Patent Publication Number: US-2022221038-A1

Title: Torque transmission apparatus having dry-operated separating clutch

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is the U.S. National Phase of PCT Appln. No. PCT/DE2020/100403 filed May 12, 2020, which claims priority to DE 102019112571.5 filed May 14, 2019, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated by reference herein. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The disclosure relates to a torque transmission apparatus according to the preamble of claim  1 . 
     BACKGROUND 
     A torque transmission apparatus is known for example from DE 10 2009 020 672 A1. The torque transmission apparatus is arranged in a hybrid drive train between a first drive element and a transmission and comprises a torque converter, which is connected to a transmission input shaft, a separating clutch and an electric machine. The electric machine, the separating clutch and the torque converter are designed as preassembled structural units and in the assembled state, the torque converter and the separating clutch are sealed in a liquid-tight manner from the electrical machine. 
     SUMMARY 
     The object of the present disclosure is to improve a torque transmission apparatus. The installation space and the costs of a torque transmission apparatus should be reduced. The power losses of the torque transmission apparatus should be reduced. 
     At least one of these objects is achieved by a torque transmission apparatus with the features described herein and in the claims. As a result, a space-saving and inexpensive actuation of the dry separating clutch can be achieved. 
     The torque transmission apparatus can be arranged in a drive train of a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle. The first drive element can be an internal combustion engine. 
     The torque converter input can comprise a torque converter housing and/or a component connected thereto, for example a housing hub. The torque converter input can be coupled to the torque converter output via a torsional vibration damper. 
     The torque converter output can comprise a torque converter output hub. 
     A torsional vibration damper can effectively be arranged in front of the separating clutch. The torsional vibration damper can have a damper input part and a damper output part that can be rotated to a limited extent with respect to the damper input part via the action of at least one spring element. The spring element can be designed as a bow spring. The damper output part can be connected to the clutch input for conjoint rotation. The torsional vibration damper can have a centrifugal pendulum. 
     The separating clutch can comprise a friction set, having at least one input-side and/or output-side friction plate, which can be connected in a frictionally effective manner to a counter-friction surface via the clutch actuating apparatus. The friction set can be operated free of a cooling fluid. 
     The clutch actuating apparatus can be actuated fully hydraulically or via a CSC clutch actuation. The clutch actuating apparatus can have a clutch actuation element, for example a pressure pot. The clutch actuation element can be movable on the clutch output or the torque converter input in a pressure-tight manner. 
     The clutch actuating apparatus can bring about an actuation pressure in the separating clutch via the pressure medium. The actuation pressure can cause an actuation force on the separating clutch. The actuation force can be supported within the separating clutch. The separating clutch can have a closed flow of actuating force. 
     In a preferred embodiment of the disclosure, the torque converter is arranged axially between the output element and the separating clutch. 
     In a further preferred embodiment of the disclosure, the pressure medium channel comprises a first through opening in the torque converter input. 
     In a special embodiment of the disclosure, the torque converter output can be connected to an input shaft of the output element and the pressure medium channel runs in portions in the input shaft. The pressure medium channel can run essentially axially through the torque converter, in particular essentially axially through the input shaft. 
     In a preferred embodiment of the disclosure, the clutch output has a second through opening, which can be hydraulically connected to the first through opening. 
     In a preferred embodiment of the disclosure, the pressure medium channel has a pressure medium transition formed between the torque converter and the separating clutch and is sealed to the outside and connecting the first and second through openings. The pressure medium transition can be arranged directly between the torque converter input and the clutch output. At least one sealing element can be arranged between the torque converter input and the clutch output, in particular for sealing the pressure medium transition. 
     In an advantageous embodiment of the disclosure, the clutch output can be connected non-rotatably to the torque converter input. The clutch output can have an output flange and a clutch output hub. The clutch output hub can be directly non-rotatably connectable to the torque converter input, in particular to the housing hub. 
     In a special embodiment of the disclosure, the clutch output and the torque converter input are arranged coaxially. 
     In a preferred embodiment of the disclosure, the clutch output and/or the torque converter input is non-rotatably connected to a second drive element. The second drive element can be an electric motor with a fixed stator and a rotor, which is rotatable about a rotation axis. The rotor can be arranged axially between the torque converter and the separating clutch. The rotor can be arranged radially outside of the separating clutch. The rotor can be permanently connected to the torque converter input, for example to the torque converter housing. 
     The torque transmission apparatus can be arranged in the hybrid drive train. The torque transmission apparatus can be designed as a hybrid module. The first and second drive elements can drive a vehicle in parallel or alternately. 
