Spacer plate for a valve body of a drive unit, as well as a drive unit with such a spacer plate.

Abstract

A spacer plate for a valve body of an actuator unit comprises a first layer, a second layer connected to the first layer, and has several openings formed in the first and second layers. At least one of the openings contains a rigid filter plate containing a fabric material with multiple filter openings and a circumferential rim enclosing the fabric material. The circumferential rim is without filter openings and is positioned between the first and second layers.

Description

INTRODUCTION

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of vehicles and in particular to a spacer plate according to the preamble of claim 1, as is known essentially from DE 10 2009 010 385 A1. Further prior art is described in publications JP S61 - 157 317 A, JP H09 - 024 219 A, JP 2006 - 207 715 A, JP H02 - 146 262 U, KR 101 635 189 B1, DE 10 2014 105 806 A1 and DE 10 2007 019 946 A1.

[0002] Automatic transmissions contain an input shaft, an output shaft, and one or more gears that are shifted either incrementally or continuously to control the ratio of input shaft speed to output shaft speed. The output shaft is connected to wheels that propel the vehicle. Automatic transmissions rely on a flow of hydraulic fluid through various valves to control the position of the gears. The valves are housed in a valve body containing multiple fluid paths. The hydraulic fluid flows along these paths to and from selected valves, which are operated to set the chosen gear ratio.

[0003] Gearbox valve bodies contain several valve plates with various passages that direct the fluid into selected fluid paths based on the position of one or more of the valves. Spacer plates, acting as seals, are positioned between the valve plates. These spacer plates have openings aligned with the passages in the valve plates. A filter is located within selected openings. The filter takes the form of a wire mesh screen positioned to trap any debris that may be carried in the fluid. This debris can enter the valve and impair its performance. SUMMARY

[0004] According to the invention, a spacer plate for a valve body of a drive unit is presented, characterized by the features of claim 1. The spacer plate comprises a first layer, a second layer connected to the first layer, and has several openings formed in the first and second layers. At least one of the several openings comprises a rigid filter plate containing a material fabric having several filter openings and a circumferential rim enclosing the material fabric, the circumferential rim being without filter openings and arranged between the first and second layers. The several filter openings adjacent to the circumferential rim have a first opening density, and at a central section of the material fabric, a second opening density, the second opening density differing from the first opening density.

[0005] According to other characteristics, the rigid filter plate has a thickness between approximately 80 µm and approximately 500 µm.

[0006] According to other characteristics, each of the multiple filter openings lies between approximately 100 µm and approximately 2.0 mm.

[0007] According to other features, the circumferential border has a first side, a second side spaced apart from the first side, a third side extending between and connecting the first and second sides, and a fourth side extending between and connecting the first and second sides, wherein the first and second sides have a first length and the third and fourth sides have a second length that is greater than the first length.

[0008] According to other characteristics, a reinforcing element extends across the material fabric.

[0009] According to other characteristics, a first section of the multiple filter openings is spaced away from the surrounding edge by less than one diameter of the multiple filter openings.

[0010] According to other characteristics, the second aperture density is higher than the first aperture density.

[0011] According to other characteristics, each of the multiple openings has a circular or hexagonal shape.

[0012] According to other features, the circumferential edge has one or more mounting holes that facilitate alignment of the rigid filter plate relative to at least one of the several openings in the spacer plate.

[0013] A drive unit for a vehicle according to the present invention comprises a housing and a valve body that is fixedly mounted to the housing. The valve body comprises several valve plates and a spacer plate according to claim 1.

[0014] Further applications of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description, the claims, and the drawings. The detailed description and the specific examples serve only for illustration. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] The present invention will be more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings; these show: Fig. 1 a side view from the left of a vehicle containing a gearbox having a valve body for which spacer plates according to the present invention are provided, to which plate filters are attached; Fig. 2 a perspective partial view of a valve body which contains spacer plates according to the present invention to which rigid filter plates are attached and is mounted in a housing of the drive unit; Fig. 3 a partially disassembled view of the valve body of Fig. 2 according to the present invention; Fig. 4 a top view of the spacer plate according to the present invention, to which rigid filter plates are attached; Fig. 5 a perspective partial view of a rigid filter plate mounted in a spacer plate according to one aspect of the present invention; Fig. 6 a perspective partial view of a rigid filter plate mounted in a spacer plate according to a further aspect of the present invention; Fig. 7A a spacer plate; Fig. 7B a spacer plate according to the invention; Fig. 7C another spacer plate; Fig. 7D another spacer plate; and Fig. 7E another spacer plate.

[0016] Reference symbols can be used multiple times in the drawings to identify similar and / or identical elements. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0017] Hydraulic fluid flows through the valve body under high pressure. The fluid passes through one or more filters or strainers and flows through orifices in the valve body. The filters are mounted in a spacer plate over an orifice. The filter is held in place over the orifice along an outer edge. The inflow and outflow of fluid cause the filter to flex in two directions. Repeated flexing of the strainer stresses the edges, causing material fatigue. Over time, this fatigue leads to filter failure. Failure typically occurs along the edges of the filter. Preventing filter failure or extending the filter's service life increases the overall performance and longevity of the gearbox.

