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US 5,704,456 AGranted
Hydrodynamic torque converter
AssigneeFichtel & Sachs AG
InventorRudiger Hinkel
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In a hydrodynamic torque converter, a secondary circulation which is provided for the cooling of the hydraulic fluid in the primary circulation chamber, and when there is a lockup clutch also for the actuation of this lockup clutch, runs through a stator support structure which comprises an overrunning clutch unit. One or more passage channels are provided in the locking rings of the overrunning clutch unit which provide the flow path through the stator support structure.
Claims20
A hydrodynamic torque converter with a lockup clutch, said torque converter comprising:
- an axis of rotation defining an axial direction;
- a pump wheel, said pump wheel comprising:
- a pump wall;
- a plurality of blades;
- an arrangement for being connected to a source for providing power;
- a turbine wheel, said turbine wheel comprising:
- a turbine wall;
- a plurality of blades;
- an arrangement for being connected to a transmission shaft for transmitting power to the transmission shaft;
- said plurality of blades of said pump wheel and said plurality of blades of said turbine wheel being disposed to face one another;
- said turbine wheel being disposed adjacent to said pump wheel;
- a lockup clutch for locking together said turbine wheel and said pump wheel to prevent movement of said turbine wheel and said pump wheel with respect to one another upon engagement of said lockup clutch;
- stator, said stator being disposed between said turbine wheel and said pump wheel;
- said stator comprising a plurality of blades;
- said stator comprising an overrunning clutch unit;
- said overrunning clutch unit comprising an inner locking ring and an outer locking ring;
- said outer locking ring being disposed about said inner locking ring;
- said inner locking ring having an inner circumference disposed toward the axis of rotation;
- the inner circumference of said inner locking ring being disposed a substantial distance from the axis of rotation;
- said inner locking ring comprising an inner surface disposed adjacent to the inner circumference of said inner locking ring;
- said inner locking ring having an outer circumference disposed away from the axis of rotation;
- said outer locking ring having an inner circumference disposed toward the axis of rotation;
- the inner circumference of said outer locking ring being disposed a substantial distance from the axis of rotation;
- said outer locking ring having an outer circumference disposed away from the axis of rotation;
- an arrangement for permitting circulation of hydraulic fluid simultaneously into and out of said hydrodynamic torque converter during torque converting operation of said hydrodynamic torque converter;
- said arrangement for permitting circulation of hydraulic fluid comprising a first portion of a flow path to feed hydraulic fluid to said hydrodynamic torque converter;
- said arrangement for permitting circulation of hydraulic fluid comprising a second portion of said flow path to direct hydraulic fluid away from said hydrodynamic torque converter;
- said first portion of said flow path being structurally distinct from said second portion of said flow path;
- said arrangement for permitting circulation of hydraulic fluid comprising at least one passage channel;
- said at least one passage channel being disposed in and through at least one of:
- said outer locking ring between the inner circumference of said outer locking ring and the outer circumference of said outer locking ring;
- and
- said inner locking ring between said inner surface of said inner locking ring and the outer circumference of said inner locking ring;
- and
- said at least one passage channel being disposed to carry hydraulic fluid within said at least one passage in the axial direction.
32 more elements
A hydrodynamic torque converter, said torque converter comprising:
- an axis of rotation defining an axial direction;
- a pump wheel, said pump wheel comprising:
- a pump wall;
- a plurality of blades;
- an arrangement for being connected to a source for providing power;
- a turbine wheel, said turbine wheel comprising:
- a turbine wall;
- a plurality of blades;
- an arrangement for being connected to a transmission shaft for transmitting power to the transmission shaft;
- said plurality of blades of said pump wheel and said plurality of blades of said turbine wheel being disposed to face one another;
- said turbine wheel being disposed adjacent to said pump wheel;
- stator, said stator being disposed between said turbine wheel and said pump wheel;
- said stator comprising a plurality of blades;
- said stator comprising an overrunning clutch unit;
- said overrunning clutch unit comprising an inner locking ring and an outer locking ring;
- said outer locking ring being disposed about said inner locking ring;
- said inner locking ring having an inner circumference disposed toward the axis of rotation;
- the inner circumference of said inner locking ring being disposed a substantial distance from the axis of rotation;
- said inner locking ring comprising an inner surface disposed adjacent to the inner circumference of said inner locking ring;
- said inner locking ring having an outer circumference disposed away from the axis of rotation;
- said outer locking ring having an inner circumference disposed toward the axis of rotation;
- the inner circumference of said outer locking ring being disposed a substantial distance from the axis of rotation;
- said outer locking ring having an outer circumference disposed away from the axis of rotation;
- an arrangement for permitting circulation of hydraulic fluid simultaneously into and out of said hydrodynamic torque converter during torque converting operation of said hydrodynamic torque converter;
- said arrangement for permitting circulation of hydraulic fluid comprising a first portion of a flow path to feed hydraulic fluid to said hydrodynamic torque converter;
- said arrangement for permitting circulation of hydraulic fluid comprising a second portion of said flow path to direct hydraulic fluid away from said hydrodynamic torque converter;
- said first portion of said flow path being structurally distinct from said second portion of said flow path;
- said arrangement for permitting circulation of hydraulic fluid comprising at least one passage channel;
- said at least one passage channel being disposed in and through at least one of:
- said outer locking ring between the inner circumference of said outer locking ring and the outer circumference of said outer locking ring;
- and
- said inner locking ring between said inner surface of said inner locking ring and the outer circumference of said inner locking ring;
- and
- said at least one passage channel being disposed to carry hydraulic fluid within said at least one passage in the axial direction.
31 more elements
A hydrodynamic torque converter with a lockup clutch, said torque converter comprising:
- an axis of rotation defining an axial direction;
- a pump wheel, said pump wheel comprising:
- a pump wall;
- a plurality of blades;
- an arrangement for being connected to a source for providing power;
- a turbine wheel, said turbine wheel comprising:
- a turbine wall;
- a plurality of blades;
- an arrangement for being connected to a transmission shaft for transmitting power to the transmission shaft;
- said plurality of blades of said pump wheel and said plurality of blades of said turbine wheel being disposed to face one another;
- said turbine wheel being disposed adjacent to said pump wheel;
- a stator, said stator being disposed between said turbine wheel and said pump wheel;
- said stator comprising a plurality of blades;
- said stator comprising an overrunning clutch unit;
- said overrunning clutch unit comprising an inner locking ring and an outer locking ring;
- said outer locking ring being disposed about said inner locking ring;
- said inner locking ring having an inner circumference disposed toward the axis of rotation;
- the inner circumference of said inner locking ring being disposed a substantial distance from the axis of rotation;
- said inner locking ring comprising an inner surface disposed adjacent to the inner circumference of said inner locking ring;
- said inner locking ring having an outer circumference disposed away from the axis of rotation;
- said outer locking ring having an inner circumference disposed toward the axis of rotation;
- the inner circumference of said outer locking ring being disposed a substantial distance from the axis of rotation;
- said outer locking ring having an outer circumference disposed away from the axis of rotation;
- an arrangement for permitting circulation of hydraulic fluid during torque converting operation of said hydrodynamic torque converter;
- said arrangement for permitting circulation of hydraulic fluid comprising at least one passage channel;
- said at least one passage channel being disposed in and through at least one of:
- said outer locking ring between the inner circumference of said outer locking ring and the outer circumference of said outer locking ring;
- and
- said inner locking ring between said inner surface of said inner locking ring and the outer circumference of said inner locking ring;
- and
- said at least one passage channel being disposed to carry hydraulic fluid within said at least one passage in the axial direction.
28 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.