Torque transmitting assembly including a sprocket assembly displaceable along a shaft and method thereof

A torque transmitting assembly, including: a shaft including a longitudinal axis, first and second longitudinal ends, a radially outermost surface, a first portion including at least one indentation, and second and third portions between the first portion and the first and second longitudinal ends, respectively; and a sprocket assembly disposed about the shaft and including a sprocket with a circumferentially disposed and radially outwardly extending teeth and at least one key engaged with the sprocket. The sprocket assembly is displaceable along the shaft to displace the at least one key into the at least one indentation. The sprocket is non-rotatably connected the shaft when the at least one key is disposed in the at least one indentation. At least respective portions of the radially outermost surface are at a uniform distance from the longitudinal axis in a radial direction orthogonal to the longitudinal axis and extending from the longitudinal axis.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a torque assembly including a shaft and a sprocket assembly displaceable along the shaft. In particular, the sprocket assembly is axially displaceable along the shaft to assume a position in which the sprocket assembly is non-rotatably connected to the shaft, and the sprocket assembly is axially displaceable along the shaft to transition out of the non-rotatably connected position, for example, to remove the sprocket assembly from the shaft. In an example embodiment, the shaft is an input shaft for a transmission.

BACKGROUND

In known torque converter and transmission configurations, portions of the input shaft that could be used for providing torque to components outside of the torque converter and transmission are inaccessible and/or torque transmitting components, such as a sprocket, cannot be mounted to the shaft. For example, the sprocket would need to be rotationally fixed to the shaft during assembly. Radially extending keys on the shaft mated to grooves in the sprocket could be used to fix the sprocket; however, the keys would interfere with bushings that must be installed on the shaft to engage the torque converter housing and stator shaft support. Grooves in the shaft mated with keys extending from the sprocket could be used; however the grooves would provide leak paths past the bushings. The sprocket cannot be welded to the shaft, since the sprocket must be removable to enable disassembly and repair of the transmission.

SUMMARY

According to aspects illustrated herein, there is provided a torque transmitting assembly, including: a shaft including a longitudinal axis, first and second longitudinal ends through which the longitudinal axis passes, a radially outermost surface, a first portion including at least one indentation, and second and third portions between the first portion and the first and second longitudinal ends, respectively; and a sprocket assembly disposed about the shaft and including a sprocket with a plurality of circumferentially disposed and radially outwardly extending teeth and at least one key engaged with the sprocket. The sprocket assembly is displaceable along the shaft to displace the at least one key into the at least one indentation. The sprocket is non-rotatably connected the shaft when the at least one key is disposed in the at least one indentation. At least respective portions of the radially outermost surface are at a uniform distance from the longitudinal axis in a first radial direction orthogonal to the longitudinal axis and extending from the longitudinal axis.

According to aspects illustrated herein, there is provided a torque transmitting assembly, including: an input shaft for a transmission, the input shaft including a first portion with at least one indentation and, second and third portions between the first portion and first and second longitudinal ends of the shaft, respectively; and a sprocket assembly radially disposed about the shaft and including a sprocket with a plurality of circumferentially disposed radially outwardly extending teeth and at least one key. The at least one indentation terminates at respective boundaries between the first portion and the second portion and between the first portion and the third portion. The sprocket assembly is displaceable along the shaft: in a first axial direction from the second portion to the first portion to displace the at least one key into the at least one indentation; and in the first axial direction or in a second axial direction, opposite the first axial direction, from the first portion, with the at least one key displaced into the at least one indentation, to the third portion or second portion, respectively. When the sprocket assembly is radially disposed about the first portion: the at least one key is engaged with the at least one first indentation to non-rotatably connect the sprocket and the shaft; or the sprocket assembly is rotatable about the shaft to engage the at least one key with the at least one first indentation to non-rotatably connect the sprocket and the shaft.

According to aspects illustrated herein, there is provided a torque transmitting assembly, including a shaft and a sprocket. The shaft includes: a longitudinal axis; first and second longitudinal ends through which the longitudinal axis passes; a first portion including at least one indentation; and second and third portions between the first portion and the first and second longitudinal ends, respectively. The sprocket includes a plurality of circumferentially disposed and radially outwardly extending teeth. The sprocket is displaceable along the shaft to engage the at least one indentation to non-rotatably connect the sprocket and the shaft. The sprocket is rotatable for 360 degrees about the second and third portions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1is a perspective view of a cylindrical coordinate system demonstrating spatial terminology used in the present application. The present application is at least partially described within the context of a cylindrical coordinate system. System10includes longitudinal axis11, used as the reference for the directional and spatial terms that follow. Axial direction AD is parallel to axis11. Radial direction RD is orthogonal to axis11. Circumferential direction CD is defined by an endpoint of radius R (orthogonal to axis11) rotated about axis11.

