Damper assemblies for engine disconnect clutches of motor vehicle powertrains

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10260613-B2
Application number	US-201715617710-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 8, 2017
Priority date	Jun 8, 2017
Publication date	Apr 16, 2019
Grant date	Apr 16, 2019

Abstract

Disclosed are damper assemblies for engine disconnect devices, methods for making such damper assemblies, and motor vehicles with a disconnect device for coupling/decoupling an engine with a torque converter (TC). A disconnect clutch for selectively connecting an engine with a TC includes a pocket plate that movably mounts to the TC. The pocket plate includes pockets movably seating therein engaging elements that engage input structure of the TC and thereby lock the pocket plate to the TC. A selector plate moves between engaged and disengaged positions such that the engaging elements shift into and out of engagement with the TC input structure, respectively. A flex plate is attached to the engine's output shaft for common rotation therewith. A damper plate is attached to the pocket plate for common rotation therewith. Spring elements mate the damper and flex plates such that the damper plate is movably attached to the flex plate.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A disconnect clutch for selectively connecting an engine assembly with a torque converter, the engine assembly having an output shaft, and the torque converter having input structure to receive engine torque output via the output shaft, the disconnect clutch comprising:
a pocket plate configured to movably attach to the torque converter, the pocket plate including a plurality of pockets;
a plurality of engaging elements configured to engage the pockets with the input structure to thereby lock the pocket plate to the torque converter for common rotation therewith;
a selector plate adjacent the pocket plate and configured to move between an engaged position, whereat the engaging elements shift into engagement between and thereby lock the pocket plate and the input structure, and a disengaged position, whereat the selector plate shifts the engaging elements out of engagement between the pockets and input structure;
a flex plate adjacent the pocket plate and configured to attach to the output shaft of the engine assembly for common rotation therewith;
a damper plate adjacent the flex plate on the opposite side of the pocket plate, the damper plate attached to the pocket plate for common rotation therewith; and
a plurality of spring elements mating the damper plate with the flex plate such that the damper plate is movably attached to the flex plate.

2. The disconnect clutch of claim 1 , wherein the torque converter includes a pump housing with a hub projecting therefrom, and wherein the pocket plate is configured to rotatably mount onto the hub of the pump housing.

3. The disconnect clutch of claim 2 , wherein the hub of the pump housing includes an annular slot, and wherein the pocket plate includes a central ring configured to concentrically align with and seat in the annular slot.

4. The disconnect clutch of claim 1 , wherein the output shaft of the engine assembly includes an engine hub mounted to one end of a crankshaft, and wherein the flex plate includes a plurality of fastener holes configured to receive therethrough fasteners that rigidly couple the flex plate directly to the engine hub.

5. The disconnect clutch of claim 1 , wherein each of the engaging elements includes a pawl rotatably seated within a respective one of the pockets of the pocket plate.

6. The disconnect clutch of claim 5 , wherein the pawls are circumferentially spaced around the pocket plate, and wherein the input structure of the torque converter includes a pump housing with circumferentially spaced notches, the pawls engaging the pump housing, to thereby lock the pocket plate to the torque converter, by protruding into and abutting the notches.

7. The disconnect clutch of claim 6 , wherein the selector plate includes circumferentially spaced windows, and wherein moving the selector plate to the engaged position aligns each of the windows with a respective one of the pockets such that the pawl seated therein projects through the window and into one of the notches of the pump housing.

8. The disconnect clutch of claim 7 , further comprising a selector ring attached to the selector plate and configured to rotate between deactivated and activated positions to thereby move the selector plate between the engaged and disengaged positions, respectively.

9. The disconnect clutch of claim 1 , wherein the damper plate includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced spring receptacles, and wherein the spring elements include helical springs each seated within a respective one of the spring receptacles.

10. The disconnect clutch of claim 9 , wherein the flex plate includes circumferentially spaced spring windows each receiving therethrough a respective one of the helical springs.

11. The disconnect clutch of claim 10 , wherein the pocket plate includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced channels, each of the helical springs being seated within a respective one of the channels, sandwiched between the pocket plate and damper plate.

12. The disconnect clutch of claim 1 , wherein the spring elements include a plurality of diametrically elongated leaf springs fixedly coupled to the flex plate and movably attaching the flex plate to the damper plate.

13. The disconnect clutch of claim 12 , wherein the flex plate includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced spring frames, and wherein the leaf springs are integrally formed with the flex plate, each situated within a respective one of the spring frames.

14. The disconnect clutch of claim 13 , wherein the spring frames each includes a pair of opposing cam surfaces configured to abut the leaf springs, when flexing, and restrict a flexure motion of the leaf springs and thereby increase a spring rate of the leaf springs.

15. A motor vehicle comprising:
a vehicle body with a plurality of drive wheels;
an internal combustion engine (ICE) assembly attached to the vehicle body, the ICE assembly including a crankshaft configured to output torque generated by the ICE assembly;
a multi-speed transmission operable to transmit torque output by the ICE assembly to one or more of the drive wheels;
a hydrodynamic torque converter selectively connecting the ICE assembly to the multi-speed transmission to govern the transfer of torque therebetween; and
a selectable one-way clutch (SOWC) including:
a pocket plate rotatably attached to an exterior portion of the torque converter, the pocket plate including a plurality of pockets;
a plurality of engaging elements configured to selectively engage the pockets with input structure of the torque converter to thereby lock the pocket plate to the torque converter for common rotation therewith;
a selector plate adjacent the pocket plate and configured to move between an engaged position, whereat the engaging elements engage the pockets with input structure, and a disengaged position, whereat the selector plate shifts the engaging elements out of engagement between the pockets and the input structure such that the pocket plate freewheels on the exterior portion of the torque converter;
a flex plate adjacent the pocket plate and rigidly attached to the crankshaft of the ICE assembly for common rotation therewith;
a damper plate interposed between the flex plate and the ICE assembly, the damper plate attached to the pocket plate for common rotation therewith; and
a plurality of spring elements mating the damper plate with the flex plate such that the damper plate and pocket plate are movably attached to the flex plate.

16. The motor vehicle of claim 15 , wherein the torque converter includes a pump housing attached to a front cover to enclose therein an impeller and a turbine, the pump housing including a hub projecting axially therefrom, and wherein the pocket plate is rotatably mounted onto the hub of the pump housing.

17. The motor vehicle of claim 15 , further comprising an engine hub mounted to one end of the crankshaft, wherein the flex plate includes a plurality of fastener holes receiving therethrough plural fasteners that rigidly couple the flex plate directly to the engine hub.

18. The motor vehicle of claim 15 , wherein each of the engaging elements includes a pawl rotatably seated within a respective one of the pockets, the pawls being circumferentially spaced around the pocket plate, and wherein the input structure of the torque converter includes a pump housing with circumferentially spaced notches, the pawls engaging the pump housing, to thereby lock the pocket plate to the torque converter, by protruding into and abutting the notches.

19. The motor vehicle of c

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Llc

Inventors

• Lahr Derek F
• Samie Farzad
• Lee Chunhao J
• Bucknor Norman K
• Li Dongxu

Classifications

• F16D41/14

  the effective stroke of the pawl being adjustable · CPC title

• F16D41/08

  with provision for altering the freewheeling action · CPC title

• F16D41/125

  the pawl movement having an axial component · CPC title

• F16D41/16

  the action being reversible · CPC title

• F16H45/02 Primary

  with mechanical clutches for bridging a fluid gearing of the hydrokinetic type (control of torque converter lock-up clutches F16H61/14) · CPC title