Abstract:
The pressure of hydraulic fluid which is supplied to the continuously variable transmission in the power train of a motor vehicle is regulated by an apparatus wherein an adjustable pilot valve can receive fluid from a pilot conduit leading to a pressure reducing valve. The pilot conduit normally receives fluid from a further conduit, wherein the pressure of fluid is at least substantially constant, by way of a flow restrictor. A branch conduit serves to evacuate fluid from the pilot conduit into the pilot valve when the latter is at least partially open. The fluid-discharging end of the flow restrictor confronts the inlet of the branch conduit, and such inlet is narrowed to reduce the likelihood of turbulence developing in the fluid stream flowing from the pilot conduit, across the further conduit and into the inlet of the pilot valve.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to improvements in pressure regulating methods and apparatus. 
     It is often necessary to design a hydraulic control system in such a way that a regulating or control valve (e.g., a pressure reducing valve) is installed downstream of a pilot valve or servo valve (hereinafter called pilot valve). The latter serves to select fluid pressure in a (pilot) conduit which is connected with an inlet of the regulating valve. An outlet of the regulating valve serves to convey fluid to one or more consumers, e.g., to a so-called continuously variable transmission (CVT). Reference may be had, for example, to commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 5,667,448 (granted Sep. 16, 1997 to Oswald Friedmann for “POWER TRAIN”) and to commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 5,674,155 (granted Oct. 7, 1997 to Dieter Otto et al. for “METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR TRANSMITTING TORQUE IN THE POWER TRAINS OF MOTOR VEHICLES”). The disclosures of the just enumerated US patents as well as of all other patents and patent applications (including commonly owned pending German priority patent application Ser. No. 198 29 148.5 filed Jun. 30, 1998) are incorporated herein by reference. 
     A conventional pilot valve-regulating valve combination can employ a pilot valve having an inlet connected to a source of constant-pressure (or substantially constant-pressure) fluid by a constant-pressure conduit which contains a flow restrictor) e.g., an adjustable diaphragm, and can communicate with a pilot conduit serving to convey fluid to the regulating valve. An adjustable valving element of the pilot valve can divert varying quantities of fluid from the pilot conduit (downstream of the flow restrictor) to a sump or to another destination so that the pilot valve can select the pressure of fluid entering the body of the regulating valve. 
     A drawback of heretofore known pressure regulating methods and apparatus of the just outlined character is that (for example, due to often unavoidable leakage of fluid from the pilot valve and/or from other parts of the apparatus), the pressure in the pilot conduit (between the pilot valve and the regulating valve) cannot match the pressure of fluid in the constant-pressure conduit. Moreover, even if the valving element of the pilot valve is moved to a fully open position (in which the valving element does not interfere with the flow of fluid from the pilot conduit, through the pilot valve, and on to to the sump), the pilot pressure of fluid (in the pilot conduit) still exceeds zero pressure. Such residual pressure in the pilot conduit is attributable to losses developing in the region of the flow restrictor, e.g., to losses in the path defined by the constant-pressure conduit, by the flow restrictor, by a branch conduit connecting the constant-pressure conduit (downstream of the flow restrictor) to the inlet of the pilot valve, and by the conduit connecting the outlet of the pilot valve with the sump or with another receptacle for hydraulic fluid. 
     A further drawback of the aforedescribed conventional pressure regulating apparatus is that, due to turbulence which develops in the fluid path in the region of the flow restrictor, at least a high percentage of kinetic energy of the fluid (such as oil) is ultimately converted into heat. 
     OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved method of regulating the pressure of hydraulic fluid which is utilized in cylinder-and-piston units and/or other constituents of transmissions and/or other fluid-operated components, e.g., in the power trains of motor vehicles. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a method which can be practiced without the generation of appreciable, noticeable or even any quantities of heat. 
     A further object of the invention is to provide a method which can be practiced by resorting to a relatively simple, compact and inexpensive apparatus. 