     An intermediate wall can be arranged axially between the separating clutch and the torque converter and/or the second drive element. As a result, the second drive element can be kept free from contamination by the separating clutch. The intermediate wall can be connected radially on the inside to a bearing element by which the torque converter can be supported. The torque converter input can be rotatable relative to the intermediate wall via the bearing element. The intermediate wall can be firmly connected to a transmission housing. The intermediate wall can have a curved portion through which the intermediate wall extends radially outside the rotor radially inwards in an axially offset manner relative to the rotor and radially inside the rotor in an axially overlapping manner relative to the rotor radially inwards. 
     The torque transmission apparatus can be constructed from at least two modules. The first module can be formed from the torque converter with an associated second drive element and the second module can be formed from the separating clutch. The torsional vibration damper can be assigned to the second module or formed as an independent third module. 
     Further advantages and advantageous embodiments of the disclosure result from the description of the figures and the drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The disclosure is described in detail below with reference to the drawing. 
         FIG. 1  shows a half-section of a torque transmission apparatus  10  in a specific embodiment of the disclosure. The torque transmission apparatus  10  can be arranged in a drive train of a motor vehicle and can transmit a torque from a first drive element, for example an internal combustion engine, to an output element, for example a transmission. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The torque transmission apparatus  10  comprises a torque converter  12 , having a torque converter input  14 , which is rotatable about a rotation axis A and is coupled to the first drive element and which has, in particular, a housing hub  16  and a torque converter housing  18  firmly connected thereto, in particular welded thereto. The torque converter housing  18 , together with the housing hub  16 , encloses a fluid space  20  in which there is a working fluid that can be supplied and discharged through a working fluid channel K 1  and a further working fluid channel K 2 . The working fluid enables torque to be transmitted between a pump  22  fixedly connected to the torque converter housing  18  and a turbine  24 . The torque converter housing  18  is firmly connected to a pump neck  26 , which can drive a fluid pump for delivering the working fluid. The turbine  24  is riveted to a torque converter output  28 , in particular a torque converter output hub. The torque converter output  28  is non-rotatably connected to an input shaft  29  of the output element, for example a transmission input shaft. 
     A converter bridging clutch  30  is arranged inside the torque converter housing  18 , which causes a torque transmission between the torque converter input  14  and the output hub  28  to bypass the torque transmission possible between the pump  22  and the turbine  24 . The converter bridging clutch  30  is actuated by an actuating device  31  as a function of a fluid pressure in an actuating channel K 3 . A clutch output  32  of the converter bridging clutch  30  is connected to a torsional vibration damper  34 . The torsional vibration damper  34  has a damper input part  36  and a damper output part  38  which can be rotated to a limited extent relative to the damper input part  36  via the action of compression springs  37 . The clutch output  32  is non-rotatably connected to the damper output part  36 . The damper output part  38  is connected to a centrifugal pendulum  40 . The centrifugal pendulum  40  comprises a pendulum flange  42  on which pendulum masses  44 , which can be moved to a limited extent along a pendulum track, are arranged. The pendulum flange  42  is designed in one piece with the damper output part  38 . 
     The torque converter input  14  is connected to an electric motor  46 . The electric motor  46  has a rotor  48 , which rotatable about the rotation axis A and a fixed stator  50 . The stator  50  can be firmly connected to a housing of the output element, for example a gear housing. The electric motor  46  forms a second drive element  52 , which can cause torque to be introduced into the torque converter input  14 . 
     The first drive element is connected to a torsional vibration damper  54 . The torsional vibration damper  54  is designed as a dual-mass flywheel and comprises a damper input part  56  and a damper output part  60  which can be rotated to a limited extent relative to the damper input part  56  via the action of at least one spring element  58 , here an arc spring. For example, a crankshaft of the first drive element can be firmly connected to the damper input part  56 . 
     The damper output part  60  is connected to a separating clutch  62 . The separating clutch  62  comprises a clutch input  64  and a clutch output  66 , which can be connected to the clutch input  64  by the action of a clutch actuating apparatus  68 . The damper output part  60  is non-rotatably connected to the clutch input  64 . The clutch input  64  can be effectively connected to the clutch output  66  via a friction set  70  depending on the actuation position of the clutch actuating apparatus  68 . The friction set  70  comprises an input-side friction plate  72  which, when actuated by the clutch actuating apparatus  68 , can be frictionally connected to a counter-friction surface  74 , here on a steel plate  76 , which in turn is non-rotatably connected to the clutch output  66 . 
     The separating clutch  62  can bring about a torque transmission between the first drive element and the torque converter  12  that is dependent on the actuation position of the clutch actuating apparatus  68 . The separating clutch  62  is designed as a dry-operated separating clutch  62 , in which the friction set  70  is operated free of a cooling fluid. The separating clutch  62  is arranged outside of the torque converter  12 , which in turn is arranged axially between the output element and the separating clutch  62 . 