[0018] A vehicle according to an example is in Fig. 1 generally shown at 10. The vehicle 10 includes a body 12, which is supported by several wheels, two of which are shown at 16. The body 12 partially defines a passenger compartment 20. The body 12 includes a charging port cover 28, which accommodates a charging port 30. The vehicle 10 includes a chassis 32, which supports the body 12 and a battery assembly 34. The battery assembly 34 is electrically connected to the charging port 30. It is shown that the chassis 32 further supports a motor 38, which is electrically connected to the battery assembly 34. The motor 38 is also mechanically connected to a drive unit 40. The drive unit 40 transmits drive power from the motor 38 to one or more of the several wheels 16. The relative position of the motor 38 and the drive unit 40 can vary depending on the model and characteristics of the vehicle.

[0019] Fig. Figure 2 shows the drive unit 40, which includes a housing 46 containing a drive shaft section 48, a drive train section 50, and a valve body section 52. The drive shaft section 48 has an opening 54 that accommodates a drive shaft (not shown) connecting the drive unit 40 to one or more of the multiple gears 16. The drive train section 50 accommodates one or more gears (also not shown) that determine an output speed or torque for the drive shaft. The valve body section 52 carries a valve body 56 that, based on hydraulic pressure, controls which gears are operationally connected to the drive shaft.

[0020] Fig. Figure 3 shows the valve body 56, which is formed from several stacked plates 58 that are attached to the housing 46 in section 52 of the valve body by several fasteners 66. The stacked plates 58 comprise valve plates 60 and spacer plates 64. Valve plates 60 have several passages, one of which is designated 68, that guide hydraulic fluid through the valve body 56. Spacer plates 64 have several openings, one of which is designated 70, that control the fluid flow between the passages within a valve plate 60 as well as between different valve plates 60. As shown in Figure 3, the spacer plates 64 are arranged in a grid pattern. Fig. As shown in Figure 4, several of the openings 70 contain a rigid filter plate 74, which prevents deposits or foreign matter that may be carried in the hydraulic fluid from reaching certain sections of the valve body 56. It should be noted that the term "rigid filter plate" describes a monolithic structure that has bores or openings formed within it. The rigid filter plate is not intended to include wire mesh structures.

[0021] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 5, the spacer plate 64 contains several layers 80. The layers 80 comprise a first layer 82 and a second layer 84. The first layer 82 defines a first outer layer (not specifically designated), and the second layer 84 defines a second outer layer (also not specifically designated). A steel core 86 may be arranged between the first layer 82 and the second layer 84. The rigid filter plate 74 is arranged between the first layer 82 and the steel core 86. It should be understood that the number and arrangement of the layers 80 can vary, the position of the rigid filter plate 74 relative to other layers 80 can vary, and the inclusion of the steel core 86 is optional, as shown in Figure 5. Fig. 6 is shown.

[0022] In Fig. Figure 7A describes the rigid filter plate 74 according to a non-inventive example. The rigid filter plate 74 contains a material fabric 100 which has several filter openings 102 formed therein. The filter openings 102 can be, as shown in Fig. 7A shows a circular shape or, for example, in Fig. As shown in Figure 6, the filter openings 102 are hexagonal. The size, number, and geometry of the filter openings 102 can vary depending on the filter requirements. The material fabric 100 is surrounded by a circumferential rim 108, which is designed without filter openings. According to one aspect of the present invention, the rigid filter plate 74 has a thickness between about 80 µm and about 500 µm, and each of the multiple openings has a size between about 100 µm and about 2 mm.

[0023] According to an example, the circumferential rim 108 has a first side 118 and a second side 120, which is opposite and parallel to the first side 118. The circumferential rim 108 also has a third side 122 and a fourth side 124. The fourth side 124 is opposite and parallel to the third side 122. Furthermore, the third side 122 and the fourth side 124 extend between the first side 118 and the second side 120, generally forming a quadrilateral shape. However, it should be understood that the shape of the rigid filter plate can vary and may depend on the shape of the corresponding opening and the requirements of the fluid flow. The first side 118 and the second side 120 have a first length and are arranged parallel to a first axis A1, which defines a width of the rigid filter plate 74.The third side 122 and the fourth side 124 each have a second length and are arranged parallel to a second axis A2, which defines a length of the rigid filter plate 74. In the example shown, the first length is shorter than the second length.

