BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a general block diagram illustration of power flow in a motor vehicle, intended to help explain the relationship and function of a torque converter in the drive train thereof;
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a prior art torque converter, shown secured to an engine of a motor vehicle;
FIG. 3 is a left view of the torque converter shown in FIG. 2, taken generally along line 3-3 in FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the torque converter shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, taken generally along line 4-4 in FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a first exploded view of the torque converter shown in FIG. 2, as shown from the perspective of one viewing the exploded torque converter from the left;
FIG. 6 is a second exploded view of the torque converter shown in FIG. 2, as shown from the perspective of one viewing the exploded torque converter from the right;
FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional view of a torque converter with a multi-plate clutch;
FIG. 8 is a partial cross-sectional view of a torque converter with a multi-plate clutch of the present invention;
FIG. 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a torque converter, similar to that shown in FIG. 8, taken generally from the region designated as circle 9 and 10 shown in FIG. 8, showing the present invention; and,
FIG. 10 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a torque converter, similar to that shown in FIG. 8, taken generally from the region designated as circle 9 and 10 shown in FIG. 8, showing an alternative embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
At the outset, it should be appreciated that like drawing numbers on different drawing views identify identical, or functionally similar, structural elements of the invention. While the present invention is described with respect to what is presently considered to be the preferred aspects, it is to be understood that the invention as claimed is not limited to the disclosed aspects.
Furthermore, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the particular methodology, materials and modifications described and as such may, of course, vary. It is also understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular aspects only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention, which is limited only by the appended claims.
Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood to one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Although any methods, devices or materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the invention, the preferred methods, devices, and materials are now described.
FIG. 8 is a vertical cross-sectional view of torque converter 110 of the present invention. In this view, sealing member 114 and drive plate 112 (both shown in FIG. 7) have been eliminated. The sealing member 114 and drive plate 112 have been replaced by drive plate 146 that extends toward the center of front cover 116 to surface 162 of piston plate 118. The functions of both elements, sealing member 114 and drive plate 112, are accomplished by a single element, drive plate 146. Drive plate 146 is rotationally connected to front cover 116 and rotationally connected to the outer circumference of the clutch shown represented by clutch plates 124, 128, 130 and 132. Specifically, drive plate 146 is rotationally connection to the outer circumference of clutch plates 124, 128 and 130, and damper plate 138 is rotationally connected to clutch plates 132. As clutch plates 124, 128 and 130 are compressed axially, friction between plates 124, 128 and 130 acting upon clutch plates 132 transfers torque to damper plate to 138.
By rotationally connected, or secured, we mean that the plate and the shell are connected such that the two components rotate together, that is, the two components are fixed with respect to rotation. Rotationally connecting two components does not necessarily limit relative movement in other directions. For example, it is possible for two components that are rotationally connected to have axial movement with respect to each other via a spline connection. However, it should be understood that rotational connection does not imply that movement in other directions is necessarily present. For example, two components that are rotationally connected can be axially fixed one to the other. The preceding explanation of rotational connection is applicable to the discussions infra. In the discussions infra, a connection is assumed to be a rotational connection unless otherwise specified.
The seal on drive plate 146 that facilitates the sealing of the pressure chamber behind apply side 158 of piston plate 118 can be performed by any seal known in that art. Represented in FIGS. 8 and 9 by members 148, 150, and in FIG. 10 by lip seal 152 are two possible sealing candidates. It should be understood that the seal between drive plate inner circumferential end 160 and piston plate 162 can include, but is not limited to sealing members 148, 150 and 152, i.e., other alternative sealing means known in the art can be substituted for the sealing means shown and described. In some aspects, drive plate 146 is also associated with the clutch plates of the continuous slip clutch assembly at a position distal to inner circumferential end 160. Disposing sealing element 148, 150 or 152 at inner circumferential end 160 of the drive plate, and the clutch plates at an end distal to the periphery of drive plate 146, enables drive plate 146 to interact with the clutch plates and piston plate 118 simultaneously.
