US3724205A — Automatic transmission control system

Claim 1

Independent Claim 184 words

In an automatic transmission for an automotive vehicle having a driving engine with a throttle, the combination of an input shaft adapted to be driven by the engine, and an output shaft, an infinitely variable speed ratio hydraulic unit including a multicylinder hydraulic power motor drivingly connected to said output shaft and in operative relation with a first swash plate, a multi-cylinder hydraulic power pump drivingly connected to said input shaft and in operative relation with a second swash plate, said pump and motor being hydraulically interconnected through a hydraulic working circuit having a high pressure side and a low pressure side operative for hydraulically transmitting power from said input shaft to said output shaft; hydraulic control means including an hydraulic servomotor having a piston movable to displace angularly said first swash plate for selectively varying the displacement of said motor and thereby the speed ratios between said shafts, and valve means controlling movement of said pistons; actuating means connected to said valve means; and means responsive to movement of said throttle and to the speed of said vehicle for operating said actuating means.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 184 words

In an automatic transmission for an automotive vehicle having a driving engine with a throttle, the combination of an input shaft adapted to be driven by the engine, and an output shaft, an infinitely variable speed ratio hydraulic unit including a multicylinder hydraulic power motor drivingly connected to said output shaft and in operative relation with a first swash plate, a multi-cylinder hydraulic power pump drivingly connected to said input shaft and in operative relation with a second swash plate, said pump and motor being hydraulically interconnected through a hydraulic working circuit having a high pressure side and a low pressure side operative for hydraulically transmitting power from said input shaft to said output shaft; hydraulic control means including an hydraulic servomotor having a piston movable to displace angularly said first swash plate for selectively varying the displacement of said motor and thereby the speed ratios between said shafts, and valve means controlling movement of said pistons; actuating means connected to said valve means; and means responsive to movement of said throttle and to the speed of said vehicle for operating said actuating means.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 96 words

In an automatic transmission as defined in claim 1 in which said hydraulic servomotor is provided with pressure fluid ports on opposite sides of the piston having relatively large and small pressure areas respectively forming movable portions of spaced first and second chambers, and with an exhaust port communicating with said first chamber, said valve means being operative to control venting of pressure fluid from said first chamber through said exhaust port to reduce pressure of the fluid in said first chamber to thereby move said piston to vary the position of said first swash plate.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 40 words

In an automatic transmission as defined in claim 1 wherein said first swash plate is engageable with and is operable to move said valve means to positions controlling operation of said valve means by said throttle and speed responsive means.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 40 words

In an automatic transmission as defined in claim 2 wherein said first swash plate is engageable with and is operable to move said valve means to positions controlling operation of said valve means by said throttle and speed responsive means.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 49 words

In an automatic transmission as defined in claim 1 wherein said valve means is engageable with said first swash plate to limit the range of movement of said first swash plate by said servomotor piston by said actuating means when operated by said throttle and vehicle speed responsive means.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 57 words

In an automatic transmission as defined in claim 1 wherein said speed responsive means includes a centrifugal governor, and said throttle responsive means includes an accelerator pedal, and means connecting said governor and said pedal to said valve means to combine the movements of said governor and said pedal to vary the position of the valve means.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 57 words

In an automatic transmission as defined in claim 2 wherein said speed responsive means includes a centrifugal governor, and said throttle responsive means includes an accelerator pedal, and means connecting said governor and said pedal to said valve means to combine the movements of said governor and said pedal to vary the positions of the valve means.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 33 words

In an automatic transmission as defined in claim 5 including spring means operative to maintain said valve means engaged with said first swash plate during movements of said throttle and speed responsive means.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 46 words

In an automatic transmission as defined in claim 5 wherein said valve means includes telescoping valve members, a spring urging one of said members into engagement with said first swash plate, and means connecting the other of said members to said throttle and speed responsive means.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 125 words

