pressure regulator valve means for maintaining a controlled pressure level in said conduit structure including a pressure regulator valve element, a valve chamber receiving said valve element, said chamber being in fluid communication with said pressure source and a high pressure portion of said conduit structure, said valve element controlling the degree of communication between the pressure source and said high pressure conduit structure portion, a pressure area on said regulator valve element, a first signal passage connecting said area and high pressure portions of said conduit structure, other signal passages communicating with pressure areas on said distributor valves and said high pressure portions, each signal passage being defined in part by an orifice, and automatically operable pilot valve means for opening and closing said signal passage orifice including a valve element registering with said orifice, spring means acting on said valve element, electric solenoid windings adjacent said valve element adapted to establish a valve element operating electromotive force opposing said spring means whereby said pressure areas may be selectively pressUrized and exhausted thus inducing a cutback in the magnitude of the pressure level maintained by said regulator valve means and effecting speed ratio changes, said solenoid windings forming a part of an electronic control module that is controlled by the speed of said driven member, the driving torque and the speed ratio selection.

Claim 3

A multiple ratio power transmission mechanism comprising planetary gear elements forming plural torque delivery paths of different speed ratios between a driving member and a driven member, clutch means and brake means for controlling the relative motion of the elements of the gear units to condition said mechanism for speed ratio changes, servo means for actuating said clutch and brake means, a fluid pressure source, conduit structure connecting said pressure source and said servo means, said conduit structure including selectively operable pressure distributor valves for establishing and disestablishing a fluid connection between said pressure source and pressure sensitive parts of said servo means, a pressure regulator valve means for maintaining a controlled pressure level in said conduit structure including a pressure regulator valve element, a valve chamber receiving said valve element, said chamber being in fluid communication with said pressure source and a high pressure portion of said conduit structure, said valve element controlling the degree of communication between the pressure source and said high pressure conduit structure portion, a pressure area on said regulator valve element, a first signal passage connecting said area and high pressure portions of said conduit structure, other signal passages connecting pressure areas on said distributor valve and said high pressure portions, each signal passage being defined in part by an orifice, automatically operable pilot valve means for opening and closing said signal passage orifice including a valve element registering with said orifice, spring means acting on said valve element, electric solenoid windings adjacent said valve element adapted to establish a valve element operating electromotive force opposing said spring means whereby said pressure areas may be selectively pressurized and exhausted thus inducing a cutback in the magnitude of the pressure level maintained by said regulator valve means and effecting speed ratio changes, said solenoid windings forming a part of an electronic control module circuit that is controlled by the speed of said driven member, the driving torque and the speed ratio selection, means for developing a pressure signal that is proportional in magnitude to the torque applied to said driving member, a second control area on said regulator valve element, a fluid connection between said pressure signal source and said second control area whereby the magnitude of the controlled pressure level maintained by said regulator valve means is proportional to the torque applied to said driving member.

Claim 4

A multiple ratio power transmission mechanism comprising planetary gear elements forming plural torque delivery paths of different speed ratios between a driving member and a driven member, clutch means and brake means for controlling the relative motion of the elements of the gear units to condition said mechanism for speed ratio changes, servo means for actuating said clutch and brake means, a fluid pressure source, conduit structure connecting said pressure source and said servo means, said conduit structure including selectively operable pressure distributor valves for establishing and disestablishing a fluid connection between said pressure source and pressure sensitive parts of said servo means, a pressure regulator valve means for maintaining a controlled pressure level in said conduit structure including a pressure regulator valve element, a valve chamber receiving said valve element, said chamber being in fluid communication with said pressure source and a high pressure portion of said conduit structure, said valve element controlling the degree of communication between the pressure source and said high pressure conduit structure portion, a pressure area on said regulator valve element, a first signal passage connecting said area and high pressure portions of said conduit structure, other signal passages connecting pressure areas on said distributor valve and said high pressure portions, each signal passage being defined in part by an orifice, automatically operable pilot valve means for opening and closing said signal passage orifice including a valve element registering with said orifice, spring means acting on said valve element, electric solenoid windings adjacent said valve element adapted to establish a valve element operating electromotive force opposing said spring means whereby said pressure areas may be selectively pressurized and exhausted thus inducing a cutback in the magnitude of the pressure level maintained by said regulator valve means and effecting speed ratio changes, said solenoid windings forming a part of an electronic control module circuit that is controlled by the speed of said driven member, the driving torque and the speed ratio selection, means for developing a pressure signal that is proportional in magnitude to the torque applied to said driving member, a second control area on said regulator valve element, a fluid connection between said pressure signal source and said second control area whereby the magnitude of the controlled pressure level maintained by said regulator valve means is proportional to the torque applied to said driving member.

Claim 5

The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said regulator valve means includes a spring adapted to urge movable portions thereof in a direction that increases the degree of communication between said pressure source and said high pressure conduit structure portion, the pressure force applied to said first named pressure area opposing the force of said spring.

Claim 6

The combination as set forth in claim 2 wherein said regulator valve means includes a spring adapted to urge movable portions thereof in a direction that increases the degree of communication between said pressure source and said high pressure conduit structure portion, the pressure force applied to said first named pressure area opposing the force of said spring.

Claim 7

The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein one of said servo means is pressurized during forward drive operation and is exhausted during reverse drive operation, an auxiliary pressure area on said regulator valve means being in fluid communication with said one servo means whereby the pressure force acting on said auxiliary arEa complements the pressure force acting on said first named pressure area.

Claim 8

The combination as set forth in claim 2 wherein one of said serve means is pressurized during forward drive operation and being exhausted during reverse drive operation, an auxiliary pressure area on said regulator valve means being in fluid communication with said one servo means whereby the pressure force acting on said auxiliary area complements the pressure force acting on said first named pressure area.

Claim 9

The combination as set forth in claim 3 wherein one of said servo means is pressurized during forward drive operation and being exhausted during reverse drive operation, an auxiliary pressure area on said regulator valve means being in fluid communication with said one servo means whereby the pressure force acting on said auxiliary area complements the pressure force acting on said first named pressure area.

Claim 10

The combination as set forth in claim 4 wherein one of said servo means is pressurized during forward drive operation and being exhausted during reverse drive operation, an auxiliary pressure area on said regulator valve means being in fluid communication with said one servo whereby the pressure force acting on said auxiliary area complements the pressure force acting on said first named pressure area.