Transmission with MEMS-based hydraulic circuit

摘要

A vehicle includes an engine, torque converter assembly, and transmission. The torque converter assembly includes a torque converter clutch (TCC). The transmission is connected to the engine via the torque converter assembly, and includes rotating and braking clutches, a pump, and a valve body assembly (VBA). The VBA includes Micro Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS) pressure sensors and high-flow, hybrid MEMS flow control valves. Each MEMS pressure sensor and each MEMS control valve is in fluid communication with a corresponding one of the TCC, the rotating, and the braking clutches. The VBA includes first and second low-flow, fully MEMS valves which control line pressure to the VBA and fluid pressure to the TCC, respectively. The VBA delivers fluid pressure to the clutches, alone or in different combinations, to establish at least six different forward drive states of the transmission.

主权项

1. A vehicle comprising:
an internal combustion engine; a hydrodynamic torque converter assembly having a torque converter clutch (TCC); and a transmission operably connected to the engine via the hydrodynamic torque converter assembly, wherein the transmission includes:
a plurality of rotating clutches;a plurality of braking clutches;a transmission pump; anda valve body assembly (VBA) in fluid communication with the transmission pump, and having:
a set of Micro Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS) pressure sensors;a set of high-flow, hybrid MEMS flow control valves, wherein each MEMS pressure sensor and each of the hybrid MEMS flow control valves is in fluid communication with a corresponding one of the TCC, the rotating clutches, and the braking clutches;a first low-flow, fully MEMS valve operable to control line pressure to the VBA; anda second low-flow, fully MEMS valve operable to deliver fluid pressure to the TCC to thereby enable the TCC; wherein the VBA delivers fluid pressure to the rotating and braking clutches, alone or in different combinations, to thereby establish one of at least six different forward drive states of the transmission.