Patent ID: 12188525

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

While the present disclosure is susceptible of embodiment in various forms, there is shown in the drawings and will hereinafter be described one or more embodiments with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered illustrative only and is not intended to limit the disclosure to any specific embodiment described or illustrated.

In embodiments herein, stabilizers are disclosed for stabilizing a solenoid2or linear motor that operates on a valve4in a fluid circuit body5in a vehicle automatic transmission. The solenoids2act on valves4that permit, isolate or regulate the flow of transmission fluid throughout the fluid circuit to control, for example, clutch apply. Referring toFIGS.1A-1D, the solenoid2includes a body5, a shoulder6, and a head7, with a neck8between the head and shoulder. The head, shoulder, neck and body are stationary members. The movable (reciprocating) pintle9is positioned in the solenoid2and extends out of the head7. The pintle9moves by actuation of (current applied to) the solenoid. The pintle acts on the movable valve stem4.

Referring now toFIGS.2,3A-3D and4Aand B, a spring retainer1and an embodiment of a spring retainer stabilizer102are shown. The spring retainer1includes a generally upside down or inverted U-shaped body17with front and rear walls18,19. The inverted U-shape can be a squared inverted “U.” The top20of the “U” connects depending legs21,22. The front and rear walls are connected to each other at the free ends23of the legs21,22by bends24that space the front and rear walls18,19from each other. The bends24are less than 180 degrees and define a partial slope, indicated at25, in the front wall18.

The retainers1are formed from spring steel, as such, the bends24provide a spring-like action or spring function between the front and rear walls18,19of the retainer1. The rear wall19includes a lip or return bend26rearwardly and downwardly, toward the front wall18. The retainer front wall18rests on and applies a force on the solenoid head7, and the retainer rear wall19rests on the valve body slot wall16to maintain the solenoid1in place.

In an embodiment, the stabilizer102includes an inverted U-shaped body104similar to the shape of the spring retainer1. The stabilizer102has a top106and a pair of opposing depending legs108. In an embodiment, the body102is a square inverted U-shaped body. The top106and the depending legs108are configured for positioning in the retainer1in the space between the retainer front and rear walls18,19. The retainer1, with the stabilizer102positioned in the space between the front and rear walls18,19, is positioned or inserted in the valve body slot11, over the solenoid neck8. The stabilizer102prevents collapse of the spring retainer1as the solenoid2cycles through actuation and de-actuation cycles.

As seen inFIGS.3A-Dand4C, the stabilizer102has a thickness t102about equal to the width w27of the space27between the retainer front and rear walls18,19. The stabilizer legs108have a profile about the same as the profile of the retainer legs21,22such that the stabilizer102fits well within the retainer1.

In an embodiment, a lower portion110of the stabilizer legs108at about the free ends112, has tapered or angle surfaces (as indicated at114), tapered front to rear, (on both legs) that permit readily positioning the stabilizer102in the retainer1. The tapered surfaces114are positioned at about the bend24, at the sloped surfaces25in the retainer1so that the retainer1retains its spring function, but is prevented from collapsing if or when the spring-like properties of the retainer1begin to lessen or are lost. The retainer sloped surfaces25also permit readily inserting the retainer1and stabilizer102into the slot11, onto the solenoid neck8.

In a current embodiment, the stabilizer102is formed from a stiff but somewhat compressible material such as low carbon steel. Other suitable materials will be recognized by those skilled in the art. The stabilizer102prevents or significantly retards compression of the spring retainer1, which prevents the head7from being off center and from mushrooming the bore10aof the valve body3on the outboard end of the control/regulating valve4.

An alternate embodiment of a retainer201and stabilizer202is shown inFIGS.6A-6C. In this embodiment, the retainer201includes a body203having an inverted U-shape, such as the illustrated squared inverted U-shape, but has only a wall204and an upper outwardly extending lip205. The stabilizer202again, is formed from a stiff but somewhat compressible material such as low carbon steel, and has a shape similar to the shape of the retainer201, which as illustrated can be a square inverted U-shape. The retainer legs206can have a side-to-side taper as indicated at207at about their lower end208. The stabilizer202has a top212, and can have a constant thickness t202and can include side-to-side tapers209at the leg213free ends210, that can coincide with side-to-side tapers207on the retainer legs206. The retainer lip205is positioned to maintain the stabilizer202in place on the retainer201. The retainer201can include raised or indented portions211such that the body203and/or legs206are not planar. The raised or indented portions211provide prevent bending and provide a preload or slight spring function to help the retainer201and stabilizer202maintain proper placement in the valve body slot11and prevent movement of the solenoid2when in operation.

Still another embodiment of a retainer301is shown inFIG.7. In this embodiment, the retainer301has a shape that is similar to that of, for example, the embodiment ofFIG.1, but is more robust; that is, the retainer301is larger (extending farther upward and downward into the valve body slot11) and is formed from a thicker material. It is recognized that the retainer301may still lose its spring characteristics over time. As such, the valve body3may be reamed out (as indicated at303) and a sleeve304inserted into the reamed area303of the valve body3. The sleeve304is dimensioned to reduce the tolerances between the solenoid shoulder6and the valve body3. The more robust retainer301and reduced tolerance sleeve304reduce the opportunity for the head7to be off center and for the head7mushrooming the bore10aof the valve body3on the outboard end of the control/regulating valve4.

