The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 29, 2018
Filed:
May. 20, 2014
Ford Global Technologies, Llc, Dearborn, MI (US);
Derek Kinch, Ypsilanti, MI (US);
David A. Pollard, Highland, MI (US);
Ford Global Technologies, LLC, Dearborn, MI (US);
Abstract
A hydraulic control system provides lubrication fluid to a gearbox via two flow paths in parallel. One of the flow paths includes a passive thermal valve in series with a heat exchanger. When the fluid temperature is elevated, the thermal valve opens such that fluid flows through the heat exchanger for cooling. The thermal valve restricts flow to the heat exchanger when transmission fluid is in a normal operating temperature range, reducing flow demands. When the flow demands are reduced, a variable displacement pump requires less torque improving fuel economy. The thermal valve may also open when the fluid is below the normal operating temperature such that the heat exchanger heats the fluid. The parallel path may include a regulator valve. When the pressure of fluid in the lubrication circuit is elevated, the regulator valve reduces flow through the parallel path and may also divert flow to a sump.