Transmission with retarder and control and lubrication system

Claim 2

In combination; a drive train; a hydrodynamic retarder having a stator in a retarder chamber with a retarder fluid inlet and outlet and a rotor in said retarder chamber driven by said drive train pumping fluid from said retarder inlet to said retarder outlet and providing braking torque; source means providing a source of fluid at a high regulated pressure; a cooler having an internal flow restriction having an inlet connected to said source means and an outlet providing retarder and lubrication feed; a relief valve connected to said cooler outlet to limit cooler outlet, a retarder and lubrication feed pressure to a low normal value; retarder control valve means having a retarder inlet and outlet passage connected respectively to said retarder chamber inlet and outlet, a cooler inlet and outlet passage connected respectively to said cooler inlet and outlet and an exhaust passage and operative in off position for blocking said cooler outlet passage from said retarder inlet passage, said retarder outlet passage from said cooler inlet passage and connecting one retarder passage to said exhaust passage and operative in one position connecting said cooler outlet passage to said retarder inlet passage at times having high flow reducing cooler outlet pressure below a minimum value less than said low normal value and said retarder outlet passage to said cooler inlet passage; a lubrication supply line connected to said cooler outlet; a restricted flow lubrication system for said drive train connected to said lubrication supply line; a restricted branch connected to said source means; a lubrication pressure signal and make up line connected to said lubrication supply line; a positive lubrication downstream regulator valve means connected to said main line branch and said lubrication pressure signal and make up line operative in closed position in response to minimum and more than minimum lubrication pressure in said lubrication supply line and lubrication pressure signal and make up line to disconnect said restricted branch from said lubrication signal and make up line and operative in response to less than minimum lubrication pressure to open connecting said restricted branch to said lubrication pressure signal and make up line to supply and regulate fluid to maintain said lubrication supply line at minimum lubricating pressure and valve means between said cooler outlet and said lubrication supply line operative to permit flow from said cooler outlet to said lubrication supply lines when the pressure in said cooler outlet is at or above said minimum value and to block flow when the pressure in said cooler outlet is less than said minimum value.

Claim 3

In a transmission; a drive train including a torque converter having a converter fluid chamber with a converter inlet and outlet; a hydrodynamic retarder having a stator in a retarder chamber with a retarder fluid inlet and outlet and a rotor in said retarder chamber driven by said drive train pumping fluid from said retarder inlet to said retarder outlet and providing braking torque; source means having a converter feed line, a converter regulator valve, a main line and a main regulator valve connected to said main line regulating main line fluid at a high regulated pressure and providing overage fluid to said converter feed line connected to said converter regulator valve for regulation at an intermediate pressure and connected to said converter chamber inlet; a cooler having an internal flow restriction having an inlet connected to said converter chamber outlet and an outlet providing retarder and lubrication feed; a relief valve connected to said cooler outlet to limit retarder and lubrication feed pressure to a low normal value; retarder control valve means having a retarder inlet and outlet passage connected respectively to said retarder chamber inlet and outlet, a cooler inlet and outlet passage connected respectively to said cooler inlet and outlet and an exhaust passage and operative in off position for blocking said cooler outlet passage from said retarder inlet passage, retarder outlet passage from said cooler inlet passage and connecting one retarder passage to said exhaust passage and operative in on position connecting said cooler outlet passage to said retarder inlet passage at times having high flow reducing cooler outlet passage pressure below a minimum value less than said low normal value and said retarder outlet passage to said cooler inlet passage; a lubrication supply line; a restricted flow lubrication system for said drive train connected to said lubrication supply line; check valve means providing one way flow from said cooler outlet to said lubrication supply line; a restricted main line branch; a lubrication pressure signal and make up line connected to said lubrication supply line and a positive lubrication downstream regulator valve means connected to said main line branch and said lubrication pressure signal and make up line operative in closed position in response to minimum and more than minimum lubrication pressure in said luBrication pressure signal and make up line to disconnect said main line branch from said lubrication signal and make up line and operative in response to less than minimum lubrication pressure to open connecting said main line branch to said lubrication pressure signal and make up line to supply and regulate fluid to maintain said lubrication supply line at minimum lubricating pressure.