     An additional object of the invention is to provide a method which renders it possible to reduce the pilot pressure between the pilot valve and the regulating valve of the appparatus to a threshold value below that achievable by resorting to heretofore known methods. 
     Still another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus which can be utilized for the practice of the above outlined method and is designed in such a way that the afore described drawbacks of conventional apparatus can be avoided in a simple, effective and inexpensive manner. 
     A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved pilot valve-regulating valve combination for use in the above outlined apparatus. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide the improved apparatus with a novel combination of a flow restrictor and conduits for conveying hydraulic fluid from a source of fluid at an at least substantially constant pressure (e.g., from a valve) to the pilot valve and from the pilot valve to the regulating valve. 
     An additional object of the invention is to provide an apparatus which can be utilized in the power trains of motor vehicles as a superior substitute for the afore described and other conventional pressure regulating apparatus. 
     Still another object of the invention is to provide a fluid-consuming or fluid-operated unit, such as a continuously operable transmission, which embodies an apparatus of the above outlined character. 
     A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus which exhibits the advantages but does not embody the drawbacks of standard fluid pressure regulating apparatus utilizing combinations of pilot valves and regulating valves in the path of hydraulic fluid flow from a source of constant-pressure fluid to a consumer requiring fluid at two or more different pressures. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a motor vehicle, such as a passenger car, having a power train embodying a unit which consumes or is operated by a hydraulic fluid and which receives hydraulic fluid from the above outlined apparatus in accordance with a method of the present invention. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     One feature of the instant invention resides in the provision of a method of controlling the pressure of a hydraulic fluid (e.g., a fluid which includes or constitutes a lubricant such as oil) in a pilot conduit which receives fluid at an at least substantially constant pressure from a constant-pressure conduit by way of a flow restrictor and a pilot valve which is adjustable to permit outflow of fluid from the pilot conduit through a branch conduit at a variable rate and to thus lower the static pressure of fluid in the pilot conduit in response to increasing rate of fluid outflow from the pilot conduit. The improved method comprises the steps of (a) establishing for the flow of fluid from the pilot conduit to the pilot valve a path extending from the pilot conduit first through the flow restrictor and thereupon through the branch conduit into and through the pilot valve, and (b) varying the speed of the fluid flowing through the flow restrictor to thus influence the static pressure of fluid in the pilot conduit. 
     The speed varying step can include adjusting the pilot valve to select the rate of fluid flow from the branch conduit into the pilot valve. The fluid which is permitted to flow from the pilot conduit, through the branch conduit and through the pilot valve can be confined in (i.e., collected by) a suitable receptacle, e.g., in a sump. 
     Another feature of the invention resides in the provision of an apparatus for controlling the pressure of a hydraulic fluid, e.g., a transmission fluid, a lubricant or the like. The apparatus comprises a pilot valve having an inlet, an outlet and means for varying the rate of fluid flow from the inlet to the outlet, a source of constant-pressure hydraulic fluid including a first conduit having an outlet, a branch conduit connecting the outlet of the first conduit with the inlet of the pilot valve, a pilot conduit which is arranged to receive fluid from the branch conduit and wherein the static pressure of fluid decreases in response to increasing rate of fluid outflow from the pilot conduit, and a flow restrictor which establishes an evacuating path for the outflow of fluid from the pilot conduit into the branch conduit. 
     The flow restrictor is installed between the first conduit and the pilot conduit. The latter establishes a second path for the flow of fluid to at least one of the first conduit and the branch conduit; the evacuating path can be oriented in such a way that it crosses the second path. 
