Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for an actuation system for a parking mechanism in a transmission system of a vehicle. In one example, a system may include a protrusion positioned at one end of a higher diameter portion of a cam, the protrusion positioned to contact a pawl upon engagement of the pawl with a parking gear.

Abstract: An actuation mechanism including one or more motors having an output shaft with a sun gear. A sun gear of a non-back drivable planetary gear assembly is drivingly connected to at least a portion of one or more planetary gears. The one or more planetary gears are drivingly connected to at least a portion of the sun gear, a carrier, a fixed non-rotating ring gear and a selectively rotatable output ring gear. The disclosure further relates to a method of operating an actuation mechanism that is drivingly connected to at least a portion of a vehicle parking mechanism. The method includes providing an actuation mechanism, providing a parking mechanism and one or more sensors that are operably configured to collect an amount of data to be analyzed. Based on the data analyzed, one or more failures within the parking mechanism may be determined and an alert may be sent.

Abstract: An actuation mechanism for use in a vehicle. The actuation mechanism includes one or more motors having an output shaft with a sun gear. At least a portion of the sun gear is drivingly connected to at least a portion of one or more planetary gears. The one or more planetary gears are drivingly connected to at least a portion of a carrier, a fixed non-rotating ring gear and an output gear. The disclosure further relates to a method of operating an actuation mechanism that is drivingly connected to at least a portion of a vehicle parking mechanism. The method includes providing an actuation mechanism, providing a parking mechanism and one or more sensors that are operably configured to collect an amount of data to be analyzed. Based on the data analyzed, one or more failures within the parking mechanism may be determined and an alert may be sent.

Abstract: An actuator assembly including a housing. The housing having an actuator component, an armature, and at least a portion of a sensor disposed therein. The armature is selectively positionable between a first position and a second position. The sensor includes at least one sensing element disposed within the housing adjacent to the armature. The sensing element has a physical property which varies based upon a position of the armature within the housing.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for an actuation system for a parking mechanism in a transmission system of a vehicle. In one example, a system may include a protrusion positioned at one end of a higher diameter portion of a cam, the protrusion positioned to contact a pawl upon engagement of the pawl with a parking gear.

Abstract: A parking mechanism for use in a vehicle and method of operation thereof. The parking mechanism includes one or more actuation mechanisms, a parking pawl and a parking gear. At least a portion of the one or more actuation mechanisms are drivingly connected to at least a portion of a cam. The parking pawl has one or more parking pawl teeth extending therefrom that are selectively engagable with at least a portion of one or more parking gear teeth extending from an outer surface of a body portion of the parking gear. The parking pawl also includes a parking pawl pin aperture having a size and shape needed to receive and/or retain at least a portion of a parking pawl pin therein.

Abstract: An actuation mechanism for use in a vehicle. The actuation mechanism includes one or more motors having an output shaft with a sun gear. At least a portion of the sun gear is drivingly connected to at least a portion of one or more planetary gears. The one or more planetary gears are drivingly connected to at least a portion of a carrier, a fixed non-rotating ring gear and an output gear. The disclosure further relates to a method of operating an actuation mechanism that is drivingly connected to at least a portion of a vehicle parking mechanism. The method includes providing an actuation mechanism, providing a parking mechanism and one or more sensors that are operably configured to collect an amount of data to be analyzed. Based on the data analyzed, one or more failures within the parking mechanism may be determined and an alert may be sent.

Abstract: An actuator assembly including a housing. The housing having an actuator component, an armature, and at least a portion of a sensor disposed therein. The armature is selectively positionable between a first position and a second position. The sensor includes at least one sensing element disposed within the housing adjacent to the armature. The sensing element has a physical property which varies based upon a position of the armature within the housing.

Abstract: An actuator assembly including a housing. The housing having an actuator component, an armature, and at least a portion of a sensor disposed therein. The armature is selectively positionable between a first position and a second position. The sensor includes at least one sensing element disposed within the housing adjacent to the armature. The sensing element has a physical property which varies based upon a position of the armature within the housing.

Abstract: A parking mechanism for use in a vehicle and method of operation thereof. The parking mechanism includes one or more actuation mechanisms, a parking pawl and a parking gear. At least a portion of the one or more actuation mechanisms are drivingly connected to at least a portion of a cam. The parking pawl has one or more parking pawl teeth extending therefrom that are selectively engagable with at least a portion of one or more parking gear teeth extending from an outer surface of a body portion of the parking gear. The parking pawl also includes a parking pawl pin aperture having a size and shape needed to receive and/or retain at least a portion of a parking pawl pin therein.

Abstract: An actuation mechanism including one or more motors having an output shaft with a sun gear. A sun gear of a non-back drivable planetary gear assembly is drivingly connected to at least a portion of one or more planetary gears. The one or more planetary gears are drivingly connected to at least a portion of the sun gear, a carrier, a fixed non-rotating ring gear and a selectively rotatable output ring gear. The disclosure further relates to a method of operating an actuation mechanism that is drivingly connected to at least a portion of a vehicle parking mechanism. The method includes providing an actuation mechanism, providing a parking mechanism and one or more sensors that are operably configured to collect an amount of data to be analyzed. Based on the data analyzed, one or more failures within the parking mechanism may be determined and an alert may be sent.

