The present disclosure relates to a thrust washer for a turbine assembly in a torque converter.
Typically, thrust washers require axial retention and anti-rotation features such as retaining clips and anti-rotation pegs to keep the thrust washer in place axially and radially within a torque converter. These features require additional material to be used and increases overall costs and complexity of thrust washers.
According to one embodiment, a turbine assembly includes a turbine shell, turbine hub, and a thrust washer. The turbine hub is coupled to the turbine shell via a fastener. The thrust washer is disposed on the turbine hub and includes at least one tab configured to contact the fastener. The fastener axially and radially retains the thrust washer on the turbine hub. In one embodiment, the turbine hub includes at least one recessed portion extending radially outward from an inner circumference of the turbine hub toward an outer circumference of the turbine hub. The at least one tab of the thrust washer is configured to nest within the at least one recessed portion of the turbine hub.
In one embodiment, the at least one tab includes a distal end with a groove formed therein and the groove is configured to accommodate a portion of the fastener. In some embodiments, the thrust washer includes a first radial surface and a second radial surface. The at least one tab extends radially outward from the first radial surface beyond an outer circumference of the thrust washer and at least one recessed portion is formed in the second radial surface. A plurality of grooves may be formed in the second radial surface for fluid flow therethrough. The at least one tab may have a first thickness that is less than a second thickness of the thrust washer defined between the first and second radial surfaces.
In some embodiments, the at least one tab extends from an outer circumferential surface of the thrust washer and includes an opening defined therein. The turbine hub includes at least one protrusion with an opening defined therethrough and the at least one protrusion is disposed within the opening of the thrust washer. A portion of the rivet may be disposed within the opening in the protrusion of the turbine hub and a rivet head of the rivet may be supported against the turbine hub and thrust washer.
Embodiments of the present disclosure are described herein. It should be appreciated that like drawing numbers appearing in different drawing views identify identical, or functionally similar, structural elements. Also, it is to be understood 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.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular aspects only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. 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 disclosure belongs. Although any methods, devices or materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the disclosure, the following example methods, devices, and materials are now described.
Typically, thrust washers require retaining clips and anti-rotation pegs to keep the thrust washer in place axially and radially. These features require additional material to be included in the piece price of each individual thrust washer. Torlon, the material typically used to produce these thrust washers, is an expensive material and any reduction in material used would lead to a significant price reduction per part. Additionally, directly riveting the thrust washer without any form of steel backing could cause the thrust washer to crack and/or fail.
Embodiments of this disclosure provide a thrust washer that can be formed into a specific geometry that would allow it to be retained underneath a preformed fastener, such as a rivet head. By utilizing this geometry, less material would be used decreasing the piece price per washer and the absence of anti-rotation clips and anti-rotation pegs would decrease the complexity of molding the part. This design combines two features into one single feature. Additionally, the thrust washer and the stamped steel turbine hub would be formed in a way that would allow riveting without cracking and/or structurally compromising both parts.
A damper 40 is provided between turbine 14 and the front cover of torque converter 10. Damper 40 includes damping elements in the form of a plurality of circumferentially spaced springs 42, first and second cover plates 44, 46, output 48, and centrifugal pendulum absorber 50. Second cover plate 46 of damper 40 may be connected to radially inner portion 28 of turbine shell 16 on outer surface 20 via rivets 32.
In one embodiment shown in
As shown in
Each of the tabs 60 extends axially outwardly from second radial surface 54 such that each tab 60 has a thickness T1 and extends radially outwardly beyond or past outer circumferential surface 56. Each tab 60 further includes first radial surface 68 facing turbine 14 and second radial surface 70, opposite first radial surface 68, facing away from turbine 14.
Thickness T1 of each tab 60 may be defined as the axial width between thrust washer second radial surface 54 and tab first radial surface 68 (see
When thrust washer 26 is installed in turbine assembly 12, tab 60 is arranged such that a portion of rivet head 72 covers second radial surface 70 of tab 60 and thrust washer 26 is axially retained on turbine hub 30 (see
With reference to
Turbine hub 110 includes first radial surface 112 facing turbine shell 102 and second radial surface 114, opposite first radial surface 112, facing away from turbine shell 102. First radial surface 112 of turbine hub 110 is configured to contact inner surface 106 of turbine shell radially inner portion 104 when assembled together. In this embodiment, second radial surface 114 includes one or more protrusions 116 extending outwardly therefrom. Each of the protrusions 116 includes an opening 118 defined therethrough, wherein each opening is shaped to accommodate rivet 120. That is, each protrusion 116 is configured and arranged such that rivet body portion 122 is disposed within opening 118 when assembled on turbine assembly 100. Protrusions 116 may be stamped on turbine hub 110 and are configured to center thrust washer 126 and provide a steel backing for rivet 120, and specifically, rivet head 124 that rests against an outside of protrusion 116.
Thrust washer 126 includes inner circumferential surface 128, outer circumferential surface 130, first radial surface 132, and second radial surface 134. One or more tabs 136 extending radially outward from outer circumferential surface 130. Each of the tabs 136 includes a hole or opening 138 defined therein for centering on rivet 120 and preventing axial and radial movement of thrust washer 126. When thrust washer 126 is assembled together with turbine hub 110, opening 138 of thrust washer tab 136 is configured to fit over turbine hub protrusion 116 such that thrust washer second radial surface 134 contacts turbine hub second radial surface 114. That is, turbine hub protrusion 116 is disposed within thrust washer tab opening 138 and rivet body portion 122 is disposed within turbine hub protrusion opening 118 such that rivet head 124 rests against an outside of turbine hub protrusion 116 and thrust washer tab 136. In this way, rivet 120 retains thrust washer 126 on turbine hub 110 when assembled together.
Additionally, thrust washer first radial surface 132 includes grooves 140 formed therein and extending radially from inner circumferential surface 128 to outer circumferential surface 130 and thrust pads or thrust surfaces 142 disposed circumferentially between grooves 140. Thrust washer second radial surface 134 includes one or more empty pockets 146 formed therein and provided for reducing overall mass and material cost.
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 disclosure 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.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/807,951, filed Feb. 20, 2019, the disclosure of which is incorporated in its entirety by reference herein.
Number | Date | Country | |
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62807951 | Feb 2019 | US |