Patent classifications
F16H2045/0221
Hydrokinetic torque coupling device having turbine-piston lock-up clutch, and related methods
A hydrokinetic torque coupling device features a casing including a casing shell and an impeller casing shell, an impeller including the impeller shell, a turbine-piston including a turbine-piston shell, and a restriction element. The turbine-piston shell includes a turbine-piston flange and partitions the interior volume of the casing into two chambers. The turbine-piston flange has an engagement surface movable axially toward and away from an engagement surface of a piston engagement portion of the impeller shell to position the hydrokinetic torque coupling device into and out of a lockup mode. The restriction element is configured to restrict fluid flow and create a pressure drop between the first and second chambers.
TORQUE CONVERTER CORE RING INCLUDING WRAPPED OUTER DIAMETER
A core ring for an impeller or turbine of a torque converter is provided. The core ring includes an annular base portion including a convex blade side surface portion and a concave stator side surface portion and a wrapped outer diameter portion including an outwardly extending lip protruding radially outward from the annular base portion. A method of forming a torque core ring for an impeller or turbine of a torque converter is also provided. The method includes forming a wrapped outer diameter portion including an outwardly extending protrusion protruding radially outward from an annular base portion including a convex blade side surface portion and a concave stator side surface portion. A torque converter including the core ring is also provided.
HYDROKINETIC TORQUE COUPLING DEVICE HAVING AXIALLY MOVABLE TURBINE-PISTON AND LOCKUP CLUTCH, AND RELATED METHODS
A hydrokinetic torque coupling device comprises a casing, a torque converter, a torsional vibration damper and a lockup clutch disposed within the casing. The torque converter comprises an impeller and a turbine-piston coaxially aligned with the impeller and axially movable toward and away from the casing to position the hydrokinetic torque coupling device into and out of a lockup mode in which the turbine-piston is non-rotatably frictionally coupled to the casing. The torsional vibration damper comprises an input member non-moveably secured to the turbine-piston, a first retainer plate and the elastic members elastically coupling the input member to the first retainer plate. The input member includes an actuating portion configured to actuate the lockup clutch. The lockup clutch is disposed within the casing between the actuating portion of the input member and a cover shell of the casing for frictionally coupling the casing and the turbine-piston.
Two-pass multi-function torque converter with normally closed impeller clutch
A multi-function torque converter, comprising: a cover rotatable about a rotational axis and comprising opposite first and second sidewalls, the cover further comprising an outer wall extending between and interconnecting the opposite sidewalls; an impeller coaxially aligned with the rotational axis and comprising an impeller shell; a backing plate extending radially inward from and non-rotatable relative to the outer wall of the cover and being spaced between the opposite sidewalls of the cover, the backing plate having a first engagement surface; and, a turbine-piston coaxially aligned with and hydrodynamically drivable by the impeller, the turbine-piston comprising a turbine shell including a radial extension having a second engagement surface axially movable toward and away from the first engagement surface of the backing plate to position the torque converter into and out of a lockup mode in which the turbine-piston is mechanically locked to and non-rotatable relative to the backing plate.
Tilger apparatus for use with rotating bodies
A tilger for a rotating body includes an annular body movably coupled to a rotatable portion of the rotating body. The tilger includes a spring interposed between the first annular body and the rotatable portion. Rotation of the rotatable portion relative to the annular body is to compress and decompress the spring. The tilger includes a ring positioned on an outer surface of the annular body and configured to expand as a rotational speed of the ring increases to decrease a total inertia of the annular body and the ring applied to the spring.
INTEGRATED CLUTCH SYSTEMS FOR TORQUE CONVERTERS OF VEHICLE POWERTRAINS
Disclosed is a hydrokinetic torque converter (TC) with a TC housing. An impeller is disposed within the TC housing and connects to an engine output shaft. A turbine is disposed within the TC housing and connects to a transmission input shaft via a TC output shaft. A torque converter clutch (TCC), which is disposed within the TC housing and coupled to the TC output shaft, selectively locks the impeller to the TC output shaft. A damper, which is disposed within the TC housing and coupled to the TCC, dampens vibrations transmitted by the TCC. A disconnect device, which is disposed within the TC housing and coupled to the damper assembly and TC output shaft, connects the turbine to the TC output shaft or damper when positive torque is being transferred, and disconnects the turbine and TC output shaft or damper when negative torque is being transferred.
LOCK-UP DEVICE FOR TORQUE CONVERTER
A lock-up device for a torque converter transmits a torque from a front cover to an input shaft of a transmission. The lock-up device includes a clutch portion, a piston and hydraulic oil leading-out portion. The clutch portion is disposed between the front cover and a turbine, and includes at least one clutch plate. The piston is disposed to be axially movable and presses the at least one clutch plate toward the front cover so as to turn the clutch portion into a torque transmitting state. The hydraulic oil leading-out portion is mounted to a piston-side lateral surface of the front cover, and leads a hydraulic oil residing between the front cover and the piston to an oil discharge channel provided in the input shaft of the transmission by utilizing rotation of the front cover.
Torque converter clutch with reduced back pressure
A torque converter comprising: an axis of rotation; a first seal at a first radial distance relative to the axis of rotation; a second seal at a second radial distance relative to the axis of rotation; an impeller shell and a balancing plate defining at least a portion of a first hydraulic chamber; a piston plate sealed via the first seal to the balancing plate defining at least a portion of a second hydraulic chamber; a cover sealed to the piston plate via the second seal defining at least a portion of a third hydraulic chamber. A clutch plate is radially outward relative to the balancing plate. The sealing arrangement, effective at preventing drift-on or drift-off of the clutch due to dynamic pressure, features a first radial distance that is the same or equal to the second radial distance.
TAPER COMPENSATING HYDRODYNAMIC THRUST BEARINGS
A torque converter comprising: an axis of rotation; a stator including a side plate having a first radial surface; one of an impeller shell or a turbine shell having a second tapered surface facing the stator side plate first radial surface; a hydrodynamic thrust bearing disposed between the stator side plate and the one of an impeller shell or a turbine shell, and comprising: a thrust surface facing one of the first radial surface or the second tapered surface with a fluid pathway therebetween; a supporting surface opposite the thrust surface and facing the other of the first radial surface or the second tapered surface; and an opening concentric with the axis of rotation; and, a gap between the supporting surface and the other of the first radial surface or the second tapered surface such that the bearing thrust surface is alignable to be parallel with the one of the first radial surface or the second tapered surface.
CLUTCH AND SPEED CHANGE DEVICE INCLUDING THE SAME
A clutch that includes a friction plate; a separator plate; a clutch hub; and a piston that presses the friction plate and the separator plate, wherein the clutch hub includes a hub on which an inner peripheral portion of the friction plate or the separator plate is fitted, a tubular shaft that movably supports the piston, and an engagement oil chamber defining wall that together with the piston defines an engagement oil chamber to which an engagement oil pressure is supplied, the hub is spline-fitted on a gear of a planetary gear so as to rotate with the gear, and the tubular shaft is rotatably supported by a central shaft and is fitted by a spigot joint in the gear.