To clarify the spatial terminology, objects12,13, and14are used. An axial surface, such as surface15of object12, is formed by a plane parallel to axis11. Axis11is coplanar with planar surface15; however it is not necessary for an axial surface to be coplanar with axis11. A radial surface, such as surface16of object13, is formed by a plane orthogonal to axis11and coplanar with a radius, for example, radius17. Surface18of object14forms a circumferential, or cylindrical, surface. For example, circumference19forms a circle on surface18. As a further example, axial movement is parallel to axis11, radial movement is orthogonal to axis11, and circumferential movement is parallel to circumference19. Rotational movement is with respect to axis11. The adverbs “axially,” “radially,” and “circumferentially” refer to orientations parallel to axis11, radius17, and circumference19, respectively.

FIG. 3is an exploded view of torque transmitting assembly100ofFIG. 2. The following should be viewed in light ofFIGS. 2 and 3. Torque transmitting assembly100includes shaft102and sprocket assembly104. Shaft102includes longitudinal axis LA, longitudinal ends106and108through which longitudinal axis AR passes, and portions102A,102B, and102C. Portion102A includes at least one indentation110. Portions102B and102C are located between portion102A and ends106and108, respectively. Sprocket assembly104is disposed about shaft102and includes sprocket112, at least one key114, and at least one resilient element116. Sprocket112includes at least one slot118and circumferentially disposed and radially outwardly extending teeth120.

FIG. 6is a perspective view of the sprocket assembly ofFIG. 2.

FIG. 7is a cross-sectional view generally along line7-7inFIG. 6. The following should be viewed in light ofFIGS. 2 through 7. In an example embodiment, shaft102includes indentations110A and110B. In an example embodiment, assembly104includes keys114A and114B and resilient elements116A and116B at least partly disposed in slots118A and118B, respectively. In an example embodiment, indentations110A and110B, keys114A and114B, resilient elements116A and116B, and slots118A and118B are each 180 degrees separate from each other. To simplify presentation, the discussion that follows is directed to indentation110A, keys114A, resilient element116A, and slot118A, with the understanding that unless stated otherwise, the discussion is applicable to any other groupings of indentations, keys, resilient elements, and slots, such as indentation110B, key114B, resilient element116B, and slot118B. Resilient elements116can be any resilient elements known in the art, including, but not limited to coil springs and leaf springs.

Resilient element116A is arranged to urge key114A in radial direction RD1, orthogonal to axis LA and toward axis LA. Sprocket112is non-rotatably connected to shaft102when key114A is at least partly disposed in indentation110A. Sprocket assembly104is displaceable along shaft102in opposite axial directions AD2and AD1, parallel to axis LA, from portion102A, with key114A disposed in indentation110A, to longitudinal ends106and108, respectively. Sprocket assembly104is displaceable along shaft102in directions AD1and AD2from portions102B and102C to portion102A, respectively, to displace key114A into indentation110A. Diameter D1of sprocket112is slightly larger than diameter D2of shaft102such that sprocket112fits snugly about the shaft but is axially displaceable along the shaft.

Key114A is arranged to displace, with respect to sprocket112, in radial direction RD1into indentation110A as assembly104displaces from portion102B or portion102C into indentation110A. Key114A is arranged to displace, in response to contact with radially outermost surface128of shaft102, in radial direction RD2, opposite radial direction RD1, as assembly104displaces from indentation110A to portion102B or portion102C. As assembly104displaces from indentation110A to portion102B or portion102C, key114A is arranged to compress resilient element116A. As assembly104displaces from portion102B or portion102C to indentation110A, resilient element116A is arranged to displace key114A in direction RD1. At least respective segments of surface128in portions102B and102C are at a uniform distance in direction RD2from axis LA, for example, one half of diameter D2. That is, there are no keys or protrusions extending from surface128and there are no grooves in surface128.

