Noise control device for a solenoid-actuated valve

Claim 2

A valve assembly for controlling fluid flow between a fluid supply source and fluid actuating device in a vehicle transmission, said assembly comprising: a housing having a supply port for connection with a fluid supply source, an element port for connection with the fluid actuating device, and a passageway communicating with said supply port and said element port; a valve insert disposed in said passageway and having at least one valve seat and a central passage communicating therethrough; a ball disposed within said passageway and moveable between positions which cause the element port to be either connected to said supply port or a vent port; a plunger having a longitudinal axis aligned with the center of said ball to move said ball and act in conjunction with said ball and said valve seat to effect the element connection to either said supply or vent; electromagnetic means for producing a magnetic field when electrically energized; armature means moveable in response to the presence and absence of a magnetic field for actuating said plunger means; and means for allowing gradual flow of fluid within said passageway to slow the velocity of said ball and reduce impact noise between said ball and at least one of said valve insert and said housing.

Claim 3

A valve assembly for controlling fluid flow between a fluid supply source and fluid actuating device in a vehicle transmission, said assembly comprising: a housing having a supply port for connection with a fluid supply source, an element port for connection with the fluid actuating device, and a passageway communicating with said supply port and said element port; a valve insert disposed in said passageway and having at least one valve seat and a central passage communicating therethrough; a ball disposed within said passageway and moveable between positions which cause the element port to be either connected to said supply port or a vent port; a plunger having a longitudinal axis aligned with the center of said ball to move said ball and act in conjunction with said ball and said valve seat to effect the element connection to either said supply or vent; electromagnetic means for producing a magnetic field when electrically energized; armature means moveable in response to the presence and absence of a magnetic field for actuating said plunger means; and means for allowing gradual flow of fluid within said passageway to slow the velocity of said ball and reduce impact noise between said ball and at least one of said valve insert and said housing, wherein said means comprises a spool slideably disposed within said passageway.

Claim 4

A valve assembly for controlling fluid flow between a fluid supply source and fluid actuating device in a vehicle transmission, said assembly comprising: a housing having a supply port for connection with a fluid supply source, an element port for connection with the fluid actuating device, and a passageway communicating with said supply port and said element port; a valve insert disposed in said passageway and having at least one valve seat and a central passage communicating therethrough; a ball disposed within said passageway and moveable between positions which cause the element port to be either connected to said supply port or a vent port; a plunger having a longitudinal axis aligned with the center of said ball to move said ball and act in conjunction with said ball and said valve seat to effect the element connection to either said supply or vent; electromagnetic means for producing a magnetic field when electrically energized; armature means moveable in response to the presence and absence of a magnetic field for actuating said plunger means; and means for allowing gradual flow of fluid within said passageway to slow the velocity of said ball and reduce impact noise between said ball and at least one of said valve insert and said housing, wherein said means comprises a spool slideably disposed within said passageway.

Claim 5

An assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said spool has at least one annular land with a diameter less than the diameter of said passageway to allow gradual flow of fluid past said land.

Claim 6

An assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein said spool has a male projection extending axially at one end toward said ball.

Claim 7

An assembly as set forth in claim 4 including spring means for loading said spool toward said ball so that said male projection contacts said ball.

Claim 8

An assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein said spool includes another land being fluted for free flow of fluid past said land.

Claim 9

An assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein said spool includes means forming a cavity at the other end of said spool.

Claim 10

An assembly as set forth in claim 7 wherein said spring means comprises a spring disposed in said cavity.

Claim 11

An assembly as set forth in claim 8 wherein said male projection includes an aperture communicating with said cavity to allow fluid to flow through said spool.

Claim 12

A valve assembly for controlling fluid flow between a fluid supply source and fluid actuating device in a vehicle transmission, said assembly comprising: a housing having a supply port for connection with a fluid supply source, an element port for connection with the fluid actuating device, and a passageway communicating with said supply port and said element port; a valve insert disposed in said passageway and having at least one valve seat and a central passage communicating therethrough; a ball disposed within said passageway and moveable between positions which cause the element port to be either connected to said supply port or a vent port; a plunger having a longitudinal axis aligned with the center of said ball to move said ball and act in conjunction with said ball and said valve seat to effect the element connection to either said supply or vent; electromagnetic means for producing a magnetic field when electrically energized; armature means moveable in response to the presence and absence of a magnetic field for actuating said plunger means, and means for allowing gradual flow of fluid within said passageway to slow the velocity of said ball and reduce impact noise, said means comprises a spool slideably disposed within said passageway, said spool has at least one annular land with a diameter less than the diameter of the bore to allow gradual flow of fluid past said land, said spool has a male projection extending axially at one end toward said ball, including spring means for loading said spool toward said ball so that said male projection contacts said ball, said spool includes another land being fluted for free flow of fluid past said land, said spool includes means forming a cavity at the other end of said spool, said spring means comprises a spring disposed in said cavity, said male projection includes an aperture communicating with said cavity to allow fluid to flow through said spool.

