Patent GB-1035572-A (GB)
Title: Hydrodynamic torque converters and motor vehicle transmissions
IPC: F16H61/02
Filed: 1965-01-27
Abstract: 1,035,572. Hydraulic torque converters; change speed control. FORD MOTOR CO. Ltd. Jan. 27, 1965 [Feb. 17, 1964], No. 3480/65. Headings F2C and F2D. A hydrodynamic torque converter having an impeller 108, a turbine 114, and a reactor 124 mounted on a one-way detent 128, includes a pump P comprising a pump body 74 (Figs. 1 and 2, not shown), force-fitted on the turbine hub, having radial cylinders housing pistons spring-urged against a cam ring formed in an input drive flange 110 drivingly connected to the impeller 108, so that the pump output is proportional to the slip in the torque converter, and hence to the torque transmitted thereby. An hydraulic control system causes auto. matic shifts between the forward ratios of a two-speed and reverse planetary gear driven by the torque converter in response to an input torque signal from the pump P and an input or output speed signal. The gear comprises an output carrier 140 having intermeshed planets 136, 138 meshing respectively with a sun 132 driven by the turbine 114, and with a ring gear 142 and a sun 134 mounted on a releasable one-way detent 154. Low gear is through the torque converter, the sun 132, and the planets 136, to an output shaft 148, the reaction being provided by the sun 134, held by the detent 154 for one-way low, or by a brake 150 actuated by a servo motor 170 for two-way low. For a split-torque high gear approximating to direct drive, a clutch 120 is engaged to drive one sun 134 directly from the input drive flange 110, the other sun 132 being driven through the torque converter. For reverse, the detent 154 is made inoperative and a brake 144 applied to the ring gear 142. A spring 130, drivingly connected to the sun 134, drags against the input flange 110 so that in neutral a speed differential between the impeller 108 and the turbine 114 of the torque converter is ensured, to drive the pump P which supplies fluid pressure to the control system via a main regulator valve 164. The detent 154 is released when the brake 150 is applied. The clutch 120 is applied by a radially inward flow of fluid in the torque converter between a clutch member 118 and the shell 112 connecting the input flange 110 to the impeller 108. Radially outward flow disengages the clutch 120. The direction of flow is controlled automatically, in response to the torque signal from the pump P through a line 160, by a valve 158. In Fig. 4 (not shown), direct drive is provided by engaging a lock-up clutch for the planetary gear, the torque converter remaining in series with the gear. The pressure signal from the pump P is fed to a shift valve 226 controlling the lock-up clutch, and to a servo-motor 212 controlling the incidence of movable outlet blades 210 of the impeller 176. In Fig. 5 (not shown), the torque converter has a first turbine 234 driving sun gears 248, 256 of two planetary stages, and a second turbine 236 secured to the output shaft 270 of the gear. For starting, the drive is through the turbine 234, sun 256, planets 260, and planet carrier 262. As speed increases, the turbine 236 takes up the torque, and the turbine 234 tends to overrun, at which condition the signal from the pump P, connected between the impeller and the turbine 236, acts to deenergize a servomotor 276 to release a one-way detent 264 to release the ring gear 258 which forms the low gear reaction member. For reverse, the planet carrier 252 of a second train including the sun 248 is held by a brake 254.