     In accordance with a presently preferred embodiment, the first conduit includes a portion which constitutes a portion of the pilot conduit (for example, such portions of the first and pilot conduits can be disposed back-to-back), and the flow restrictor is provided in such portion of the first conduit. The inlet of the branch conduit in such apparatus is positioned to receive fluid flowing along the evacuating path from the pilot conduit, through the flow restrictor and across the first conduit; the outlet of such branch conduit is connected with the inlet of the pilot vave. The dimensions of the just described branch conduit can be selected in such a way that its inlet has a first cross-sectional area and that the branch conduit further includes a portion adjacent the inlet of the branch conduit (e.g., extending all the way from the inlet of the branch conduit and to the inlet of the pilot valve) and having a second cross-sectional area greater than the first cross-sectional area. 
     The just described inlet and portion of the branch conduit constitute a means for opposing the development of turbulence (such as vortices) in the evacuating path. 
     The means for varying the rate of fluid flow from the inlet to the outlet of the pilot valve can include a valving element (e.g., a piston which is reciprocable in the housing or body of the pilot valve) and means for moving the valving element relative to the body of the pilot valve. The moving means can comprise at least one magnet, e.g., an electromagnet. 
     The orientation of the first conduit and the pilot conduit can be such that these conduits include portions which are at least substantially normal to the branch conduit. The latter can have at least one bend between the flow restrictor and the inlet of the pilot valve. Alternatively, the branch conduit can be a straight conduit having an inlet communicating with the pilot conduit and an outlet communicating with the inlet of the pilot valve. 
     The improved apparatus can further comprise a regulating valve having an inlet arranged to receive fluid from the pilot conduit and an outlet, a consumer of fluid, and a control conduit connecting the outlet of the regulating valve with at least one inlet of the consumer. For example, the consumer can comprise a transmission in the power train of a motor vehicle, e.g., a so-called continuously variable transmission (CVT). A typical example of a continuously variable transmission is a transmission employing two parallel shafts each of which carries an adjustable pulley, and an endless belt or chain which is trained over the pulleys. The fluid which is supplied by the regulating valve by way of the control conduit can be utilized to vary the ratio of the transmission and/or to select the extent of frictional engagement between the flanges of the adjustable pulleys and endless chain or belt. 
     The novel features which are considered as characteristic of the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The improved apparatus itself, however, both as to its construction and its mode of operation, together with numerous additional features and attributes thereof, will be best understood upon perusal of the following detailed description of certain presently preferred specific embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a fragmentary schematic partly elevational and partly sectional view of a conventional fluid pressure regulating apparatus; 
     FIG. 2 is a diagram wherein the curve represents the relationship between the changes of fluid pressure in the pilot conduit and the changes in the setting of the pilot valve in the apparatus of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a fragmentary schematic partly elevational and partly sectional view of second conventional apparatus; 
     FIG. 4 is a view similar to that of FIG. 3 but showing certain constituents of an apparatus which embodies one form of the invention; 
     FIG. 5 is a diagram wherein the curve denotes the relationship between the changes of pressure in the pilot conduit and the changes in the setting of the pilot valve in the apparatus of FIG. 4; and 
     FIG. 6 is a fragmentary schematic partly elevational and partly sectional view of a novel apparatus which constitutes a modification of the apparatus shown in FIG.  4 . 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIG. 1 shows certain component parts of a conventional apparatus which includes a pump  6  serving to draw hydraulic fluid (such as oil and hereinafter referred to as fluid) from a source  7 , e.g., a sump. The outlet of the pump  6  delivers a stream of fluid into a main conduit  8  at a pressure which can exceed the pressure required in a control conduit  28  serving to deliver at least one stream of pressurized fluid to at least one inlet of a consumer  29 , e.g., a continuously variable transmission (CVT) of the type disclosed in the commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 5,667,448 or 5,674,155. 
     The main conduit  8  supplies pressurized fluid to an inlet of a constant-pressure valve  10  (this valve can be replaced with a pressure regulating valve, not shown) having an outlet connected with the inlet or intake end of a (first) constant-pressure conduit  12 . The valve  10  supplies fluid at an at least substantially constant pressure. The discharge end or outlet of the constant-pressure conduit  12  delivers fluid to the inlet of a pilot conduit  20  by way of a flow restrictor of throttle  14  having a passage with a fixed or variable effective cross-sectional area for the flow of fluid from the constant-pressure valve  10  to the pilot conduit  20 . 
