Accumulator/friction element arrangement for automatic transmission

Claim 2

In a transmission a fraction element, said friction element having a first element disposed in a release chamber, said first element being arranged to, when hydraulic fluid is supplied from a shift valve into said release chamber, stroke from an engaged position to an unengaged one against a first bias which varies with the load applied to the transmission, the stroking of said element modifying the pressure prevailing in said release chamber; and an accumulator in fluid communication with the release chamber of said first friction element, said accumulator having a second element which strokes against a second bias which varies with the load applied to said transmission when hydraulic fluid is supplied from the shift valve, the stroking of said second element modifying the pressure prevailing in said release chamber, said friction element and said accumulator being so constructed and arranged that under high load said first element is induced to stroke before said second element and under low load said second element is induced to stroke before said first element.

Claim 3

A transmission as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a second friction element, said second friction element being fluidly communicated with said release chamber and having a third element which moves from an unengaged position to an enaged one in response to hydraulic fluid being supplied thereto from the shift valve, said second friction element being arranged so that said third element moves to said engaged position in response to the supply of hydraulic fluid from said shift valve before either said first and second elements are induced to stroke.

Claim 4

In a transmission a friction element, said friction element having a first piston disposed in a release chamber, said first piston being arranged to stroke from an engaged position to an unengaged one against a first bias when hydraulic fluid is supplied from a shift valve into said release chamber, the stroking of said first piston producing a first modifying effect on the pressure prevailing in said release chamber; and an accumulator in fluid communication with the release chamber of said first friction element, said accumulator having a second piston which strokes against a second bias which varies with the pressure prevailing in a back pressure chamber to which said second piston is exposed, the stroking of said second piston producing a second modifying effect on the pressure prevailing in said release chamber; a control valve, said control valve being responsive to the load on said transmission in manner to vary the level of the hydraulic fluid presure discharge therefrom, said control valve being fluidly connected with said back pressure chamber.

Claim 5

In a transmission a friction element, said friction element having a first piston disposed in a release chamber, said first piston being arranged to stroke from an engaged position to an unengaged one against a first bias when hydraulic fluid is supplied from a shift valve into said release chamber, the stroking of said first piston producing a first modifying effect on the pressure prevailing in said release chamber; and an accumulator in fluid communication with the release chamber of said first friction element, said accumulator having a second piston which strokes against a second bias which varies with the pressure prevailing in a back pressure chamber to which said second piston is exposed, the stroking of said second piston producing a second modifying effect on the pressure prevailing in said release chamber; a control valve, said control valve being responsive to the load on said transmission in manner to vary the level of the hydraulic fluid presure discharge therefrom, said control valve being fluidly connected with said back pressure chamber.

Claim 6

A transmission as claimed in claim 3 wherein said first bias is produced by the pressure prevailing in an engage chamber of said first friction element.

Claim 7

A transmission as claimed in claim 4 wherein said engage chamber is fluidly communicated with said control valve and wherein said control valve is a pressure regulator valve which modifies the discharge of a pump; and wherein said friction element and said accumulator are so constructed and arranged that under high load said first piston is induced to stroke before said second piston and under low load said second piston is induced to stroke before said first piston.

Claim 8

A transmission as claimed in claim 4 further comprising a source of line pressure and a source of throttle pressure which is indicative of the load on said transmission and wherein said engage chamber is fluidly communicated with said source of line pressure and wherein said control valve is fluidly communicated with line pressure source and said throttle pressure source, said control valve comprising: a spool, said spool being reciprocatively disposed in a bore in a manner to define a first chamber at one thereof and a second chamber at the other end thereof; spring, said spring being disposed said first chamber, said spring being arranged to bias said spool in a first direction, said first chamber being fluidly communicated with said source of throttle pressure, an inlet port fluidly communicated with said source of line pressure; an outlet port fluidly communicated with said back pressure chamber, the communication between inlet and outlet ports increasing as said spool moves in said first direction, said outlet port being fluidly communicated with said second chamber.

Claim 9

In a transmission a shift valve, said shift valve having a port which is supplied with hydraulic fluid when said valve assumes a first position and which is drained when said valve assumes a second position; a first friction element, said first friction element being fluidly communicated with the port of said shift valve by conduit means and arranged to engaged when supplied with hydraulic fluid from said shift valve through said conduit means; a second friction element, said second friction element comprising: a servo piston, said servo piston being disposed in a bore in a manner to define a release chamber and an apply chamber, said servo piston having a first pressure responsive area exposed to said release chamber and a second pressure responsive area exposed to said apply chamber, said first area being larger than said second area, said release chamber being fluidly communicated with the port of said shift valve by said conduit means, said servo piston being arranged to produce a first pressure modifying effect on the pressure prevailing in said release chamber as it strokes from an engaged position to a released one against the bias of the hydraulic fluid pressure which is supplied to said apply chamber; an accumulator, said accumulator being fluidly communicated with the port of said shift valve by said conduit means, said accumulator being arranged to produce a second pressure modifying effect on the pressure prevailing in said release chamber as it charges with hydraulic fluid, said first friction element and said accumulator being so constructed and arranged so that when when the load on said transmission is high and low, the first pressure modifying effect is greater than and less than respectively, said second pressure adjusting effect.