Claim 4

In a transmission; a drive train including a torque converter having a converter fluid chamber with a converter inlet and outlet; a hydrodynamic retarder having a stator in a retarder chamber with a retarder fluid inlet and outlet and a rotor in said retarder chamber driven by said drive train pumping fluid from said retarder inlet to said retarder outlet and providing braking torque; source means having a converter feed line, a converter regulator valve, a main line and a main regulator valve connected to said main line regulating main line fluid at a high regulated pressure and providing overage fluid to said converter feed line connected to said converter regulator valve for regulation at an intermediate pressure and connected to said converter chamber inlet; a cooler having an internal flow restriction having an inlet connected to said converter chamber outlet and an outlet providing retarder and lubrication feed; a relief valve connected to said cooler outlet to limit retarder and lubrication feed pressure to a low normal value; retarder control valve means having a retarder inlet and outlet passage connected respectively to said retarder chamber inlet and outlet, a cooler inlet and outlet passage connected respectively to said cooler inlet and outlet and an exhaust passage and operative in off position for blocking said cooler outlet passage from said retarder inlet passage, retarder outlet passage from said cooler inlet passage and connecting one retarder passage to said exhaust passage and operative in on position connecting said cooler outlet passage to said retarder inlet passage at times having high flow reducing cooler outlet passage pressure below a minimum value less than said low normal value and said retarder outlet passage to said cooler inlet passage; a lubrication supply line; a restricted flow lubrication system for said drive train connected to said lubrication supply line; check valve means providing one way flow from said cooler outlet to said lubrication supply line; a restricted main line branch; a lubrication pressure signal and make up line connected to said lubrication supply line and a positive lubrication downstream regulator valve means connected to said main line branch and said lubrication pressure signal and make up line operative in closed position in response to minimum and more than minimum lubrication pressure in said luBrication pressure signal and make up line to disconnect said main line branch from said lubrication signal and make up line and operative in response to less than minimum lubrication pressure to open connecting said main line branch to said lubrication pressure signal and make up line to supply and regulate fluid to maintain said lubrication supply line at minimum lubricating pressure.

Claim 5

In a transmission; a drive train including a torque converter having a converter fluid chamber with a converter inlet and outlet and a multiratio transmission having fluid operated shift controls and being drive connected with said torque converter; a hydrodynamic retarder having a stator in a retarder chamber with a retarder fluid inlet and outlet and a rotor in said retarder chamber driven by said drive train pumping fluid from said retarder inlet to said retarder outlet and providing braking torque varying as a function of retarder chamber pressure; source means having a converter feed line, a converter regulator valve, a main line connected to said shift controls and a main regulator valve connected to said main line regulating main line fluid at a high regulated pressure connected to said shift controls and providing overage fluid to said converter feed line connected to said converter regulator valve for regulation at an intermediate pressure and connected to said converter chamber inlet; a cooler having an internal flow restriction having an inlet connected to said converter chamber outlet and an outlet providing retarder and lubrication feed; a relief valve connected to said cooler outlet to limit retarder and lubrication feed pressure to a low normal value; retarder control valve means being a retarder inlet and outlet passage connected respectively to said retarder chamber inlet and outlet, a cooler inlet and outlet passage connected respectively to said cooler inlet and outlet and an exhaust passage and operative in off position for blocking said cooler outlet passage from said retarder inlet passage, said retarder outlet passage from said cooler inlet passage and connecting one retarder passage to said exhaust passage and operative in on position connecting said cooler outlet passage to said retarder inlet passage at times having high flow reducing cooler outlet passage pressure below a minimum value, less than said low normal value and said retarder outlet passage to said cooler inlet passage and controlling retarder chamber pressure; a lubrication supply line; a restricted flow lubrication system for said drive train connected to said lubrication supply line; check valve means providing one way flow from said cooler outlet to said lubrication supply line; a restricted main line branch; a lubrication pressure signal and make up line connected to said lubrication supply line and positive lubrication downstream regulator valve means connected to said main line branch and said lubrication pressure signal and make up line operative in closed position in response to minimum and more than minimum lubrication pressure in said lubrication pressure signal and make up line to disconnect said main line branch from said lubrication signal and make up line and operative in response to less than minimum lubrication pressure to open connecting said main line branch to said lubrication pressure signal and make up line to supply and regulate fluid to maintain said lubrication supply line at minimum lubricating pressure.

