Patent GB-919678-A (GB)
Title: Bladed element for fluid torque converters
IPC: H03K3/352
Filed: 1961-11-13
Abstract: 919,678. Making torque converters; composite casting. ROCKWELL-STANDARD CORPORATION. Nov. 30, 1961 [March 13, 1961], No. 42858/61. Classes 83 (1) and 83 (2). [Also in Group XXIX] A peripherally-bladed reactor assembly 34, Fig. 1, for a hydrodynamic torque-transmitting device comprises a row of circumferentiallyspaced apart blades 54 extending radially between a hub section 50 and an outer supporting rim 76, the blades being formed separately of the hub section which is pre-hardened to provide a hardened surface by which the hub section is arranged to be supportingly mounted in the device. The device has an impeller 22 splined to an input shaft 42, a turbine 30 connected by a casing 46 to an output shaft 47, and a stationary sleeve 40 on which is mounted the reactor assembly. The hardened surface 84 of the hub section may form one surface of a one-way clutch 36 having sprags 90, Fig. 2, urged by springs 92 against the surface 84 and the surface of the sleeve, or the surface 84 may be splined or provided with a keyway receiving a key in the sleeve 40, the reactor assembly in the latter cases being held stationary. The hub section 50 has a number of radially-extending tapered spokes 60 which engage tapered recesses 72 in the blades 54. After the hub-section has been hardened, the blades, which may be of sheet metal or cast aluminium, magnesium or thermoplastic material, are positioned on the spokes, each blade having a base portion 74 which engages the outer surface of the hub section. The assembly is then placed in a core box and sand, plaster or other material interfits the blades to form a mould for casting the outer rim 78, the cast material flowing into the recesses 72 and circumferential furrows 76 in the blades to make a rigid assembly. In another embodiment, the rim 52 is of sheet metal and is formed with dimples 122, Fig. 8, engaging the recesses 72. Alternatively, the sheet metal rim may be secured to the assembly by welding or brazing. In a further embodiment, the rim and blades are secured to the hub section by screws passing through holes in the rim and blades. The hub section may be formed in two parts 160, 162, Fig. 12, the parts being hardened before being welded or brazed to a plate 170 having radially-extending spokes 184 for receiving and positioning the blades during the casting of the rim. The plate 170 may be omitted and each part 200, 220, Fig. 14, have radially extending spokes 210, 218 which serve to position the blades while the rim is cast. In an embodiment using a one-part hub section, axially extending fingers are bent to engage radial grooves in the end surfaces of the base sections of the blades to locate the blades. In further embodiments having two parts prehardened before being brazed or welded together, one or both parts may have radial spokes which extend through the blades and rim, the ends of the spokes being upset or brazed or welded to the rim which may be formed of arcuate segments. The base sections of the blades which have a contour conforming to the shape of the vortex circuit of the device, may be provided on the hub section and be preformed or bent from an axial position 284, Fig. 16a, to the desired contour 276 by a tool 288 to interfittingly engage the bottom of the blades. In other embodiments, the blades and rim are cast simultaneously around the spoked hub section, or the blades may be formed integral with segmented portions of the rim which are brazed or welded together.