Source: https://patents.google.com/patent/US6571929B2/en
Timestamp: 2020-08-09 20:02:02
Document Index: 322593558

Matched Legal Cases: ['arts 55', 'arts 55', 'arts 55', 'arts 55', 'arts 55', 'arts 55', 'arts 55', 'arts 55', 'arts 55', 'arts 55', 'arts 55', 'arts 55', 'arts 51', 'arts 51', 'arts 53', 'arts 55', 'arts 55', 'arts 55', 'arts 55']

US6571929B2 - Torque converter with lockup device - Google Patents
Torque converter with lockup device Download PDF
US6571929B2
US6571929B2 US09/855,537 US85553701A US6571929B2 US 6571929 B2 US6571929 B2 US 6571929B2 US 85553701 A US85553701 A US 85553701A US 6571929 B2 US6571929 B2 US 6571929B2
US09/855,537
US20010052443A1 (en
2000-08-31 Priority to JP2000-262583 priority
2000-09-13 Priority to JP2000-277645 priority
2000-09-13 Priority to JP2000277645 priority
2001-05-16 Assigned to EXEDY CORPORATION reassignment EXEDY CORPORATION ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: FUJIMOTO, SHINJI, TOMIYAMA, NAOKI
2001-05-16 Application filed by Exedy Corp filed Critical Exedy Corp
2001-12-20 Publication of US20010052443A1 publication Critical patent/US20010052443A1/en
2003-06-03 Publication of US6571929B2 publication Critical patent/US6571929B2/en
2016-08-03 First worldwide family litigation filed litigation Critical https://patents.darts-ip.com/?family=27343516&utm_source=google_patent&utm_medium=platform_link&utm_campaign=public_patent_search&patent=US6571929(B2) "Global patent litigation dataset” by Darts-ip is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
230000001808 coupling Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 86
238000010168 coupling process Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 86
238000005859 coupling reaction Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 86
A torque converter is provided with a lockup device that functions as a clutch and as an elastic coupling mechanism. In one embodiment, the lockup device is configured to eliminate an outer cylindrical portion from its piston. Preferably, a spring holder has an outer portion arranged radially outside the torsion springs, while a drive plate has a cylindrical portion restricting radial movement of the spring holder. In other embodiments, the elastic coupling mechanism is configured with a sufficient number of sets of elastic members that act together in the rotational direction as if they were arranged end to end. The elastic coupling mechanism has one set of springs disposed radially inward of another set of springs. A spring holder connects first and second sets of springs such that the first and second sets of springs act together in the rotational direction as if they were arranged end to end.
An object of the invention is to provide a lockup device of a torque converter having a disk-like piston, from which a conventional outer cylindrical portion can be eliminated.
FIG. 7 is an enlarged partial cross sectional view of the torque converter illustrated in FIG. 6, taken along line 7—7 of FIG. 8;
FIG. 10 is partial cross sectional view of the lockup device for the torque converter taken along line 10—10 of FIG. 8;
FIG. 11 is partial cross sectional view of the lockup device for the torque converter taken along line 11—11 of FIG. 8;
Referring initially to FIGS. 1-5, a torque converter 1 is illustrated to explain the basic structure of a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a partial schematic vertical cross sectional view of the torque converter 1 in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. The torque converter 1 serves to transmit torque from the crankshaft 2 of an engine to the input shaft 3 of a transmission. The engine (not shown) is disposed to the left of FIG. 1 and the transmission (not shown) is disposed to the right of FIG. 1. The rotational axis of the torque converter 1 is represented by the center line O—O as seen in FIG. 1. In FIG. 3, the arrow R1 indicates the rotational drive direction of the torque converter 1, while the arrow R2 indicates the opposite direction.
The lockup device 7 is disposed in the space 9 between the turbine 22 and the front cover 11 and serves to mechanically connect the turbine 22 and the front cover 11 when necessary. The lockup device 7 is generally disc-shaped and divides the space 9 in roughly the axial direction. Here, the space between the front cover 11 and the lockup device 7 is called the first hydraulic chamber A and the space between the lockup device 7 and the turbine 22 is called the second hydraulic chamber B. The lockup device 7 also functions as a clutch and as an elastic coupling mechanism. The lockup device 7 basically comprises a piston 51, a driven member 53, a plurality of torsion springs or elastic elements 54 a and 54 b, and a spring holder 55. As used herein, the phase “elastic member” can include one or more elastic elements (springs).
