Abstract:
A transmission pump adapter ring is provided that enables a transmission pump assembly to be operatively connected to an engine, thus enabling a common transmission pump assembly to be used in a given type or types of transmissions while enabling different engines to be used with the transmission simply by changing the adapter ring. The adapter ring allows a novel method of assembling a powertrain that permits assembly of the transmission with a generic (i.e., common) type of pump assembly prior to a determination of the engine type or types to be used with the transmission.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The invention relates to an apparatus for connecting a transmission pump assembly to an engine, as well as a method of assembling transmissions. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Vehicle powertrains are complex assemblies including a multitude of components. One of the main components of a powertrain is a transmission. Transmissions are often designed and built with the intention of being offered for use by various automotive manufacturers in different applications. Economies of scale and simplification of component handling during assembly dictate the use of at least some common transmission components in the different applications, and even in different types of transmissions (e.g., different transmission families having different torque and gear ratio specifications). Different engines are likely used in the different applications. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    A transmission pump adapter ring is provided that enables a transmission pump assembly to be operatively connected to an engine, thus enabling a common transmission pump assembly to be used in a given type or types of transmissions while enabling different engines to be used with the transmission simply by changing the adapter ring. The adapter ring has engine mounting features that are configured to mount to a predetermined engine mounting face on a specific type of engine and also has a pump-side mounting face adapted to mount to a pump assembly mounting face on the pump assembly. The adapter ring is separate from, and mountable to both the pump assembly and the engine. Thus, the adapter ring enables an engine to be connected with any transmission that utilizes the particular type of pump assembly. A generic pump assembly may be utilized. Because generic pump assemblies contain numerous ferrous components, preassembly is not desirable if the pump assemblies are engine-specific in design and must be stored until assembly of the transmission for use with that particular engine is required. Simply by using different adapter rings, a given type of transmission can be utilized with different engines. The adapter rings are relatively small and easy to store, and may be pre-produced and stored until needed. With the adapter ring, it is not necessary to produce a customized pump and bell housing assembly for each vehicle model as is currently done. 
         [0004]    Accordingly, in one aspect of the invention, an annular adapter ring has a pump-side mounting face at one end adapted to mount to a transmission pump assembly with a pump assembly mounting face. The adapter ring also has an engine-side mounting face at an opposing end that is adapted to mount to a predetermined engine mounting face of a particular type of engine. Preferably the pump-side mounting face and the engine-side mounting face of the adapter ring are characterized by bolt patterns identical to bolt patterns of the pump assembly and of the engine, respectively. 
         [0005]    In another aspect of the invention, because the adapter ring is a separate component from the transmission casing and from the engine, both may be manufactured separately from the adapter ring, and the adapter ring can be selected from a suitable material somewhat independently of the material used for the transmission and for the engine. For example, the adapter ring may be magnesium, rather than steel, in order to reduce weight and improve fuel economy. 
         [0006]    Within the scope of the invention, a powertrain is provided that includes a transmission having a casing and a torque converter operatively connectable thereto. The powertrain includes a pump assembly having a transmission pump adapted to mount to and be powered by the torque converter, as well as a bell housing, also referred to as a pump cover, that is adapted to mount to the transmission casing. The pump assembly, with transmission pump and bell housing, may be preassembled prior to mounting to the transmission casing and the torque converter. The power train also includes an engine having an engine mounting face, such as with a specific engine bolt pattern. The powertrain includes an annular pump assembly adapter ring that has a pump-side mounting face adapted to mount to the bell housing and an engine-side mounting face adapted to mount to the engine mounting face, to thereby connect the pump assembly with the engine. 
         [0007]    The adapter ring allows a novel method of assembling a powertrain that permits assembly of the transmission with a generic (i.e., common) type of pump assembly prior to a determination of the engine type or types to be used with the transmission. The method includes maintaining an inventory of transmissions of a first type, each connected with a respective transmission pump assembly of a first type with a transmission pump of a first type and a bell housing of a first type. The method includes mounting an adapter ring to the bell housing of the pump assembly of one of the transmissions. The adapter ring has an engine-side mounting face opposite the bell housing that is configured with a predetermined engine bolt pattern adapted for connection with a first type of engine that has the predetermined engine bolt pattern. 
