System for disassembling transmission valve body assembly

Abstract

An improved system and method for disassembling the valve body assembly of a motor vehicle transmission. Air automatically ejects the internal components of a valve body assembly sub-assembly, thereby eliminating the need for an operator to manually “beat” the sub-assembly to remove said internal components. The process of separating the upper and lower sub-assembly, and of pre-washing the sub-assembly, remain the same as in the prior art. As before, the operator manually removes the valve retainers and plugs in each sub-assembly. The operator then loads either sub-assembly onto tooling specifically designed for that sub-assembly (either upper or lower). Once started, the tooling begins an automated, pre-programmed sequence of (1) clamping the sub-assembly, (2) injecting air into specific valve ports to eject internal components causing them to be automatically ejected into parts bins specified for each valve port, and (3) releasing the sub-assembly that no longer contains any internal parts.

1 - 14 . (canceled) 
   
   
       15 . An apparatus for ejecting internal components from a valve body assembly sub-assembly, comprising:
 (a) a machine configured to inject air into ports of said sub-assembly.   
   
   
       16 . The apparatus according to  claim 15  wherein said air is pressurized air. 
   
   
       17 . The apparatus according to  claim 16  wherein said machine is configured to obstruct airflow through at least one valve port of said sub-assembly. 
   
   
       18 . The apparatus according to  claim 17  wherein said at least one valve port is obstructed by an air cylinder operated shutter. 
   
   
       19 . The apparatus according to  claim 18  wherein said machine includes a programmable logic controller. 
   
   
       20 . The apparatus according to  claim 19  wherein said machine sorts said ejected internal components according to the valve ports of said sub-assembly from which said internal components were ejected. 
   
   
       21 . The apparatus according to  claim 20  wherein said machine includes a safety light curtain. 
   
   
       22 . The apparatus according to  claim 16  wherein valve ports of said sub-assembly are cleared of said internal components sequentially. 
   
   
       23 . The apparatus according to  claim 16  wherein said machine is configured to, first, permit airflow through only one valve port of said sub-assembly while said pressurized air is injected into said sub-assembly, and, second, permit airflow through only a different one valve port of said sub-assembly while said pressurized air is injected into said sub-assembly. 
   
   
       24 . The apparatus according to  claim 23  wherein said machine is configured to obstruct airflow through valve ports of said sub-assembly using air cylinder operated shutters. 
   
   
       25 . The apparatus according to  claim 24  wherein said machine includes a programmable logic controller. 
   
   
       26 . The apparatus according to  claim 25  wherein said machine includes a safety light curtain.