Claim 6

In a transmission; a drive train including a torque converter having a converter fluid chamber with a converter inlet and outlet and a multiratio transmission having fluid operated shift controls and being drive connected with said torque converter; a hydrodynamic retarder having a stator in a retarder chamber with a retarder fluid inlet and outlet and a rotor in said retarder chamber driven by said drive train pumping fluid from said retarder inlet to said retarder outlet and providing braking torque varying as a function of retarder chamber pressure; source means having a converter feed line, a converter regulator valve, a main line connected to said shift controls and a main regulator valve connected to said main line regulating main line fluid at a high regulated pressure connected to said shift controls and providing overage fluid to said converter feed line connected to said converter regulator valve for regulation at an intermediate pressure and connected to said converter chamber inlet; a cooler having an internal flow restriction having an inlet connected to said converter chamber outlet and an outlet providing retarder and lubrication feed; a relief valve connected to said cooler outlet to limit retarder and lubrication feed pressure to a low normal value; retarder control valve means being a retarder inlet and outlet passage connected respectively to said retarder chamber inlet and outlet, a cooler inlet and outlet passage connected respectively to said cooler inlet and outlet and an exhaust passage and operative in off position for blocking said cooler outlet passage from said retarder inlet passage, said retarder outlet passage from said cooler inlet passage and connecting one retarder passage to said exhaust passage and operative in on position connecting said cooler outlet passage to said retarder inlet passage at times having high flow reducing cooler outlet passage pressure below a minimum value, less than said low normal value and said retarder outlet passage to said cooler inlet passage and controlling retarder chamber pressure; a lubrication supply line; a restricted flow lubrication system for said drive train connected to said lubrication supply line; check valve means providing one way flow from said cooler outlet to said lubrication supply line; a restricted main line branch; a lubrication pressure signal and make up line connected to said lubrication supply line and positive lubrication downstream regulator valve means connected to said main line branch and said lubrication pressure signal and make up line operative in closed position in response to minimum and more than minimum lubrication pressure in said lubrication pressure signal and make up line to disconnect said main line branch from said lubrication signal and make up line and operative in response to less than minimum lubrication pressure to open connecting said main line branch to said lubrication pressure signal and make up line to supply and regulate fluid to maintain said lubrication supply line at minimum lubricating pressure.