Claim 10

In a transmission a shift valve, said shift valve having a port which is supplied with hydraulic fluid when said valve assumes a first position and which is drained when said valve assumes a second position; a first friction element, said first friction element being fluidly communicated with the port of said shift valve by conduit means and arranged to engaged when supplied with hydraulic fluid from said shift valve through said conduit means; a second friction element, said second friction element comprising: a servo piston, said servo piston being disposed in a bore in a manner to define a release chamber and an apply chamber, said servo piston having a first pressure responsive area exposed to said release chamber and a second pressure responsive area exposed to said apply chamber, said first area being larger than said second area, said release chamber being fluidly communicated with the port of said shift valve by said conduit means, said servo piston being arranged to produce a first pressure modifying effect on the pressure prevailing in said release chamber as it strokes from an engaged position to a released one against the bias of the hydraulic fluid pressure which is supplied to said apply chamber; an accumulator, said accumulator being fluidly communicated with the port of said shift valve by said conduit means, said accumulator being arranged to produce a second pressure modifying effect on the pressure prevailing in said release chamber as it charges with hydraulic fluid, said first friction element and said accumulator being so constructed and arranged so that when when the load on said transmission is high and low, the first pressure modifying effect is greater than and less than respectively, said second pressure adjusting effect.

Claim 11

In the hydraulic control circuit of an automatic transmission: a shift valve, said shift valve being fluidly comunicated with a source of hydraulic fluid under pressure, a first friction element, said first friction element being fluidly communicated with said shift valve by conduit means and arranged to engaged when supplied with hydraulic fluid from said shift valve through said conduit means; a second friction element, said second friction element comprising: a servo piston, said servo piston being disposed in a bore in a manner to define a release chamber and an apply chamber, said servo piston having a first pressure responsive area exposed to said release chamber and a second pressure responsive area exposed to said apply chamber, said first area being larger than said second area, said release chamber being fluidly communicated with said shift valve by said conduit means, said servo piston being arranged to produce a first pressure modifying effect on the pressure prevailing in said release chamber as it strokes from an engaged position to a released one against the bias of the hydraulic fluid pressure which is supplied to said apply chamber; an accumulator, said accumulator being fluidly communicated with said shift valve by said conduit means, said accumulator being arranged to produce a second pressure modifying effect on the pressure prevailing in said release chamber as it charges with hydraulic fluid, said first friction element and said accumulator being so constructed and arranged so that when the load on said transmission is high and low, the first pressure modifying effect occurs respectively before and after said second pressure adjusting effect.

Claim 12

In the hydraulic control circuit of an automatic transmission: a shift valve, said shift valve being fluidly comunicated with a source of hydraulic fluid under pressure, a first friction element, said first friction element being fluidly communicated with said shift valve by conduit means and arranged to engaged when supplied with hydraulic fluid from said shift valve through said conduit means; a second friction element, said second friction element comprising: a servo piston, said servo piston being disposed in a bore in a manner to define a release chamber and an apply chamber, said servo piston having a first pressure responsive area exposed to said release chamber and a second pressure responsive area exposed to said apply chamber, said first area being larger than said second area, said release chamber being fluidly communicated with said shift valve by said conduit means, said servo piston being arranged to produce a first pressure modifying effect on the pressure prevailing in said release chamber as it strokes from an engaged position to a released one against the bias of the hydraulic fluid pressure which is supplied to said apply chamber; an accumulator, said accumulator being fluidly communicated with said shift valve by said conduit means, said accumulator being arranged to produce a second pressure modifying effect on the pressure prevailing in said release chamber as it charges with hydraulic fluid, said first friction element and said accumulator being so constructed and arranged so that when the load on said transmission is high and low, the first pressure modifying effect occurs respectively before and after said second pressure adjusting effect.

Claim 13

In a transmission a shift valve, said shift valve having a port which is supplied with hydraulic fluid when said valve assumes a first position and which is drained when said valve assumes a second position; a first friction element, said first friction element being fluidly communicated with the port of said shift valve by conduit means and arranged to engaged when supplied with hydraulic fluid from said shift valve through said conduit means; a second friction element, said second friction element comprising: a servo piston, said servo piston being disposed in a bore in a manner to define a release chamber and an apply chamber, said servo piston having a first pressure responsive area exposed to said release chamber and a second pressure responsive area exposed to said apply chamber, said first area being larger than said second area, said release chamber being fluidly communicated with the port of said said shift valve by said conduit means, said servo piston being arranged to produce a first pressure adjustment effect on the pressure prevailing in said release chamber as it strokes from an engaged position to a released one against the bias of the hydraulic fluid pressure which is supplied to said apply chamber; an accumulator, said accumulator being fluidly communicated with the port of said shift valve by said conduit means, said accumulator having an accumulator piston which is arranged to stroke in a charging direction to produce a second pressure adjustment effect on the pressure prevailing in said release chamber as the accumulator fills with hydraulic fluid, said accumulator piston being exposed to a back pressure chamber; and a pressure control valve, said pressure control valve being responsive to the load on said transmission in a manner to modify the level of the pressure supplied to said back pressure chamber and to modify the bias which resists the stroking of said piston in said charging direction.

