Abstract: An improved method is provided for mounting a header to an insulator body of an automatic transmission solenoid assembly. The insulator body is provided with an overmolded lead frame. The insulator body and lead frame each include a plurality of terminal pin receiving holes for receiving respective terminal pins of a header therein. The terminal pins are fountain soldered to the lead frame in order to provide a connection between the terminal pins and the lead frame. The header is also provided with a pair of header posts which extend through corresponding holes in the insulator body. Weld nuts are ultrasonically welded to the header posts in order to secure the header to the insulator body.

Abstract: A solenoid assembly for an automatic transmission of a motor vehicle. The solenoid assembly includes a housing, a valve, an armature and an electromagnetic device. The valve is mounted within the housing. The valve is operative in a vented state and a non-vented state and includes a plunger and ball combination movable between a first position for establishing the vented state and a second position for establishing the non-vented state. The armature is associated with the valve and is movable in response to the presence and absence of a magnetic field for selectively moving the plunger and ball combination between the first and second positions. The electromagnetic device is operative for creating the magnetic field. The electromagnetic device includes a core and an energizable coil. The core has an upwardly extending outer post with a generally rectangular cross section in a horizontal plane. The energizable coil defines an opening for receiving the first upwardly extending outer post.

Abstract: An adjustable solenoid assembly having a solenoid manifold and a first pair of rods mounted to the solenoid manifold. The solenoid assembly further includes a plate member having a pair of slots for receiving the first pair of rods. The pair of slots cooperates with the pair of rods to enable the solenoid manifold to be translated to a fixed position relative to the plate member and enable dimensional variations between the first pair of rods to be accommodated.

Abstract: A solenoid assembly for an automatic transmission of a motor vehicle. The solenoid assembly includes a housing having a core opening passing vertically therethrough. A valve is mounted within the housing. The valve is operative in a vented state and a non-vented state. The valve includes a plunger movable between a first position for establishing the vented state and a second position for establishing the non-vented state. An armature is associated with the valve and is movable in response to the presence and absence of a magnetic field for selectively moving the plunger between the first and second positions. An electromagnetic arrangement for creating the magnetic field includes a core and an energizable coil. The core is inserted into the core opening from an underside of the housing. A first retaining member retains a portion of the core against the underside of the housing. A variable transducer is used to establish a reference plane including two upper surfaces of the coil.

Abstract: A sensing system for detecting the position of a manually operated shift lever in an automatic transmission. The sensing system includes a plate member movable in response to movement of a shift lever. The plate member includes a generally flat contact surface having a predetermined pattern of electrically conductive and non-conductive areas. An electrical sensor unit is mounted in the transmission and positioned to communicate with the contact surface of the plate member. At least five electrical contact members engage the conductive and non-conductive areas on the contact surface generate binary codes having combinations that are indicative of the shift lever position in each of the predetermined operating modes. The engagement between the contact members and the contact surface further generates at least four unique binary codes indicative of the transitions between the predetermined operating modes.

Abstract: A sensing system is provided for sensing the position of a manual gear select lever in an automatic transmission. The sensing system includes a plate member movable in response to movement of a shift lever and has a contact surface having a predetermined pattern of electrically conductive and non-conductive areas. An electrical sensing unit is mounted in the transmission so as to communicate with the contact surface of the plate member. A plurality of electrical contacts extend from the sensing unit to contact the conductive and non-conductive areas on the contact surface and generate binary codes in accordance with the position of the shift lever. Combinations of binary codes are provided for the operating modes and require at least two bit changes therebetween. In addition, transition codes are provided between each of the operating modes. The binary codes are provided to a transmission controller which determines the predetermined operating mode and transition modes therebetween.

Abstract: A valve assembly in a fluid system of an automatic transmission for controlling the lock-up of the torque converter assembly of the automatic transmission includes a regulator valve for establishing a pressure level of fluid flow from a fluid source, a torque converter control valve for controlling fluid pressure to the torque converter assembly during the disengagement operating mode, and a lock-up valve receiving fluid pressure feedback from the torque converter control valve to close a fluid path during the disengagement operating mode and opening the fluid path for allowing fluid pressure to the apply side of the torque converter assembly during the engagement operating mode.

Abstract: The present invention is a thermally compensated noise control device for a solenoid-actuated valve. The device includes a thermally expanding ring which varies the amount of clearance between a damper assembly and a passageway in which the damper assembly is disposed to control fluid flow past the damper assembly.