Torque converter with turbine clutch including a separate piston

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10378632-B2
Application number	US-201715479365-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 5, 2017
Priority date	Apr 5, 2017
Publication date	Aug 13, 2019
Grant date	Aug 13, 2019

Abstract

A torque converter, including: a cover arranged to receive torque; an impeller including an impeller shell non-rotatably connected to the cover and at least one impeller blade connected to the impeller shell; a turbine including a turbine shell and at least one turbine blade connected to the turbine shell; an output hub connected to the turbine shell and arranged to non-rotatably connect to an input shaft for a transmission; and a turbine clutch including a piston non-rotatably connected to the turbine shell, and for a lock-up mode, axially displaceable to non-rotatably connect the piston and the impeller shell.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A torque converter, comprising:
a cover arranged to receive torque;
an impeller including:
an impeller shell non-rotatably connected to the cover; and,
at least one impeller blade connected to the impeller shell;

a turbine including
a turbine shell; and,
at least one turbine blade connected to the turbine shell;

an output hub connected to the turbine shell and arranged to non-rotatably connect to an input shaft for a transmission;
a turbine clutch including a piston, the piston:
separate from the turbine shell;
non-rotatably connected to the turbine shell; and,
displaceable, in a first axial direction and for a lock-up mode, to non-rotatably connect the piston and the impeller shell;

a first chamber formed, at least in part, by the piston and the turbine shell; and,
a leaf spring located in the first chamber and non-rotatably connected to the turbine shell and the piston.

2. The torque converter of claim 1 , further comprising:
a second chamber formed, at least in part, by the impeller shell and the turbine shell; and,
a through-bore in the turbine shell connecting the first and second chambers, wherein the at least one impeller blade and the at least one turbine blade are located in the second chamber.

3. The torque converter of claim 1 , further comprising:
a turbine hub arranged to engage the transmission input shaft, wherein:
the turbine shell is non-rotatably connected to the turbine hub;
the turbine hub is connected to the output hub; and,
the piston is in contact with the turbine hub; or,
the torque converter further comprises a bushing sealed against the piston and the turbine hub.

4. The torque converter of claim 1 , further comprising:
a second chamber bounded in part by the cover and the piston,
wherein:
for the lock-up mode, fluid pressure in the second chamber is arranged to be greater than a force urging the piston in a second axial direction, opposite the first axial direction; and,
for a torque converter mode:
the piston is rotatable with respect to the impeller shell; and,
the force is arranged to be greater than the fluid pressure in the second chamber.

5. The torque converter of claim 4 , further comprising:
a third chamber formed in part by the impeller shell and the turbine shell, wherein:
the at least one turbine blade is located in the third chamber; and,
the turbine shell includes an opening connecting the first and third chambers.

6. The torque converter of claim 1 , further comprising:
a turbine hub arranged to engage the transmission input shaft;
a second chamber bounded in part by the cover and the piston; and,
a third chamber bounded in part by the turbine shell and the impeller shell, wherein:
the at least one turbine blade is located in the third chamber;
the turbine shell is non-rotatably connected to the turbine hub;
the turbine hub is connected to the output hub; and,
the turbine hub bounds respective portions of the first, second and third chambers.

7. The torque converter of claim 1 , further comprising:
a seal sealed against the piston and a radially outermost portion of the turbine shell.

8. The torque converter of claim 7 , further comprising:
a first plate sealed against the piston;
a second chamber formed in part by the turbine shell and the impeller shell and containing the at least one turbine blade; and,
a third chamber formed in part by the first plate and the piston and sealed from the first and second chambers, wherein the first chamber is formed in part by the seal.

9. The torque converter of claim 8 , wherein:
the turbine shell includes at least one through-bore; and,
the first chamber is sealed from the second and third chambers with the exception of the at least one through-bore.

10. The torque converter of claim 8 , further comprising:
a fourth chamber formed in part by the cover and the first plate, wherein the third chamber is sealed from the first, second, and fourth chambers.

11. The torque converter of claim 7 , further comprising:
a turbine hub:
arranged to engage the transmission input shaft; and,
connected to the output hub;

a first plate sealed against the piston;
a second chamber formed in part by the turbine shell and the impeller shell;
a third chamber formed in part by the cover and the first plate; and,
a fourth chamber:
formed in part by the first plate, the piston, and the turbine hub; and,
sealed from the first, second, and third chambers, wherein the first chamber is formed in part by the seal.

Assignees

• Schaeffler Technologies Ag

Inventors

• Hess Timothy

Classifications

• F16H2045/0294

  Single disk type lock-up clutch, i.e. using a single disc engaged between friction members · CPC title

• F16D25/0632

  with conical friction surfaces, e.g. cone clutches · CPC title

• F16H2045/0263

  the damper comprising a pendulum · CPC title

• F16H2045/0215

  Details of oil circulation · CPC title

• F16H2045/021

  three chamber system, i.e. comprising a separated, closed chamber specially adapted for actuating a lock-up clutch · CPC title