Borg-warner Automotive Gmbh

John R Connolly

Terry L Forbes

Philip J Mott

Mark E Patton

Dan Stoddard

A solenoid-actuated valve assembly is provided with reduced noise. A rubber retainer and steel retainer secure the valve within a manifold, and the rubber retainer absorbs longitudinal vibrations. A plurality of rubber gaskets surround the body of the valve and prevent metal-to-metal contact between the valve body and the manifold for cushioning lateral vibrations of the valve. The valve is substantially submerged in transmission fluid for airborne noise abatement, and opposing ends of the valve body are provided in communication with a vent port for substantially pressure-balancing the valve body.

Three-way solenoid valve

A solenoid valve mechanism including a valve housing with a vent port and a pressure supply port, a ball valve in a valve seat in said housing controlling pressure distribution to a control pressure passage from the supply port, a solenoid armature adapted to activate the ball valve, and a spring valve seat that cushions the operation of the valve mechanism when it is activated. Other mechanisms for reducing vibrations and noise of a solenoid valve mechanism include Belleville springs, O-rings, coil springs, foam cushions, and the like. The valve mechanism can be either normally applied or normally vented.

Solenoid-operated valve assembly

An improved solenoid valve harness assembly for a vehicle transmission is disclosed that is more reliable, less costly to manufacture, and easier to test. In one embodiment, the solenoid valve assembly includes a plurality of solenoid valves and a harness. The harness includes a plurality of conductors for electrically connecting the plurality of solenoid valves to a controller. The harness is connected to the solenoid valves by a plug and receptacle arrangement that reduces the cost of manufacture and that allows each component to be separately tested prior to being plugged together. In one embodiment, the plug and receptacle arrangement permits the solenoid valves to be disconnected from the harness so that a defective component can be replaced without discarding the entire solenoid valve harness. In a further aspect, a solenoid valve harness is provided in which the solenoid valves are internally grounded thereby eliminating the need for ground wires from the solenoid valves.

Solenoid valve harness

A solenoid valve has a two piece housing which is made from a hollow cylindrical body and a powdered metal cover. The body is projection welded to the cover. The cover has an induction hardened valve seat and a pair of mounting holes to secure the valve in place. A coil assembly is disposed within the hollow cylindrical body and a two piece armature is disposed within an axial bore of the coil assembly. The upper armature is threadably engaged with an end cover for adjustment and a coil spring is located between the upper and lower armatures to bias the lower armature towards the cover. A ball is located between the lower armature and the cover and the coil spring engages the ball with the valve sleeve. When the coil is de-energized, the valve is closed by virtue of the ball being urged against the valve seat by the coil spring. When the coil is energized the lower armature and ball are magnetically attracted to the upper armature permitting flow through the cover, through the body and out a plurality of holes in the body.

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Rock Falls, IL, United States of America

John R Connolly