Valve configured for regulating the flow of fluid from a transmission to a fluid cooler

摘要

A transmission fluid circuit includes a transmission, a cooler, and a valve. The transmission receives and expels a fluid. The cooler receives and expels the fluid to the transmission. The valve directs the flow of fluid received from the transmission to one of the transmission and the fluid cooler. The valve includes a housing, a spool and an actuator. The housing defines a cavity. The spool is movable longitudinally in the cavity between a first position and a second position to direct the flow of the fluid from the cavity to the cooler or the transmission. The actuator is operatively connected to the spool and includes a smart material which is activated in response to the temperature of the fluid in the cavity having at least a first temperature and deactivated in response to the fluid in the cavity having a sufficient number of degrees less than the first temperature.

主权项

1. A transmission fluid circuit comprising:
a transmission configured for receiving and expelling a fluid; a cooler configured for receiving and expelling the fluid to the transmission; a valve configured for directing the flow of fluid received from the transmission to one of the transmission and the fluid cooler, the valve including:
a housing defining a cavity extending longitudinally between a first end and a second end, wherein the cavity is configured for receiving and expelling the fluid;a spool disposed in the cavity and movable longitudinally therein between a first position and a second position;an actuator operatively disposed within the cavity and configured to act on the spool;wherein the actuator is in fluid communication with the fluid and includes a smart material configured to be activated in response to the temperature of the fluid in the cavity having at least a first temperature such that activation of the smart material activates the actuator;wherein the smart material is configured to be deactivated in response to the fluid in the cavity having a sufficient number of degrees less than the first temperature such that the smart material deactivates the actuator;wherein the actuator acts on the spool when activated to move the spool from the first position to the second position;wherein the fluid is only permitted to flow from the cavity to the cooler, the cooler to the transmission, and from the transmission to the cavity when the spool is in the second position;wherein the spool moves from the second position to the first position when the actuator is deactivated; andwherein the fluid is only permitted to flow from the cavity to the transmission and from the transmission to the cavity when the spool is in the first position.