         [0008]    Because only the adapter ring has an engine specific feature (the engine mounting bolt pattern), the method may include mounting a second adapter ring of a second type to the bell housing of a second pump assembly on a second transmission selected from the inventory (i.e., the second transmission and its pump assembly being of identical types as those of the first transmission). The adapter ring of the second type has an engine-side mounting face opposite the bell housing that is configured with a second, different, predetermined engine bolt pattern so that the second adapter ring is configured for connection with a second type of engine having the second engine bolt pattern. Thus, the same generic type of pump assembly (i.e., that of the first type) may be used in different applications of a transmission type, i.e., when different types of engine are to be used with a given type of transmission, by utilizing different engine-specific adapter rings. 
         [0009]    Within the scope of the invention, the entity (e.g., the vehicle manufacturer or assembler) that mounts the adapter rings may or may not also mount the pump assemblies and torque converters to the transmission. Those assembly operations could be carried out by different entities at different stages of the powertrain assembly. However, if the same entity maintaining the inventory of transmissions, such as, for example, the manufacturer of the transmissions, also assembles the pump assemblies and the torque converters in the transmission, then the method may include, prior to mounting the first adapter ring, mounting the first pump assembly to the first transmission, and prior to mounting the second adapter ring, mounting the second pump assembly to the second transmission. 
         [0010]    Furthermore, the entity that maintains the inventory of transmissions may or may not manufacture the adapter rings, and, in either case, may maintain an inventory of the different types of adapter rings and select the appropriate type of adapter ring for mounting to the bell housing of the pump assemblies on the transmissions, as described above, based on orders received for use of the transmissions with the specified type or types of engines. This permits flexibility in manufacturing output. Also, because the adapter rings are the only engine-specific component, there is no need to separate components ion the pump assembly and the torque converter assembly areas of the assembly plant, as a common type of each is used with all of the transmissions of the first type regardless of the engine type to be used. 
         [0011]    Within the scope of the invention, particularly if it is expected that a given type of transmission will be used with two or more different types of engines, the method may include maintaining an inventory of adapter rings of the first and second types, receiving an order for the first type of transmission to be used with the first type of transmission, and, in response to the order, selecting the first type of adapter ring from the inventory for the step of mounting the first adapter ring described above. This allows the transmission with the pump assembly to be preassembled, and only the adapter rings need be maintained in a separate, engine specific inventory. Similarly, the method may include receiving an order for the first type of transmission to be used with the second type of engine, and, in response to the order, selecting the second type of adapter ring from the inventory to be used for the step of mounting the second adapter ring described above. 
         [0012]    The above features and advantages and other features and advantages of the present invention are readily apparent from the following detailed description of the best modes for carrying out the invention when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is a schematic side view illustration in exploded view of a first powertrain having a transmission, torque converter, pump assembly and first type of engine with an adapter ring to connect the pump assembly with the engine; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a schematic side view illustration in exploded view of a second powertrain having a transmission, torque converter, and a pump assembly, each of the same type as the corresponding components of  FIG. 1 , and a second type of engine with another type of adapter ring to connect the pump assembly with the second type of engine; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a schematic perspective illustration of the adapter ring of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a schematic perspective illustration of the adapter ring of  FIG. 2 ; and 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is a flow chart illustrating a method of assembling a powertrain such as those of  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0018]    Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference numbers refer to like components,  FIG. 1  shows a first powertrain  10  that includes a first transmission  11  of a first type, such as a specific six-speed automatic transmission with numerical speed and torque ratios between an input member  12  and an output member  13 , determined by internal gear tooth ratios, as is known. Alternatively, the transmission  11  may be a hybrid or other type of transmission. The powertrain  10  also includes a pump assembly  14  that has a bell housing  16 , also referred to as a pump cover, assembled integrally with a transmission pump  18 , which includes typical pump components such as a rotor, vanes, springs, valves, and a pump body, as is known. The pump assembly  14  may be any commercially available pump assembly that has an integral pump bell housing  16 . When fully assembled, the pump  18  provides hydraulic fluid to the transmission  11 . 
