Abstract: A kit for improving the performance of a clutch assembly, including at least one steel plate configured and dimensioned to be received through the open end of the housing and disposed in mating relationship with a terminal one of the plural friction elements, at least one friction disk configured and dimensioned to be received through the open end of the housing and disposed in mating relationship with the at least one steel plate to form in combination with the plural friction elements and plural steel plates an extended interleaved stack, with the at least one friction disk forming a new terminal friction element, and a retaining ring configured and dimensioned to be secured over the open end of the housing and including an integrally formed, annular inner friction surface adapted to confront the new terminal friction element to directly receive forces applied through the clutch assembly.

Abstract: A reverse clutch and planetary gear set are provided that can be installed in an automotive transmission. In some embodiments, the reverse clutch and planetary gear set are configured and dimensioned to be installed in a Powerglide transmission case. In other embodiments, the reverse clutch can have an increased mean diameter. In some embodiments, the reverse clutch can have an increased static holding capacity. In another embodiment, the planetary gear set can have a reduced numerical first gear ratio. In other embodiments, the planetary gear set can have components with increased strength. Methods for modifying a transmission to install a reverse clutch and planetary gear set are also provided.

Abstract: An internal bypass filtration circuit including a microfine depth filtration cartridge, which operates in combination with the sump filter of an automatic transmission is disclosed. The present depth filtration cartridge functions to remove particulate matter as small as five microns to improve fluid cleanliness level without restricting fluid flow to the pump ensuring its volumetric efficiency. In one embodiment transmission fluid passes through a calibrated orifice in the bypass circuit to regulate flow to the depth filtration cartridge. In an alternate embodiment the depth filter media itself regulates filtration below a predetermined fluid pressure. The internal bypass circuit is installed by accessing a pressurized fluid circuit in the transmission valve body. A hydraulic bypass line interconnects such pressurized fluid circuit with the depth filtration cartridge, which is mounted internally of the transmission housing.

Abstract: A kit for improving the performance of a clutch assembly, the clutch assembly including an input housing configured to receive an interleaved stack of plural friction elements and plural steel plates through an open end of the housing, the kit including at least one steel plate configured and dimensioned to be received through the open end of the housing and disposed in mating relationship with a terminal one of the plural friction elements, at least one friction disk configured and dimensioned to be received through the open end of the housing and disposed in mating relationship with the at least one steel plate to form in combination with the plural friction elements and plural steel plates an extended interleaved stack, with the at least one friction disk forming a new terminal friction element, and a retaining ring configured and dimensioned to be secured over the open end of the housing and including an integrally formed, annular inner friction surface adapted to confront the new terminal friction elemen

Abstract: A system and method for altering the axial thrust load path within an automobile transmission eliminates the component end play in the transmission's roller clutch inner race and induces component end play in the transmission's rear sun gear. The resulting configuration moves portions of the axial thrust load path to across the roller clutch inner race and away from at least the transmission's sun gear and the reaction shell splines of the reaction shell. The system may include a kit in which an axially shortened roller clutch inner race and an appropriately sized bearing are provided. Additional kit components may include an axially shortened reaction shell. Alternatively, the roller clutch inner race and/or reaction shell may be shortened manually. A method of altering a preexisting transmission to have a new axial thrust load path is also provided.

Abstract: A transmission system that includes a transmission, a pressure sensor, a pressure booster, and a controller. The pressure booster being capable of raising the pressure of transmission fluid inside a closed-loop transmission by lowering the sensed pressure coming from the pressures sensor and being sent to the controller, thereby initiating a response from the controller that results in higher fluid pressures. The pressure booster does not lower the sensed pressure when the vehicle, and therefore, the transmission, is not in operation. Additionally, the pressure booster also does not increase the electric current through the electrical components of the fluid control system. The result is a transmission with a “firmer” feel between shifts and the correction of weak shifting problems such as gear slip.

Abstract: A transmission system that includes a transmission, a pressure sensor, a pressure booster, and a controller. The pressure booster being capable of raising the pressure of transmission fluid inside a closed-loop transmission by lowering the sensed pressure coming from the pressures sensor and being sent to the controller, thereby initiating a response from the controller that results in higher fluid pressures. The pressure booster does not lower the sensed pressure when the vehicle, and therefore, the transmission, is not in operation. Additionally, the pressure booster also does not increase the electric current through the electrical components of the fluid control system. The result is a transmission with a “firmer” feel between shifts and the correction of weak shifting problems such as gear slip.

