Torque converter having preloaded turbine piston
AssigneeSchaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
InventorsJeremy Vanni, Matthew Payne, Markus Steinberger
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A torque converter comprising: a damper assembly including a spring retainer; and, a turbine assembly connected to the damper assembly, the turbine assembly including: a turbine shell including an axially movable turbine piston; a drive plate fixed to the turbine piston; and a diaphragm spring, the drive plate having openings for receiving the diaphragm spring; the diaphragm spring acting on the turbine piston with a preload force. In an example aspect, the diaphragm spring includes a plurality of radially inward tabs and the drive plate includes a plurality of openings for receiving the radially inward tabs.
Claims17
A torque converter comprising:
- a damper assembly including a spring retainer;
- and
- a turbine assembly connected to the damper assembly, the turbine assembly including:
- a turbine shell including an axially movable turbine piston;
- a drive plate fixed to the turbine piston;
- and
- a diaphragm spring arranged for acting on the turbine piston with a preload force and including a plurality of radially outward tabs configured for contacting an outer surface of the turbine shell, wherein the drive plate includes openings for receiving the diaphragm spring.
A torque converter comprising:
- a cover for connecting to an engine,
- an impeller;
- a turbine including a turbine piston of single-piece construction, the turbine piston axially movable toward and away from the impeller;
- a damper assembly coupled to the turbine, the damper assembly including:
- a spring retainer;
- a resilient element, disposed between the spring retainer and the turbine, arranged for applying a preload force urging the turbine against the impeller in a coast condition, and
- a bearing assembly including a thrust surface for slidingly engaging the cover and first and second bearings disposed axially on either side of the spring retainer, the first bearing arranged for contacting die cover and the second bearing arranged for contacting the resilient element.
A torque converter comprising:
- an impeller fixedly attached to a cover to form a housing;
- a turbine including a turbine piston and a multi-plate cone clutch, the turbine piston axially movable toward and away from the impeller;
- a damper assembly coupled to the turbine, the damper assembly including:
- a spring retainer including a bearing assembly, the bearing assembly in contact with the cover;
- a diaphragm spring, disposed between the spring retainer and the turbine, and having a plurality of radially inward fingers;
- and
- a drive plate fixedly attached to the turbine and having a plurality of openings for receiving the plurality of radially inward fingers;
- and
- a thrust path:
- wherein the diaphragm spring generates thrust and the diaphragm spring is arranged for applying a preload force urging the turbine against the impeller in a coast condition;
- the diaphragm spring thrusts against the turbine at a first contact surface to load the multi-plate cone clutch;
- the thrust from the turbine is balanced by the impeller fixedly attached to the cover;
- and
- the thrust from the diaphragm spring is rotationally separated from the cover by a first bearing thrusting through the spring retainer to a second bearing in contact with the diaphragm spring to close a circuit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.