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The subject invention is a valve for regulating the viscosity of fluid. The valve includes a housing defining a bore having a first inlet supplying “cold” hydraulic fluid at a first viscosity and a second inlet supplying “hot” hydraulic fluid at a second viscosity. A spoo

The subject invention is a valve for regulating the viscosity of fluid. The valve includes a housing defining a bore having a first inlet supplying “cold” hydraulic fluid at a first viscosity and a second inlet supplying “hot” hydraulic fluid at a second viscosity. A spool valve disposed within the bore has at least one land to proportionally control the flow of hydraulic fluid through the inlets. Hydraulic fluid from the first and second inlets mixes within the valve and exits the valve through an outlet at an optimum viscosity. A flow restrictor creates a pressure force on the spool valve that is proportional to the viscosity of the hydraulic fluid flowing through the outlet. The pressure force acts to move the spool valve such that the spool valve partially blocks the flow of hydraulic fluid through the first and second inlets, thereby controlling the proportion of “cold” and “hot” fluid to maintain the viscosity of the hydraulic fluid flowing through the outlet.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A valve assembly for regulating oil temperature and viscosity of a fluid comprising:a housing defining a bore;a first inlet supplying fluid at a first temperature to said bore;a second inlet supplying fluid at a second temperature to said bore;a spool valve disposed within said bore and having at

1. A valve assembly for regulating oil temperature and viscosity of a fluid comprising:a housing defining a bore;a first inlet supplying fluid at a first temperature to said bore;a second inlet supplying fluid at a second temperature to said bore;a spool valve disposed within said bore and having at least one land disposed to proportionally block the flow of fluid through said inlets; andan outlet through which fluid exits said bore at a third temperature, wherein said spool valve includes a restriction land that cooperates with said bore to form said flow restrictor. 2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said spool valve includes second and third lands, said second land disposed to proportionally block the flow of fluid through said first inlet and said third land disposed to proportionally block the flow of hydraulic fluid through said second inlet. 3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said bore includes a spring chamber and a spring disposed in said spring chamber biasing said spool valve against a force created by the flow of fluid through said flow restrictor. 4. The assembly of claim 3, wherein said spring chamber is in fluid communication with said outlet, such that pressure in said spring chamber is substantially equal to pressure at said outlet. 5. A valve assembly for regulating oil temperature and viscosity of a fluid comprising:a housing defining a bore;a first inlet supplying fluid at a first temperature to said bore;a second inlet supplying fluid at a second temperature to said bore;a spool valve disposed within said bore and having at least one land disposed to proportionally block the flow of fluid through said inlets, wherein said spool valve includes a fluid passage that substantially all fluid entering said bore flows through; andan outlet through which fluid exits said bore at a third temperature. 6. The assembly of claim 5, wherein said fluid passage includes a first portion extending through said spool valve transverse to said bore and a second portion extending longitudinally from said first portion to one end of said spool valve. 7. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said first temperature is lower than said second temperature. 8. A valve assembly for regulating oil temperature and viscosity of a fluid comprising:a housing defining a bore;a first inlet supplying fluid at a first temperature to said bore;a second inlet supplying fluid at a second temperature to said bore;a spool valve disposed within said bore and having at least one land disposed to proportionally block the flow of fluid through said inlets, and an outlet through which fluid exits said bore at a third temperature, wherein said first inlet supplies fluid that has flowed through a cooling unit and said second inlet supplies fluid not flowed through the cooling unit.