The second window parts 55 f are formed further inward in the radial direction than the first window parts 55 d. In other words, the first and second window parts 55 d and 55 f are positioned so as to coincide in the radial direction as seen in FIGS. 3 and 4. However, the second window parts 55 f are slightly shorter in the rotational direction than the first window parts 55 d, but the angle formed in the rotational direction by both window parts is roughly the same. In other words, the first and second window parts 55 d and 55 f have the same arc or angular dimension, but have different lengths since they are concentrically arranged. Also the length of the second window parts 55 f in the radial direction is also slightly shorter than that of the first window parts 55 d. Preferably, the spring holder 55 has eight of the first window parts 55 d and eight of the second window parts 55 f.
The torsion springs 54 a and 54 b are preferably coil springs that extend in the rotational direction. The torsion springs 54 a and 54 b are housed inside the first and second window parts 55 d and 55 f, respectively. Preferably, the spring holder 55 has eight of the first torsion springs 54 a and eight of the second torsion springs 54 b. Preferably, compared to the first torsion springs 54 a, the wire diameter and the coil diameter of the second torsion springs 54 b are smaller. Thus, the spring constant of the second torsion springs 54 b is also smaller than the spring constant of the first torsion springs 54 a. It is also acceptable for same type of spring to be used for the first torsion springs 54 a and the second torsion springs 54 b.
Since the first torsion springs 54 a and the second torsion springs 54 b are arranged so as to follow the shape of the turbine shell 30, the second torsion springs 54 b are positioned more toward the engine in the axial direction than are the first torsion springs 54 a. However, since the second torsion springs 54 b have a smaller coil diameter, the amount by which they project in the axial direction is suppressed.
In the explanation provided below a pair of radially adjacent torsion springs 54 a and 54 b arranged in a pair of radially adjacent first and second window parts 55 d and 55 f will be referred to herein as “one spring set.”
The claw parts 51 e can move with respect to the spring holder 55 in the axial direction. That is, the piston 51 can move in the axial direction in response to changes in hydraulic pressure while maintaining its engagement with the torsion springs 54 a and 54 b.
OPERATION OF TORQUE CONVERTER OF FIG. 1
Immediately after staring the engine, operating fluid is delivered to the inside of the torque converter main body 5 via the first port 17 and the third port 19 and operating fluid is discharged via the second port 18. The operating fluid delivered from the first port 7 flows outward through the first hydraulic chamber A, passes through the second hydraulic chamber B, and flows into the fluid operating chamber 6. Therefore, the piston 51 moves axially toward the engine due to the pressure difference between the first hydraulic chamber A and the second hydraulic chamber B. Thus, the friction facing 56 separates from the front cover 11 and the lockup device 7 is released.
When the lockup condition described here exists, the lockup device 7 transmits torque and also absorbs and dampens the torsional vibrations imparted from the front cover 11. More specifically, when torsional vibrations are imparted to the lockup device 7 from the front cover 11, the torsion springs 54 a and 54 b are compressed in the rotational direction between the piston 51 and the driven member 53. Still more specifically, the torsion springs 54 a and 54 b are compressed in the rotational direction between the claw parts 51 e of the piston 51 and torque transmitting parts 53 d of the driven member 53. When this occurs, a characteristic of low rigidity and a wide torsional angle is obtained because, in each spring set, a pair of the torsion springs 54 a and 54 b are functionally arranged to compress and expand together as if the torsion springs 54 a and 54 b were arranged end to end in the rotational direction. Thus, the phrase “serially arranged” as used herein to describe the function of two or more springs refers to two or more springs that compress and expand together in the rotational direction as if the springs were arranged end to end.
The intermediate section 63 functions as an intermediate support part that supports the inner circumferential sides of the torsion springs 54 a and the outer circumferential sides of the torsion springs 54 b. Furthermore, the first support parts 55 e and the outer circumferential portions of the first window parts 55 d support the outer circumferential sides of the torsion springs 54 a, and the second support parts 55 g and the inner circumferential portions of the second window parts 55 f support the inner circumferential sides of the torsion springs 54 b.
