Patent GB-883233-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to hydro-kinetic torque converters
Inventor: GATISS ALBERT LESLIE
IPC: F16H41/30
Filed: 1959-06-24
Abstract: 883,233. Hydraulic torque converters. BROCKHOUSE ENGINEERING Ltd. June 17, 1960 [June 24, 1969], No. 21585/59. Addition to 859,146. Class 69 (2). An hydraulic torque converter comprises vaned impeller, turbine and reaction elements 11a 12a, 11b, 12b, 11c, 12c, a discharge valve 30 connecting the hydraulic circuit of the converter to the inlet port 34a of a cooler 34, the discharge port 34b of which communicates with the inlet port 36 of a pump 14 supplying liquid through an outlet port 38 to the circuit of the converter, a supply valve 39 between the outlet port 38 and the circuit of the converter, and means 61 operably connecting the valve members 32a, 39a of the supply and discharge valves arranged so as to permit partial opening of the discharge valve to effect partial emptying of the converter while simultaneously maintaining the supply valve in the partially closed position whereby the converter is emptied to such a degree as to effect transmission at a low torque. The pump 14 is driven by gearing 13 from a shaft which is connected to a prime mover and the impellers 11a, 12a of the converter, the turbines 11b, 12b of which drive an output shaft 21. The output port 38 of the pump leads to the supply valve 39 which has a port 39f connected to a pipe 41 leading to the circuit of the converter as described in the parent Specification. The port 39f also communicates with a port 30a admitting liquid to a face 47 of the member 32a of the discharge valve which is connected to an outlet passage 28 from the circuit of the converter and a pipe 33a leading to the cooler 34. The valve member 39a of the supply valve is connected to a bar 61 which is joined by a lost-motion connection to the valve member 32a of the discharge valve and is secured to the rod 63 of a piston 64 arranged to move upwardly against a spring 67 by fluidpressure supplied through a pipe 66 under the control of a manually or automatically-operated valve. In the position shown, the converter has been emptied by the action of a valve 53 as described in the parent Specification, the supply valve 39 is closed, and the discharge valve 30 is open. When it is desired to transmit low torque, the control valve is operated to move the piston 64 upwardly and hence move the supply valve 39 to a partially-open position. Pressure fluid from the pump 14 can then pass through the port 39f to the pipe 41 and the circuit of the converter and through the port 30a to act on the surface 47 of the valve member 32a which is moved downwardly to a partially-closed position against a spring 49 to prevent complete emptying of the converter by restricting the flow of liquid to the cooler 34. When the supply valve is fully opened, the pressure from the pump 14 serves to prevent complete closing of the discharge valve so that some fluid is circulated through the cooler. The Provisional Specification describes also an embodiment having two supply valves and two discharge valves, one of the supply valves and one of the discharge valves, which may be interconnected, controlling the partial filling of the converter.