Turbine shell spring retainer

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9869381-B2
Application number	US-201514853190-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 14, 2015
Priority date	Sep 14, 2015
Publication date	Jan 16, 2018
Grant date	Jan 16, 2018

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, at least one turbine blade connected to the turbine shell, and a heat treated portion; and a torsional vibration damper including: a cover plate arranged to receive torque from the cover or the turbine; and a spring. The spring is engaged with the cover plate and is arranged to contact the heat treated portion when the spring is compressed.

First claim

What is 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;
at least one turbine blade connected to the turbine shell; and,
a heat treated portion; and,

a torsional vibration damper including:
a first cover plate arranged to receive torque from the cover or the turbine; and,
a spring:
engaged with the first cover plate; and,
arranged to contact the heat treated portion when the spring is compressed, wherein:

the turbine shell is formed of a first piece of material; and,
the heat treated portion is:
formed of a second piece of material, different from the first piece of material; and,
non-rotatably connected to the turbine shell.

2. The torque converter of claim 1 , wherein the spring contacts the heat treated portion when the spring is at rest and not compressed.

3. The torque converter of claim 1 , wherein the turbine shell includes:
a first segment including the heat treated portion; and,
a second segment:
separately formed from the first segment;
fixedly secured to the first segment; and,
located radially outward of the first segment.

4. The torque converter of claim 3 , wherein the first cover plate is non-rotatably connected to the first segment by a fastener passing through the first segment.

5. The torque converter of claim 3 , wherein the heat treated portion includes the entirety of the first segment.

6. The torque converter of claim 3 , wherein the at least one turbine blade is attached to the second segment and not the first segment.

7. The torque converter of claim 1 , wherein the heat treated portion is continuous in a circumferential direction.

8. The torque converter of claim 1 , wherein the torsional vibration damper includes an output flange, the output flange:
engaged with the spring; and,
arranged to non-rotatably connect to an input shaft for a transmission.

9. The torque converter of claim 1 , wherein the torsional vibration damper includes a second cover plate, the second cover plate:
arranged to receive torque from the cover;
non-rotatably connected to the first cover plate; and,
engaged with the spring.

10. 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 including a heat treated portion; and,
at least one turbine blade connected to the turbine shell; and,

a torsional vibration damper including:
a first cover plate arranged to receive torque from the cover or the turbine; and,
a spring:
engaged with the first cover plate; and,
contacting the heat treated portion of the turbine shell when the spring is not compressed, wherein the turbine shell includes:

a first segment including the heat treated portion; and,
a second segment:
separately formed from the first segment;
fixedly secured to the first segment and,
located radially outward of the first segment.

11. The torque converter of claim 10 , wherein the first cover plate is non-rotatably connected to the first segment.

12. The torque converter of claim 10 , wherein the heat treated portion includes the entirety of the first segment.

13. The torque converter of claim 10 , wherein the at least one turbine blade is attached to the second segment and not the first segment.

14. The torque converter of claim 10 , wherein the torsional vibration damper includes an output flange, the output flange:
engaged with the spring; and,
arranged to non-rotatably connect to an input shaft for a transmission.

15. 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 including:
a first segment with a heat treated portion; and,
a second segment:
formed separately from the first segment;
fixedly connected to the heat treated portion; and,
extending radially outward past the first segment; and,

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

a torsional vibration damper including:
a first cover plate arranged to receive torque from the cover or the turbine; and,
a spring:
engaged with the first cover plate; and,
including an outer surface arranged to contact the heat treated portion of the turbine shell when the spring is compressed.

16. The torque converter of claim 15 , wherein:
the first cover plate is non-rotatably connected to the first segment; or,
the heat treated portion includes the entirety of the first segment; or,
the at least one turbine blade is attached to the second segment and not the first segment.

17. The torque converter of claim 15 , wherein the first cover plate is non-rotatably connected to and in contact with the first segment.

18. The torque converter of claim 15 , wherein the torsional vibration damper includes:
an output flange:
engaged with the spring; and,
arranged to non-rotatably connect to an input shaft for a transmission; and,

a second cover plate:
arranged to receive torque from the cover;
non-rotatably connected to the first cover plate; and,
engaged with the spring.

Assignees

• Schaeffler Technologies Ag

Inventors

• Metz Sean
• Hess Timothy

Classifications

• 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

• F16H1/00

  Toothed gearings for conveying rotary motion (specific for conveying rotary motion with variable gear ratio or for reversing rotary motion F16H3/00) · CPC title

• F16H2045/0226

  comprising two or more vibration dampers · CPC title

• F16H2045/0205

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