Twin flow modulated torque converter
AssigneeWestinghouse Air Brake Company
InventorsLyle E. Eaton, John H. Hyler
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A twin-flow modulating torque converter having a torus which is defined by walls and rings of the pump, turbine and reactor members, and formed with a fluid bypass in the rings for developing an alternate flow circuit which bypasses the blades of one or more members of the fluid circuit; the fluid bypass being normally closed by the reactor member which is adapted for linear movement to open the fluid bypass for accomplishing varying degrees of modulation. The pump and turbine members are adapted to move relative to each other during operation for varying the cross-sectional area of the fluid bypass.
Claims16
A torque convertor comprising:
- driven means;
- drive means;
- a source of fluid;
- at least one pump element rotatable with said drive means;
- at least one turbine element rotatable with said driven means;
- at least one reactor element;
- said pump, turbine and reactor element cooperating to define a fluid torus;
- means supplying fluid from said source to said fluid torus;
- said pump element developing fluid circulatory flow in said fluid torus to transmit power to said driven means;
- means for axially moving one of said elements to interrupt said fluid circulatory flow in said fluid torus for reducing the power transmitted to said driven means;
- a hub carried by said pump element;
- power take off means;
- means connected to said hub for driving said power take off means.
A torque convertor comprising:
- driven means;
- drive means;
- a source of fluid;
- at least one pump element rotatable with said drive means;
- at least one turbine element rotatable with said driven means;
- at least one reactor element;
- said pump, turbine and reactor elements cooperating to define a fluid torus;
- means supplying fluid from said source to said fluid torus;
- said pump element developing fluid circulatory flow in said fluid torus to transmit power to said driven means;
- means for axially moving one of said elements to interrupt said fluid circulatory flow in said fluid torus for reducing the power transmitted to said driven means;
- means defining a fluid bypass circuit in communication with said fluid torus;
- means for normally closing said fluid bypass circuit;
- said pump element having an outlet;
- said turbine element having an inlet;
- said fluid bypass circuit having an inlet opening located between said pump element outlet and said turbine element inlet.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.