Optimized outer clutch housing for reduced spin loss, improved oil flow and improved clutch durability

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10119576-B2
Application number	US-201615049320-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 22, 2016
Priority date	Aug 23, 2013
Publication date	Nov 6, 2018
Grant date	Nov 6, 2018

Abstract

A torque transfer device can include a housing and a clutch. The housing can define a clutch cavity and a pocket. The pocket can be formed at an axial end of the clutch cavity and have a generally arcuate shape that extends circumferentially about the clutch cavity above a static lubrication level. The clutch can include an outer carrier, an inner carrier, a plurality of first and second interleaved friction plates. One of an outer and an inner plate carrier of the clutch can be coupled to an input member for common rotation. The other of the carriers can be coupled to a differential case for common rotation. Rotation of the outer carrier relative to the housing through a fluid in the clutch cavity can sling a portion of the fluid toward an inner surface of the housing to cause the portion of the fluid to collect in the pocket.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A torque transfer device comprising:
a housing having an end wall and defining a shaft bore and a central cavity, the shaft bore extending through the end wall, the central cavity being disposed about the shaft bore and being bounded on one axial side by the end wall; and
a clutch having a first clutch member, the first clutch member being received in the central cavity and rotatable relative to the housing about a rotational axis;
wherein a portion of the central cavity forms a lubricant sump that is configured to hold a predetermined quantity of lubricant through which at least a portion of the clutch rotates when the torque transfer device is transmitting rotary power;
wherein a groove is formed into the end wall of the housing at a periphery of the central cavity, wherein the groove does not intersect the sump when the housing is positioned in a predetermined position about the rotational axis, and wherein a portion of the first clutch member and a portion of the groove are disposed axially in-line with one another.

2. The torque transfer device of claim 1 , further comprising a bearing mounted to the housing concentric with the shaft bore, and wherein a channel is formed in the end wall, the channel having an outlet end that is in fluid communication with the bearing.

3. The torque transfer device of claim 2 , wherein the channel is arcuate in shape.

4. The torque transfer device of claim 2 , wherein the channel has a spiral shape.

5. The torque transfer device of claim 2 , wherein the channel has an inlet end that is coupled in fluid communication to the groove.

6. The torque transfer device of claim 2 , wherein a hole is formed through the first clutch member, the hole being positioned in a radial direction so as to sweep across the channel when the first clutch member rotates about the rotational axis relative to the housing, the hole in the first clutch member being configured to receive lubricant therethrough when the first clutch member rotates during operation of the torque transfer device.

7. The torque transfer device of claim 1 , wherein the groove is shaped as an annular segment.

8. The torque transfer device of claim 1 , wherein the clutch is a friction clutch.

9. The torque transfer device of claim 1 , further comprising a thrust bearing disposed between the end wall and the first clutch member, the thrust bearing being radially inward of the groove.

10. The torque transfer device of claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises an annular wall that is fixedly coupled to the end wall, the annular wall forming a radially outer perimeter of the central cavity, wherein at least a portion of an inside circumferential surface of the annular wall tapers radially outwardly with increasing distance from the end wall.

11. A torque transfer device comprising:
a housing assembly having a first housing member and a second housing member that are coupled together and cooperate to define a central cavity, the first housing member defining an annular piston bore, the second housing member having an end wall and defining a shaft bore, the shaft bore extending through the end wall, the central cavity being bounded on one axial side by the end wall; and
a friction clutch having an input member, an output member, a plurality of first clutch plates, and a plurality of second clutch plates, the input and output members being received in the central cavity and rotatable about a rotational axis, the first clutch plates being received over and non-rotatably coupled to the input member, the second clutch plates being received in and non-rotatably coupled to the output member, the second clutch plates being interleaved with the first clutch plates;
wherein a portion of the central cavity forms a lubricant sump that is configured to hold a predetermined quantity of lubricant through which at least a portion of the clutch rotates when the torque transfer device is transmitting rotary power;
wherein a groove is formed into the end wall of the second housing member at a periphery of the central cavity, wherein the groove does not intersect the sump when the housing assembly is positioned in a predetermined position about the rotational axis, and wherein a portion of the output member and a portion of the groove are disposed axially in-line with one another.

12. The torque transfer device of claim 11 , further comprising a bearing mounted to the second housing member concentric with the shaft bore, and wherein a channel is formed in the end wall, the channel having an outlet end that is in fluid communication with the bearing.

13. The torque transfer device of claim 12 , wherein the channel is arcuate in shape.

14. The torque transfer device of claim 12 , wherein the channel has a spiral shape.

15. The torque transfer device of claim 12 , wherein the channel has an inlet end that is coupled in fluid communication to the groove.

16. The torque transfer device of claim 12 , wherein a hole is formed through the output member, the hole being positioned in a radial direction so as to sweep across the channel when the output member rotates about the rotational axis relative to the housing assembly, the hole in the output member being configured to receive lubricant therethrough when the first clutch member rotates during operation of the torque transfer device.

17. The torque transfer device of claim 11 , wherein the groove is shaped as an annular segment.

18. The torque transfer device of claim 11 , further comprising a thrust bearing disposed between the end wall and the output member, the thrust bearing being radially inward of the groove.

19. The torque transfer device of claim 11 , wherein the second housing member comprises an annular wall that is fixedly coupled to the end wall, the annular wall forming a radially outer perimeter of the central cavity, wherein at least a portion of an inside circumferential surface of the annular wall tapers radially outwardly with increasing distance from the end wall.

Assignees

• American Axle & Mfg Inc

Inventors

• Phelps Chris
• Kincaid Jeffrey L
• Hibbler John C
• Kornosky Paul W
• Downs James P

Classifications

• F16D13/52

  Clutches with multiple lamellae {; Clutches in which three or more axially moveable members are fixed alternately to the shafts to be coupled and are pressed from one side towards an axially-located member (F16D13/385 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• F16H57/0424 Primary

  Lubricant guiding means in the wall of or integrated with the casing, e.g. grooves, channels, holes · CPC title

• F16D25/0638

  with more than two discs, e.g. multiple lamellae · CPC title

• F16D13/74 Primary

  Features relating to lubrication · CPC title

• F16H57/0473

  Friction devices, e.g. clutches or brakes · CPC title