When torsional vibrations are imparted as previously described and the torsion springs 54 a and 54 b are compressed repeatedly, the torsion springs 54 a and 54 b move radially outward due to centrifugal force and slide along the spring holder 55. However, since the spring holder 55 also moves in the rotational direction along with the torsion springs 54 a and 54 b, the sliding resistance between the two members is extremely small. Therefore, the torsional vibration absorption performance is sufficiently maintained.
Referring now to FIGS. 6-12, a torque converter 1′ is illustrated in accordance with a second embodiment. Basically, the only differences between the first and second embodiments are the constructions of the lockup devices 7 and 7′. In view of the similarity between the first and second embodiments, the parts of the second embodiment that are identical to the parts of the first embodiment will be given the same reference numerals as the parts of the first embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a partial schematic vertical cross sectional view of torque converter 1′ in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. The torque converter 1′ is a device for transmitting a torque from a crankshaft 2 of an engine to an input shaft 3 of a transmission. Although not shown, the engine is arranged on the left side in FIG. 6, and the transmission is arranged on the right side in FIG. 6. The center line O—O in FIG. 6 indicates a rotation shaft of the torque converter 1′. An arrow R1 indicates a drive side in the rotating direction of the torque converter 1′, and an arrow R2 indicates the opposite side.
The lockup device 7′ is disposed in the space 9 between the turbine 22 and the front cover 11 for mechanically coupling them together when necessary. The lockup device 7′ is arranged in an axial space between the front cover 11 and the turbine 22. The lockup device 7′ has a nearly disk-like form as a whole, and substantially axially divides the space 9. The space thus formed between the front cover 11 and the lockup device 7′ will be referred to hereinafter as a “first hydraulic chamber A”, and the space thus formed between the lockup device 7′ and the turbine 22 will be referred to hereinafter as a “second hydraulic chamber B”.
The lockup device 7′ has functions of a clutch and an elastic coupling mechanism, and basically includes a piston 71, a drive plate 72, a driven plate 73, a plurality of torsion springs or elastic members 74 a and 74 b, and a spring holder 75. As used herein, the phase “elastic member” can include one or elastic elements (springs).
Each spring accommodating portion 72 d accommodates a pair of torsion springs 74 a and 74 b. Preferably, the torsion springs 74 a are coil springs that extend in the circumferential direction. The torsion springs 74 a and 74 b are arranged end to end in each spring accommodating portion 72 d to compress and expand together in the rotating direction. Thus, the lockup device 7′ employs the torsion springs of eight in total number. The torsion springs 74 a and 74 b can each be a single member such as a single coil spring, or they each can be a combination of a large coil spring and a small coil spring or elastic element disposed within the large coil spring. In each spring accommodating portion 72 d, the torsion spring on the R1 side in the rotating direction is represented as the torsion spring 74 a, and the torsion spring on the R2 side in the rotating direction is represented as the torsion spring 74 b.
The driven plate 73 is a member for transmitting the torque from the torsion springs 74 to the turbine 22. The driven plate 73 is an annular member formed by press working, and is arranged radially outside the turbine shell 30 of the turbine 22. The driven plate 73 basically includes an annular portion 73 a and a plurality of claws 73 b. The annular portion 73 a is fixedly coupled (welded) to the turbine shell 30. The claws 73 b are bent axially toward the engine from the outer periphery of the annular portion 73 a. The claws 73 b correspond to the torque transmitting portions 72 b of the driven plate 72, and each extend axially from the transmission side into a space defined by the curved portion, which is convex when viewed from the engine side, of the torque transmitting portion 72 b. In this manner, each claw 73 b is in contact with the opposite ends, in the rotating direction, of the torsion spring pair 74 a and 74 b disposed in each spring accommodating portion 72 d. The driven plate 73 is provided with a plurality of stop claws 73 c. The stop claw 73 c extends axially toward the engine from the inner periphery of the annular portion 73 a. Each stop claw 73 c is disposed between the engagement portions 72 e of the drive plate 72. When the drive and driven plates 72 and 73 rotate relatively to each other to a large extent, the stop claw 73 c comes into contact with the engagement portion 72 e on either side in the rotating direction so that the compression of the springs 74 stops, and thus the damper operation stops.
