Unitized Transmission Valve Body With 3D Hydraulic Passages
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Solution Overview
Problem
Transmission valve bodies with two-dimensional worm trails require lengthy and convoluted fluid paths, leading to increased complexity, size, and cost due to the use of separator plates and fasteners, limiting efficient fluid communication.
Innovation Solution
A unitized valve body manufactured via additive manufacturing, featuring staggered arrangements of hydraulic passages and valve bores, eliminating the need for mechanical fasteners and allowing multi-dimensional fluid connections, reducing overall footprint and complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple valve bodies with separator plates are used to overcome two-dimensional limitations, then fluid communication between valve bodies is enabled, but device complexity and assembly time increase due to gasket seals, precise machining, and additional fasteners
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple valve bodies and separator plates into a single unitized valve body structure. The integrated design combines what were previously separate components (valve bodies, separator plates, fasteners, gaskets) into one monolithic structure manufactured by additive manufacturing, thereby reducing assembly complexity while maintaining fluid communication capabilities between different valve bore regions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from two-dimensional worm trail routing to three-dimensional fluid pathways enabled by additive manufacturing. The unitized valve body allows fluid passages to route in multiple dimensions including vertical stacking of valve bores above and below hydraulic passages, eliminating the need for separator plates while achieving the same fluid communication functionality
2Ease of manufacture
If two-dimensional worm trails are used in traditional valve bodies, then manufacturing is simpler, but fluid paths become lengthy and convoluted increasing size and complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes three-dimensional printing technology to create fluid passages that route in multiple dimensions rather than being constrained to two-dimensional planes. Valve bores are positioned above and below hydraulic passages in a staggered arrangement, allowing fluid to travel directly through vertical passages rather than following lengthy horizontal routes around the perimeter of the valve body
3Adaptability or versatility
If separator plates with gasket seals are used to connect valve bodies, then fluid communication is achieved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase due to precise machining of gasket surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates separator plates and gasket surfaces by merging all valve bodies into a single unitized structure. The additive manufacturing process creates the entire valve body as one piece with internal fluid passages, removing the interface between separate components and thereby eliminating the need for precise gasket surface machining
Data Source
AI summary
A unitized valve body for use in an automatic transmission includes a plurality of valve bores and a plurality of hydraulic passages. Each valve bore is configured to receive a valve. The plurality of hydraulic passages are in fluid communication with the valve bores. The plurality of valve bores are arranged above and below the hydraulic passages.