The pressure chamber formed by interaction between inner circumferential end 160 of drive plate 146 and surface 162 of piston plate 118 enables fluid pressure to be generated on apply side 158 of piston plate 118. It is this fluid pressure that is generated in the pressure chamber by a separate pump connected to the transmission that can force piston plate 118 to move axially toward clutch plates 124, 128, 130 and 132. If enough pressure is generated in the pressure chamber on apply side 158, piston plate 118 will fully engage the clutch plates and the torque converter fluid circuit will be bypassed. As pressure in the pressure chamber on apply side 158 is decreased, piston plate 118 displaces axially away from clutch plates 124, 128, 130 and 132, which in turn disengages the clutch and stops the bypass of the torque converter fluid circuit. The seal at inner circumferential end 160 of drive plate 146 remains in constant contact with surface 162 of piston plate 118 as this axial movement of piston plate 118 occurs. The interaction between the seal at inner circumferential end 160 and surface 162 prevents the loss of pressure and fluid from the pressure chamber, and facilitates the transfer of fluid pressure on apply side 158 to piston plate 118, which cause frictional engagement of the clutch plates to cause bypass of the fluid circuit in the torque converter. The interaction of the sealed inner circumferential end 160 of drive plate 146 can be a frictional engagement, and preferably the interaction should allow axial movement of piston plate 118.
FIG. 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of drive plate 146 that seals apply side 158 of piston plate 118 of the present invention. Drive plate 146 has the dual function of retaining and associating at the outer circumference of clutch plates 124, 128, 130 and indirectly 132, and sealing apply side of piston plate 118. The number of clutch plates of the continuous slip clutch assembly shown is variable. It is within the spirit and scope of the present invention to have one clutch plate or a plurality of clutch plates associated with drive plate 146. The clutch plates of the conventional multi-plate torque converter clutch shown in FIG. 7 are similar to the clutch plates of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 8, 9 and 10, and thus identical reference numbers have been used. This is true of other elements of the torque converter of the present invention that are similar to the contemporary torque converter shown in FIG. 7 in that parts that are similar in FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 have retained the reference numbers used in FIG. 7.
Drive plate 146 is an annular component formed from a sheet steel blank that has been stamped into a plate having a L-shaped cross section profile. This configuration is only one possible shape for drive plate 146, and variations in shape of this element are considered within the spirit and scope of the instant invention. Where previous drive plates were welded to front cover 116 and remain flush with the interior surface of front cover 116 and did not extend to surface 162 of piston plate 118, drive plate 146 of the instant invention extends toward the center axis of front cover 116 to surface 162 of piston plate 118. By extending drive plate 146 to surface 162 of piston plate 118, separate sealing member 114 (shown in FIG. 7) can be eliminated, thus resulting in a reduction of material costs and production time. Eliminating sealing member 114 reduces production time by doing away with the manufacturing steps of forming sealing member 114 and attaching the sealing member to front cover 116. Drive plate 112 (shown in FIG. 7) and drive plate 146 of the current invention are attached to front cover 116 in a similar fashion, i.e., welding. Thus, by consolidating the tasks of the drive plate and piston sealing member into one component 146, the step of welding a separate sealing member is completely eliminated and manufacturing time is reduced and material costs are reduced.
Drive plate 146 seals piston plate 118 with ring 150, which has an L-shaped cross section, and o-ring 148. The L-shape of ring 150 creates a lip that retains o-ring 148. The combination of ring 150 and o-ring 148 forms a seal against surface 162 of piston plate 118 that prevents leakage of fluid from the pressure chamber on apply side 158 of piston plate 118. In the sealing method shown in FIG. 9, O-ring 148 can be formed of a compliant yet resilient material such as rubber, latex, plastic, or other flexible substances, but it is not limited to such substances. Retaining ring 150 can be constructed of various substances including rubber, steel, aluminum, other metals, and various alloys, but ring 150 is generally associated with o-ring 148 in a commercially available sealing assembly that is known in the art.
