# US 10,119,605 B2 · Hydrokinetic torque coupling device having turbine-piston lockup clutch, and related methods > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,119,605 B2 - Document ID: US10119605B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/611,347 - Filed: 2017-06-01 - Published: 2017-09-21 - Granted: 2018-11-06 - Earliest claimed: 2014-12-05 - Assignees: Valeo Embrayages - Applicants: Valeo Embrayages - Inventors: Alexandre Depraete; David Werthman - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10119605B2 ## CPC - F16H 45/02: with mechanical clutches for bridging a fluid gearing of the hydrokinetic type (control of torque converter lock-up clutches F16H61/14) - F16F 15/1292: {characterised by arrangements for axially clamping or positioning or otherwise influencing the frictional plates} - F16F 15/1392: {characterised by arrangements for axially clamping or positioning or otherwise influencing the frictional plates} - F16H 2045/0205: {two chamber system, i.e. without a separated, closed chamber specially adapted for actuating a lock-up clutch} - F16H 2045/0231: {arranged in series} - F16H 2045/0247: {having a turbine with hydrodynamic damping means} - F16H 2045/0263: {the damper comprising a pendulum} - F16H 2045/0278: {comprising only two co-acting friction surfaces} - F16H: GEARING - F16F: SPRINGS; SHOCK-ABSORBERS; MEANS FOR DAMPING VIBRATION ## Abstract A hydrokinetic torque coupling device includes an impeller, a casing having a first engagement surface, a turbine-piston hydrodynamically drivable by the impeller, and a biasing device. The turbine-piston is hydrodynamically drivable by the impeller and includes a turbine-piston shell having a second engagement surface facing the first engagement surface. The turbine-piston is axially displaceable relative to the impeller between a hydrodynamic transmission mode and a lockup mode. The biasing device is configured to exert an axial load against the turbine-piston to urge the turbine-piston axially away from the lockup mode and towards the hydrodynamic transmission mode. The axial load exerted by the biasing device decreases as the turbine-piston moves axially towards the lockup mode and increases as the turbine-piston moves axially away from the lockup mode. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A hydrokinetic torque coupling device for coupling together a driving shaft and a driven shaft, the torque coupling device comprising: an impeller rotatable about a rotational axis and comprising an impeller shell; a casing comprising the impeller shell and a casing shell fixedly connected thereto so as to be non-rotatable relative to the impeller shell, the casing having a first engagement surface; a turbine-piston hydrodynamically drivable by the impeller and comprising a turbine-piston shell having a second engagement surface facing the first engagement surface, the turbine-piston being axially displaceable relative to the impeller between a hydrodynamic transmission mode in which the first and second engagement surfaces are spaced from and not frictionally engaged with one another, and a lockup mode in which the first and second engagement surfaces are frictionally engaged with one another to mechanically lock the turbine-piston with the casing so as to be non-rotatable relative to the casing; a biasing device configured to exert an axial load against the turbine-piston to urge the turbine-piston axially away from the lockup mode and towards the hydrodynamic transmission mode, wherein the axial load exerted by the biasing device decreases as the turbine-piston moves axially towards the lockup mode and increases as the turbine-piston moves axially away from the lockup mode; and an output hub; the turbine-piston axially movably relative to the output hub. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The hydrokinetic torque coupling device of claim 1, wherein the biasing device exerts a nonlinear load against the turbine-piston to urge the turbine-piston axially away from the lockup mode and towards the hydrodynamic transmission mode, wherein the nonlinear load exerted by the biasing device is not proportional to displacement of the turbine-piston between the lockup mode and the hydrodynamic transmission mode. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The hydrokinetic torque coupling device of claim 1, further comprising a stator situated between the impeller and the turbine-piston. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The hydrokinetic torque coupling device of claim 3, wherein the biasing device is situated between the stator and the turbine-piston shell. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The hydrokinetic torque coupling device of claim 4, wherein the biasing device is part of a biasing and bearing device which comprises: a stator-side retainer member connected to and non-rotatable relative to the stator; a turbine-side retainer member connected to and non-rotatable relative to the turbine-piston; and the biasing device situated between the stator-side retainer member and the turbine-side retainer member. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The hydrokinetic torque coupling device of claim 5, wherein the biasing device is rotatable relative to one of the turbine-side retainer member and the stator-side retainer member and fixedly connected to the other of the turbine-side retainer member and the stator-side retainer member. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The hydrokinetic torque coupling device of claim 5, wherein the biasing device is rotatable relative to at least one of the turbine-side retainer member and the stator-side retainer member. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The hydrokinetic torque coupling device of claim 5, wherein the turbine-side retainer member is mounted on the turbine-piston shell. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The hydrokinetic torque coupling device of claim 1, wherein the biasing device comprises a diaphragm spring. