Engine and transmission coupling system and method

Abstract

A flexplate comprising a single integral body portion having a generally circular shape. One or more borings are formed in the body portion for receiving an end of a crankshaft of the engine on a first side of the body portion and for receiving a torque converter of an unrelated transmission on a second side of the body portion. Apertures may be formed in the body portion and positioned on the flexplate for alignment with corresponding apertures on a flange mounted to the end of the crankshaft and apertures on the torque converter.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more particular description of the invention briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof that are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1A is a top sectional view of a transmission coupled to an engine.

FIG. 1B is a top sectional view of a prior art adaptor kit coupling an engine and unrelated transmission.

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of a first side, or engine side, of the flexplate.

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of a second side, or transmission side, of the flexplate.

FIG. 4 is a section of the flexplate taken along line 4-4 in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a second embodiment of the flexplate.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a third embodiment of the flexplate.

FIG. 7 is an expanded perspective view of the flexplate aligned with an engine and torque converter of a transmission unrelated to the engine.

FIG. 8 is a top sectional view of the flexplate and system coupled to an engine and transmission unrelated to the engine.

Claims

1. A flexplate for coupling a motor vehicle engine to a transmission that is unrelated to the engine, the flexplate comprising: a single integral body portion having a generally circular shape, and the body portion having a first side and a second side;one or more borings on the body portion for receiving an end of a crankshaft on the engine on the first side of the body portion and for receiving a torque converter of the unrelated transmission on the second side of the body portion;a first set of apertures spaced radially outward from and circumferentially around the one or more borings and each aperture is aligned with respect to an aperture on a flange of the crankshaft for mounting the flexplate to the engine;a plurality of gear teeth disposed along an outer periphery of the body portion;the body portion having a web section disposed annularly around the first boring and second boring and between the one or more borings and the gear teeth; and,a second set of apertures on the web section spaced radially outward from one or more borings and each aperture is aligned with respect to an aperture on a mounting member of the torque converter for mounting the torque converter to the flexplate.

2. The flexplate of claim 1 wherein the one or more borings has a first diameter relative to a diameter of a hub on the crankshaft for receiving an end of the crankshaft, and a second diameter relative to a diameter of a hub on the torque converter for receiving the torque converter, and the first diameter is smaller than the second diameter.

3. The flexplate of claim 1 wherein the one or more borings has a first diameter relative to a diameter of a hub on the crankshaft for receiving an end of the crankshaft, and a second diameter relative to a diameter of a hub on the torque converter for receiving the torque converter, and the first diameter is larger than the second diameter.

4. The flexplate of claim 1 wherein the one or more borings includes a single boring formed through the body portion and centered thereon, and the boring has a first diameter relative to a diameter of a hub on the crankshaft for receiving an end of the crankshaft, and a second diameter relative to a diameter of a hub on the torque converter for receiving the torque converter, and the first diameter is smaller than the second diameter.

5. The flexplate of claim 1 wherein the one or more borings includes a single boring formed through the body portion and centered thereon, and the boring has a first diameter relative to a diameter of a hub on the crankshaft for receiving the an end of the crankshaft, and a second diameter relative to a diameter of a hub on the torque converter for receiving the torque converter, and the first diameter is larger than the second diameter.

6. The flexplate of claim 1 wherein the one or more borings includes a first boring and a second boring, the first boring is formed on the first side of the body portion and centered thereon, the first boring having a diameter relative to a diameter of a hub on the crankshaft for receiving the crankshaft, and the second boring is formed on the second side of the body portion and centered thereon, the second boring having a diameter relative to a diameter of a hub on the torque converter for receiving the torque converter, and the diameter of the first boring is smaller than the diameter of the second boring, and the flexplate having a partition disposed between the first boring and second boring.

7. The flexplate of claim 1 wherein the one or more borings includes a first boring and a second boring, the first boring is formed on the first side of the body portion and centered thereon, the first boring having a diameter relative to a diameter of a hub on the crankshaft for receiving an end of the crankshaft, and the second boring is formed on the second side of the body portion and centered thereon, the second boring having a diameter relative to a diameter of a hub on the torque converter for receiving the torque converter, and the diameter of the first boring is larger than the diameter of the second boring, and the flexplate having a partition disposed between the first boring and second boring.

8. The flexplate of claim 1 further comprising a raised flange portion integrally formed on the first side of the body portion, and the one or more borings is formed in the flange portion and the first set of apertures are formed through the flange portion around the boring.

9. A system for coupling a motor vehicle engine to a transmission that is unrelated to the engine, the system comprising: a flexplate having a single integral body portion having a generally circular shape, and the body portion having a first side and a second side, and one or more borings on the body portion for receiving an end of a crankshaft on the engine on the first side of the body portion and for receiving a torque converter of the unrelated transmission on the second side of the body portion, and a plurality of gear teeth disposed along a periphery of the body portion of the flexplate.; and,a transmission bell housing having a flange portion on an end of the bell housing and a plurality of apertures spaced apart along the flange portion and the apertures are positioned on the flange for alignment with apertures on an engine flange.

