Torque converter drive connection

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016252170-A1
Application number	US-201514963027-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 8, 2015
Priority date	Dec 9, 2014
Publication date	Sep 1, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A torque converter includes a cover arranged for driving engagement with a crankshaft and a connecting sleeve with an internal thread arranged for engaging an external thread of the cover or the crankshaft to directly connect the cover to the crankshaft. In some example embodiments, the connecting sleeve includes a cylindrical portion including the internal thread and a first radial wall disposed at a distal end of the cylindrical portion. In an example embodiment, the cover includes a hub portion with a pilot arranged for insertion into a recess of the crankshaft. In some example embodiments, the cover includes a face spline for engaging a crankshaft face spline or a conical surface for engaging a crankshaft conical surface.

First claim

What I claim is:

1 . A torque converter comprising:
a cover arranged for driving engagement with a crankshaft; and, a connecting sleeve including an internal thread arranged for engaging an external thread of the cover or the crankshaft to directly connect the cover to the crankshaft.

2 . The torque converter of claim 1 wherein the connecting sleeve includes a cylindrical portion including the internal thread and a first radial wall disposed at a distal end of the cylindrical portion.

3 . The torque converter of claim 2 wherein the cover comprises a hub portion with a pilot arranged for insertion into a recess of the crankshaft.

4 . The torque converter of claim 2 wherein the cover comprises a face spline for engaging a crankshaft face spline or a conical surface for engaging a crankshaft conical surface.

5 . The torque converter of claim 4 wherein the cover comprises a stamped shell and a hub portion, the hub portion is fixed to the stamped shell, and the hub portion comprises the cover face spline or the cover conical surface.

6 . The torque converter of claim 5 wherein the hub portion includes a second radial wall and the connecting sleeve first radial wall is at least partially disposed between the hub portion second radial wall and the stamped shell.

7 . The torque converter of claim 4 wherein the cover comprises a drive plate fixed to the cover shell or the cover hub, the drive plate comprising the cover external thread and the cover face spline.

8 . The torque converter of claim 2 wherein the connecting sleeve cylindrical portion includes an external surface including a serrated portion, a series of axially extending grooves, a plurality of apertures, or a polygonal surface, for receiving a tool to fix the cover hub portion to the crankshaft.

9 . The torque converter of claim 2 wherein the connecting sleeve cylindrical portion includes a drive ring with a ring gear for engaging a starter motor pinion gear to fix the cover hub portion to the crankshaft.

10 . The torque converter of claim 2 further comprising an impeller fixed to the cover, wherein the impeller includes a hub arranged for driving connection with a transmission hydraulic pump.

11 . A torque converter drive connection comprising:
a housing assembly including a cover fixed to an impeller, the cover comprising:
a cover shell;
a first radially splined portion or a first conical surface; and,
a hub portion fixed to the cover shell and including a pilot;
a crankshaft including:
an external thread;
a second radially splined portion, complementary to and in driving engagement with the cover first radially splined portion; or,
a second conical surface, complementary to and in driving engagement with the cover first conical surface; and,

a recess; and,
a connecting sleeve including an internal thread engaged with the crankshaft external thread.

12 . The torque converter drive connection of claim 11 wherein the hub portion pilot is installed in the crankshaft recess.

13 . The torque converter drive connection of claim 11 wherein:
the hub portion comprises a first annular portion with first and second axially offset radial walls;
the connecting sleeve comprises a cylindrical portion including the internal thread, and a second annular portion with a third radial wall disposed at a distal end of the cylindrical portion; and,
the hub portion first radial wall comprises at least a portion of the cover radially splined portion or the cover conical surface and the connecting sleeve third radial wall is coplanar with the hub portion second radial wall.

14 . The torque converter drive connection of claim 13 wherein:
the connecting sleeve second annular portion is at least partially disposed between the hub portion second radial wall and the cover shell.

15 . A torque converter drive connection comprising:
a housing assembly including a cover fixed to an impeller, the cover comprising:
a cover shell;
a hub portion fixed to the cover shell and including a pilot; and,
a first drive plate fixed to the cover shell or the hub portion and including an external thread and a first radially splined portion or a first conical surface;
a crankshaft including:
a second radially splined portion, complementary to and in driving engagement with the hub portion first radially splined portion; or,
a second conical surface, complementary to and in driving engagement with the hub portion first conical surface; and,
a recess; and,
a connecting sleeve including an internal thread engaged with the hub portion external thread.

16 . The torque converter drive connection of claim 15 wherein the hub portion pilot is installed in the crankshaft recess.

17 . The torque converter drive connection of claim 15 wherein:
the first drive plate comprises a first annular portion with a first radial wall including the first radially splined portion;
the crankshaft comprises a second drive plate fastened to the crankshaft and including a second annular portion with first and second axially offset radial walls;
the connecting sleeve comprises a cylindrical portion including the internal thread, and a third annular portion with a third radial wall disposed at a distal end of the cylindrical portion; and,
the crankshaft second drive plate first radial wall comprises at least a portion of the second radially splined portion and the connecting sleeve third radial wall is coplanar with the crankshaft second drive plate second radial wall.

18 . The torque converter drive connection of claim 17 wherein:
the crankshaft is installed in a combustion engine with a seal for sealing the crankshaft; and,
the connecting sleeve third annular portion is at least partially disposed between the seal and the crankshaft second drive plate second radial wall.

Assignees

• Schaeffler Technologies Ag

Inventors

• Lindemann Patrick
• Rentfrow Peter

Classifications

• F16H2045/0205

  two chamber system, i.e. without a separated, closed chamber specially adapted for actuating a lock-up clutch · CPC title

• F16H2045/0221

  with damping means · 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

• F04D29/043

  Shafts · CPC title

• F16H41/24 Primary

  Details · CPC title