In an automatic transmission as defined in claim 1 wherein said speed responsive means includes a centrifugal governor, said throttle responsive means includes an accelerator pedal, and means connecting said governor and said pedal to said valve means to combine the movements of said governor and said pedal to vary the position of the valve means to increase the effective angular displacement of said first swash plate to a high speed ratio position, said valve means being operative by movement of said accelerator pedal to its full open throttle position to actuate said valve means to energize said servomotor to move said piston and thereby said first swash plate to increase the angular displacement of said first swash plate to a higher speed ratio position.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 126 words

In an automatic transmission as defined in claim 2 wherein said speed responsive means includes a centrifugal governor, and said throttle responsive means includes an accelerator pedal, and means connecting said governor and said pedal to said valve means to combine the movements of said governor and said pedal to vary the positions of the valve means to increase the effective angular displacement of said first swash plate to a high speed ratio position, said valve means being operative by movement of said accelerator pedal to its full open throttle position to actuate said valve means to energize said servomotor to move said piston and thereby said first swash plate to increase the angular displacement of said first swash plate to a higher speed ratio position.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 119 words

An automatic transmission as defined in claim 1 in which said servomotor is provided with pressure fluid ports on opposite sides of the piston having relatively large and small pressure areas respectively forming movable portions of spaced first and second chambers, and said servomotor is also provided with a plurality of exhaust ports located along the length and stroke of said piston to reduce the pressure in said first chamber and thereby on the large pressure area side of said piston to control the positions of the piston and thereby the angular displacement of said first swash plate; and a manual valve operative to selectively control the exhaust ports to effect movement of said piston to predetermined drive positions.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 54 words

An automatic transmission as defined in claim 1 in which said throttle and speed responsive means are operative to actuate said valve means to vary the position of said servomotor piston with respect to the selected exhaust port position, predetermined by said manual valve, to control the angular displacement of said first swash plate.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 118 words

An automatic transmission as defined in claim 1 in which said hydraulic unit provides a first drive train between said input and output shafts, and said transmission includes A friction clutch providing a second drive train between said input and output shafts, an hydraulically-actuated device energizable to engage said clutch, and means operatively connected to said first swash plate and operable when an adjustment of said first swash plate has been made from an effective angular displacement to a displacement position nearly equal to the displacement position of said second swash plate to disable said hydraulic unit and thereby said first drive train and to energize said device to engage said clutch to establish said second drive train.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 118 words

An automatic transmission as defined in claim 2 in which said hydraulic unit provides a first drive train between said input and output shafts, and said transmission includes a friction clutch providing a second drive train between said input and output shafts, an hydraulically-actuated device energizable to engage said clutch and means operatively connected to said first swash plate and operable when an adjustment of said first swash plate has been made from an effective angular displacement to a displacement position nearly equal to the displacement position of said second swash plate to disable said hydraulic unit and thereby said first drive train and to energize said device to engage said clutch to establish said second drive train.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 44 words

An automatic transmission as defined in claim 14 including a valve controlling said device and operable by said first swash plate after movement thereof from its effective angular displacement position to energize said device to engage said clutch to establish said second drive train.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 141 words

An automatic transmission as defined in claim 16 wherein said speed responsive means includes a centrifugal governor, and said throttle responsive means includes an accelerator pedal, means connecting said governor and said pedal to said valve means to combine the movements of said governor and said pedal to vary the position of said valve means and thereby the effective angular displacement of said first swash plate to a high speed ratio position and to operate said valve means to energize said device to engage said clutch and thereby connect said shafts and whereby pump and motor swash plates are moved to zero displacement position; and means operative by movement of said pedal to its full open throttle position to actuate said first swash plate to its effective angular displacement to operate said valve to deenergize said device to disengage said clutch.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1976-04-02	1976-10-02	1977-04-03	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1980-04-02	1980-10-02	1981-04-03	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1984-04-02	1984-10-02	1985-04-03	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Automatic transmission control system

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