         [0019]    The powertrain  10  further includes a torque converter  20 . The torque converter  20  is a conventional arrangement that has a pump portion  22  drivingly connected with the pump  18 , as is known, and with a driving component  24  such as a flywheel or damper assembly. A turbine portion  25  of the torque converter  20  is fluidly driven by the pump portion  22  and operatively connects to the transmission input member  12 . 
         [0020]    The powertrain  10  also includes an engine  26 , which may be an internal combustion engine, a fuel cell, or other type of power plant. The driving component  24  is driven by an output member  28  of the engine  26 . The engine  26  is a first type of engine having certain characteristic design parameters, such as displacement volume, number and orientation of cylinders, etc., or other design parameters depending on the type of engine. 
         [0021]    It is desirable to be able to utilize the transmission  11  with many different engine applications while maintaining as many generic or common components, such as the pump assembly  14 , throughout the various applications. In order to make this possible, the powertrain  10  also includes an adapter ring  32  provided to connect the generic pump assembly  14  with the specific first type of engine  26 . The adapter ring  32  is a first type of adapter ring, having a pump-side mounting face  34  at one end and an engine-side mounting face  36  at an opposing end. The adapter ring  32  may be magnesium or other suitable material. The pump-side mounting face  34  includes features adapting the adapter ring  32  for connection to the pump bell housing  16 , such as mounting features  38 , shown as bolt openings. The pump-side mounting face  34  and bolt openings  38  correspond to fit with a pump assembly mounting face  40  and mounting features  42 , such as bolt openings, on the pump bell housing  16 . The bolt openings  38  and  42  align and the pump-side mounting face  34  fits with the pump assembly mounting face  40 . The adapter ring  32  is bolted and doweled (or piloted) to the pump assembly  14 . The other end of the bell housing  16  has a transmission-side mounting face  44  that has features, such as bolt openings (not shown), that align with features in a transmission casing  46  enveloping the transmission  11  to allow connection of the bell housing  16  to the casing  46 . 
         [0022]    The engine-side mounting face  36  of the adapter ring  32  includes mounting features, such as bolt openings  50  arranged in a predetermined pattern to align with an engine mounting face  51  having an engine bolt pattern, represented by bolt openings  52  in the engine block  54  of the engine  26 . 
         [0023]    Because the adapter ring  32  is the only component of the powertrain  10  having engine-specific features, i.e., features that are adapted to specifically connect to a feature of the engine  26 , such as the engine bolt pattern represented by openings  52 , identical types of the remaining components of the powertrain  10  may be used without modification in powertrains having a different type of engine, and only a different type of adapter ring need be used. This is demonstrated by the powertrain  100  of  FIG. 2  in which a second transmission of the same type as and identical to the transmission  11  of  FIG. 1 , is implemented, and is referred to with reference numeral  11 A. The powertrain  100  also includes a pump assembly  14 A identical in configuration and function to the pump assembly  14  of  FIG. 1 , and a torque converter  20 A identical in configuration and function to the torque converter  20  of  FIG. 1 . The powertrain  100  includes an engine  126  that is of a second type, not identical in configuration to the engine  26  of  FIG. 1 , and specifically having an engine mounting face  151  with a second engine bolt pattern in engine casing  154  as represented by bolt openings  152  which differ in number and/or spacing from the openings  52  of the engine  26  of  FIG. 1 . Because a second adapter ring  132  of a second type is used that is different than the adapter ring  32  of the first type of  FIG. 1 , and that specifically has an engine-side mounting face  136  with mounting features, such as bolt openings  150  arranged in a predetermined pattern to align with the engine mounting face  151  having the second engine bolt pattern, represented by bolt openings  152 . The pump-side mounting face of the second adapter ring  132  is the same as the pump-side mounting face  34  of the first adapter ring  32 , and is referred to as  34 A, as it has identically-spaced pump assembly mounting features represented by bolt openings, referred to as  38 A, identical to bolt openings  38  of  FIG. 1  so that the second adapter ring  132  can be mounted to the pump assembly mounting face  40 A and to pump assembly bolt holes  42 A of the pump assembly  14 A of the first type, identical to the engine-side mounting face  40  and bolt openings  42  of the pump assembly  14  of  FIG. 1 . 
