Patent Application
20200032887
The present disclosure relates generally to torque converters and more specifically to methods of joining impeller hubs to torque converters.
The present disclosure relates generally to torque converters and more specifically to methods of forming impeller hubs of torque converters. Durability of a pump weld may need to be increased based on the dimensions of the material welded. There may be a need to increase the capacity of a weld without using additional space for the weld or changing any tooling.
According to a first embodiment, a torque converter, includes an impeller hub, wherein the impeller hub includes an elongated member portion including a beveled-surface running radially and axially outward from an impeller assembly from a first end in contact with an impeller assembly to a second end, wherein the impeller hub further includes a weld at the beveled-surface and in contact with the impeller assembly.
According to a second embodiment, a method of attaching an impeller hub of a torque converter to an impeller shell comprises beveling the impeller hub, wherein the impeller hub is beveled to form a beveled-surface extending from a first end to a second end, and welding the impeller hub to the impeller shell, wherein the welding creates a weld in contact with the shell, and the first and second end of the beveled-surface.
According to a third embodiment, an impeller hub comprises an elongated member portion including an inner surface having a first end configured to be in contact with an impeller assembly, wherein the elongated member portion further includes an outer surface having a second end configured to not be in contact with the impeller assembly, and a beveled-surface configured to extend axially and radially outward from the impeller assembly from the first end of the inner surface to the second end of the outer surface.
Embodiments of the present disclosure are described herein. It is to be understood, however, that the disclosed embodiments are merely examples and other embodiments can take various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale; some features could be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the embodiments. As those of ordinary skill in the art will understand, various features illustrated and described with reference to any one of the figures can be combined with features illustrated in one or more other figures to produce embodiments that are not explicitly illustrated or described. The combinations of features illustrated provide representative embodiments for typical applications. Various combinations and modifications of the features consistent with the teachings of this disclosure, however, could be desired for particular applications or implementations.
At the outset, it should be appreciated that like drawing numbers on different drawing views identify identical, or functionally similar, structural elements of the disclosure. While the present disclosure 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. It is also understood that any reference to axial, radial, or circumferential directions, surfaces, or properties is made with respect to the axis of rotation shown in the drawings, indicated generally as axis A. 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.
Cover 12 is formed by two cover portions, namely, engine side cover portion 22 and impeller shell portion 24. That is, impeller shell portion 24 also forms a shell for impeller 14. Engine-side cover portion 22 and impeller shell 24 are connected together, such as via cover weld 26. Impeller hub 28, which includes a bevel 30, is affixed to impeller shell 24 via weld 32. In the embodiment of
After the bevel 30 is added to the impeller hub 28, the impeller hub 28 may be welded to the impeller shell 24. The weld 32 is added to attach the impeller hub 28 to the impeller shell 24. The weld 32 may run across the entire surface of the bevel 30. Upon the welding process being completed, the weld 32 may create a root weld 46. The root weld 46 may be located in a vicinity of where a point of the bevel 30 is in contact with the impeller shell 24. The weld 32 may be in contact with the parent material 48 of the impeller shell 24.
Upon completion of the welding process, the next step may be to machine-off the root 46 of the weld 32 at the inner diameter of the impeller hub 28 and impeller shell 24. As shown in
While exemplary embodiments are described above, it is not intended that these embodiments describe all possible forms encompassed by the claims. The words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. As previously described, the features of various embodiments can be combined to form further embodiments of the invention that may not be explicitly described or illustrated. While various embodiments could have been described as providing advantages or being preferred over other embodiments or prior art implementations with respect to one or more desired characteristics, those of ordinary skill in the art recognize that one or more features or characteristics can be compromised to achieve desired overall system attributes, which depend on the specific application and implementation. These attributes can include, but are not limited to cost, strength, durability, life cycle cost, marketability, appearance, packaging, size, serviceability, weight, manufacturability, ease of assembly, etc. As such, to the extent any embodiments are described as less desirable than other embodiments or prior art implementations with respect to one or more characteristics, these embodiments are not outside the scope of the disclosure and can be desirable for particular applications.
torque converter 10
12 cover
14 impeller
16 turbine
18 stator
20 vibration damper
22 engine-side cover portion
24 impeller shell
26 cover weld
28 impeller hub
30 bevel
32 weld
34 inner circumferential surface
35 inner circumferential surface
45 raw state of material
46 open root
47 machined area
48 parent material
The above is a list of reference numbers shown in the Figures. However, it should be understood that the use of these terms is for illustrative purposes only with respect to one embodiment. And, use of reference numbers correlating a certain term that is both illustrated in the Figures and present in the claims is not intended to limit the claims to only cover the illustrated embodiment.
