Patent · US Expired

Hydraulic coupling for vehicle drivetrain

US6238315A · kind A · utility

15Cited by
11References
20Claims
0Family size

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 16, 1999
Grant dateMay 29, 2001
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 16, 2019

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T137/7892
  • WIPO fieldMechanical elements
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A control valve of a hydraulic coupling controls pumping through a casing inlet port by a hydraulic pump and/or through a casing outlet port to control coupling between two rotary members such as by operation of a clutch. The casing is connected to one of the rotary members while a pumping component embodied by an impeller is connected to the other rotary member and meshed with an internal ring gear having one more tooth than the number of impeller teeth to provide sufficient pumping capacity so that the pump can act as a brake while still having relatively constant pumping pressure. The control valve includes a valve system through which pressurized hydraulic fluid selectively flows to control the coupling of the pair of rotary members. The instant invention provides a thin-plate check valve and pressure port stack which creates a hydraulic flow path for a gerotor pump and maintains pressure equalization about the gerotor pump. The thin-plate check valve and pressure port stack comprises a series of relatively thin circular plates assembled in a stacked arrangement, including a spring plate and a seal plate which interface to create a check valve assembly, a port plate which provi…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.