Patent ID: 6343679
Filing Date: 2002-02-05
Classification: F16H

Abstract:
A hydrodynamic clutch device, comprising: a housing defining a fluid chamber and having a hub; a lockup clutch having a piston arranged in the housing so as to divide the fluid chamber into a first fluid chamber area and a second fluid chamber area, the piston being movable axially with respect to a housing axis; a turbine wheel arranged in the first fluid chamber area; an impeller wheel arranged in the first fluid chamber area; a fluid flow connection between the first and second fluid chamber areas in a non-lockup state of the lockup clutch, so that fluid can be supplied to the fluid chamber via the first fluid chamber area, and when fluid is supplied to the first fluid chamber area fluid can be discharged from the fluid chamber exclusively via the second fluid chamber area, a fluid pressure which is higher than a fluid pressure in the first fluid chamber area being applicable to the second fluid chamber area in order to bring the lockup clutch into a lockup state; a stator wheel having a support shaft; and a driven shaft in a torque-transmitting connection with the lockup clutch, a first annular fluid passage being arranged between the housing hub and the support shaft, a second annular fluid passage being arranged between the driven shaft and one of the support shaft and the housing hub, the first fluid chamber area being connected to both annular fluid passages.