The present disclosure relates generally to torque converters and more specifically to centrifugal pendulum absorbers of torque converters.
DE 102014210489 discloses providing springs circumferentially between masses of centrifugal pendulum absorber.
As shown in
Masses 204 are tuned such that a center 215 (
A centrifugal pendulum absorber is provided. The centrifugal pendulum absorber includes a flange, a first mass fixed circumferentially movable with respect to the flange by first rollers along a first pendulum path, a second mass fixed circumferentially movable with respect to the flange by second rollers along a second pendulum path, and a spring connecting a circumferential end of the pair of first masses to a circumferential end of the pair of second masses. The first and second pendulum paths each include a middle region and circumferential ends extending radially inward from the middle region such that the first and second masses are movable radially inward such that the spring compresses when first and second masses are at the circumferential ends of the respective first and second pendulum paths.
Embodiments of the centrifugal pendulum absorber may include a first flange slot receiving the first roller and a second flange slot receiving the second roller. The first mass may include a first mass slot receiving the first roller and the second mass may include a second mass slot receiving the second roller. Each of the first mass slots and the second mass slots may have a convex shape with respect to a center axis of the centrifugal pendulum absorber and the first flange slot and the second flange slot may have a concave shape with respect to center axis. In a position of zero degrees of travel of the first and second masses with respect to the flange, the first mass slots may be aligned within the first flange slot and the second mass slots may be aligned within the second flange slot. In the position of zero degrees of travel of the first and second masses with respect to the flange, radially outer peaks of each of the first mass slots may be closer to a perimeter of the first flange slot than a radially inner peak of the respective first mass slot and radially outer peaks of each of the second mass slots may be closer to a perimeter of the second flange slot than a radially inner peak of the respective second mass slot. The middle regions of the first and second pendulum paths may each have a constant curvature. The circumferential ends of the first and second pendulum paths may each have a curvature different from the constant curvature of the middle regions. Circumferential ends of the first and second pendulum paths may each have higher tuning order than the middle regions. Circumferential ends of the first and second pendulum paths may each have at 50% higher tuning order than the middle regions. The middle regions may have a tuning order within 5% of an ideal tuning order.
A torque converter including the centrifugal pendulum absorber is also provided. The torque converter includes a damper assembly including the centrifugal pendulum absorber.
A method of forming a centrifugal pendulum absorber is also provided. The method includes circumferentially movably fixing a first mass to a flange such that the first mass is configured for traveling along a first pendulum path; circumferentially movably fixing a second mass to the flange such that the second mass is configured for traveling along a second pendulum path; and connecting a circumferential end of the first mass to a circumferential end of the second mass by a spring. The first mass and the second mass are movable radially inward such that the spring compresses when first and second masses are at circumferential ends of the respective first and second pendulum paths.
Embodiments of the method may include providing a first roller in a first flange slot of the flange and in a first mass slot in each of the first masses, and providing a second roller in a second flange slot of the flange and in a second mass slot in the second mass. Each of the first mass slots and the second mass slots may have a convex shape with respect to a center axis of the centrifugal pendulum absorber and the first flange slot and the second flange slot may have a concave shape with respect to center axis. In a position of zero degrees of travel of the first and second masses with respect to the flange, the first mass slots may be aligned within the first flange slot and the second mass slots are aligned within the second flange slot. Middle regions of the first and second pendulum paths may each have a constant curvature. The circumferential ends of the first and second pendulum paths may each have a curvature different from the constant curvature of the middle regions. Circumferential ends of the first and second pendulum paths may each have higher tuning order than the middle regions. Circumferential ends of the first and second pendulum paths may each have at 50% higher tuning order than the middle regions. The middle regions may have a tuning order within 5% of an ideal tuning order.
The present invention is described below by reference to the following drawings, in which:
Tuning of pendulum masses of a centrifugal pendulum absorber involves designing the masses absorb vibrations in a specific frequency range—referred to as the tuning order of the pendulum masses. The tuning order of a pendulum mass can be set by designing its mass, its effective radius relative to its axis of rotation and/or its pendulum path. The present disclosure provides a centrifugal pendulum absorber (CPA) including springs between pendulum masses in order to eliminate a click noise when transitioning from drive to neutral or reverse to neutral, and CPA masses tuned to a higher order at the ends of their travel paths such that the masses are brought radially inward and closer together to increases compression of the spring achieving a same spring force with a lower spring rate to optimize the effectiveness of CPA isolation.
