# US 5,346,043 A · Torque converter and viscous clutch

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 5,346,043 A
- Document ID: US5346043A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/113,871
- Filed: 1993-08-27
- Granted: 1994-09-13
- Earliest claimed: 1993-08-27
- Assignees: General Motors Corporation
- Inventors: Raymond J. Haka
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5346043A

## CPC

- F16D 35/00: Fluid clutches in which the clutching is predominantly obtained by fluid adhesion (F16D37/00 takes precedence {; arrangements of viscous clutches in four-wheel drives - B60K17/3465 and B60K17/351})
- 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 2045/0294: {Single disk type lock-up clutch, i.e. using a single disc engaged between friction members}
- F16D: COUPLINGS FOR TRANSMITTING ROTATION; CLUTCHES; BRAKES
- F16H: GEARING

## Abstract

A torque converter and viscous clutch has a viscous fluid chamber and a hydraulic fluid chamber. The fluid chambers are sealingly separated and physically interconnected by a piston interface. The piston interface is responsive to the thermal expansion in the viscous fluid chamber to permit expansion thereof. The piston is also responsive to increased pressure in the hydraulic fluid chamber to correspondingly increase the pressure in the viscous fluid chamber.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A torque converter and clutch comprising:
an input member;
an output member;
clutch means disposed between said input and output members for effecting a drive connection therebetween, said clutch means comprising:
an apply chamber;
a release chamber;
means for supplying hydraulic fluid to the chambers;
friction clutch means for engaging said input member in response to fluid pressure in the apply chamber;
viscous clutch means operatively connected between the friction clutch means and said output member including drive means secured to the friction clutch means, driven means drivingly connected with said output means, viscous drive fluid disposed between said drive and driven means for transmitting drive torque therebetween, a compensation chamber open to said viscous drive fluid and said hydraulic fluid in said apply chamber and piston means slidably disposed in said compensation chamber for preventing commingling of said viscous drive fluid and said hydraulic fluid and being responsive to the pressure and temperature of said fluids for maintaining a pressure balance between the viscous drive fluid and the hydraulic fluid.