Abstract: An actuator assembly including a housing. The housing having an actuator component, an armature, and at least a portion of a sensor disposed therein. The armature is selectively positionable between a first position and a second position. The sensor includes at least one sensing element disposed within the housing adjacent to the armature. The sensing element has a physical property which varies based upon a position of the armature within the housing.

Abstract: A method includes energizing a solenoid valve of a hydraulic control system according to a predetermined timing schedule to move a valve member of the solenoid valve. The solenoid valve is operatively connected to the switching component by a fluid control passage, such as a passage in an engine block, to deliver pressurized fluid from a supply passage when the valve member moves to switch the switching component from a first mode to a second mode. An operating parameter of the control system is measured. The operating parameter may be a period of time over which the valve member moves, or a sensed operating parameter of the fluid, such as pressure or temperature. The measured parameter is then compared with a predetermined parameter. Energizing of the solenoid valve is then adjusted based on the difference.

Abstract: A solenoid valve module includes a first solenoid valve having a first solenoid portion and a first valve body and a second solenoid valve having a second solenoid portion and a second valve body. The first valve body and the second valve body are integrally formed by a solenoid housing. The solenoid valve module is secured to a surface of an engine to provide hydraulic control for an engine component.

Abstract: A hydraulic control system includes an oil control valve to control oil flow within a valve train. The control valve varies the flow rate to actuate an engine component from a first position to a second position based upon fluid pressure from the control valve. Varying the flow rate through the control valve includes increasing the flow rate through the control valve to increase the pressure to a first level to actuate the engine component to the first position. After the engine component is actuated, the flow rate through the control valve is maintained at a level sufficient to maintain the engine component in the first position. To actuate the engine component to the second position the flow rate through the control valve is then decreased. The fluid flow rate through the control valve is then maintained at a level sufficient to maintain the engine component in the second position.

Abstract: A method includes energizing a solenoid valve of a hydraulic control system according to a predetermined timing schedule to move a valve member of the solenoid valve. The solenoid valve is operatively connected to the switching component by a fluid control passage, such as a passage in an engine block, to deliver pressurized fluid from a supply passage when the valve member moves to switch the switching component from a first mode to a second mode. An operating parameter of the control system is measured. The operating parameter may be a period of time over which the valve member moves, or a sensed operating parameter of the fluid, such as pressure or temperature. The measured parameter is then compared with a predetermined parameter. Energizing of the solenoid valve is then adjusted based on the difference.

Abstract: A hydraulic control system includes an oil control valve to control oil flow within a valvetrain. The control valve varies the flow rate to actuate an engine component from a first position to a second position based upon fluid pressure from the control valve. Varying the flow rate through the control valve includes increasing the flow rate through the control valve to increase the pressure to a first level to actuate the engine component to the first position. After the engine component is actuated, the flow rate through the control valve is maintained at a level sufficient to maintain the engine component in the first position. To actuate the engine component to the second position the flow rate through the control valve is then decreased. The fluid flow rate through the control valve is then maintained at a level sufficient to maintain the engine component in the second position.

Abstract: An adjustable-stroke solenoid valve assembly includes supply, control, and exhaust ports, an inner cavity having first and second seats, a solenoid coil, and a plunger assembly. The plunger assembly includes an armature shifted by the coil. The plunger assembly also includes a stem having a first end adjustably engaged with the armature, and a second end adjustably engaged with a poppet. The plunger assembly additionally includes a first surface that gets pressed against the first seat to block fluid flow to the control port when the coil is de-energized and a second surface that gets pressed against the second seat to facilitate fluid flow to the control port when the coil is energized. Adjustment of the stem's first end relative to the armature and of the poppet on the stem's second end establish a predetermined stroke for the plunger assembly and a predetermined fluid flow rate to the control port.

Abstract: A hydraulic control valve has a valve body, a selectively energizable coil, and an armature positioned adjacent the coil. The coil is energizable to generate a magnetic force that moves the armature from a first position to a second position. A pole piece is positioned to establish a gap between the pole piece and the armature. The pole piece has a cavity that opens at the gap. A piston extends from the armature into the cavity and moves with the armature. The armature is biased to seat at a valve seat in the first position by pressurized fluid. Magnetic force required to move the armature away from the valve seat is a function of the difference between an area of the piston and an area defined by contact of the armature at the valve seat.

Abstract: A method for monitoring operation of a solenoid valve having an armature and a poppet coupled to the armature includes the steps of energizing a coil in the valve to generate a current signature reflecting current vs. time, detecting a first inflection point in the current signature, wherein the first inflection point occurs when the armature starts to move from one of the open and closed positions toward the other of the open and closed positions, and detecting a second inflection point in the current signature. The second inflection point occurs when the armature moves completely to the other of the open and closed positions. In one embodiment, the first inflection point indicates when the valve begins to open, making it possible to accurately determine the elapsed opening time of the valve.