Device controlling the bridging of a hydrodynamic torque converter
AssigneeRegie Nationale des Usines Renault
InventorsClaude Chevalier, Jean-Marie Bouvet, Jean P. Parthuisot
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The control device comprises a moving slide 25 acted on by a return spring 27 and capable of uncovering an orifice 31 allowing hydraulic fluid to be fed to a release chamber 32 moving the control piston 17 removing the "bridging" between the input impeller 2 and the output turbine 10 of the converter 1. The "bridging" is actuated by an electrohydraulic transducer 43 controlled by an electronic device 49 in accordance with the input and output speeds sensed by sensors 46 and 48. "Bridging" of the converter 1 is thus achieved for all the transmission ratios as well as "debridging" on each change from one ratio to another.
Claims24
A transmission device comprising:
- input and output means, a housing drivingly connected to said input means and defining a main chamber, a hydrodynamic torque converter means disposed within said main chamber and having an impeller member drivingly connected to said housing, a turbine member located within said main chamber, and means defining a clutch assembly drivingly connected for rotation with said turbine member and capable of frictionally engaging said input means, said clutch assembly having walls defining a clutch disengagement chamber in said housing and including a piston movable in response to differential pressure between said disengagement chamber and said main chamber;
- means defining a hydraulic circuit including a pressure control valve means for providing a substantially constant pressure unidirectional fluid source;
- and control means operable in response to a pressure change in one of said chambers for producing an opposite pressure change in the other said chamber.
In a transmission, an input member and an output member, drive means including a fluid drive connecting said members, said fluid drive having rotatable bladed elements located in a fluid chamber, a clutch connecting said members, a unidirectional hydraulic fluid supply means for providing a source of constant pressure fluid;
- clutch control means comprising
- a first chamber fed by constant pressure fluid from said fluid supply means,
- a first passage hydraulically connecting said first chamber with said fluid chamber,
- a second chamber having a movable element which is operatively connected to said clutch,
- a second passage hydraulically connecting said first chamber with said second chamber,
- valve means for opening and closing said second passage in response to changes in the differential pressure between said fluid chamber and said constant pressure fluid from the fluid supply means.
In a transmission, an input member and an output member, drive means including a fluid drive connecting said members and having rotatable bladed elements located in a fluid chamber, and a clutch connecting said members;
- a constant pressure unidirectional hydraulic fluid supply means;
- clutch control means comprising
- a first chamber fed by said constant pressure fluid from the supply means;
- a second chamber having a movable element which is operatively connected to said clutch,
- a first passage communicating said first chamber with said second chamber,
- a second passage communicating said first chamber with said fluid chamber,
- a return passage for the hydraulic fluid from said second chamber, and return valve means for opening and closing said return passage,
- means for providing within said second chamber an intermediate fluid pressure smaller than said supply pressure,
- control valve means for opening and closing said second passage in response to changes in the differential pressure between said second chamber and said constant pressure fluid from the supply chamber.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.