Hydrodynamic torque converters with integrated engine disconnect devices of motor vehicle powertrains

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11009124-B2
Application number	US-201916518119-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 22, 2019
Priority date	Jul 22, 2019
Publication date	May 18, 2021
Grant date	May 18, 2021

Abstract

Presented are torque converters with integrated engine disconnect devices, methods for making/using such torque converters, and electric-drive vehicles equipped with such torque converters. A torque converter (TC) assembly includes a TC housing that drivingly connects to an engine output member. A TC output member projects from the TC housing and drivingly connects to a transmission input member. A turbine with a bladed turbine shell is mounted on the TC output member and rotatable within the TC's internal fluid chamber. An impeller with a bladed impeller shell is juxtaposed with the turbine and rotatable within the fluid chamber. An engine disconnect device, which is disposed within the fluid chamber between the impeller shell and TC housing, drivingly couples the impeller to and, when desired, drivingly decouples the impeller from the TC housing and engine output member to thereby transfer torque and prevent torque transfer, respectively, between the engine and transmission.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A torque converter assembly for operatively connecting an engine with a transmission of a motor vehicle, the engine having an engine output member, and the transmission having a transmission input member, the torque converter assembly comprising:
a torque converter (TC) housing defining an internal fluid chamber and configured to drivingly connect to the engine output member;
a TC output member attached to the TC housing and configured to drivingly connect to the transmission input member;
a turbine with turbine blades mounted to a turbine shell, the turbine shell being attached to the TC output member and rotatable within the internal fluid chamber;
an impeller with impeller blades mounted to an impeller shell, the impeller shell being juxtaposed with the turbine shell and rotatable within the internal fluid chamber; and
an engine disconnect device disposed within the internal fluid chamber between the impeller shell and the TC housing, the engine disconnect device including a selectable one-way clutch (SOWC) with coaxial races and multiple torque transmitting elements coupling the coaxial races, the SOWC being selectively actuable to transition between a torque-carrying state and a non-torque carrying state, the engine disconnect device being configured to:
drivingly couple the impeller to the TC housing and the engine output member to thereby transfer torque from the engine to the transmission; and
drivingly decouple the impeller from the TC housing and the engine output member to thereby disable torque transfer between the engine and the transmission.

2. The torque converter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the coaxial races include an annular inner race concentric with an annular outer race, and the torque transmitting elements include cylindrical rollers circumferentially spaced around the annular inner race.

3. The torque converter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the engine disconnect device further includes a friction-type engine disconnect clutch (EDC) in parallel powerflow communication with the SOWC and selectively actuable to lock the impeller shell to the TC housing.

4. The torque converter assembly of claim 3 , wherein the EDC includes an EDC flange projecting radially outward from the impeller shell, and an EDC friction surface protruding axially from the EDC flange and configured to fiction-lock to the TC housing.

5. The torque converter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the coaxial races include an inner race rigidly secured to one of the impeller shell and the TC housing for common rotation therewith, and an outer race concentric with and circumscribing the inner race and rigidly secured to another one of the impeller shell and the TC housing for common rotation therewith.

6. The torque converter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of torque transmitting elements includes multiple rollers, sprags, pawls, and/or struts disposed between and circumferentially spaced about the races.

7. The torque converter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the engine disconnect device includes an engine disconnect clutch (EDC) selectively actuable to lock the impeller shell to the TC housing.

8. The torque converter assembly of claim 7 , wherein the EDC includes an EDC flange projecting from the impeller shell, the EDC flange including an EDC friction surface configured to friction-lock to the TC housing.

9. The torque converter assembly of claim 8 , wherein the EDC flange projects radially outward from the impeller shell, and wherein the EDC friction surface frictionally engages an interior surface of a pump cover of the TC housing.

10. The torque converter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the TC housing includes a turbine cover rigidly attached to a pump cover to define therebetween the internal fluid chamber, the turbine cover being configured to rigidly couple to the engine output member for common rotation therewith, and the pump cover being configured to rotatably couple via a pump hub to a transmission housing of the transmission.

11. The torque converter assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a torque converter clutch (TCC) disposed within the internal fluid chamber between the turbine and the impeller, the TCC being selectively actuable to lock the turbine shell to the impeller shell.

12. The torque converter assembly of claim 11 , wherein the TCC includes a TCC flange projecting from the turbine shell, the TCC flange including a TCC friction surface configured to friction-lock to the impeller shell.

13. The torque converter assembly of claim 12 , wherein the TCC flange projects radially outward from the turbine shell, and wherein the TCC friction surface frictionally engages an engine disconnect clutch (EDC) flange projecting radially outward from the impeller shell.

14. The torque converter assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a torsional damper assembly disposed within the internal fluid chamber between the turbine shell and the TC housing, the torsional damper assembly being configured to dampen vibrations transmitted from the engine.

15. A motor vehicle comprising:
a vehicle body with a plurality of road wheels attached to the vehicle body;
an internal combustion engine mounted to the vehicle body and including an engine output shaft;
a multi-speed power transmission mounted to the vehicle body and including transmission input and output shafts, the transmission output shaft being drivingly connected to one or more of the road wheels to thereby propel the motor vehicle; and
a torque converter assembly operatively connecting the internal combustion engine with the power transmission, the torque converter assembly comprising:
a torque converter (TC) housing drivingly connected to the engine output shaft and defining therein an internal fluid chamber;
a TC output member attached to the TC housing and drivingly connected to the transmission input shaft;
a turbine with turbine blades mounted to a turbine shell, the turbine shell being attached to the TC output member and rotatable within the internal fluid chamber;
an impeller with impeller blades mounted to an impeller shell, the impeller shell being juxtaposed with the turbine shell and rotatable within the internal fluid chamber; and
an engine disconnect device disposed within the internal fluid chamber between the impeller shell and the TC housing, the engine disconnect device including a selectable one-way clutch (SOWC) with coaxial races and multiple torque transmitting elements coupling the coaxial races, the SOWC being selectively actuable to transition between a torque-carrying state and a non-torque carrying state, the engine disconnect device being configured to:
drivingly couple the impeller to the TC housing and the engine output shaft to thereby transfer torque from the engine to the transmission; and
drivingly decouple the impeller from the TC housing and the engine output shaft to thereby disable torque transfer between the engine and the transmission.

16. A method of assembling a torque converter assembly for operatively connecting an engine with a transmission, the engine having an engine output member, and the transmission having a transmission input member, the method comprising:
providing a torque converter (TC) housing defining an internal fluid chamber and configured to drivingly connect to the engine output member;
inserting a TC output member into the internal fluid chamber of the TC housing, the TC output member being configured to drivingly connect to the transmission input member;
mounting a turbine in the TC housing such that the turbine is rotatable within the fluid chamber, the

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Llc

Inventors

• Li Dongxu
• Lee Chunhao J
• Samie Farzad
• Lahr Derek F

Classifications

• F16H61/14 Primary

  Control of torque converter lock-up clutches · 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

• F16D7/10

  moving radially between engagement and disengagement · CPC title

• F16D41/08

  with provision for altering the freewheeling action · CPC title

• F16H2045/002

  comprising a clutch between prime mover and fluid gearing · CPC title