Claim 7

In a transmission; a drive train including a torque converter having a converter fluid chamber with a converter inlet and outlet and a multiratio transmission having fluid operated shift controls and being drive connected with said torque converter; a hydrodynamic retarder having a stator in a retarder chamber with a retarder fluid inlet and outlet and a rotor in said retarder chamber driven by said drive train pumping fluid from said retarder inlet to said retarder outlet and providing braking torque varying as a function of retarder chamber pressure; source means having a cOnverter feed line, a converter regulator valve, a main line connected to said shift controls and a main regulator valve connected to said main line regulating main line fluid at a high regulated pressure connected to said shift controls and providing overage fluid to said converter feed line connected to said converter regulator valve for regulation at an intermediate pressure and connected to said converter chamber inlet; a cooler having an internal flow restriction having an inlet connected to said converter chamber outlet and an outlet providing retarder and lubrication feed; a relief valve connected to said cooler outlet to limit retarder and lubrication feed pressure to a low normal value; retarder control valve means having a retarder inlet and outlet passage connected respectively to said retarder chamber inlet and outlet, a cooler inlet and outlet passage connected respectively to said cooler inlet and outlet and an exhaust passage and operative in off position for blocking said cooler outlet passage from said retarder inlet passage, said retarder outlet passage from said cooler inlet passage and connecting one retarder passage to said exhaust passage and operative in on position connecting said cooler outlet passage to said retarder inlet passage at times having high flow reducing cooler outlet passage pressure below a minimum value less than said low normal value and said retarder outlet passage to said cooler inlet passage and controlling retarder chamber pressure; a lubrication supply line; a restricted flow lubrication system for said drive train connected to said lubrication supply line; check valve means providing one way flow from said cooler outlet to said lubrication supply line; a restricted main line branch; a lubrication pressure signal and make up line connected to said lubrication supply line; a positive lubrication downstream regulator valve means connected to said main line branch and said lubrication pressure signal and make up line operative in closed position in response to minimum or more than minimum lubrication pressure in said lubrication pressure signal and make up line to disconnect said main line branch from said lubrication signal and make up line and operative in response to less than minimum lubrication pressure to open connecting said main line branch to said lubrication pressure signal and make up line to supply and regulate fluid to maintain said lubrication supply line at minimum lubricating pressure and said positive lubrication valve means having a bore, having a closed chamber end connected to said lubrication signal and make up line, a vented spring chamber end and a port connected to said main line branch intermediate said ends, a valve element having a central recess and an axial passage connecting said recess to one end of said valve element reciprocally mounted in said bore with said one end closing said closed chamber end of said bore, a spring seated in the spring chamber end of said bore biasing said valve element toward said closed chamber end, and said valve element being operative in response to less than minimum lubrication pressure in said closed chamber to overcome said bias spring to align said port and recess to connect said branch line through said port, recess, passage closed chamber and lubrication feed and make up line to supply additional lubricating fluid and in response to minimum and more than minimum lubrication pressure to move said valve element against said spring to misalign said port and recess to disconnect said connection.

Claim 8

In a transmission; a drive train including a torque converter having a converter fluid chamber with a converter inlet and outlet and a multiratio transmission having fluid operated shift controls and being drive connected with said torque converter; a hydrodynamic retarder having a stator in a retarder chamber with a retarder fluid inlet and outlet and a rotor in said retarder chamber driven by said drive train pumping fluid from said retarder inlet to said retarder outlet and providing braking torque varying as a function of retarder chamber pressure; source means having a cOnverter feed line, a converter regulator valve, a main line connected to said shift controls and a main regulator valve connected to said main line regulating main line fluid at a high regulated pressure connected to said shift controls and providing overage fluid to said converter feed line connected to said converter regulator valve for regulation at an intermediate pressure and connected to said converter chamber inlet; a cooler having an internal flow restriction having an inlet connected to said converter chamber outlet and an outlet providing retarder and lubrication feed; a relief valve connected to said cooler outlet to limit retarder and lubrication feed pressure to a low normal value; retarder control valve means having a retarder inlet and outlet passage connected respectively to said retarder chamber inlet and outlet, a cooler inlet and outlet passage connected respectively to said cooler inlet and outlet and an exhaust passage and operative in off position for blocking said cooler outlet passage from said retarder inlet passage, said retarder outlet passage from said cooler inlet passage and connecting one retarder passage to said exhaust passage and operative in on position connecting said cooler outlet passage to said retarder inlet passage at times having high flow reducing cooler outlet passage pressure below a minimum value less than said low normal value and said retarder outlet passage to said cooler inlet passage and controlling retarder chamber pressure; a lubrication supply line; a restricted flow lubrication system for said drive train connected to said lubrication supply line; check valve means providing one way flow from said cooler outlet to said lubrication supply line; a restricted main line branch; a lubrication pressure signal and make up line connected to said lubrication supply line; a positive lubrication downstream regulator valve means connected to said main line branch and said lubrication pressure signal and make up line operative in closed position in response to minimum or more than minimum lubrication pressure in said lubrication pressure signal and make up line to disconnect said main line branch from said lubrication signal and make up line and operative in response to less than minimum lubrication pressure to open connecting said main line branch to said lubrication pressure signal and make up line to supply and regulate fluid to maintain said lubrication supply line at minimum lubricating pressure and said positive lubrication valve means having a bore, having a closed chamber end connected to said lubrication signal and make up line, a vented spring chamber end and a port connected to said main line branch intermediate said ends, a valve element having a central recess and an axial passage connecting said recess to one end of said valve element reciprocally mounted in said bore with said one end closing said closed chamber end of said bore, a spring seated in the spring chamber end of said bore biasing said valve element toward said closed chamber end, and said valve element being operative in response to less than minimum lubrication pressure in said closed chamber to overcome said bias spring to align said port and recess to connect said branch line through said port, recess, passage closed chamber and lubrication feed and make up line to supply additional lubricating fluid and in response to minimum and more than minimum lubrication pressure to move said valve element against said spring to misalign said port and recess to disconnect said connection.

