ALEXANDRIA, Va., June 17 -- United States Patent no. 12,313,088, issued on May 27, was assigned to Sonnax Transmission Co. (Bellows Falls, Vt.).

"Drop-in signal accumulator piston kit and method for replacing an original equipment signal accumulator piston" was invented by Maura J. Stafford (Warner Robins, Ga.).

According to the abstract* released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "A drop-in signal accumulator piston assembly to replace an original equipment (OE) signal accumulator piston in a vehicle transmission hydraulic circuit, the OE signal accumulator piston being positioned in a bore in a valve body having an open end and a fluid port. The drop-in signal accumulator piston assembly includes a sleeve having open first and seco...