     The outlet of the pilot conduit  20  (i.e., the outlet of the constant-pressure conduit  12  downstream of the flow restrictor  14 ) is further connected with an inlet of a pilot valve  16  by a branch conduit  22 . The valve  16  has an outlet  24  which can discharge fluid into the sump  7  when a reciprocable valving element (such as a piston)  18  in the housing or body  19  of the valve  16  permits at least some fluid to flow along a path extending from the pilot conduit  20 , through the branch conduit  22 , between the inlet of the housing  19  and the outlet  24 , and from the outlet  24  into the sump  7 . 
     The valving element  18  is movable by a magnet, preferably an electromagnet having at least one coil  30  arranged to receive electric current from a suitable source  32 . The sump  7  (or at least that portion of the sump which can receive fluid from the outlet  24 ) can be replaced with a tank or any other suitable receptacle for hydraulic fluid which flows along the aforementioned (evacuating) path from the pilot conduit  20  to and beyond the outlet  24  when the pilot valve  16  is at least partially open. At such time, the valving element or piston  18  is spaced apart from a seat of the housing  19 ; the seat is adjacent the respective end of the branch conduit  22 , i.e., it is located at the left-hand end of the cylinder chamber for the reciprocable valving element  18  in the housing  19 . 
     When the pump  6  is driven and the pilot valve  16  is at least substantially sealed, the conduit  12  delivers a stream of fluid to the pilot conduit  20  via flow restrictor  14 . The outlet of the conduit  20  delivers fluid to one inlet of a pressure reducing valve  26  (e.g., a slide valve) having an outlet connected with the consumer  29  by way of the aforementioned control conduit  28 . The valve  26  regulates the pressure of fluid in the conduit  28  and in the consumer  29 . 
     The exact construction of the valves  10 ,  16  and  26  is known and, therefore, need not be described here. The pilot valve  16  is normally closed, i.e., the valving element  16  dwells in the left-hand end position so that the branch conduit  22  is at least substantially sealed from the outlet  24  in the housing  19  of the valve  16 . The valving element  18  is held in the left-hand end position when the intensity of the magnetic field established by the coil or coils  30  assumes a maximum value. 
     FIG. 3 shows a portion of another conventional fluid pressure regulating apparatus. All such parts which are identical with or clearly analogous to those shown in FIG. 1 are denoted by similar characters. The only difference is that straight portions of the conduits  12 ,  20  are adjacent each other and that the flow restrictor  14  is arranged to convey fluid between such straight portions. 
     The mode of operation of the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 will be explained with reference to the coordinate system of FIG. 2 wherein the fluid pressure (in bar) in the pilot conduit  20  is measured along the ordinate, and the current (in Amperes) supplied to the coil or coils  30  is measured along the abscissa. 
     It is assumed that the fluid pressure in the first conduit  12  is at least substantially constant and amounts to between about 5 and 5.3 bar. The flow restrictor  14  can constitute an adjustable diaphragm and is assumed to be set for the establishment of a circular or substantially circular opening with a diameter of approximately 0.8 mm. 
     When the intensity of the magnetic field established by the coil or coils  30  reaches a maximum value (e.g., when the current furnished to the terminal(s)  32  has a strength in the range of one Ampere), the valving element  18  engages its seat and thus seals or substantially seals the branch conduit  22  from the outlet  24  of the housing  19 . Consequently, the pressure of fluid in the conduits  20  and  22  is maintained at a maximum value, e.g., at slightly less than 5 bar. The pressure of fluid in the conduits  20 ,  22  cannot rise to the pressure of fluid in the first (constant-pressure) conduit  12  due to leakage of the pilot valve  16  and/or due to other leak or leaks in the apparatus embodying the structure shown in FIG. 1 or FIG.  3 . 