Claim 9

In a drive train including fluid employing torque control means having a fluid inlet and outlet and having one operating phase having low flow requirements and another operating phase having high flow requirements; source means providing a source of fluid at a high regulated pressure; a cooler having an internal flow restriction having an inlet connected to said source and an outlet providing torque control means and lubrication feed; a relief valve connected to said cooler outlet to limit torque control means and lubrication feed pressure to a low value; control valve means connected to said torque control means inlet and outlet and to said cooler inlet and outlet operative in an on position to provide connections from said cooler outlet to said torque control means inlet and from said torque control means outlet to said cooler inlet and in said other operating phase reducing cooler outlet pressure below a minimum value less than said low normal value and in an off position to block flow through said torque control means, a lubrication supply line connected to said cooler outlet; a restricted flow lubrication system connected to said lubrication supply line; a branch line connected to said source means; lubrication pressure signal and make up line means connected to said lubrication supply line; a positive lubrication downstream regulator valve means connected to said main line branch and said lubrication pressure signal and make up line means operative in closed position in response to minimal lubrication pressure and more than minimal lubrication pressure in said lubrication pressure signal and make up line means to disconnect said branch line from said lubrication signal and make up line means for lubrication feed from said cooler outlet and operative in response to less than minimal lubrication pressure to open connecting said branch line to said lubrication pressure signal and make up line to regulate feed from said source and branch line to maintain said lubrication supply line at minimum lubricating pressure and valve means between said cooler outlet and said lubrication supply line operative to permit flow from said cooler outlet to said lubrication supply lines when the pressure in said cooler outlet is at or above said minimum value and to block flow when the pressure in said cooler outlet is less than said minimum value.

Claim 10

In a drive train including fluid employing torque control means having a fluid inlet and outlet and having one operating phase having low flow requirements and another operating phase having high flow requirements; source means providing a source of fluid at a high regulated pressure; a cooler having an internal flow restriction having an inlet connected to said source and an outlet providing torque control means and lubrication feed; a relief valve connected to said cooler outlet to limit torque control means and lubrication feed pressure to a low value; control valve means connected to said torque control means inlet and outlet and to said cooler inlet and outlet operative in an on position to provide connections from said cooler outlet to said torque control means inlet and from said torque control means outlet to said cooler inlet and in said other operating phase reducing cooler outlet pressure below a minimum value less than said low normal value and in an off position to block flow through said torque control means, a lubrication supply line connected to said cooler outlet; a restricted flow lubrication system connected to said lubrication supply line; a branch line connected to said source means; lubrication pressure signal and make up line means connected to said lubrication supply line; a positive lubrication downstream regulator valve means connected to said main line branch and said lubrication pressure signal and make up line means operative in closed position in response to minimal lubrication pressure and more than minimal lubrication pressure in said lubrication pressure signal and make up line means to disconnect said branch line from said lubrication signal and make up line means for lubrication feed from said cooler outlet and operative in response to less than minimal lubrication pressure to open connecting said branch line to said lubrication pressure signal and make up line to regulate feed from said source and branch line to maintain said lubrication supply line at minimum lubricating pressure and valve means between said cooler outlet and said lubrication supply line operative to permit flow from said cooler outlet to said lubrication supply lines when the pressure in said cooler outlet is at or above said minimum value and to block flow when the pressure in said cooler outlet is less than said minimum value.