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US 4,282,774 AGranted
Torque converter
OwnerCornelis van der Lelyinventor
Life of this patent
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OwnerCornelis van der Lelyinventor
Estimating the term…
A torque converter has a housing for an input shaft and output shaft drivenly connected to one another with friction elements rotatably mounted on arms on pivotable holders. The holders are interconnected by the members so that rotation of the input shaft rotates its holder and, via the tie members, the output holder. The friction elements are thus flung outwardly into contact with annular control members within the housing on which they roll. The friction elements also abut and roll on one another, so that at least a major proportion of axial forces on the friction element in operation are held in equilibrium by the elements themselves. Rotation of the friction elements is transferred to the output shaft by planetary gearing on a common axis for the input and output shafts and on the rotation axes of the elements. The transmission ratio is varied by moving a control member towards and away from a second control member which changes the circumference of the path over which the elements roll. The holder is displaceable axially to accommodate this adjustment and maintain the friction elements in contact with one another. The geometrical configuration and disposition of the friction elements are arranged to support one another and mitigate load on their supporting parts.
A torque converter comprising an input and an output that are drivenly interconnected through respective friction elements, said input and output being rotatable about a common main axis and the input and output each having at least one respective friction element that is mounted for rotation about a corresponding rotary axis that is inclined to said main axis, the at least two elements having friction surfaces that engage one another and control means of said converter during operation, said elements being displaceable outwardly from said main axis by centrifugal force to roll on one another and on said control means during rotation about their corresponding rotary axes.
A torque converter comprising a housing, an input shaft and an output shaft that are drivenly interconnected through respective friction elements within said housing, the two shafts being rotatable about a common main axis and each shaft being geared to at least one respective friction element that is mounted for rotation about a corresponding rotary shaft, said rotary shaft being inclined to said main axis and the elements of said input and said output having friction surfaces that engage one another, respective annular control members being positioned adjacent the elements of said input and output shafts, said elements being displaceable outwardly from said main axis by centrifugal force to roll on one another and on said control members during rotation about their corresponding rotary shafts, each rotary shaft being held by an arm pivoted to a support and said support being freely rotatable about said main axis, said input and output shafts being geared to their respective elements by respective planetary gear systems.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.