OPERATION OF TORQUE CONVERTER OF FIG. 6
Immediately after the start of the engine, the working fluid is supplied from the first and third ports 17 and 19 into the torque converter body 5, and is discharged from the second port 18. The working fluid supplied from the first port 17 flows radially outward in the first hydraulic chamber A, and flows through the second hydraulic chamber B into the fluid operation chamber 6. Thereby, the hydraulic difference between the first and second hydraulic chambers A and B moves the piston 71 axially toward the engine. More specifically, the friction facing 76 moves away from the front cover 11 so that the lock-up state is released.
Referring now to FIG. 13, a modified lockup device 7″ is used with torque converter 1′ explained in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention. Only lockup device 7″ has been modified in this third embodiment from the second embodiment. Thus, the parts of the third embodiment that are identical to the parts of the second embodiment will be given the same reference numerals as the parts of the second embodiment. Moreover, the descriptions of the parts of the third embodiment that are identical or substantially identical to the parts of the second embodiment may be omitted for the sake of brevity. The parts of the third embodiment that differ from the parts of the second embodiment will be indicated with a double prime (″).
Referring now to FIG. 14, a modified lockup device 7′″ is used with torque converter 1′ explained in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention. Only lockup device 7′″ has been modified in this fourth embodiment from the second embodiment. Thus, the parts of the fourth embodiment that are identical to the parts of the second embodiment will be given the same reference numerals as the parts of the first embodiment. Moreover, the descriptions of the parts of the fourth embodiment that are identical or substantially identical to the parts of the second embodiment may be omitted for the sake of brevity. The parts of the fourth embodiment that differ from the parts of the second embodiment will be indicated with a triple prime (′″).
Referring now to FIG. 15-18, a torque converter in accordance with a fifth embodiment will now be explained. In the fifth embodiment shown in FIGS. 15-18, the basic structure of the torque converter 1″″ is substantially the same as that of the torque converter 1′ of the second embodiment. Thus, the parts of the fourth embodiment that are identical to the parts of the second embodiment will be given the same reference numerals as the parts of the first embodiment. Moreover, the descriptions of the parts of the fourth embodiment that are identical or substantially identical to the parts of the second embodiment may be omitted for the sake of brevity, and the following description will be given primarily on the differences from the second embodiment.
The lockup device 7″″ is disposed in the space 9 between the turbine 22 and the front cover 11 for mechanically coupling them together when necessary. The lockup device 7″″ has a nearly disk-like form as a whole, and substantially axially divides the space 9. The space thus formed between the front cover 11 and the lockup device 7″″ will be referred to hereinafter as a “first hydraulic chamber A”, and the space thus formed between the lockup device 7″″ and the turbine 22 will be referred to hereinafter as a “second hydraulic chamber B”.
The lockup device 7″″ has functions of a clutch and an elastic coupling mechanism, and basically includes a piston 81, a driven member 83, a plurality of torsion springs or elastic elements 84 a and 84 b and a spring holder 85. As used herein, the phase “elastic member” can include one or elastic elements (springs).
Each spring accommodating portion is the space defined circumferentially between the claws 82 b. Thus, a pair of torsion springs 84 a and 84 b are arranged end to end within each spring accommodating portion such that the pair of torsion springs 84 a and 84 b compress and expand together in the rotating direction. Thus, the torsion springs 84 a and 84 b employed in this embodiment are eight in total number. Each torsion springs 84 a and 84 b is a coil spring extending in the rotating direction. The torsion spring can be a single coil spring, and can also be a combination of a large coil spring and a small coil spring or an elastic element disposed within the large coil spring. In each spring accommodating portion, the torsion spring on the R1 side in the rotating direction is represented as the torsion spring 84 a, and the torsion spring on the R2 side in the rotating direction is represented as the torsion spring 84 b. The claw 82 b is in contact with or close to the end on the R1 side of the torsion spring 84 a, and is contact with or close to the end on the R2 side of the torsion spring 84 b.