10. The system of claim 9 further comprising a first set of apertures in the body portion of the flexplate spaced radially outward from the one or more borings and spaced circumferentially around the boring for mounting the flexplate to the crankshaft, and, a second set of apertures in the body portion spaced radially outward from the boring for mounting the torque converter to the flexplate.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein the one or more borings on the flexplate has a first diameter relative to a diameter of a hub on the crankshaft for receiving the crankshaft, and a second diameter relative to a diameter of a hub on the torque converter for receiving the torque converter, and the first diameter is smaller than the second diameter.

12. The system of claim 9 wherein the one or more borings on the flexplate has a first diameter relative to a diameter of a hub on the crankshaft for receiving the crankshaft, and a second diameter relative to a diameter of a hub on the torque converter for receiving the torque converter, and the first diameter is larger than the second diameter.

13. The system of claim 9 wherein the one or more borings on the flexplate includes a single boring formed through the body portion and centered thereon, the boring having a first diameter relative to a diameter of a hub on the crankshaft for receiving the crankshaft, and a second diameter relative to a diameter of a hub on the torque converter for receiving the torque converter, and the first diameter is larger than the second diameter.

14. The system of claim 9 wherein the one or more borings includes a single boring formed through the body portion and centered thereon, the boring having a first diameter relative to a diameter of a hub on the crankshaft for receiving an end of the crankshaft, and a second diameter relative to a diameter of a hub on the torque converter for receiving the torque converter, and the first diameter is smaller than the second diameter.

15. The system of claim 9 wherein the one or more borings includes a first boring and a second boring, the first boring is formed on the first side of the body portion and centered thereon, the first boring having a diameter relative to a diameter a hub on the crankshaft for receiving the crankshaft, and the second boring is formed on the second side of the body portion and centered thereon, the second boring having a diameter relative to a diameter of a hub on the torque converter for receiving the torque converter, and the first diameter is smaller than the second diameter, and the flexplate having a partition disposed between the first boring and second boring.

16. The system of claim 9 wherein the one or more borings includes a first boring and a second boring, the first boring is formed on the first side of the body portion and centered thereon, the first boring having a diameter relative to a diameter of a hub on the crankshaft for receiving the crankshaft, and the second boring is formed on the second side of the body portion and centered thereon, the second boring having a diameter relative to a diameter of a hub on the torque converter for receiving the torque converter, and the diameter of the first boring is larger than the diameter of the second boring, and the flexplate having a partition disposed between the first boring and second boring.

17. The system of claim 9 wherein the flexplate further comprises a raised flange portion integrally formed on the first side of the body portion, and the boring is formed in the flange portion and the first set of apertures are formed in the flange portion around the boring.

18. The system of claim 9 wherein the first side of the flexplate has a surface that is substantially planar.

19. The system of claim 9 wherein the flange portion of the transmission housing has one or more height dimensions matching one or more height dimensions of the flange on the engine.

20. An automobile, comprising: an engine having a crankshaft;a transmission, unrelated to the engine, and having a torque converter, and the torque converter having a second hub;a flexplate having a single integral body portion having a generally circular shape, and the body portion having a first side on which the engine is coupled and a second side on which the transmission is coupled, and one or more borings on the body portion for receiving an end of the crankshaft on the engine on the first side and for receiving a torque converter of the unrelated transmission on the second side of the body portion;a first set of apertures spaced radially outward from and circumferentially around the one or more borings and each aperture is aligned with respect to an aperture on a flange of the crankshaft for mounting the flexplate to the engine;a plurality of gear teeth disposed along an outer periphery of the body portion;the body portion having a web section disposed annularly around the first boring and second boring and between the one or more borings and the gear teeth; and,a second set of apertures on the web section spaced radially outward from one or more borings and each aperture is aligned with respect to an aperture on a mounting member of the torque converter for mounting the torque converter to the flexplate.

21. The automobile of claim 20 wherein the crankshaft has a flange on the end thereof with a plurality of apertures on the flange that are circumferentially spaced on the flange, and the first set of apertures on the flexplate has a first set of apertures in the body portion spaced radially outward from and circumferentially around the one or more borings and are aligned with the apertures on the flange on the crankshaft.

22. The flexplate of claim 20 wherein the crankshaft has a first hub on an end thereof and the torque converter has a second hub, and one or more borings on the flexplate has a first diameter relative to a diameter of the first hub for receiving the crankshaft, and a second diameter relative to a diameter of the second hub on the torque converter for receiving the torque converter, and the first diameter is smaller than the second diameter.

23. The automobile of claim 20 wherein the crankshaft has a first hub on an end thereof and the torque converter has a second hub, and one or more borings on the flexplate has a first diameter relative to a diameter of the first hub for receiving the crankshaft, and a second diameter relative to a diameter of the second hub on the torque converter for receiving the torque converter, and the first diameter is larger than the second diameter.