     If the strength of the current flowing through the coil or coils  30  is reduced, the valving element  18  proceeds to move away from the seat in the housing  19 . This establishes a flow of fluid from the pilot conduit  20 , through the branch conduit  22 , from the inlet to the outlet  24  of the housing  19 , and into the sump  7 . When the pilot valve  16  is fully open, the residual pressure of fluid in the pilot conduit  20  amounts to between about 0.2 and 0.4 bar. The existence of such residual pressure is attributable to friction between the fluid in the path. from the pilot conduit  20  into the sump  7  (via pilot valve  16 ), and the surrounding surfaces. 
     Furthermore, and as shown in FIG. 3 by arrows  15 , kinetic energy of the fluid flowing through the flow restrictor  14  causes the generation of turbulence (such as eddies or vortices immediately downstream of the flow restrictor) which, in turn, entails a heating of the conduits  12 ,  20  and a beating of the conveyed fluid. 
     The characteristic curve  40  in the coordinate system of FIG. 2 indicates that, when the valving element  18  is remote from its seat in the housing  19 , the relationship between the amperage of the current supplied by the coil or coils  30  and the pressure in the pilot valve  16  deviates from a linear relationship. 
     FIG. 4 shows a portion of an apparatus which embodies one form of the present invention. The reference characters utilized in FIG. 4 are largely identical with those shown in FIG. 1 or  3  except for the numeral  34  which denotes a portion or wall of the conduit  20  of one piece with and thus constituting a portion of the conduit  20 . Furthermore, the flow restrictor or nozzle  14  is provided in the common portion  34  of the conduits  12 ,  20  in such a way that it can discharge fluid from the conduit  12 , across the conduit  20  and directly into the inlet of the branch conduit  22 . The latter has a bend  22   a  between its inlet (at  14 ) and its outlet (i.e., the inlet of the pilot valve  16 ). Thus, when the valve  16  is open to an extent determined by the intensity of magnetic field being then established by the coil or coils  30 , the fluid can flow from the constant-pressure conduit  12 , across the pilot conduit  20  (via flow restrictor  14 ) and directly into the inlet of the branch conduit  22  to thereupon flow to the sump  7  along the path established by the housing  19  of the pilot valve  16 . 
     The speed of the fluid flowing from the conduit  12  into the conduit  22  across the conduit  20  is very high (because the orifice defined by the flow restrictor  14  is preferably small). Due to such elevated speed of the fluid flowing into the branch conduit  22 , the static pressure in the conduit  20  is reduced in accordance with the Bernoulli theorem; this causes the flow restrictor  14  to act as a jet pump and to draw liquid from the conduit  20  into the branch conduit  22 . 
     FIG. 5 shows a coordinate system corresponding to that shown in FIG. 2, except that the fluid pressure (measured in bar) in the conduit  20  of FIG. 4 is related to the amperage of the current supplied to the coil(s)  30  shown in FIG.  4 . When the pilot valve  16  of FIG. 4 is at least nearly fully open, the pressure in the pilot conduit  20  drops below the pressure indicated in FIG.  2 . Thus, and a shown in FIG. 5, the pressure can drop below the zero value. This ensures that the relationship between the pilot pressure in the conduit  20  and the amperage of the current being supplied to the coil(s)  30  remains linear even when the fluid pressure in the pilot conduit  20  is very low, i.e., when the valving element  18  is remote from its seat in the valve housing  19 . This amounts to a widening of the operating range of the improved apparatus beyond the operating range of conventional apparatus. When the pressure of fluid in the pilot conduit  20  is relatively high, the difference between the corresponding portions of the curves  40  and  40 A respectively shown in FIGS. 2 and 5 is or can be negligible. The reason is that when the fluid pressure in the conduit  20  is relatively high (because the valve  16  is fully or nearly fully closed), the speed of fluid flow from the conduit  20  via conduit  22  and valve  16  (in the apparatus of FIG. 4) is low or negligible. 