The spring holder 85 is attached to the drive member 82, and is rotatable relatively to the piston 81, drive member 82 and driven member 83. The spring holder 85 is formed of a pressed metal member, and is arranged on the transmission side with respect to the outer periphery of the frictional coupling portion 81 c of the piston 81. The spring holder 85 basically includes a cylindrical portion 85 a and an annular portion 85 b extending radially inward from the end, on the transmission side, of the cylindrical portion 85 a. The cylindrical portion 85 a is arranged radially outside the torsion springs 84 a and 84 b. The annular portion 85 b has an outer peripheral portion and an inner peripheral portion, which is axially depressed by press working toward the engine. An inner peripheral surface 85 g is formed on a boundary between the outer and inner peripheral portions of the annular portion 85 b. The inner peripheral surface 85 g is in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the third portion 82 f of the drive member 82. Owing to this contact, the spring holder 85 is radially positioned with respect to the drive member 82 and the piston 81. This fitted portion of the radial support portion is provided by a press-sheared surface, and therefore can be formed easily. The radially inner portion of the annular portion 85 b is located on the engine side with respect to the third portion 82 f of the drive member 82. This structure prevents the spring holder 85 from disengaging axially toward the transmission from the drive member 82 and the piston 81.
The driven member 83 is employed for transmitting a torque from the torsion springs 84 a and 84 b to the turbine 22. The driven member 83 is an annular member, which is formed of a pressed metal and is arranged radially outside the turbine shell 30 of the turbine 22. The driven member 83 has an annular fixed portion 83 a fixedly coupled to the turbine shell 30 and a plurality of claws 83 b extending axially toward the engine from the outer periphery of the fixed portion 83 a. The claws 83 b of the driven member 83 are formed corresponding to the claws 82 b of the drive member 82, and extend into spaces within curved portions of the claws 82 b, respectively. The claw 83 b has a circumferentially width similar to that of the claw 82 b of the drive member 82, and is in contact with or close to the end, on the R1 side, of the torsion spring 84 a and the end, on the R2 side, of the torsion spring 84 b, similarly to the claw 82 b.
The claw 83 b is axially movable with respect to the drive member 82. More specifically, the piston 81 can axially move in accordance with change in hydraulic pressure while being engaged with the torsion springs 84 a and 84 b.
The claw 83 b is located in a circumferentially intermediate position between the neighboring second portions 82 e of the drive member 82, and is circumferentially spaced from the end of the second portion 82 e by a predetermined angle. Before the claw 83 b comes, in the rotating direction, into contact with the end of the second portion 82 e, the driven member 83 can rotate relatively to the drive member 82. In other words, the second portion 82 e of the drive member 82 and the claw 83 b of the driven member 83 form a stop mechanism for stopping relative rotation. As described above, the claw 83 b has a function of transmitting the torque owing to engagement with the torsion springs 84 a and 84 b, and forms a portion of the stop mechanism for the elastic coupling portion. Therefore, a special structure dedicated to the stop mechanism is not required.
1. An elastic coupling mechanism comprising:
a first elastic member having first and second rotationally facing ends;
a second elastic member having first and second rotationally facing ends, said second elastic member disposed radially inward from said first elastic member:
a first rotating member having first abutting parts that abut against said first and second rotationally facing ends of said first elastic member;
a second rotating member having second abutting parts that abut against said first and second rotationally facing ends of said second elastic member, said second rotating member being configured to support a first axial side of said first and second elastic members; and
an intermediate member connecting said first and second elastic members together in a rotating direction such that said first and second elastic members compress together so as to act as if said first and second elastic members were arranged end to end in the rotating direction, said intermediate member being supported by said second rotating member and engaged with said second rotating member so as to move in the rotating direction, said intermediate member supporting a second axial side of said first and second elastic members, said second axial side being axially opposite said first axial side.
2. The elastic coupling mechanism as recited in claim 1, wherein
said intermediate member includes third abutting parts that abut against said first and second rotationally facing ends of said first elastic member; fourth abutting parts that abut against said first and second rotationally facing ends of said second elastic member; and a connecting part that connects said third abutting parts and said fourth abutting parts.