Claim 14

In a transmission a shift valve, said shift valve having a port which is supplied with hydraulic fluid when said valve assumes a first position and which is drained when said valve assumes a second position; a first friction element, said first friction element being fluidly communicated with the port of said shift valve by conduit means and arranged to engaged when supplied with hydraulic fluid from said shift valve through said conduit means; a second friction element, said second friction element comprising: a servo piston, said servo piston being disposed in a bore in a manner to define a release chamber and an apply chamber, said servo piston having a first pressure responsive area exposed to said release chamber and a second pressure responsive area exposed to said apply chamber, said first area being larger than said second area, said release chamber being fluidly communicated with the port of said said shift valve by said conduit means, said servo piston being arranged to produce a first pressure adjustment effect on the pressure prevailing in said release chamber as it strokes from an engaged position to a released one against the bias of the hydraulic fluid pressure which is supplied to said apply chamber; an accumulator, said accumulator being fluidly communicated with the port of said shift valve by said conduit means, said accumulator having an accumulator piston which is arranged to stroke in a charging direction to produce a second pressure adjustment effect on the pressure prevailing in said release chamber as the accumulator fills with hydraulic fluid, said accumulator piston being exposed to a back pressure chamber; and a pressure control valve, said pressure control valve being responsive to the load on said transmission in a manner to modify the level of the pressure supplied to said back pressure chamber and to modify the bias which resists the stroking of said piston in said charging direction.

Claim 15

In a transmission a source of line pressure; a source of throttle pressure which varies with the load on said transmission; a first friction element which when engaged conditions said transmission to produce a nth gear ratio; a second friction element which when engaged produces a n-lth gear ratio, said second friction element being disengaged to permit said transmission to produce said nth gear ratio, said second friction element having an apply chamber, a release chamber, a servo piston exposed to both of said apply and release chambers and a first spring disposed in said release chamber, said apply and release chambers being arranged so that when said release chamber is supplied with line pressure, said servo piston is moved toward a released position irrespective of the supply of line pressure into said apply chamber, a shift valve, said shift valve being fluidly communicated with said source of line pressure and with said first friction element and said release chamber; an accumulator, said accumulator being fluidly commuicated with said release chamber, said accumulator having an accumlator piston which is disposed in a stepped bore in manner to define a working chamber and a back pressure chamber, said accumulator including a spring which is disposed in said working chamber; said second friction element and said accumulator being so constructed and arranged so that when the load on said transmission is high and line pressure is supplied from said shift valve to said first friction element, the release chamber of said second friction element and the working chamber of said accumulator, the servo piston strokes toward its released position before the accumulator piston strokes under the filling of said working chamber, and so that when the load on said transmission is low and line pressure is supplied to said first friction element, the release chamber of said second friction element and the working chamber of said accumulator, the accumulator piston strokes under the filling of said working chamber before said servo piston strokes toward its released position, the stroking of said servo piston and said accumulator piston producing first and second pressure modifying effects respectively.

Claim 16

In a transmission a source of line pressure; a source of throttle pressure which varies with the load on said transmission; a first friction element which when engaged conditions said transmission to produce a nth gear ratio; a second friction element which when engaged produces a n-lth gear ratio, said second friction element being disengaged to permit said transmission to produce said nth gear ratio, said second friction element having an apply chamber, a release chamber, a servo piston exposed to both of said apply and release chambers and a first spring disposed in said release chamber, said apply and release chambers being arranged so that when said release chamber is supplied with line pressure, said servo piston is moved toward a released position irrespective of the supply of line pressure into said apply chamber, a shift valve, said shift valve being fluidly communicated with said source of line pressure and with said first friction element and said release chamber; an accumulator, said accumulator being fluidly commuicated with said release chamber, said accumulator having an accumlator piston which is disposed in a stepped bore in manner to define a working chamber and a back pressure chamber, said accumulator including a spring which is disposed in said working chamber; said second friction element and said accumulator being so constructed and arranged so that when the load on said transmission is high and line pressure is supplied from said shift valve to said first friction element, the release chamber of said second friction element and the working chamber of said accumulator, the servo piston strokes toward its released position before the accumulator piston strokes under the filling of said working chamber, and so that when the load on said transmission is low and line pressure is supplied to said first friction element, the release chamber of said second friction element and the working chamber of said accumulator, the accumulator piston strokes under the filling of said working chamber before said servo piston strokes toward its released position, the stroking of said servo piston and said accumulator piston producing first and second pressure modifying effects respectively.