Yet another embodiment of a stabilizer401is illustrated inFIGS.8A and8B. In this embodiment, a bracket402supports multiple solenoids2mounted on the valve body3. The bracket402includes a main body portion403that extends along the valve body3and is fastened to the valve body3. The fasteners404can be, for example, bolts that extend through the valve body3between and/or outside of the solenoid2locations. An arm405extends from the body403at each solenoid2location that runs longitudinally along the solenoid2. A tab406depends from the arm405at the rear of the solenoid2to secure the end of the solenoid2and a pair of clamping fingers407extend from the arm405to encircle a portion of solenoid2body between the tab406and the main body portion403. The tab406can have a slight inward bend as at408to apply a preload to the solenoid2to maintain it held securely in the valve body3.

Still another embodiment of a spring retainer501to secure a solenoid in a transmission fluid valve body is illustrated inFIGS.5A and5B. The spring retainer501has an inverted U-shaped body502with corresponding front and rear walls503,504. The front and rear walls503,504each have a top505and a pair of depending legs506. The legs503,504define free ends507opposite their respective tops505.

The front and rear walls503,504are joined to one another at their respective free ends507, at bends508, to space the front and rear walls503,504from one another. One of the front and rear walls (as illustrated, the front wall503) includes an upwardly and outwardly angled portion509from its respective free end507and a bend510beyond the angled portion509such that the reminder of the wall503is generally parallel to the other wall (as illustrated the remainder of the front wall503is parallel to the rear wall504).

The rear wall504includes a return bend511and can include an inwardly oriented lip512at the end of the return bend511. The return bend511can be formed about 180 degrees relative to the rear wall504. In embodiments, the inwardly oriented lip512can extend so far as to contact the rear wall504. And, in embodiments, the height h503of the front wall503is such that when bent toward the rear wall504, the front wall503contacts the rear wall return bend511. In such embodiments, the retainer501can be formed from a thicker material. It is envisioned that such a retainer501will not require a stabilizer, in that contact of the front wall503with the return bend511will prevent collapse of the retainer. Nevertheless, the configuration of the retainer501will allow for use of a stabilizer.

As installed in the valve body3, the spring retainer501is positioned on the solenoid neck8in the slot11, such that the front wall503of the spring retainer501rests on and applies a force on the solenoid head7, and a portion of the rear wall503of the spring retainer501rests on a rear wall14of the valve body slot11. When compressed, the front wall503can be forced rearward to the rear wall504and, again, collapse of the retainer501is prevented by the front wall503contacting the rear wall return bend511.

A method of stabilizing a solenoid2in a transmission fluid valve body3in which the valve body has a pair of bores10therein collinear with one another and collinear with a movable valve stem4, and a slot11in the valve body3between the bores10, and a solenoid2has a body5, a shoulder6, a head7, and a neck8between the head7and the shoulder6, the solenoid2positioned in the valve body3with the neck8located at the slot11, which method includes positioning a stabilizer102in a spring retainer1, which spring retainer1has an inverted U-shaped body17with corresponding front and rear walls18,19, each the front and rear walls18,19having a top20and a pair of depending legs21,22, the legs21,22defining free ends23opposite the top20, the front and rear walls18,19joined to one another at their respective free ends23of their legs21,22, at a bend24, to space the front and rear walls18,19from one another, and the stabilizer102having an inverted U-shaped body104corresponding to the inverted U-shaped body17of the spring retainer1and having a top106and a pair of depending legs108, the legs108defining free ends112opposite the top106, the stabilizer102being positioned in the spring retainer1between the front and rear walls18.19.

The method further includes inserting the spring retainer1and the stabilizer102on the solenoid neck8in the slot11, such that the spring retainer front wall18rests on and applies a force on the solenoid head7, and a portion of the spring retainer rear wall19rests on a rear wall16of the valve body slot11. In methods, the spring retainer1includes a return bend26forward and upwardly, toward the front wall18, and the stabilizer102is positioned in the spring retainer1resting on the return bend26.

It is understood that the features described with respect to any of the embodiments above may be implemented, used together with, or replace features described in any of the other embodiments above. It is also understood that description of some features may be omitted in some embodiments, where similar or identical features are discussed in other embodiments.

All patents referred to herein, are hereby incorporated herein in their entirety, by reference, whether or not specifically indicated as such within the text of this disclosure.

In the present disclosure, the words “a” or “an” are to be taken to include both the singular and the plural. Conversely, any reference to plural items shall, where appropriate, include the singular. In addition, in is understood that terminology referring to directions or relative orientations, such as, but not limited to, “upper” “lower” “raised” “lowered” “top” “bottom” “above” “below” “alongside” “left” and “right” are used for purposes of example and do not limit the scope of the subject matter described herein to such orientations or relative positioning.

From the foregoing it will be observed that numerous modifications and variations can be effectuated without departing from the true spirit and scope of the novel concepts of the present invention. It is to be understood that no limitation with respect to the specific embodiments illustrated is intended or should be inferred. The disclosure is intended to cover by the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the scope of the claims.