3. The elastic coupling mechanism as recited in claim 2, wherein
said intermediate member further includes an intermediate support part that extends radially between said first elastic member and said second elastic member.
4. The elastic coupling mechanism as recited in claim 3, wherein
said connecting part includes a first support part that supports a radially facing outside portion of said first elastic member and a second support part that supports a radially facing outside portion of said second elastic member.
5. The elastic coupling mechanism as recited in claim 1, wherein
said intermediate member includes a first window part that houses said first elastic member and a second window part that houses said second elastic member.
6. The elastic coupling mechanism as recited in claim 1, further comprising
said first elastic members including a plurality of said first elastic elements aligned in a first circumferential direction;
said second elastic members including a plurality of said second elastic elements aligned in a second circumferential direction;
said first abutting parts of said first rotating member abut against both rotationally facing ends of said first elastic elements;
said second abutting parts of said second rotating member abut against both rotationally facing ends of said second elastic elements; and
said intermediate member being disc-shaped with a plurality of window parts that house said first and second elastic elements and connects said first and second elastic elements such that radially adjacent pairs of said first and second elastic elements compress together so as to act as if said first and second elastic elements were arranged end to end in the rotating direction.
7. The elastic coupling mechanism as recited in claim 6, wherein
said intermediate member includes third abutting parts that abut against said rotationally facing ends of said first elastic elements; fourth abutting parts that abut against said rotationally facing ends of said second elastic elements; and a connecting part that connects said third abutting parts and said fourth abutting parts.
8. The elastic coupling mechanism as recited in claim 7, wherein
said intermediate member further includes an intermediate support part that extends radially between said first elastic elements and said second elastic elements.
9. The elastic coupling mechanism as recited in claim 8, wherein
said connecting part includes first support parts that support radially facing outside portions of said first elastic elements and second support parts that support radially facing outside portions of said second elastic elements.
10. The elastic coupling mechanism as recited in claim 6, wherein
said intermediate member includes first window parts that house said first elastic elements and second window parts that houses said second elastic elements.
11. The elastic coupling mechanism as recited in claim 1, wherein said first abutting part of said first rotating member is in contact with said first elastic member such that the first abutting part is removable from said first elastic member in an axial direction.
a front cover adapted to be coupled to the power input shaft, said front cover being provided at an inner side with a friction surface;
an impeller connected to said front cover to form a hydraulic chamber together with said front cover;
a turbine disposed opposite said impeller and disposed inside said hydraulic chamber, said turbine being adapted to be coupled to the output shaft, said front cover and said turbine forming a space therebetween;
a stator disposed between said impeller and said turbine;
a lockup device including a piston arranged to axially move within said space in accordance with pressure changes in said space, said piston having a first frictional coupling portion adjacent to said friction surface of said front cover; and
an elastic coupling mechanism operatively coupled between said turbine and said piston to supply a torque to said turbine, said elastic coupling mechanism comprising:
a second elastic member having first and second rotationally facing ends,
said second elastic member disposed radially inward from said first elastic member, said second rotating member being configured to support a first axial side of said first and second elastic members;
a second rotating member having second abutting parts that abut against said first and second rotationally facing ends of said second elastic member; and
13. The torque converter as recited in claim 12, wherein
14. The torque converter as recited in claim 13, wherein
15. The torque converter as recited in claim 14, wherein
16. The torque converter as recited in claim 12, wherein
17. The torque converter as recited in claim 12, further comprising
18. The torque converter as recited in claim 17, wherein
19. The torque converter as recited in claim 18, wherein
20. The torque converter as recited in claim 19, wherein
21. The torque converter as recited in claim 17, wherein
22. The torque converter as recited in claim 12, wherein said first abutting part of said first rotating member is in contact with said first elastic member such that the first abutting part is removable from said first elastic member in an axial direction.
an output rotary member;
a piston being configured to move within the space in accordance with pressure changes in the space and to perform a clutch operation, said piston being engageable with the front cover;
an elastic member disposed on a side of said piston opposite the front cover, said elastic member being arranged to elastically couple said piston and said output rotary member in a rotating direction;
a support member having a continuously cylindrical outer support portion arranged radially outside said elastic member, said support member being arranged to rotate with respect to said piston and said output rotary member; and
a restricting portion arranged to restrict radial movement of said support member.
