Patent GB-1426171-A (GB)
Title: Torque converter transmission including a mechanical gear
IPC: B60K17/06
Filed: 1972-02-07
Abstract: 1426171 Change speed gear; friction clutches S R M HYDROMEKANIK AB 7 Feb 1973 [7 Feb 1972] 5487/72 Headings F2WWA W088 W102 W300 W328 W330 W446 W104 W348 W368 W388 W114 and W066 A vehicle transmission comprises an hydrodynamic torque converter in series (in any order) with a mechanical gear, of planetary or non- planetary type, providing forward and reverse and/or change of ratio, in which shift is performed by one or more "holding" friction clutches or brakes, a holding friction clutch or brake being defined as one which is incapable of slip under torque load, but can slip for synchronizing parts of relatively low inertia during initial engagement, and in addition either the impeller or turbine of the torque converter can be released from its shaft by means which ensures that such release occurs before release of a holding clutch or brake in the mechanical gear and re-engagement occurs only after engagement of a holding clutch or brake. The impeller or turbine release means thus forms a separating clutch released during shift in the mechanical gear. The holding clutch or brake in the mechanical gear is intended to engage initially at a low specific pressure (10-40 kg./cm.<SP>2</SP>) for synchronizing the relatively low inertia masses released by the separating clutch, and is thereafter engaged fully at a pressure of five times that amount for non-slip torque transmission. By these means the holding clutch or brake can be made smaller and lighter than would otherwise be required to synchronize the unreleased parts of the whole drive line. A converter lock up clutch 242 is also provided. In Fig. 1, the impeller 104 of the torque converter has three axial positions. In the rightward position, it is frictionally clutched to a disc or coned surface 104 F on the input housing 102 by supplying liquid pressure through passages 152, 154, 156 to its left face to pass through a pressuremaintaining valve 104C, which establishes a minimum pressure difference between its two sides, and passage 104D to the working space 100 on the right side of the impeller 104, the working space being continuously exhausted through passages 146, 148. This pressure differential moves the impeller 104 rightwards to clutch the input housing 102 at 104F. Changing over the pressure supply and exhaust passages 152, 146 produces an opposite pressure differential, shifting the impeller 104 leftwards to engage the lock-up clutch disc 242. Equalizing the pressures 152, 146 permits a spring 120 to establish a central non-driving neutral position of the impeller 104. In Fig. 1, the torque converter is followed by a bevel reverse gear 10 with forward and reverse selected by a no-neutral dog clutch, spring-loaded to forward setting, as described in Specification 1340031, and by a direct-reduced planet gear 11, not described, having a holding friction selector clutch-brake 12, which is controlled through a no-neutral overcentre spring comprising two conical diaphragm springs 12A, 12B one of which imposes a maximum axial load whilst the other imposes a minimum or zero. During shift one of the springs applies a light synchronizing load before the other applies the final engaging load. In Fig. 1, the reactor 108 of the torque converter is prevented from reverse rotation by the usual one-way roller detent 108R. Fig. 2 (not shown) uses a "double-rotation" converter i.e. one in which the reactor rotates reversely in a starting phase. This is followed by a parallel shaft reverse gear selected by a double friction disc holding clutch controlled through an over-centre diaphragm spring. Fig. 4 (not shown) is a parallel shaft gear giving two ratios in both directions selected by two double cone holding clutches on parallel input and output shafts and controlled through overcentre diaphragm springs. In Fig. 5 (not shown) the separating clutch is between the converter turbine (606) and its shaft. The converter is followed first by a planet gear, not described, having three brakes and a directdrive clutch, all of the holding type, and secondly by a planetary reverse gear, not described.