Ingersoll-rand Company

Kenneth Y Miller

William R Hutchinson

Glenn E Miller

An embodiment of the invention comprises a pneumatically operated regulating valve having porting therein for venting therethrough the pilot-signal, pressured fluid which is normally conducted to the front clutch internal control valve of a power transmission. The regulating valve is in communication with a source of pneumatic pressures. When the pneumatic pressure of the source is elevated, it causes the regulating valve to vent the pilot-signal, pressured fluid. Resultantly, the transmission is prevented from going into its lock-up mode and, instead, remains in its converter mode. The method sets forth the steps of modifying a standard transmission, without altering the latter's as-built configuration and arrangement, to incorporate the novel controlling means.

Pneumatic controlling means for, and in combination with, a power

The system comprises a conventional oil/gas separator, with an oil supply line extending from the separator oil reservoir for conducting oil to a machine (such as an associated gas compressor, or the like), and a gas/oil vapor line communicating with the gas chamber of the separator, for conducting oil vapor-laden gas thereto (from such a compressor, or like machine). In an embodiment of the improvement, a check valve is interposed between the oil supply line and the reservoir to prevent oil flow from the line to the reservoir, and a by-pass line, having a pilot-pressure-closed, normally-open valve interposed therein, is coupled between the oil supply line and the gas chamber. The valve senses chamber pressure and, when the latter is sufficiently diminished, opens the by-pass line to evacuate the oil supply line (and oil cooler and filter) into the separator. The improvement dramatically inhibits oil foaming and, among other benefits, this makes possible the use of a relatively small and, hence, inexpensive separator. The methods define the steps to be performed in modifying a conventional oil supply system (a) to incorporate the improvement therein, and (b) to control oil flow on shutdown to inhibit oil foaming.

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Salisbury, NC, United States of America

Kenneth Y Miller