Claim 13

A valve assembly for controlling fluid flow between a fluid supply source and fluid actuating device in a vehicle transmission, said assembly comprising: a housing having a supply port for connection with a fluid supply source, an element port for connection with the fluid actuating device, and a passageway communicating with said supply port and said element port; a valve insert disposed in said passageway and having at least one valve seat and a central passage communicating therethrough; a ball disposed within said passageway and moveable between positions which cause the element port to be either connected to said supply port or a vent port; a plunger having a longitudinal axis aligned with the center of said ball to move said ball and act in conjunction with said ball and said valve seat to effect the element connection to either said supply or vent; electromagnetic means for producing a magnetic field when electrically energized; armature means moveable in response to the presence and absence of a magnetic field for actuating said plunger means, and means for allowing gradual flow of fluid within said passageway to slow the velocity of said ball and reduce impact noise, said means comprises a spool slideably disposed within said passageway, said spool has at least one annular land with a diameter less than the diameter of the bore to allow gradual flow of fluid past said land, said spool has a male projection extending axially at one end toward said ball, including spring means for loading said spool toward said ball so that said male projection contacts said ball, said spool includes another land being fluted for free flow of fluid past said land, said spool includes means forming a cavity at the other end of said spool, said spring means comprises a spring disposed in said cavity, said male projection includes an aperture communicating with said cavity to allow fluid to flow through said spool.

Claim 14

A valve assembly for controlling fluid flow between a fluid supply source and fluid actuating device in a vehicle transmission, said assembly comprising: means forming a housing having a supply port for connection with a fluid supply source, an element port for connection with the fluid actuating device, and a passageway communicating with said supply port and said element port; means forming a valve disposed within said passageway and moveable between positions which cause the element port to be connected to said supply port in a first position and connected to a vent port in a second position; means disposed in said passageway for forming at least one valve seat; electromagnetic means for producing a magnetic field when electrically energized to move said valve means and act in conjunction with said valve means and said valve seat means to effect said element port connection to said supply port in said first position or said vent port in said second position; and means for allowing gradual flow of fluid within said passageway to slow the velocity of said valve means and reduce impact noise between said valve means and at least one of said valve seat means and said housing means, said means for allowing gradual flow including a slidable spool which is formed with a chamber to enable rapid refilling while permitting only gradual fluid flow from the chamber.

Claim 15

A valve assembly for controlling fluid flow between a fluid supply source and fluid actuating device in a vehicle transmission, said assembly comprising: means forming a housing having a supply port for connection with a fluid supply source, an element port for connection with the fluid actuating device, and a passageway communicating with said supply port and said element port; means forming a valve disposed within said passageway and moveable between positions which cause the element port to be connected to said supply port in a first position and connected to a vent port in a second position; means disposed in said passageway for forming at least one valve seat; electromagnetic means for producing a magnetic field when electrically energized to move said valve means and act in conjunction with said valve means and said valve seat means to effect said element port connection to said supply port in said first position or said vent port in said second position; and means for allowing gradual flow of fluid within said passageway to slow the velocity of said valve means and reduce impact noise between said valve means and at least one of said valve seat means and said housing means, said means for allowing gradual flow including a slidable spool which is formed with a chamber to enable rapid refilling while permitting only gradual fluid flow from the chamber.

Claim 16

The assembly as set forth in claim 11, wherein said spool has at least one annular land with a diameter less than the diameter of said passageway to allow gradual flow of fluid past said land.

Claim 17

The assembly as set forth in claim 12, wherein said means for allowing gradual flow of fluid includes spring means for loading said spool toward said valve means.

Claim 18

The assembly as set forth in claim 13, wherein said spring means is disposed in said chamber.

Claim 19

The assembly as set forth in claim 14, wherein said spool includes an aperture communicating with said chamber to allow fluid to flow through said spool.