Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Ravindra Velamakanni

Derek Kinch

Lev Pekarsky

Robert Orley Burkhart

Cory Benson LaRoche

Joseph Scott Slayton

John Randall Armstead

Boya Zhang

Daniel Smokovitz

In order to pre-stage a clutch piston in preparation for clutch engagement, a controller commands a high current to a Casting Integrated Direct Acting Solenoid (CIDAS) valve. This staging is performed in two distinct phases wherein the current is higher in the first phase than in the second phase. Staging the piston in this manner reduces the staging time and reduces the variability of the staging time. The duration of the first phase may be adjusted based on a number of parameters including, the length of a preceding engine off period, the number of clutch applications since the engine off period, a fluid temperature, and a length of time since a preceding engagement of the clutch.

Two-phase transmission clutch staging

A solenoid valve includes a support bushing and an armature pin axially movable within the support bushing. The solenoid shield further includes a valve rigidly secured to the armature pin. The valve includes a diverter sleeve having an overlap portion that is radially spaced from at least a portion of the support bushing and extends along a length of at least a portion of the support bushing. The diverter sleeve further includes a deflector surface disposed at an angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the armature pin.

Solenoid valve diverter sleeve

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Saline, MI, United States of America

Ravindra Velamakanni