Inner circumferential end 160 of drive plate 146 is shown proximate surface 162 of piston plate 118. The relationship between inner circumferential end 160 and surface 162 can be altered to accommodate the different substances that may be used in sealing assembly composed of 148 and 150, or 152. If the sealing assembly chosen to seal inner circumferential end 160 and surface 162 of piston plate 118 relies only upon an o-ring similar to o-ring 148 it may be appropriate to extend inner circumferential end 160 of drive plate 146 to contact surface 162 of piston plate 118, or nearly contact surface 162. However, it should be appreciate that numerous other sealing methods known in the art can be used to complete the seal between piston plate 118 and drive plate 146.
Bent segment 164 in drive plate 146 is formed in a shape shown to add resiliency and durability to drive plate 146 and the seal between drive plate 146 and piston plate 118, particularly inner circumferential end 160 and surface 162. The shape of bent segment 164 on drive plate 146 is also intended to give clearance for the axial movement of piston plate 118. Bent segment 164 can be various other shapes and the shape will be related to numerous factors that include but are limited to: the torque converter application, the resiliency needed in the drive plate, and on the clearance required for axial movement of the piston plate. It should be appreciated, that bent segment 164 can take on various other configurations, and thus it is considered within the spirit and scope of the invention to have drive plate 146 in various configurations prior to reaching the sealing surface 162 of piston plate 118. In some aspects, bent segment 164 can be eliminated entirely and drive plate 146 can be a flat plate, excluding the clutch engagement portion of plate 146, which should remain flexed or bent for clutch plate engagement.
FIG. 10 is an enlarged cross section of an alternative embodiment of drive plate 146 of the present invention, where drive plate 146 implements lip seal 152 to seal the pressure chamber on apply side 158 of piston plate 118 at surface 162. This alternative embodiment of drive plate 146 can be an annular component formed from a sheet steel blank that has been stamped into a plate having an L-shaped cross section profile. The shape, however, can be varied and it should be understood that variations the shape of drive plate 146 are considered within the spirit and scope of the invention. Where previous drive plates where welded to front cover 116 and remain flush with the interior surface of front cover 116, drive plate 146 extends toward the center of front cover 116 to surface 162 of piston plate 118. Fluid pressure on apply side 158 is sealed against leakage by lip seal 152 engaging surface 162 of piston plate 118. Lip seal 152 has a U-shaped cross section profile which enables lip seal 152 to envelop inner circumferential end 160 of drive plate 146. Lip seal 152 can be formed of a compliant yet resilient material such as rubber, latex, plastic, or other flexible substances, but it is not limited to such substances. For example lip seal 152 could take a form similar to that shown in FIG. 9 where a stiff ring is used to reinforce the seal. Such reinforcing rings can compensate for gaps between inner circumferential end 160 of drive plate 146 and surface 162 of piston plate 118. Tight interaction between inner circumferential end 160 and the interior surfaces of lip seal 152, and tight interaction between surface 162 and the exterior surface of lip seal 152, seals inner circumferential end 160 to surface 162 to form the pressure chamber on apply side 158. However, it should be appreciated that numerous other sealing methods known in the art can be used to complete the seal between piston plate 118 and drive plate 146.
In the alternative embodiment of drive plate 146 shown in FIG. 10, bent segment 164 can add resiliency to plate 146 and affords piston plate 118 sufficient clearance to move axially. Bent segment 164 can be configured in various other shapes that are not shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. One of ordinary skill in the art would understand that the clearance and resiliency concerns that need to be considered in forming drive plate 146 would permit numerous configurations that would be considered equivalent approaches to that disclosed here. In some aspects, multiple bends in bent segment 164 of drive plate 146 can be used, similar to the embodiment shown in FIG. 9, to accommodate a particular seal. However, it should be understood that drive plate 146 is not limited to any particular shape.
Thus, it is seen that the objects of the invention are efficiently obtained, although changes and modifications to the invention should be readily apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art, without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as claimed. Although the invention is described by reference to a specific preferred embodiment, it is clear that variations can be made without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention as claimed.
Patent Application
20070251788