Damper assembly 30 includes a CPA 32 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, which is discussed in further detail below. Damper assembly 30 further includes a first cover plate 34 that is riveted to inner radial extension 28 of turbine 20 by rivets 35 and a second cover plate 36 axially between first cover plate 34 and front cover 12, with cover plates 34, 36 supporting a plurality of circumferentially spaced radially inner set of springs 38 axially therebetween. Sandwiched axially between cover plates 34, 36, damper assembly 30 includes a drive flange 40 whose inner radial end is configured as a hub for connecting to a transmission input shaft. Drive flange 40 includes a plurality of circumferentially extending slots formed therein for receiving springs 38. Radially outside of springs 38, damper assembly 30 further includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced radially outer set of springs 42. A radially outer end 44 of second cover plate 36 forms a spring retainer 46 for receiving springs 42.
A piston 50 is provided between front cover 12 and damper assembly 30 and a clutch plate 52 is provided axially between piston 50 and front cover 12. Clutch plate 52, at a radially outer end thereof, includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced projections 54 for extending into the circumferential spaces formed between springs 42. Clutch plate 50, at a radially inner end thereof, is provided with a friction material 56a on a front cover side thereof for engaging an inner axial surface 58 of front cover 12 and a friction material 56b on a rear cover side thereof for engaging piston 50. Piston 50, clutch plate 52 and inner axial surface 58 form a lockup clutch for drivingly coupling turbine 20 to front cover 12 via damper assembly 30. Fluid pressure differences between a front cover side of piston 50 and a rear cover side of piston 50 control whether piston 50 engages or is disengaged from front cover 12. Cover plates 34, 36 transfer torque from turbine 20 to drive flange 40, which in turn drives the transmission input shaft. Cover plates 34, 36 together transfer torque to springs 42, which transfer torque to clutch plate 52.
Referring back to CPA 32, it includes a flange 60, which is formed at a radially outer end of cover plate 34 and a plurality of circumferentially spaced masses 62, each formed of two mass elements—a rear side mass element 62a facing a rear cover side of torque converter 10 and a front side mass element 62b facing a front cover side of torque converter 10—on opposite axial sides of flange 60. A plan view of flange 60 is shown in
As shown in
As also shown in
As shown in
The movement of masses 62 radially inward toward center axis 11 causes a first circumferential end 68 of each mass set to move closer to a second circumferential end 69 of each mass set, thereby compressing springs 64.
Referring to
In the preceding specification, the invention has been described with reference to specific exemplary embodiments and examples thereof. It will, however, be evident that various modifications and changes may be made thereto without departing from the broader spirit and scope of invention as set forth in the claims that follow. The specification and drawings are accordingly to be regarded in an illustrative manner rather than a restrictive sense.
10 torque converter
11 center axis
12 front cover
14 rear cover
16 impeller shell
18 impeller
20 turbine
22 stator
24 turbine blades
26 rounded blade receiving portion
28 inner radial extension
30 damper assembly
32 centrifugal pendulum absorber (CPA)
34 first cover plate
36 second cover plate
38 radially inner springs
40 drive flange
42 radially outer springs
44 radially outer end of second cover plate
46 spring retainer
50 piston
52 clutch plate
54 projections
56
a friction material
56
b friction material
58 inner axial surface
60 flange
61 rollers
61
a roller center
62 masses
62
a rear side mass elements
62
b front side mass elements
63 spacer or bolt
64 springs
72 mass roller-receiving slots
72
a circumferential end edge
72
b circumferential end edge
72
c radially inner middle peak edge
72
d radially outer peak edge
72
e radially outer middle edge
72
f radially outer peak edge
74 flange roller-receiving slots
74
a circumferential end edge
74
b circumferential end edge
74
c radially inner middle edge
74
d radially inner peak edge
74
e radially inner peak edge
75 track
76 pendulum motion path
76
a end of pendulum motion path
76
b end of pendulum motion path
76
c middle region of pendulum motion path
77 spacer or bolt path
77
a circumferential end of spacer or bolt path
77
b circumferential end of spacer or bolt path
77
c middle region of spacer or bolt path
79
a radially outer slots
79
b radially inner slots
82 mass center
84 pendulum motion center point
86
a distance between mass center and pendulum motion center point
86
b distance between mass center and pendulum motion center point
200 centrifugal pendulum absorber (CPA)
202 mass roller-receiving slots
202
a circumferential edge
202
b circumferential edge
202
c outer edge
202
d inner edge
204 mass
206 flange roller-receiving slots
206
a circumferential edge
206
b circumferential edge
206
c outer edge
206
d inner edge
208 flange
210 track
211 pendulum motion center point
214 springs
215 pendulum mass center
216 spacer or bolt
218
a pendulum motion path
218
b pendulum motion path
218
c pendulum motion path
218
d pendulum motion path