Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Ford Motor Company Limited

Ford Global Tech.inc

Robert Clayton Roethler

Kenneth G Walega

John A Daubenmier

John Curtis Hickey

Clinton F Justice

Eldon L Goates

Forrest William Hoge

Albert John Nielsen, Jr

Andrew Paredes

A system which utilizes engine coolant to selectively heat and cool fluid or oil used by another vehicle system, such as a transmission . System includes a first cooling path or circuit having a fluid-to-fluid heat exchanger which is fluidly coupled to engine . The system further includes a second fluid flow circuit , which contains and communicates transmission oil or fluid to and from transmission . Circuit includes a conventional solenoid controlled shunt valve which is fluidly coupled to transmission and to fluid-to-fluid heat exchanger . Valve is effective to selectively channel transmission oil through heat exchanger based on one or more parameters (e.g., ambient temperature and transmission oil temperature), thereby relatively rapidly heating the transmission oil under certain operating conditions.

System and method for heating vehicle fluids

An automatic transmissions for an automotive vehicle includes a variator of the traction drive type, the variator including two input discs, two output discs, and rollers driveably engaged with the discs and adapted to vary continuously the ratio of the speeds of the output discs and input discs. Each of two planetary gearsets includes a carrier driven by an engine and driveably connected to an input disc, a sun gear driven by an output disc, and a sun gear connected to one of two driveshafts, which drive the front and rear wheels, respectively, of a motor vehicle. Independent angular variation of the rollers causes the variator to drive the forward drive sun gear and rear drive sun gear at different, variable speeds.

Torodial traction transmission for all wheel vehicles

An automatic transmission for an automotive vehicle includes a traction drive variator having an input disc, an output disc, and rollers driveably engaged with the discs and adapted to vary continuously the ratio of the speeds of the output disc and input disc. The input disc is reversed and overdriven by a gearset whose ring gear is connected to an input shaft; carrier is held permanently; and sun gear drives the input disc. A planetary gear unit driven by the output disc produces a speed reduction in response to alternate engagement of a forward drive brake and reverse drive brake.

Single cavity toroidal traction drive continually variable transmission

A rotary switch, used to select the operating range of an automatic transmission, controls solenoid-operated valves corresponding to the selected range to open and close a connection between a range valve assembly and a control pressure source. A forward range selection electric circuit includes a forward range high side driver, a solenoid-operated control valve, the rotary switch, a power source, and a current monitor. There is a similar circuit for the reverse range. A forward range valve and reverse range valve respond to control pressure produced by the circuit to open a fluid pressure source to a line that is pressurized to produce forward drive, a second position opens a connection between the fluid pressure source and a line that is pressurized to produce reverse drive and vents those lines to sump.

Operating range selection of an automatic transmission

A scavenging system for a hydraulic circuit includes a sump passage connecting the sump to a reservoir, a solenoid-operated switching valve, a logic control circuit controlling operation of the switching valve and a passage connecting the reservoir to the inlet of a hydraulic pump that supplies the hydraulic circuit. A vacuum source, such as the intake manifold of an internal combustion engine or a vacuum pump, is connected through a ball check valve and vacuum regulator to a space in the reservoir above the fluid. Fluid level sensing switches sense the level of fliud within the reservoir and produce electronic signals used by the logic circuit to control the solenoid-operated switching valve. An oil filter cap allows the reservoir to be filled while maintaining vacuum within the reservoir. A heat exchanger located within the reservoir draws excess heat from the fluid by passing engine coolant through the exchanger. A float valve located within the sump closes the connection between the sump and the reservoir when fluid level within the sump is low and opens that connection when fluid level in the sump is high.

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Howell, MI, United States of America

Robert Clayton Roethler