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The hydrokinetic torque coupling device of claim 1, wherein the biasing device comprises a spring washer. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The hydrokinetic torque coupling device of claim 10, wherein the spring washer is fixedly connected to the turbine-piston shell. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The hydrokinetic torque coupling device of claim 11, wherein the biasing device further comprises a thrust washer connected to and non-rotatable relative to the stator, and wherein the thrust washer contacts and is rotatable relative to the spring washer. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The hydrokinetic torque coupling device of claim 1, wherein the biasing device comprises a bayonet connector. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The hydrokinetic torque coupling device of claim 13, wherein the bayonet connector comprises first and second bayonet housing members and at least one Belleville spring housed between the first and second bayonet housing members. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The hydrokinetic torque coupling device of claim 1, wherein the first engagement surface or the second engagement surface comprises a frictional lining. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The hydrokinetic torque coupling device of claim 1, wherein the turbine-piston shell further comprises a radially extending flange defining the second engagement surface. ### Claim 17 A hydrokinetic torque coupling device for coupling together a driving shaft and a driven shaft, the torque coupling device comprising: an impeller rotatable about a rotational axis and comprising an impeller shell; a casing comprising the impeller shell and a casing shell fixedly connected to so as to be non-rotatable relative to the impeller shell, the casing having a first engagement surface; a turbine-piston hydrodynamically drivable by the impeller and comprising a turbine-piston shell having a second engagement surface facing the first engagement surface, the turbine-piston being axially displaceable relative to the impeller between a hydrodynamic transmission mode in which the first and second engagement surfaces are spaced from and not frictionally engaged with one another, and a lockup mode in which the first and second engagement surfaces are frictionally engaged with one another to mechanically lock the turbine-piston with the casing so as to be non-rotatable relative to the casing; a stator situated between the impeller and the turbine-piston; a biasing device configured to exert an axial load against the turbine-piston to urge the turbine-piston axially away from the lockup mode and towards the hydrodynamic transmission mode, wherein the axial load exerted by the biasing device decreases as the turbine-piston moves axially towards the lockup mode and increases as the turbine-piston moves axially away from the lockup mode; an output hub; and a damper assembly interconnecting the turbine-piston to the output hubs; the turbine-piston axially movably relative to the output hub. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The hydrokinetic torque coupling device of claim 17, further comprising a drive member interconnecting the turbine-piston shell to the damper assembly, wherein the damper assembly comprises an intermediate member, a first set of circumferentially extending elastic damping members drivingly coupling the drive member to the intermediate member, a driven member connected to and non-rotatable relative to the output hub, a second set of circumferentially extending elastic damping members drivingly coupling the intermediate member to the driven member, and a centrifugal pendulum oscillator mounted to the intermediate member. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The hydrokinetic torque coupling device of claim 17, further comprising a drive member interconnecting the turbine-piston shell to the damper assembly, wherein the damper assembly comprises an intermediate member, a first set of circumferentially extending elastic damping members drivingly coupling the drive member to the intermediate member, a driven member connected to and non-rotatable relative to the output hub, a second set of circumferentially extending elastic damping members drivingly coupling the intermediate member to the driven member, and a spring mass system coupled to the intermediate member. ### Claim 20 A method of assembling a hydrokinetic torque coupling device for coupling a driving shaft and a driven shaft together, comprising: providing a torque converter rotatable about a rotational axis and comprising an impeller comprising an impeller shell; a turbine-piston hydrodynamically drivable by the impeller and comprising a turbine-piston shell; and a biasing device; providing an output hub; and operatively connecting a casing shell to the impeller shell of the torque converter to form a casing that is rotatable about the rotational axis and has a first engagement surface, the turbine-piston having a second engagement surface and being axially displaceable relative to the impeller between a hydrodynamic transmission mode in which the first and second engagement surfaces are spaced from and not frictionally engaged with one another, and a lockup mode in which the first and second engagement surfaces are frictionally engaged with one another to mechanically lock the turbine-piston with the casing so as to be non-rotatable relative to the casing, wherein the biasing device is configured to exert an axial load against the turbine-piston to urge the turbine-piston axially away from the lockup mode and towards the hydrodynamic transmission mode, wherein the axial load exerted by the biasing device decreases as the turbine-piston moves axially towards the lockup mode and increases as the turbine-piston moves axially towards the hydrodynamic transmission mode, and wherein the turbine-piston is axially movably relative to the output hub.