Throttle pressure control for an automatic power transmission mechanism

Claim 2

A control system for a power transmission mechanism for use in an automotive vehicle driveline having an internal combustion engine with a throttle-controlled, air-fuel mixture intake manifold, multiple ratio gearing connecting drivably the engine to a power output member of the transmission, clutch-and-brake means for controlling the relative motion of the elements of said gearing, fluid pressure operated servos for controlling the actuation and release of said clutch-and-brake means to establish selectively the torque delivery paths, a pressure source including a fluid pressure regulator means for supplying control pressure to said servos, control valve means forming a hydraulic connection between said pressure source and said servos including shift valves for distributing pressure selectively to said servos, a throttle pressure modulator valve means communicating with said regulated pressure source and with said shift valves whereby the latter receives a pressure signal that is an indicator of engine torque, said throttle pressure modulator valve means including a vacuum pressure sensitive actuator, a source of vacuum, vacuum pressure regulator valve means establishing controlled communication between said vacuum source and said actuator whereby said throttle pressure signal is proportional to the vacuum signal made available to said actuator, and a connection between the engine throttle and said vacuum pressure regulator valve means whereby the regulated vacuum pressure is functionally related to engine throttle movement.

Claim 3

A control system for a power transmission mechanism for use in an automotive vehicle driveline having an internal combustion engine with a throttle controlled, air-fuel mixture intake manifold, multiple ratio gearing connecting drivably the engine to a power output member of the transmission, clutch and brake means for controlling the relative motion of the elements of said gearing, fluid pressure operated servos for controlling the actuation and release of said clutch and brake means to establish selectively the torque delivery paths, a pressure source including a fluid control pressure regulator means for supplying control pressure to said servos, control valve means forming a hydraulic connection between said pressure source and said servos including shift valves for distributing pressure selectively to said servos, a throttle pressure modulator valve means communicating with said regulated pressure source and with said shift valves whereby the latter receives a pressure signal that is an indicator of engine torque, said throttle valve pressure modulator valve means including a vacuum pressure sensitive actuator, a source of vacuum, vacuum pressure regulaTor valve means establishing controlled communication between said vacuum source and said actuator whereby said throttle pressure signal is proportional to the vacuum signal made available to said actuator, and a connection between the engine throttle and said vacuum pressure regulator valve means whereby the regulated vacuum pressure is functionally related to engine throttle movement, said throttle pressure modulator valve means being connected also to said control pressure regulator valve whereby the operated pressure level made available to said servos is determined by engine throttle movement, said vacuum pressure source including a reservoir and a valve controlled passage connecting said reservoir and the engine intake manifold whereby said reservoir is charged with engine manifold pressure.

Claim 4

A control system for a power transmission mechanism for use in an automotive vehicle driveline having an internal combustion engine with a throttle controlled, air-fuel mixture intake manifold, multiple ratio gearing connecting drivably the engine to a power output member of the transmission, clutch and brake means for controlling the relative motion of the elements of said gearing, fluid pressure operated servos for controlling the actuation and release of said clutch and brake means to establish selectively the torque delivery paths, a pressure source including a fluid control pressure regulator means for supplying control pressure to said servos, control valve means forming a hydraulic connection between said pressure source and said servos including shift valves for distributing pressure selectively to said servos, a throttle pressure modulator valve means communicating with said regulated pressure source and with said shift valves whereby the latter receives a pressure signal that is an indicator of engine torque, said throttle valve pressure modulator valve means including a vacuum pressure sensitive actuator, a source of vacuum, vacuum pressure regulaTor valve means establishing controlled communication between said vacuum source and said actuator whereby said throttle pressure signal is proportional to the vacuum signal made available to said actuator, and a connection between the engine throttle and said vacuum pressure regulator valve means whereby the regulated vacuum pressure is functionally related to engine throttle movement, said throttle pressure modulator valve means being connected also to said control pressure regulator valve whereby the operated pressure level made available to said servos is determined by engine throttle movement, said vacuum pressure source including a reservoir and a valve controlled passage connecting said reservoir and the engine intake manifold whereby said reservoir is charged with engine manifold pressure.

Claim 5

The combination as set forth in claim 1 whereby said vacuum pressure regulator valve means comprises a movable valve element, a pressure movable member connected to said movable valve element, a companion valve element registering with said movable valve element and cooperating therewith to define a controlled pressure delivery path between said vacuum source and said actuator, spring means acting upon said movable member for establishing a force that tends to increase the degree of communication between said vacuum source and said actuator and a mechanical connection between said engine throttle and said spring means whereby the force of said spring is decreased as the engine throttle position is advanced to a wide open setting.

Claim 6

The combination as set forth in claim 2 whereby said vacuum pressure regulator valve means comprises a movable valve element, a pressure movable member connected to said movable valve element, a companion valve element registering with said movable valve element and cooperating therewith to define a controlled pressure delivery path between said vacuum source and said actuator, spring means acting upon said movable member for establishing a force that tends to increase the degree of communication between said vacuum source and said actuator and a mechanical connection between said engine throttle and said spring means whereby the force of said spring is decreased as the engine throttle position is advanced to a wide open setting.

Claim 7

The combination as set forth in claim 3 whereby the mechanical connection between said spring and said engine throttle includes a movable member engaging said spring to provide a spring force reaction point, a cam linkage means for translating rotary motion of said throttle to reciprocating motion of said movable throttle member, the magnitude of the throttle pressure signal made available by said throttle valve means being determined in part by the geometry of the cam linkage means.

Claim 8

The combination as set forth in claim 4 whereby the mechanical connection between said spring and said engine throttle includes a movable member engaging said spring to provide a spring force reaction point, a cam linkage means for translating rotary motion of said throttle to reciprocating motion of said movable throttle member, the magnitude of the throttle pressure signal made available by said throttle valve means being determined in part by the geometry of the cam linkage means.