Engine disconnects with mechanical diodes for vehicle powertrains

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10337597-B2
Application number	US-201715587790-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 5, 2017
Priority date	May 13, 2016
Publication date	Jul 2, 2019
Grant date	Jul 2, 2019

Abstract

Disclosed are engine flexplates with integrated engine disconnects, methods for making and for using such flexplates, and motor vehicles with an engine flexplate having an integrated engine disconnect device. An engine flexplate assembly is disclosed for operatively coupling an engine to a hydrokinetic torque converter. The flexplate assembly includes a disk-shaped body with a central hub that rigidly attaches on the fore side thereof to the engine output shaft for common rotation therewith. A disconnect device, which is positioned on the aft side of the disk-shaped body, includes concentric inner and outer races. The outer race is rigidly attached to the disk-shaped body for common rotation therewith. The inner race rigidly attaches to the front cover of the TC housing for common rotation therewith. The disconnect device operatively disconnects the engine output shaft from the TC housing front cover when a torque transmitted therebetween reverses direction.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. An engine flexplate assembly for operatively coupling an engine to a hydrokinetic torque converter of a motor vehicle, the engine having an engine output shaft, and the torque converter having a torque converter (TC) housing with a pump cover, the engine flexplate assembly comprising:
a disk-shaped body with opposing first and second sides and a central hub, the central hub being configured to rigidly attach on the first side thereof to the engine output shaft for common rotation therewith; and
a disconnect device positioned on the second side of the disk-shaped body and including concentric inner and outer races, the outer race being integrally formed with or rigidly attached to the disk-shaped body for common rotation therewith, and the inner race being configured to integrally form with or rigidly attach to the pump cover of the TC housing for common rotation therewith,
wherein the disconnect device is configured to operatively disconnect the engine output shaft from the pump cover of the TC housing when a torque transmitted therebetween reverses direction.

2. The engine flexplate assembly of claim 1 , wherein the disconnect device is a passively actuated clutching mechanism or a selectively actuated clutching mechanism.

3. The engine flexplate assembly of claim 2 , wherein the disconnect device is a selectable one-way clutch (SOWC).

4. The engine flexplate assembly of claim 3 , wherein the SOWC is a multi-mode electrically actuated SOWC.

5. The engine flexplate assembly of claim 4 , wherein the SOWC includes an electro-mechanical solenoid with a wrap spring configured to selectively constrict to move a pawl of the SOWC from a disengaged position to an engaged position and thereby lock together the inner and outer races.

6. The engine flexplate assembly of claim 3 , wherein the SOWC includes a plurality of pawls interposed between the inner and outer races, the pawls being selectively movable from engaged to disengaged positions to thereby disconnect the engine output shaft from the pump cover.

7. The engine flexplate assembly of claim 6 , wherein each of the pawls is seated in a respective one of a plurality of pockets formed in the inner or outer race, each of the pockets being cut in an axial direction to allow axial movement of the respective pawl to thereby take up a ballooning motion of the TC housing.

8. The engine flexplate assembly of claim 2 , wherein the disconnect device is a passive one-way clutch (OWC).

9. The engine flexplate assembly of claim 8 , wherein the OWC includes a plurality of rollers rotatably coupling the inner race to the outer race.

10. The engine flexplate assembly of claim 1 , wherein the outer race is integrally formed with the disk-shaped body and the inner race is integrally formed with the pump cover of the TC housing.

11. The engine flexplate assembly of claim 1 , wherein the central hub of the disk-shaped body includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced holes, each of the holes being configured to receive therethrough a respective bolt to thereby rigidly attach the engine flexplate assembly to the engine output shaft.

12. The engine flexplate assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a series of gear teeth projecting from an outer diameter (OD) edge of the disk-shaped body, the gear teeth being configured to operatively engage with a gear of an engine starter.

13. A motor vehicle, comprising:
an internal combustion engine with an engine output shaft rigidly connected to an engine hub for common rotation therewith;
a multi-speed power transmission having a transmission input shaft;
a torque converter assembly operatively connecting the engine output shaft with the transmission input shaft, the torque converter assembly having a torque converter (TC) housing with a pump cover connected to a pump shell to cooperatively define an internal fluid chamber within which are disposed turbine blades and impeller blades;
an engine flexplate assembly including a disk-shaped body with opposing first and second sides and a central hub, the central hub being rigidly attached on the first side thereof to the engine hub for common rotation with the engine output shaft; and
a disconnect device interposed between the engine flexplate assembly and the torque converter assembly, the disconnect device including concentric inner and outer annular races, the outer annular race being integrally formed with or rigidly coupled to the disk-shaped body of the engine flexplate assembly for common rotation therewith, and the inner annular race being integrally formed with or rigidly coupled to the pump cover of the TC housing for common rotation therewith,
wherein the disconnect device is configured to operatively connect the engine output shaft to the pump cover of the TC housing when torque is being transferred therebetween in a first direction, and further configured to disconnect the engine output shaft from the pump cover of the TC housing when the torque reverses to a second direction.

14. A method of constructing an engine flexplate assembly for operatively coupling an engine to a hydrokinetic torque converter of a motor vehicle, the engine having an engine output shaft, and the torque converter having a torque converter (TC) housing with a pump cover, the method comprising:
forming a disk-shaped body with opposing first and second sides and a central hub, the central hub being configured to attach on the first side thereof to the engine output shaft for common rotation therewith;
positioning a disconnect device on the second side of the disk-shaped body, the disconnect device including concentric inner and outer races, the inner race being configured to attach to the pump cover of the TC housing for common rotation therewith; and
integrally forming or rigidly attaching the outer race to the disk-shaped body for common rotation therewith,
wherein the disconnect device is configured to operatively disconnect the engine output shaft from the pump cover of the TC housing when a torque transmitted therebetween reverses direction.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the disconnect device is a selectable one-way clutch (SOWC).

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the SOWC is a multi-mode electrically actuated SOWC.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the SOWC includes an electro-mechanical solenoid with a wrap spring configured to selectively constrict to thereby lock together the inner and outer races.

18. The method of claim 14 , wherein the disconnect device is a passive one-way clutch (OWC).

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the OWC includes a plurality of rollers rotatably coupling the inner race to the outer race.

20. The method of claim 18 , wherein the inner race is integrally formed with or rigidly attached to the pump cover of the TC housing.

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Llc

Inventors

• Samie Farzad
• Lahr Derek F
• Lee Chunhao J

Classifications

• F16D41/064

  the intermediate members wedging by rolling and having a circular cross-section, e.g. balls (F16D41/061 takes precedence) · 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

• F16D1/104

  having retaining means rotating with the coupling and acting only by friction · CPC title

• F16D28/00

  Electrically-actuated clutches (arrangements for synchronisation F16D23/02; clutches actuated directly by means of an electromagnet F16D27/00; automatic clutches F16D43/00 - F16D45/00; external control F16D48/00) · CPC title

• F16D3/77

  the ring being metallic · CPC title