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US 10,895,311 B2Granted
Four-pass torque converter with variable-pitch stator and bypass clutch
AssigneeSchaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
InventorsAndrew Derhammer, Jeremy Vanni
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A torque converter includes a turbine disposed in a hydrodynamic chamber. A bypass clutch has an apply chamber fluidly isolated from the hydrodynamic chamber. A first hydraulic passage is in fluid communication with the apply chamber. A variable-pitch stator including blades controllable by an actuator that has a chamber in fluid communication with the first hydraulic passage.
Claims20
A torque converter comprising:
- a turbine disposed in a hydrodynamic chamber;
- a bypass clutch including an apply chamber fluidly isolated from the hydrodynamic chamber;
- a variable-pitch stator including blades controllable by an actuator that includes a a tightening chamber;
- and
- a first hydraulic passage including a first passageway connecting between the apply chamber and a transmission and including a second passageway connecting between the first passageway and the tightening chamber.
2 more elements
A torque converter comprising:
- a turbine disposed in a hydrodynamic chamber;
- a bypass clutch including an apply chamber fluidly isolated from the hydrodynamic chamber;
- a stator shaft;
- a variable-pitch stator supported on the stator shaft and including blades controllable by an actuator that has a tightening chamber;
- and
- a first hydraulic passage extending from the apply chamber to the tightening chamber, the first passage including an axially extending portion and a radially extending portion that extends through the stator shaft, wherein the actuator is configured to tighten the blades in response to a first pressure being applied to the first hydraulic passage, and the bypass clutch is configured to be engaged in response to a second, larger pressure being applied to the first hydraulic passage.
3 more elements
A torque converter comprising:
- an impeller;
- a turbine disposed in a hydrodynamic chamber;
- a clutch selectively engageable to couple the impeller to the turbine and including a piston, an apply chamber fluidly isolated from the hydrodynamic chamber, a compensation chamber, and a first resilient member disposed in the compensation chamber and biasing the piston toward the apply chamber;
- a variable-pitch stator including blades controllable by an actuator that includes a tightening chamber and an isolation chamber;
- a first hydraulic passage including a first passageway configured to carry fluid between the apply chamber and a valve body and a second passageway connecting between the first passageway and the tightening chamber, wherein the second passageway extends radially between the tightening chamber and the first passageway, and the actuator is configured to adjust a pitch of the blades in response to a first pressure being present in the first hydraulic passage, and the piston is configured to be stroked to engage the clutch in response to a second, larger pressure being present in the first hydraulic passage;
- and
- a second hydraulic passage in fluid communication with the compensation chamber and the isolation chamber, the second passage being configured to convey fluid between the compensation chamber, the isolation chamber, and a transmission lubrication circuit.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.