[0024] The rigid filter plate 74 has a first corner 136 defined between the first side 118 and the third side 122, a second corner 138 defined between the first side 118 and the fourth side 124, a third corner 140 defined between the third side 122 and the fourth side 124, and a fourth corner 142 defined between the third side 122 and the fourth side 124. It should be understood that the rigid filter plate 74, although shown as essentially rectangular, can have various shapes. It should also be understood that the circumferential edge can have one or more arrangement or guide bores 126, which facilitate a selected position of the rigid filter plate 74 relative to the opening 70 in the spacer plate 64.

[0025] In the example that is in Fig. As shown in Figure 7A, the multiple filter openings 102 that are closest to the circumferential edge 108 are spaced less than one diameter of the multiple filter openings 102 from the circumferential edge 108. Fig. According to the invention, the multiple filter openings 102 adjacent to the circumferential edge 108 have a first filter opening density and a second filter opening density at a central section 146 of the material fabric 100. According to the invention, the second filter opening density, e.g., the distance between adjacent filter openings, differs from the first opening density. Furthermore, according to the present invention, the second opening density is higher than the first opening density.

[0026] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 7C, the rigid filter plate 74 includes a reinforcing element 150 that extends between the third side 122 and the fourth side 124 across the width of the material fabric 100. The reinforcing element 150 provides additional structural support for the material fabric 100, for example, support beyond that provided by the material forming the filter plate. As shown in Fig. As shown in Figure 7D, the rigid filter plate 74 includes a reinforcing element 152 that extends between the first side 118 and the second side 120 along the length of the material fabric 100. Similar to the explanation given for the reinforcing element 150, the reinforcing element 152 provides additional structural support for the material fabric 100. As shown in Fig.As shown in Figure 7E, a first reinforcing element 160 extends across the width of the rigid filter plate 74, a second reinforcing element 162 extends between the second corner 138 and the third corner 140, and a third reinforcing element 164 extends between the first corner 136 and the fourth corner 142. The first, second, and third reinforcing elements provide further structural support for the material fabric 100. The number, location, and arrangement of the reinforcing elements can vary and may depend on specific flow velocities for different valve bodies.

[0027] It should be understood that the rigid filter plate described here is more robust than known filters made from a wire mesh. Furthermore, the rigid filter plate possesses increased flexural stiffness and higher fatigue strength. The rigid filter plate can also be easily configured to be reinforced at points where higher flow velocities are required. A rigid filter plate can also be configured to have filter aperture densities that promote higher filtration performance in specific areas of the material. Although the spacer plate according to the present invention is shown as part of a drive unit for an electric vehicle, it can, according to the present invention, be incorporated into drive units and automatic transmissions for other types of vehicles.While further described as being incorporated into a drive unit, the rigid filter plate of the present invention can be incorporated into other vehicle systems that would benefit from filtered fluids.

Claims

[1] Spacer plate (64) for a valve body (56) of a drive unit (40), wherein the spacer plate (64) comprises: a first layer (82); a second layer (84) connected to the first layer (82); several openings (70) formed in the first layer (82) and in the second layer (84), wherein at least one of the several openings (70) contains a rigid filter plate (74) comprising: a material fabric (100) having several filter openings (102); and a circumferential rim (108) enclosing the material fabric (100), wherein the circumferential rim (108) is designed without filter openings (102) and is arranged between the first layer (82) and the second layer (84); characterized by , that the multiple filter openings (102) adjacent to the circumferential edge (108) have a first opening density and a second opening density at a central section (146) of the material fabric (100), wherein the second opening density differs from the first opening density. [2] Spacer plate (64) according to claim 1, wherein the rigid filter plate (74) has a thickness between about 80 µm and about 500 µm. [3] Spacer plate (64) according to claim 1, wherein each of the multiple filter openings (102) is between 100 µm and 2.0 mm. [4] Spacer plate (64) according to claim 1, wherein the circumferential edge (108) has a first side (118), a second side (120) spaced apart from the first side (118), a third side (122) extending between and connecting the first side (118) and the second side (120), and a fourth side (124) extending between and connecting the first side (118) and the second side (120), wherein the first side (118) and the second side (120) have a first length and the third side (122) and the fourth side (124) have a second length which is greater than the first length. [5] Spacer plate (64) according to claim 1, which further includes a reinforcing element (150) extending over the material fabric (100). [6] Spacer plate (64) according to claim 1, wherein a first section of the multiple filter openings (102) is spaced apart from the circumferential edge (108) by less than a diameter of the multiple filter openings (102). [7] Spacer plate (64) according to claim 1, wherein each of the multiple openings (102) has a circular shape or a hexagonal shape. [8] Spacer plate (64) according to claim 1, wherein the circumferential edge (108) has one or more mounting holes which enable the rigid filter plate (74) to be aligned relative to at least one of the multiple openings (70) in the spacer plate (64). [9] Drive unit (40) for a vehicle, comprising: a case (46); a valve body (56) which is fixedly mounted on the housing (46), wherein the valve body (56) comprises several valve plates (60) and a spacer plate (64) according to claim 1, which is arranged between adjacent of the several valve plates (60).

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