24. The lockup device as recited in claim 23, wherein
said support member further includes an inner support portion arranged on a radially inner side of said elastic member, with said restricting portion contacting said inner support portion to radially support said support member.
25. The lockup device as recited in claim 24, wherein
said restricting portion has an outer peripheral surface in contact with an inner peripheral surface of said inner support portion.
26. The lockup device as recited in claim 23, wherein
said support member further includes a cylindrical axial support portion extending radially inward from said outer support portion to support an axially side of said elastic member with said restricting portion contacting said axial support portion to radially support said support member.
27. The lockup device as recited in claim 23, wherein
said elastic member includes a pair of elastic elements serially arranged to compress together in the rotating direction, and
said support member further includes a torque transmitting portion arranged in a space between adjacent rotationally facing ends of said pair of said elastic elements.
28. The lockup device as recited in claim 24, wherein
29. The lockup device as recited in claim 25, wherein
30. The lockup device as recited in claim 26, wherein
31. The lockup device as recited in claim 23, wherein said support member is a plate.
said support member has a disk-shaped portion to support an axial side of said elastic member and said outer support portion extending from a radially outer periphery of said disk-shaped portion toward said turbine in the axial direction.
33. The lockup device as recited in claim 23, wherein,
said output member is fixed to the turbine and has claws to support rotationally facing ends of said elastic member,
said lockup device further comprises a stopper to stop relative rotation of said piston and said driven member by abutting said claws as said elastic member is compressed.
34. The lockup device as recited in claim 33, wherein,
said support member supports said elastic member from a side opposite the piston in an axial direction.
35. The lockup device as recited in claim 34, wherein,
said support member is one plate.
36. The lockup device as recited in claim 34, wherein,
said support member has a disk-shaped portion to support an axial side of said elastic members and an outer support portion extending from a radially outer periphery of said disk-shaped portion toward the front cover in the axial direction.
37. The lockup device as recited in claim 34, wherein,
said support member is supported by said piston so as not to move axially.
38. The lockup device in a torque converter as recited in claim 34, said elastic member comprises a pair of members arranged to operate in series in the rotating further includes a torque transmitting portion arranged in a rotational space between said pair of members.
a front cover being configured to be coupled to the power input shaft, said front cover being provided at an inner side with a friction surface;
a lockup device disposed in said space to mechanically engage and disengage said front cover with respect to said turbine, said lockup device including
a piston arranged to axially move within said space in accordance with pressure changes in said space and to perform a clutch operation, said piston being engageable with said front cover;
an elastic member disposed on the side of said piston opposite said front cover, said elastic member being arranged to elastically couple said piston and said output rotary member in a rotating direction;
40. The torque converter as recited in claim 39, wherein
41. The torque converter as recited in claim 40, wherein
42. The torque converter as recited in claim 31, wherein
43. The torque converter as recited in claim 39, wherein
44. The torque converter as recited in claim 40, wherein
45. The torque converter as recited in claim 41, wherein
46. The torque converter as recited in claim 42, wherein
47. The lockup device as recited in claim 39, wherein said support member is a plate.
49. The torque converter as recited in claim 39, wherein,
said output member is fixed to said turbine and has claws to support rotationally facing ends of said elastic member,
said lockup device further comprising a stopper to stop relative rotation of said piston and said driven member by abutting with said claws as said elastic member is compressed.
50. The torque converter as recited in claim 39, wherein,
said support member supports said elastic member from the side opposite to said piston in an axial direction.
51. The torque converter as recited in claim 50, wherein, said support member is one plate.
said support member has a disk-shaped portion to support an axial side of said elastic members and an outer support portion extending from a radially outer periphery of said disk-shaped portion toward said front cover in the axial direction.