     An advantage of the improved method and apparatus is that they render it possible to widen or broaden the operating range within which one can control, by means of the pilot pressure, the operations of other valves such as slide valves or the pressure reducing valve and/or other components of the apparatus and the power train. Moreover, one can establish a more predictable linear relationship between the pressure in the pilot conduit  20  and the (magnetic) force with which the valving element  18  is urged to its operative (sealing) position of engagement with the seat in the housing  19  to thus prevent or reduce the rate of fluid flow from the pilot conduit  20 , through the branch conduit  22  and out of the housing  19  via outlet  24 . 
     It is clear that the afore described advantages of the improved method and apparatus become even more pronounced if the velocity of the fluid stream flowing from the pilot conduit  20 , through the branch conduit  22  and through the housing  19  of the pilot valve  16  increases. 
     FIG. 6 illustrates a portion of an apparatus which constitutes a modification of the novel apparatus shown in FIG.  4 . One difference between the apparatus of FIGS. 4 and 6 is that the branch conduit  22  of FIG. 6 includes an end portion  36  merging into the adjacent straight portion of the pilot conduit  20  and a straight portion  22 A which extends to the inlet of the body or housing  19  of the pilot valve  16 . The cross-sectional area of the passage defined by the inlet  36  is smaller than that of the passage defined by the portion  22 A. The straight branch conduit  22  of FIG. 6 renders it possible to dispense with the bend of the type shown at  22   a  in FIG. 4. A bend (such as  22   a ) might be necessary under certain circumstances (e.g., to take advantage of the space which is available for the apparatus); however, such bend or bends necessarily affect the velocity of the fluid flowing from the pilot conduit  20  toward and into the valve  16 . 
     An advantage of the smaller-diameter inlet  36  of the branch conduit  22  of FIG. 6 is that it enhances the velocity of the fluid stream flowing through the conduit  22  and into the body  19  of the pilot valve  16 . The internal surface of the inlet  36  is preferably rounded and smooth. Moreover, the inlet  36  enables the branch conduit  22  of FIG. 6 to act as a highly effective jet pump, i.e., a pump generating a suction much more pronounced than that achievable with the branch conduit  22  and flow restrictor  14  shown in FIG. 1 or  3 . 
     The flow restrictor  14  of FIG. 6 is provided in that portion of the constant-pressure conduit  12  which is common to the pilot conduit  20 , the same as in FIG.  4 . 
     It has been found that the operation of the improved apparatus is particularly satisfactory (especially as concerns savings in energy) if the pressure in the pilot conduit  20  is zero bar when the current strength in the coil or coils  30  is at least very close to 0 mA. 
     It is also desirable to design the improved apparatus in such a way that the pilot pressure in the conduit  20  is zero bar when the strength of the current flowing in the coil or coils  30  is slightly above 0 mA. This is of particular advantage in the event of variations of temperature and/or viscosity of the conveyed fluid. Under such circumstances, the O-bar operating point can be caused to conform (i.e., it can be adapted) to the operating conditions by varying the strength of the current in the windings of the coil or coils  30 . 
     To summarize, one of the important advantages of the improved method and apparatus is that the fluid pressure in the pilot conduit  20  can be lowered below that in the pilot conduit of a conventional apparatus when the pilot valve  16  offers little or no resistance to the flow of fluid from the conduit  20 , via conduit  22 , through the valve  16  and into the sump  7 . This is accomplished in that the kinetic energy of the stream of fluid flowing from the conduit  12 , through the flow restrictor  14  and branch conduit  22  into and from the valve  16  is utilized to further reduce the fluid pressure in the conduit  20 . 
     Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic and specific aspects of the above outlined contribution to methods of and apparatus for regulating the pressure of hydraulic fluid and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the appended claims.