Eaton Corporation

David R Sosnowski

Richard Walter Hirthe

David Lee Wooton

Charles A Detweiler

Daniel L Deland

Gerrit V Beneker

Martin Arthur Seitz

Peter M Jacobsen

David Edward Herbert

Ananthakrishnan Surianarayanan

Charles John Koehler

Charles J Koehler

Eric Otis Barrows

Anne Matthews Brunson

Mark L Dell′ Eva

Ronald Mark Johnson

Gordon M Fincannon

Jianxun Hu

A manufacturing process, system, and method is described that facilitates the assembly and testing of a hydraulic manifold with integral closed loop pressure sensing and feedback.

Method for testing a hydraulic manifold

A system for controlling pressure in a transmission comprises a transmission control unit, a valve controller that receives a desired pressure as input from the transmission control unit, a valve driver, a valve that regulates an amount of fluid in a transmission clutch, and a pressure transducer that reads a pressure in the transmission clutch and outputs a pressure reading to the valve controller, wherein the valve controller comprises logic for outputting to the valve driver an instruction for controlling the valve, the instruction being formulated using the desired pressure and the pressure reading.

Closed-loop, valve-based transmission control algorithum

A method and apparatus for evaluating and improving the properties of fluid formulations is disclosed. The inventive concept employs impedance spectroscopy (IS) measurements and data analyses to determine IS parameters of fluids representative of a fluid formulation. Correlations are determined between the IS parameters and the properties of the fluids, and a modified or new fluid formulation may be developed responsive to the correlations.

Fluid formulation evaluation and improvement utilizing broad spectrum impedance spectroscopy

Impedance spectroscopy is used to determine values associated with properties of a substance such as a fluid. In some embodiments, the present invention is applied to engine lubricants. A spectral matrix is constructed that comprises data taken from spectral plots. Also constructed is a result matrix comprising known quantities of a plurality of fluid constituents. A known analytic technique is performed on the spectral matrix to identify at least one principal component having significant influence on the spectral matrix. A reduced spectral matrix, wherein each column in the reduced spectral matrix is associated with a principal component having significant influence on the spectral matrix, is next created. A statistical technique uses the reduced spectral matrix and the result matrix to create at least one prediction equation. The prediction equation is used to predict at least one property in a second substance in situ.

Fluid condition monitoring using broad spectrum impedance spectroscopy

An impedance spectroscopy technique and system for detecting in real time engine coolant contamination in lubricant. A probe is disposed in the lubricant and the probe excited with an a.c. voltage frequency sweep over a selected frequency range. The current and current phase angle are measured at selected frequency intervals and the reactance and resistance computed and plotted at each frequency internal as Nyquist plots. The Nyquist minimum is determined at various lubricant temperatures and a database compiled. The probe is then excited in-situ and current measurements taken for a selected frequency lower than the Nyquist minimum to insure measurement of electrode surfaces characteristics. The reactance and resistance are then computed and the angle &#x398; of change (slope) of reactance with respect to resistance computed. The value of &#x398; is then compared with values of contamination concentration &#x3a8; versus &#x398; in a database, and the value of &#x3a8; determined by interpolation.

Detection of coolant contamination in lubricating fluids

A database is compiled of values of the frequency fcorresponding to the minimum reactance Z&#x2033;(Nyquist minimum) versus temperature Tover a selected range of temperatures for a probe immersed in a sample of the fluid to be monitored and excited by an a.c. voltage and the frequency swept over a range to cover both bulk fluid and electrode interface impedance characteristics. The probe is then excited in situ and the temperature measured. The Nyquist minimum is then determined from the database and the current measured on the low frequency (interfacial) side of the Nyquist minimum. The angle &#x398; of the rate of change of resistance Z&#x2033; with respect to resistance Z' and magnitude of the impedance Zis then determined from the current measurement; and, the fluid condition &#x3a8; determined from a previously compiled database of values of &#x3a8;, Zand &#x398;.

Situ fluid condition monitoring

A method of calibrating a solenoid operated pressure control valve by sweeping the solenoid with increasing current from a minimum to a maximum and measuring and recording the signal pressure output and current at selected increments of current and storing the data pairs in a first table. The solenoid is similarly swept with decreasing current from the maximum to a minimum and the signal output pressure measured at selected increments of current and the data pairs stored in a second table. Upon installation of the valve in an hydraulic system to be controlled, the commanded signal pressure output P, if greater than the instantaneous signal pressure output Pis compared with the closest data pairs in the first table and, by interpolation, the required solenoid energization current Idetermined. If the commanded signal pressure output Pis less than the instantaneous signal pressure Pis compared with the closest data pair in the second table and, by interpolation, the required solenoid energization current Idetermined.

Method of calibrating a solenoid operated pressure control valve and method of controlling same

A solenoid operated valve is connected in series with a resistor and a PTC thermistor. Upon coil energization, the armature moves to close the valve member against a valve seat and further armature movement to close an air gap with a pole piece is absorbed by a spring between the armature and valve member. Upon closure of the air gap, the magnetic reluctance between the armature and pole piece is decreased such that significantly less current is required in the coil to hold the valve closed. Upon heating of the thermistor, the resistance is increased sufficiently to reduce the current to the hold-close level and less power is required thereafter to maintain the valve closed. The valve is applied to on-board vehicle diagnostic procedures performed after engine shut-down where current must be minimized to prevent battery drain to a level preventing re-start.

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Lake Orion, MI, United States of America

David R Sosnowski