     The clutch actuating apparatus  68  has a pressure medium chamber  78  which, when an actuation pressure is applied by a pressure medium, causes an actuation force on a pressure piston  80 , which transmits the actuation force to a clutch actuation element  82 , here a pressure pot, which in turn exerts a pressing force on the friction set  70 . The actuation force is supported within the separating clutch  62 . The separating clutch  62  has a closed flow of actuating force. 
     The pressure medium can be a fluid which is introduced into the pressure medium space  78  via a pressure medium channel K 4 . The pressure medium channel K 4  runs at least in portions and essentially axially through the torque converter  12 , as a result of which, in particular, a simple and space-saving clutch actuation of the separating clutch  62  can be implemented. The pressure medium channel K 4  running axially through the torque converter  12  is designed as a bore in the input shaft  29  which is separated from the actuating channel K 3  by a separating sleeve  84 . 
     The pressure medium channel K 4  comprises a first through opening  86  in the torque converter input  14 , here in the housing hub  16 . The clutch output  66  comprises an output flange  88 , which is firmly connected to a clutch output hub  90 , for example welded. The clutch output hub  90  has a second through opening  92 , which is hydraulically connected to the first through opening  86 . 
     An outwardly sealed pressure medium transition  94  is present between the first through opening  86  and the second through opening  92 . The pressure medium transition  94  is arranged directly between the torque converter input  14  and the clutch output  66  and is sealed between the torque converter input  14  and the clutch output  66  by two sealing elements  96 , in particular statically acting O-rings. The pressure piston  80  is arranged movably on the clutch output hub  90  in a pressure-tight manner. The clutch output hub  90  is non-rotatably connected to the torque converter input  14 , for example via a toothing  98 . 
     The rotor  48  is arranged axially between the torque converter  12  and the separating clutch  62  and radially outside of the separating clutch  62 . An intermediate wall  100  is arranged axially between the separating clutch  62  and the torque converter  12  or the second drive element  52 . As a result, the second drive element  52  can be kept free from contamination by the separating clutch  62 . 
     The intermediate wall  100  is connected radially on the inside to a bearing element  102 , by means of which the torque converter  12  can be supported on a housing of the output element, for example a transmission housing. The housing hub  16  of the torque converter input  14  can be rotated relative to the intermediate wall  100  via the bearing element  102 . The intermediate wall  100  extends radially outside the rotor  48 , axially offset from the rotor  48 , radially inward and radially inside the rotor  48 , axially overlapping with the rotor  48  radially inward. This axial bend is implemented by a curved portion  104  in the intermediate wall  100 . 
     The torque transmission apparatus  10  is constructed from at least two modules. The first module  106  is formed from the torque converter  12  with an associated second drive element  52  and the second module  108  is formed from the separating clutch  62 . The torsional vibration damper  54  can be assigned to the second module  108  or designed as an independent third module  110 . As a result, simple assembly and an adaptable structure of the torque transmission apparatus  10  can be achieved. 
     LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS 
     
         
         
           
               10  Torque transmission apparatus 
               12  Torque converter 
               14  Torque converter input 
               16  Housing hub 
               18  Torque converter housing 
               20  Fluid space 
               22  Pump 
               24  Turbine 
               26  Pump neck 
               28  Torque converter output 
               29  Input shaft 
               30  Converter bridging clutch 
               32  Clutch output 
               34  Torsional vibration damper 
               36  Damper input part 
               37  Compression spring 
               38  Damper output part 
               40  Centrifugal pendulum 
               42  Pendulum flange 
               44  Pendulum masses 
               46  Electric motor 
               48  Rotor 
               50  Stator 
               52  Second drive element 
               54  Torsional vibration damper 
               56  Damper input part 
               58  Spring element 
               60  Damper output part 
               62  Separating clutch 
               64  Clutch input 
               66  Clutch output 
               68  Clutch actuator 
               70  Friction set 
               72  Friction plate 
               74  Counter friction surface 
               76  Steel plate 
               78  Pressure medium chamber 
               80  Pressure piston 
               82  Clutch actuation element 
               84  Separating sleeve 
               86  First through opening 
               88  Outlet flange 
               90  Clutch output hub 
               92  Second through opening 
               94  Pressure medium transmission 
               96  Sealing element 
               100  Intermediate wall 
               102  Bearing element 
               104  Curved portion 
               106  First module 
               108  Second module 
               110  Third module 
             A Rotation axis 
             K 1  Working fluid channel 
             K 2  Working fluid channel 
             K 3  Actuation channel 
             K 4  Pressure medium channel