# US 2014/0151177 A1 · Device for actuating a frictional converter lock-up clutch of a hydrodynamic torque converter > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0151177 A1 - Document ID: US20140151177A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/130,534 - Filed: 2012-06-14 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2011-07-20 - Assignees: ZF Friedrichshafen AG - Inventors: Juergen Legner - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140151177A1 ## 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) - F16H 61/143: {using electric control means} - F16H 2045/0215: {Details of oil circulation} - F16H: GEARING ## Abstract A device for actuating a frictional converter lock-up clutch of a hydrodynamic torque converter. A piston of the lock-up clutch can be acted upon by pressure of a inner chamber of a converter that acts in the engaging direction of the lock-up clutch and by pressure of a piston chamber delimited by the piston that acts in the disengaging direction. At least in the disengaging operating condition of the lock-up clutch, the piston space is connected to the inner chamber of the converter. The inner chamber can be supplied with hydraulic fluid via a first line. Hydraulic fluid can be discharged from the inner chamber via a second line. The piston chamber of the lock-up clutch can be connected to a pressurized zone and to an essentially unpressurized zone. By varying the pressure in the piston chamber, the device can modulate the transmission capacity of the lock-up clutch. ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 1-13. (canceled) ### Claim 14 A device (1) for actuating a frictional converter lock-up clutch (2) of a hydrodynamic torque converter (3), wherein a piston (7) of the converter lock-up clutch (2) is acted upon by a first pressure (pWD) of an inner chamber (8) of the converter that acts in an engaging direction of the converter lock-up clutch (2) and by a second pressure (pWK) of a piston chamber (9), delimited by the piston (7), that acts in an disengaging direction, at least when the converter lock-up clutch (2) is in a disengaged operating condition, the piston chamber (9) is connected to the inner chamber (8) of the converter, and the inner chamber (8) of the converter is fed with hydraulic fluid, via a first line (12), and hydraulic fluid is discharged from the inner chamber (8) of the converter, via a second line (13), the piston space (9) of the converter lock-up clutch (2) is connectable to a pressurized zone (16) and to an essentially unpressurized zone (17), an apparatus (15) is provided by which a transmission capacity, of the converter lock-up clutch (2), is modulated by varying the second pressure (pWK) in the piston chamber (9), the apparatus (15) comprises a regulating valve device (35) arranged between the pressurized zone (16) and the piston chamber (9) and between the unpressurized zone (17) and the piston chamber (9) such that the piston chamber (9) is brought into functional connection, by way of the regulating valve device (35), with the pressurized zone (16) and with the unpressurized zone (17), and the apparatus (15) comprises a throttle device (38) which connects the piston chamber (9) and the inner chamber (8) of the converter. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The device according to claim 14, wherein a pressure of the pressurized zone (16) is governed by a sequence valve (18) located downstream from a pressure medium source (19). ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The device according to claim 15, wherein a primary pressure circuit (22) of a transmission device is supplied with hydraulic fluid from the pressure medium source (19), and the primary pressure circuit (22) is located downstream from the pressure medium source (19) and upstream from the sequence valve (18). ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The device according to claim 15, wherein a further sequence valve (29) is provided, downstream from the sequence valve (18), by which a lubrication pressure circuit (33) is connectable to the pressurized zone (16) above a defined pressure level upstream from the further sequence valve (29). ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The device according to claim 14, wherein a throttle device (30) is provided between the pressurized zone (16) and the inner chamber (8) of the converter. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The device according to claim 14, wherein an additional sequence valve (31) is provided in the second line (13), upstream from the inner chamber (8) of the converter, by which, above a defined pressure level upstream from the additional sequence valve (31), a cooling device (32) is supplied with hydraulic fluid. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The device according to claim 19, wherein a lubrication pressure circuit (33) is arranged downstream from the cooling device (32) and, by a further sequence valve (29), the pressurized zone (16) is brought into functional connection with the lubrication pressure circuit (33) downstream from the cooling device (32) and upstream from the lubrication pressure circuit (33). ### Claim 21 An actuator (1) for actuating a frictional converter lock-up clutch (2) of a hydrodynamic torque converter (3), a piston (7) of the converter lock-up clutch (2) being biased in an engaging direction of the converter lock-up clutch (2) by a first pressure (pWD) in an inner chamber (8) of the converter, and the piston (7) of the converter lock-up clutch (2) being biased in a disengaging direction of the converter lock-up clutch (2) by a second pressure (pWK) in a piston chamber (9) that is delimited by the piston (7), at least when the converter lock-up clutch (2) is in a disengaged operating condition, the piston chamber (9) being connected to the inner chamber (8) of the converter, the inner chamber (8) of the converter being supplied with hydraulic fluid, via a first line (12), and the hydraulic fluid being discharged from the inner chamber (8), of the converter, via a second line (13), the piston chamber (9) of the converter lock-up clutch (2) being connectable to a pressurized zone (16) and to an essentially unpressurized zone (17), an apparatus (15) comprising a regulating valve device (35) that is arranged between the pressurized zone (16) and the piston chamber (9) and between the unpressurized zone (17) and the piston chamber (9), the regulating valve device (35) being actuatable to functionally connect the piston chamber (9) and either the pressurized zone (16) or the unpressurized zone (17), and the apparatus (15) comprises a throttle device (38) which connects the piston chamber (9) and the inner chamber (8) of the converter such that modulation of the apparatus varies the second pressure (pWK) in the piston chamber (9) and adjusts a transmission capacity of the converter lock-up clutch (2).