Torque converter having variable pitch stator
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsVincent Patrick LaVoie, Norman Jerry Bird
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A transmission includes a torque converter stator with controllable blade angle. The blade angle is adjusted by adjusting the rotational position of a control ring with respect to a stator hub. The stator blades are supported by the stator hob, a locking ring, and an outer ring. The stator blades have teeth that mesh with teeth on the control ring to determine blade angle. A controller adjust the blades by commanding fluid pressures in hydraulic circuits routed to the stator hub. Various circumstances in which the controller would adjust the blade angle are discussed.
Claims12
A torque converter stator comprising:
- a hub;
- a ring supported to rotate relative to the hub about a rotational axis wherein the ring and the hub define a first chamber having a first volume that is a function of a rotational position of the ring relative to the hub;
- and
- a plurality of blades supported by the hub, each blade configured to pivot relative to the hub about a radial axis perpendicular to the rotation axis to vary a blade angle, wherein the blade angle is a function of the rotational position of the ring relative to the hub.
A transmission comprising:
- a stator hub supported for rotation about a fixed stator shaft;
- a plurality of blades pivotally supported by the hub throughout a range of blade angles;
- and
- a ring supported for rotation about the stator shaft, wherein gear teeth on a face of the ring mesh with gear teeth fixed to the blades.
A transmission comprising:
- a stator hub supported for rotation about a fixed stator shaft in a positive direction;
- a plurality of blades pivotally supported by the hub throughout a range of blade angles;
- a plurality of rockers supported to pivot relative to the hub and configured to engage the stator to prevent rotation of the hub in a reverse direction;
- and
- a ring supported for rotation relative to the hub wherein the ring and the hub define a first chamber having a first volume that is a function of the rotational position of the ring relative to the hub.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.