SOLUTIONS TO INCREASE PERFORMANCE IN AUTOMOTIVE TRANSMISSIONS

TRANSMISSIONS PLAY AN INTEGRAL PART IN MAXIMIZING A VEHICLE’S FUEL ECONOMY AND OVERALL EFFICIENCY

Modern transmissions present new challenges to automakers. Corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) standards require vehicle manufacturers to meet certain average fuel efficiencies for the entire vehicle fleet they produce over a year. Design engineers are tasked with improving fuel economy by developing transmissions that react faster while minimizing the size and weight of corresponding subsystems. While advances in transmission design have improved system efficiency overall, demands for better fuel economy and lower emissions mean that older solutions may not be sufficient to meet the design challenges of an evolving – and increasingly electrified – automobile market.

The Lee Company offers innovative fluid control components that save vehicle designers space and weight in their transmissions. For over 75 years, we’ve supplied a vast range of miniature hydraulic components that have been field-proven in millions of vehicles around the world. Our sealing and flow technology solutions are engineered to deliver the highest levels of performance optimized within the smallest package size to meet any design challenge. Lee products range from expansion plugs and mechanical valves (such as check, flow metering, pressure relief, and shuttle valves), to flow restrictor orifices, safety screen filters, and air management products like air bleed orifices or vent valves – each designed to solve complex fluid control problems within automotive applications.

DESIGN CHALLENGE: HIGH PRESSURE REQUIREMENTS IN TRADITIONAL TRANSMISSIONS

Vehicle designers have historically looked to improve efficiencies in automatic, continuously variable (CVT), or dual-clutch transmissions (DCT) by adding gears and gear ratios in order to amplify available torque and boost fuel economy across all engine speeds. As design trends evolved, system pressures subsequently increased to accommodate the needs of higher speed transmissions and minimize additional weight. To meet these optimized vehicle performance standards, traditional transmissions require products proven for use in high pressure environments.

The Lee Company has developed a variety of precision fluid control components to specifically address the demands of such applications.

• Our pressure relief valves are more than just reliable – they provide quiet, stable pressure control in a single assembly to protect systems from over pressurization or pressure spikes. Their design allows for higher flows and smaller package sizes than other traditional valves or in-house ball and spring designs, which may become unstable or emit noise as pressures increase during key-on events.
• Lee check valves supply unmatched durability and performance in the smallest package size. Our check valves are rated for high pressures to prevent leakage and were created to assist in scenarios where in-house solutions fail under intense pressure or poor casting designs.
• Lee expansion plugs are engineered to provide a leak-tight seal without the need for secondary retention, delivering repeatable performance even under the highest pressures. We offer a variety of external expansion plugs to accommodate pressures anywhere from under a vacuum to 483 bar.