Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
329 words
In an automotive vehicle having a hydraulic torque converter having an input member, an output member, and a hydraulic direct-coupling clutch arranged between said input and output members and being operable to mechanically engage said input and output members with each other, a control device for said hydraulic direct-coupling clutch, said control device comprising: a selector valve electrically actuatable for controlling the supply of operating fluid to said direct-coupling clutch, said selector valve having a valve body and a pressure chamber defined by one end face of said valve body; a pilot fluid pressure source for generatig pilot fluid pressure and supplying same to said pressure chamber to act upon said one end face of said valve body of said selector valve and operable to bias said valve body to a position for supplying said operating fluid to said direct-coupling clutch; a drain line communicating said pressure chamber of said selector valve with a zone under a lower pressure; an electromagnetic valve arranged across said drain line and adapted to open said drain line when energized, to permit said pilot fluid pressure in said pressure chamber of said selector valve to escape to said zone under a lower pressure; an electrical circuit adapted to supply said electromagnetic valve with electric power at least dependent upon the speed of said automotive vehicle, for energizing said electromagnetic valve; signal pressure generating means for generating signal fluid pressure dependent upon the speed of said automotive vehicle; and fluid pressure regulating means for regulating the magnitude of pressure of said operating fluid in response to said signal fluid pressure generated by said signal pressure generating means, said fluid pressure regulating means being adapted to regulate the pressure of said operating fluid to values smaller than a value at which said direct-coupling clutch is rendered operative, for rendering said direct-coupling clutch inoperative irrespective of the operative state of said electromagnetic valve, when the speed of said automotive vehicle is smaller than a predetermined value.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
329 words
In an automotive vehicle having a hydraulic torque converter having an input member, an output member, and a hydraulic direct-coupling clutch arranged between said input and output members and being operable to mechanically engage said input and output members with each other, a control device for said hydraulic direct-coupling clutch, said control device comprising: a selector valve electrically actuatable for controlling the supply of operating fluid to said direct-coupling clutch, said selector valve having a valve body and a pressure chamber defined by one end face of said valve body; a pilot fluid pressure source for generatig pilot fluid pressure and supplying same to said pressure chamber to act upon said one end face of said valve body of said selector valve and operable to bias said valve body to a position for supplying said operating fluid to said direct-coupling clutch; a drain line communicating said pressure chamber of said selector valve with a zone under a lower pressure; an electromagnetic valve arranged across said drain line and adapted to open said drain line when energized, to permit said pilot fluid pressure in said pressure chamber of said selector valve to escape to said zone under a lower pressure; an electrical circuit adapted to supply said electromagnetic valve with electric power at least dependent upon the speed of said automotive vehicle, for energizing said electromagnetic valve; signal pressure generating means for generating signal fluid pressure dependent upon the speed of said automotive vehicle; and fluid pressure regulating means for regulating the magnitude of pressure of said operating fluid in response to said signal fluid pressure generated by said signal pressure generating means, said fluid pressure regulating means being adapted to regulate the pressure of said operating fluid to values smaller than a value at which said direct-coupling clutch is rendered operative, for rendering said direct-coupling clutch inoperative irrespective of the operative state of said electromagnetic valve, when the speed of said automotive vehicle is smaller than a predetermined value.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
85 words
A control device as claimed in claim 1, including an operating fluid source for supplying said operating fluid, and an operating fluid line connecting said operating fluid source to said direct-coupling clutch by way of said selector valve, wherein said fluid pressure regulating means is arranged in said operating fluid line at a location between said operating fluid source and said selector valve, and wherein said pilot fluid pressure of said pilot fluid pressure source is fluid pressure generated by said fluid pressure regulating means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
A control device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said fluid pressure regulating means is adapted to increase the pressure of said operating fluid in proportion to an increase in the speed of said automotive vehicle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
52 words
A control device as claimed in claim 2, including a pilot fluid line branching off from said operating fluid line at a location between said selector valve and said fluid pressure regulating means and communicating with said pressure chamber of said selector valve, and restriction means arranged across said pilot fluid line.