53. The torque converter as recited claim 50, wherein, said support member is supported by said piston so as not to move axially.
a second elastic member having first and second rotationally facing ends, said second elastic member disposed radially inward from said first elastic member;
a first rotating member having first abutting parts being configured to abut against said first and second rotationally facing ends of said first elastic member;
a second rotating member having second abutting parts being configured to abut against said first and second rotationally facing ends of said second elastic member; and
an intermediate member connecting said first and second elastic members together in a rotating direction such that said first and second elastic members compress together so as to act as if said first and second elastic members were arranged end to end in the rotating direction, said intermediate member being a plate.
56. A torque converter adapted to be used to transmit torque from a power input shaft to an output shaft, said torque converter comprising:
a lockup device including a piston arranged to move axially within said space in accordance with pressure changes in said space, said piston having a first frictional coupling portion adjacent to said friction surface of said front cover; and
an elastic coupling mechanism operatively coupled between said turbine and said piston to supply a torque to said turbine, said elastic coupling mechanism comprising,
a first elastic member having first and second rotationally facing ends,
a second elastic member having first and second rotationally facing ends, said second elastic member disposed radially inward from said first elastic member,
a first rotating member having first abutting parts that abut against said first and second rotationally facing ends of said first elastic member,
a second rotating member having second abutting parts that abut against said first and second rotationally facing ends of said second elastic member, and
57. An elastic coupling mechanism comprising:
an intermediate member connecting said first and second elastic members together in a rotating direction such that said first and second elastic members compress together so as to act as if said first and second elastic members were arranged end to end in the rotating direction.
58. The elastic coupling mechanism as recited in claim 57, wherein
said second rotating member curves along said radially outer portion of said turbine shell,
said first and second elastic members are disposed along said second rotating member and said turbine shell, and axial position of said first elastic member is closer to said turbine in the axial direction than axial position of said second elastic member.
59. The elastic coupling mechanism as recited in claim 58, wherein
said first abutting part of said first rotating member is in contact with said first elastic members such that the first abutting part can be removed from said first elastic member in an axial direction.
60. The elastic coupling mechanism as recited in claim 58, wherein said intermediate member is a plate.
an axial side of said first and second elastic members are supported by said second member,
said intermediate member is supported by said second rotating member and engaged with said second rotating member so as to move in the rotating direction, said intermediate member supporting the other axial side of said first and second elastic members.
62. The elastic coupling mechanism as recited in claim 61, wherein said intermediate member is a plate.
an impeller being connected to said front cover to form a hydraulic chamber with said front cover;
a turbine disposed opposite said impeller and disposed inside said hydraulic chamber, said turbine being configured to be coupled to the output shaft, said front cover and said turbine forming a space therebetween;
a first rotating member having first abutting parts that abut against said first and second rotationally facing ends of said first elastic member, said first rotating member being said piston,
a second rotating member having second abutting parts that abut against said first and second rotationally facing ends of said second elastic member, said second rotating member being fixed on radially outer portion of a turbine shell of said turbine, and
65. The torque converter as recited in claim 64, wherein
said second rotating member curves along a radially outer portion of said turbine shell,
said first and second elastic members are disposed along said second rotating member and said turbine shell, and an axial position of said first elastic member is closer to said turbine in the axial direction than an axial position of said second elastic member.
66. The torque converter as recited in claim 65, wherein
said first abutting part of said first rotating member is in contact with said first elastic members such that said first abutting part is removable from said first elastic member in an axial direction.
67. The torque converter as recited in claim 65, wherein said intermediate member is a plate.
a first axial side of said first and second elastic members are supported by said second rotating member,
said intermediate member is supported by said second rotating member and engaged with said second rotating member so as to move in the rotating direction, said intermediate member supporting a second axial side of said first and second elastic members, said first and second axial sides being different.
69. The torque converter as recited in claim 68, wherein said intermediate member is a plate.
US09/855,537 2000-05-26 2001-05-16 Torque converter with lockup device Active US6571929B2 (en)
JP2000-262583 2000-08-31
JP2000277645 2000-09-13
JP2000-277645 2000-09-13
US20010052443A1 US20010052443A1 (en) 2001-12-20
US6571929B2 true US6571929B2 (en) 2003-06-03
ID=27343516
US09/855,537 Active US6571929B2 (en) 2000-05-26 2001-05-16 Torque converter with lockup device
US (1) US6571929B2 (en)
KR (1) KR20010107762A (en)
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