Torque converter using magnetic viscous fluid as working fluid
AssigneeJATCO Ltd
InventorKazunori Kawashima
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In a torque converter for performing torque transmission by circulating a working fluid between a pump impeller and a turbine runner, the working fluid is a magnetic viscous fluid; and in a torque converter housing, outside a circulation path of the working fluid, a yoke member connected to the pump impeller and provided with a coil and a magnetic member connected to the turbine runner are concentrically arranged with a predetermined space therebetween; and a magnetic circuit is established between the yoke member and the magnetic member upon energization of the coil.
Claims13
A torque converter for performing torque transmission by circulating a working fluid between a pump impeller and a turbine runner, characterized in that:
- the working fluid is a magnetic viscous fluid;
- in a torque converter housing, outside a circulation path of the working fluid, a yoke member connected to the pump impeller and provided with a coil and a magnetic member connected to the turbine runner are concentrically arranged with a predetermined space kept therebetween;
- and
- a magnetic circuit is established between the yoke member and the magnetic member upon energization of the coil.
A torque converter comprising:
- a converter housing adapted to be connected to a power source to be driven;
- a pump impeller constituting part of the converter housing, the pump impeller having an annular yoke member that constitutes a cylindrical outer body portion of the converter housing;
- a turbine runner rotatably installed in the converter housing and adapted to be connected to a transmission device, the turbine runner being arranged to face the pump impeller;
- a magnetic viscous fluid filled in the converter housing and serving as a working fluid, the magnetic viscous fluid being circulated between the pump impeller and the turbine runner for performing torque transmission therebetween;
- and
- a magnetic force applying mechanism for changing a viscosity of the magnetic viscous fluid by applying the fluid with a magnetic force, the magnetic force applying mechanism being installed in the converter housing at a position outside a circulation path of the magnetic viscous fluid, the magnetic force applying mechanism comprising:
- a coil concentrically held by the annular yoke member;
- and
- an annular plate unit of magnetic material concentrically installed inside the coil and connected to the turbine runner through a disc member,
- wherein upon energization of the coil, there is produced a magnetic circuit between the annular yoke member and the annular plate unit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.