         [0024]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , the adapter ring  32  of  FIG. 1  is shown in greater detail having the engine-side mounting face  36  with openings  50  spaced from one another to establish the first engine bolt pattern corresponding with the engine bolt pattern of engine  26  of  FIG. 1  as represented by openings  52 . The pump-side mounting face  34  is at the other end of the adapter ring  32  with openings  38  for connection to the pump assembly  14  of  FIG. 1 . 
         [0025]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , the adapter ring  132  of  FIG. 2  is shown in greater detail, having the engine-side mounting face  136  with openings  150  spaced from one another to establish the second engine bolt pattern corresponding with the engine bolt pattern of engine  126  of  FIG. 2  as represented by openings  152 . The pump-side mounting face  34 A is at the other end of the adapter ring  132  with openings  38 A for connection to the pump assembly  14 A of  FIG. 2 . 
         [0026]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , a method of assembling powertrains  200  is illustrated in a flow diagram. The steps of the method  200  will be described with reference to the powertrains  10 ,  100  of  FIGS. 1 and 2  and the adapter rings  32 ,  132  of  FIGS. 1-4 . The method  200  shown in  FIG. 5  is a preferred embodiment, shows optional steps, and is not intended to be limited to the order of steps shown. 
         [0027]    The method  200  includes step  202 , maintaining an inventory of transmissions of a first type, such as transmissions  11  and  11 A of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , each connected with a pump assembly of a first type, such as pump assemblies  14  and  14 A, respectively. If the same entity maintaining the inventory of transmissions  11  and  11 A also assembles the transmissions  11  and  11 A with the pump assemblies  14  and  14 A, then step  202  includes sub-step  204 , mounting a first pump assembly of the first type (pump assembly  14  of  FIG. 1 ) to a first transmission of the first type (transmission  11  of  FIG. 1 ), and sub-step  206 , mounting a second pump assembly of the first type (pump assembly  14 A of  FIG. 2 ) to a second transmission of the first type (transmission  11 A of  FIG. 2 ). 
         [0028]    The method may also include step  208 , maintaining an inventory of adapter rings of a first type (adapter ring  32  of  FIG. 1 ) and of a second type (adapter ring  132  of  FIG. 2 ), with the first type being adapted for connection to a first type of engine (engine  26  of  FIG. 1 ) and the second type being adapted for connection to a second type of engine (engine  126  of  FIG. 2 ). 
         [0029]    Under the method, the entity assembling the transmissions may receive an order under step  210  for the first type of transmission to be used with the first type of engine. Additionally or alternatively, the entity may receive an order under step  212  for the first type of transmission to be used with the second type of engine. In response to step  210 , the method  200  includes step  214 , selecting the first type of adapter ring  32  from the inventory of adapter rings. After step  214 , the method  200  includes step  216 , mounting the first type of adapter ring  32  to the first type of pump assembly  14  of a first transmission  11  of the first type from the inventory of transmissions. Similarly, in response to step  212 , the method  200  includes step  218 , selecting the second type of adapter ring  132  from the inventory of adapter rings. After step  218 , the method includes step  220 , mounting the second type of adapter ring  132  to the first type of pump assembly  14 A on a second transmission  11 A of the first type from the inventory of transmissions. 
         [0030]    While the best modes for carrying out the invention have been described in detail, those familiar with the art to which this invention relates will recognize various alternative designs and embodiments for practicing the invention within the scope of the appended claims.