Indentation110A includes side walls130and132and end walls134and136connecting side walls130and132and positioned so that line L parallel to longitudinal axis LA passes through end walls134and136. End walls134and136slope from portions102B and102C, respectively, toward axis LA in radial direction RD1. As sprocket assembly104, in particular key114A, displaces between indentation110A and portion102B or portion102C, key114A is arranged to slide up end wall134or136, respectively.

Key114A includes side walls138and140arranged to engage side walls130and132, respectively, when key114A is disposed in indentation110A. Slot118A includes side walls142and144. Walls142and144are engaged with side walls138and140, respectively. Torque path T1is created from shaft102to sprocket112via side walls130,138,140, and144for torque applied to shaft102in rotational direction RTD1. Torque path T2is created from shaft102to sprocket112via side walls132,140,138, and144for torque applied to shaft102in rotational direction RTD1. For torque applied to sprocket112, paths T1and T2are reversed.

Slot118A includes bottom surface146connected to walls142and144. Key114A includes engagement surface148and resilient element116A is engaged with engagement surface148and bottom surface146to urge key114A in radial direction RD1.

In an example embodiment: sprocket112includes radially innermost surface150with grooves152A and152B circumferentially disposed about at least a portion of surface150, that is, between slots118, and separated in axial direction AD1; key114A includes grooves154A and154B; and assembly104includes snap ring156A disposed in grooves152A and154A and snap ring156B disposed in grooves152B and154B. Snap rings156A and156B urge key114A in direction RD2, for example to hold key114A in place when assembly104is not disposed about shaft102.

In an example embodiment, assembly104includes cover plates158A and158B fixedly secured to sprocket112by any means known in the art. Key114A is restrained in directions AD1and AD2by cover plates158A and158B, while remaining displaceable in directions RD1and RD2with respect to cover plates158A and158B. In some applications of assembly100, cover plates158A and158B act as thrust washers.

Although assembly100is shown with a particular number and configuration of components, it should be understood that assembly100is not limited to a particular number and configuration of components. For example, assembly100can include a single indentation110, a single key114, a single element116and a single slot118. For example, assembly100can include more than two each of indentations110, keys114, elements116and slots118. Further, indentations110and slots118can be circumferentially disposed and spaced in configurations other than that shown in the figures.

FIG. 9is a block diagram of torque transmitting assembly100in a torque converter/transmission configuration. In an example embodiment, shaft102is an input shaft for transmission T. As part of the connection of torque converter TC to transmission T including shaft102, bushings202and204must be fixed to shaft102so that when torque converter TC is connected to transmission T, housing206for the torque converter and stator shaft support208of the transmission engage bushings202and204, respectively. Shaft102rotates with respect to housing206and support208, and bushing202and204provide wear and friction reduction as well as seals.

As noted above, known techniques and components cannot be used to install a sprocket in the location shown inFIG. 8because: a key on the shaft would prevent installation of bushings202and204; a groove in the shaft would provide a leakage path past bushings202and204, and welding would prevent removal of the sprocket for disassembly of the transmission. Advantageously, assembly100provides the means for installing a sprocket as shown inFIG. 8, without interfering with installation of bushings or providing leakage paths, and while enabling removal of the sprocket for disassembly operations.

Specifically, in one example, assembly104is inserted over one end of shaft102, for example, end LE1. Due to the relationship of diameters D1and D2, assembly104fits over shaft102and can be pushed in direction AD1towards indentation110. As assembly104slides along shaft102in direction AD1, keys114A and114B are urged against the shaft by elements116A and116B, respectively, and the shaft pushes the keys in direction RD2against the urging of the resilient elements. As assembly104reaches portion102A, there are two possibilities. If keys114and indentations110are circumferentially aligned, keys114slide down end walls134into indentations110. If keys114and indentations110are not circumferentially aligned, assembly104or shaft102is rotated until indentations110are circumferentially aligned and the keys slide over side walls130or132into indentations110. Once keys114are in indentations110, assembly104and shaft102are non-rotatably connected. Thus, in the example sequence above, bushing204is installed, assembly104is engaged with indentations110, and bushing202is installed.

Advantageously, if disassembly of transmission T is required, assembly104can be pushed in either direction AD1or AD2so that keys114slide along end walls136or134, respectively, and are pushed in radial direction RD2. Once assembly104is in portion102B or102C, assembly104can be pushed in direction AD2or AD1, respectively, as required, for example, for removal from shaft102.