Abstract: A system and method for altering the axial thrust load path within an automobile transmission eliminates the component end play in the transmission's roller clutch inner race and induces component end play in the transmission's rear sun gear. The resulting configuration moves portions of the axial thrust load path to across the roller clutch inner race and away from at least the transmission's sun gear and the reaction shell splines of the reaction shell. The system may include a kit in which an axially shortened roller clutch inner race and an appropriately sized bearing are provided. Additional kit components may include an axially shortened reaction shell. Alternatively, the roller clutch inner race and/or reaction shell may be shortened manually. A method of altering a preexisting transmission to have a new axial thrust load path is also provided.

Abstract: A replacement oil pump plate for attachment to an original equipment manufacture oil pump within a transfer case for elimination of mechanical wear by replacing the abrasive aluminum tabs formed on the oil pump with low-friction plastic tabs is disclosed. The present plastic tab design redistributes the surface-to-surface contact between the magnesium transfer case and the aluminum pump tabs away from the original wear points so that any necessary weld repairs to the transfer case will not be disturbed. The present replacement pump plate is provided in a kit format including a pump plate, machine screws, plastic tabs, and installation instructions. The present invention also describes a method of installing the pump plate kit on the original equipment manufacture oil pump subassembly.

Abstract: A universal jig/work holding fixture for precision manual reaming of valve bores within a transmission valve body or other work piece. The universal jig/work holding fixture includes a tool holder (i.e. jig) having universal swiveling movement in all axes, which allows precise axial alignment of a reaming tool to the longitudinal axis of a valve bore. The universal jig is contained within a work holding fixture whereon the valve body or other work piece is clamped during the reaming operation. The work holding fixture is constructed to accommodate vertical and lateral adjustment of the tool holder relative to the work holding fixture to permit precise alignment of the reaming tool and provides mechanisms to lock the tool holder and work piece in a desired position. In an alternative embodiment the jig/work holding fixture is configured to be attached directly to a transmission case to repair servo pin bores located therein.

Abstract: An automatic transmission fluid (ATF) filtration system that combines both coarse filtering mesh and microfine depth filtering elements simultaneously to remove a wide range of particulate matter, but also maintains an unrestricted flow of ATF to the pump to ensure its volumetric efficiency is disclosed. In the present invention ATF at system pressure is delivered via a hydraulic circuit to a microfine depth filtering element for depth filtration (i.e. several layers of filter media) and, thereafter, is passed into the intake of the coarse filter element or, alternatively, between the intake of the coarse filter element and the pump intake. Because ATF flow through the coarse filter element is continuous and independent of the microfine depth filter element, the volumetric efficiency of the pump is maintained in all phases of operation even at the highest demand points such as at cold start-up, hot idle, and high volume/demand situations.

Abstract: A universal jig/work holding fixture for precision manual reaming of valve bores within a transmission valve body, or other work piece is disclosed. The universal jig/work holding fixture includes a tool holder (i.e. jig) having universal swiveling movement in all axes, which allows precise axial alignment of a reaming tool to the longitudinal axis of a valve bore. The universal jig is contained within a work holding fixture whereon the valve body or other work piece is clamped during the reaming operation. The work holding fixture is constructed to accommodate vertical and lateral adjustment of the tool holder relative to the work holding fixture to permit precise alignment of the reaming tool and provides mechanisms to lock the tool holder and work piece in a desired position. The universal jig/work holding fixture allows a service technician in a transmission shop environment to achieve a precision repair using only manual tools.

Abstract: A high performance intermediate servo assembly wherein the servo piston has been modified to provide at least a 17% increase in surface apply area and a corresponding increase in hydraulic pressure delivered to the 2nd gear clutch band which it actuates. The present servo piston is reconfigured to an overall length equivalent to the assembled stack-up dimensions of the original equipment servo piston, accumulator, accumulator spring, and spring retainer components and integrates the critical working surfaces thereof to retain proper function. Such original equipment components have been eliminated to simplify the intermediate servo assembly operation since shift feel is not a concern in this application. O-ring seals on the original equipment servo piston are replaced by high performance seals such as quad-lobed seals to ensure hydraulic integrity under the increased fluid pressure generated. A method of replacing the original equipment components with the present servo assembly is disclosed.

Abstract: A universal jig/work holding fixture for precision manual reaming of valve bores within a transmission valve body, or other work piece is disclosed. The universal jig/work holding fixture includes a tool holder (i.e. jig) having universal swiveling movement in all axes, which allows precise axial alignment of a reaming tool to the longitudinal axis of a valve bore. The universal jig is contained within a work holding fixture whereon the valve body or other work piece is clamped during the reaming operation. The work holding fixture is constructed to accommodate vertical and lateral adjustment of the tool holder relative to the work holding fixture to permit precise alignment of the reaming tool and provides mechanisms to lock the tool holder and work piece in a desired position. The universal jig/work holding fixture allows a service technician in a transmission shop environment to achieve a precision repair using only manual tools.