24. The automobile of claim 20 wherein the one or more borings on the flexplate includes a single boring formed through the body portion and centered thereon, the boring having a first diameter relative to a diameter of the first hub on the crankshaft for receiving the crankshaft, and a second diameter relative to a hub on a torque converter for receiving the torque converter, and the first diameter is larger than the second diameter.

25. The automobile of claim 20 wherein the one or more borings on the flexplate includes a single boring formed through the body portion and centered thereon, the boring having a first diameter relative to a diameter of the first hub on the crankshaft for receiving the crankshaft, and a second diameter relative to a hub on a torque converter for receiving the torque converter, and the first diameter is smaller than the second diameter.

26. The system of claim 20 wherein the one or more borings on the flexplate includes a first boring and a second boring, the first boring is formed on the first side of the body portion and centered thereon, the first boring having a diameter relative to a diameter of the first hub on the crankshaft for receiving an the crankshaft, and the second boring is formed on the second side of the body portion and centered thereon, the second boring having a diameter relative to the second hub on the torque converter for receiving the torque converter, and diameter of the first boring is smaller than the second diameter.

27. The automobile of claim 20 wherein the one or more borings on the flexplate includes a first boring and a second boring, the first boring is formed on the first side of the body portion and centered thereon, the first boring having a diameter relative to a diameter of the crankshaft for receiving an end of the crankshaft, and the second boring is formed on the second side of the body portion and centered thereon, the second boring having a diameter relative to a hub on a torque converter for receiving the torque converter, and the diameter of the first boring is larger than the diameter of the second boring, and each of the borings having a bottom and the flexplate having a partition disposed between the respective bottoms of the first boring and second boring.

28. The automobile of claim 20 wherein the one or more borings includes a first boring and a second boring, the first boring is formed on the first side of the body portion and centered thereon, the first boring having a diameter relative to a diameter of the crankshaft for receiving an end of the crankshaft, and the second boring is formed on the second side of the body portion and centered thereon, the second boring having a diameter relative to a hub on a torque converter for receiving the torque converter, and the diameter of the first boring is smaller than the diameter of the second boring, and each of the borings having a bottom and the flexplate having a partition disposed between the respective bottoms of the first boring and second boring.

29. The automobile of claim 20 wherein the flexplate further comprises a raised flange portion integrally formed on the first side of the body portion, and the one or more borings are formed in the flange portion and the first set of apertures are formed in the flange portion around the one or more borings, and the flange on the flexplate abuts the flange on the crankshaft.

30. The automobile of claim 20 wherein the first side of the flexplate has a surface that is substantially planar and abuts the flange on the crankshaft.

31. The automobile of claim 20 further comprising a flange portion on the engine, and the flange portion having a plurality of apertures spaced apart thereon, and a transmission bell housing having a flange portion on an end thereof and a plurality of apertures spaced apart along the flange portion of the bell housing and each aperture on the flange of the bell housing is aligned with a respective aperture on the flange of the engine.

32. The automobile of claim 20 wherein the flange portion of the transmission housing has one or more height dimensions matching one or more height dimensions of the flange on the engine.

33. A flexplate for coupling an automobile engine to a transmission that is unrelated to the engine, wherein the engine has a crankshaft with a hub and flange on an end of the crankshaft, the flange has apertures spaced radially outward from and circumferentially around the hub for mounting the flexplate to the crankshaft and the unrelated transmission includes a torque converter having a hub and one or more mounting members thereon and apertures through mounting members for mounting the torque converter the flexplate comprising: a body portion having a generally circular shape, and the body portion having a first side, a second side and gear teeth disposed on an outer periphery of the body portion;a first boring formed in the first side of the body portion for receiving the hub on the crankshaft of the engine;a second boring formed in the second side of the body portion for receiving the hub on the torque converter of the unrelated transmission, and the second boring is coaxially aligned with the first boring;a first set of apertures spaced radially outward from and circumferentially around the first boring and each aperture is aligned with respect to an aperture on the flange of the crankshaft for mounting the flexplate to the engine;the body portion having a web section disposed annularly around the first boring and second boring and between the first set of apertures and the gear teeth;a second set of apertures in the web section spaced radially outward from the first boring and second boring and each aperture is aligned with respect to an aperture on the mounting member of the torque converter for mounting the torque converter to the flexplate.

34. The flexplate of claim 33 wherein the first boring and second boring are contiguous.

35. The flexplate of claim 33 further comprising a partition disposed between the first boring and second boring.

36. The flexplate of claim 33 further comprising a raised flange portion on the first side of the body portion.

37. The flexplate of claim 33 wherein the first boring has a diameter relative to a diameter of the hub on crankshaft for receiving the crankshaft and the second boring has a diameter relative to a diameter of the hub on the torque converter for receiving the torque converter, and the diameter of the first boring is smaller than the diameter of the second boring.

38. The flexplate of claim 33 wherein the first boring has a diameter relative to a diameter of the hub on crankshaft for receiving the crankshaft and the second boring has a diameter relative to a diameter of the hub on the torque converter for receiving the torque converter, and the diameter of the first boring is larger than the diameter of the second boring.