Engine disconnect clutches having torque converter feed-through activation for vehicle powertrains

A hybrid electric vehicle comprising:

• a vehicle body with a plurality of road wheels attached to the vehicle body;
• an internal combustion engine (ICE) assembly attached to the vehicle body, the ICE assembly including a crankshaft configured to output torque generated by the ICE assembly;
• a traction motor attached to the vehicle body, the traction motor including a motor support hub configured to output torque generated by the traction motor;
• a multi-speed power transmission attached to the vehicle body and including a transmission housing with an oil sump storing therein transmission oil, a gearing arrangement stored inside the transmission housing, a transmission input shaft connected with the gearing arrangement, and a transmission output shaft drivingly connecting the transmission gearing arrangement with at least one of the road wheels;
• a hydrodynamic torque converter attached to the transmission housing and including a pump housing drivingly connected to the motor support hub, an impeller attached to the pump housing, a turbine mounted inside the pump housing in fluid communication with the impeller, and a turbine shaft drivingly connecting the turbine to the transmission input shaft, the pump housing defining therethrough a first port, and the turbine shaft defining therein a first channel fluidly connected to the first port and the transmission oil sump;
• and
• an engine disconnect clutch including a clutch hub drivingly connected to the ICE assembly, and a clutch flange rigidly attached to the clutch hub and selectively rigidly attachable to the pump housing, the clutch hub including a cavity fluidly connected to the first channel in the turbine shaft via the first port in the pump housing, the engine disconnect clutch being selectively activated to connect the ICE assembly to the traction motor and the power transmission by drawing oil from the transmission oil sump, through the first channel and the first port, and into the cavity of the clutch hub.

A method of assembling a drivetrain for a motor vehicle, the motor vehicle including multiple road wheels, an engine, and an electric motor, the engine and electric motor each being operable to drive at least one of the road wheels to thereby propel the motor vehicle, the method comprising:

• providing a transmission with an oil sump, a gearing arrangement, a transmission input shaft connected with the gearing arrangement, and a transmission output shaft;
• drivingly connecting the transmission gearing arrangement with the at least one of the road wheels via the transmission output shaft;
• providing a torque converter with a pump housing defining therethrough a first port, an impeller attached to the pump housing, a turbine mounted inside the pump housing in fluid communication with the impeller, and a turbine shaft defining a first channel;
• drivingly connecting the pump housing to the motor;
• drivingly connecting the turbine to the transmission input shaft via the turbine shaft;
• providing an engine disconnect clutch including a clutch hub and a clutch flange projecting from the clutch hub and configured to selectively attach to the pump housing, the clutch hub including a cavity;
• drivingly connecting the clutch hub to the engine;
• and
• fluidly connecting the cavity of the clutch hub to the first channel in the turbine shaft via the first port in the pump housing,
• wherein the engine disconnect clutch is selectively activated to connect the engine to the motor and transmission by drawing oil from the transmission oil sump, through the first channel and the first port, and into the cavity of the clutch hub.