US 9,810,304 B2 · Two pass multi-function torque converter

Abstract

A torque converter, including: a cover; an impeller including an impeller blade, and an impeller shell with a first surface extending beyond the impeller blade in a radial direction and at an acute angle with respect to a first line in the radial direction; a turbine including a turbine blade, and a turbine shell with a second surface axially aligned with the first surface and at the acute angle with respect to the first line; a turbine clutch including the first and second surfaces and friction material disposed between the first and second surfaces; a torus at least partially enclosed by the impeller and turbine shells; and a pressure chamber at least partially formed by the turbine shell and the cover. For torque converter mode, the turbine and the impeller are independently rotatably with respect to each other. For lock-up mode, the first and second surfaces are non-rotatably connected.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A multi-function torque converter, comprising:

a cover arranged to receive torque;
an impeller including an impeller shell and at least one impeller blade connected to the impeller shell;
a turbine including a turbine shell and at least one turbine blade connected to the turbine shell;
a torus at least partially enclosed by the impeller and turbine shells;
a first pressure chamber at least partially formed by the impeller shell and the cover;
an impeller clutch including a portion of the impeller shell;
and,
a resilient element assembly located in the first pressure chamber, the resilient element assembly includes at least one groove and radially inward flow of fluid out of the first pressure chamber is at least partly through the at least one groove;
wherein:
pressure in the torus is arranged to displace the impeller shell in a first direction to substantially non-rotatably connect the portion of the impeller shell to the cover for a closed mode for the impeller clutch;
and,
the resilient element assembly urges, with a first force, the impeller shell in a second direction opposite the first direction.

9 more elements

A multi-function torque converter, comprising:

a cover arranged to receive torque;
an impeller including an impeller shell and at least one impeller blade connected to the impeller shell;
a turbine including a turbine shell and at least one turbine blade connected to the turbine shell;
a torus at least partially enclosed by the impeller and turbine shells;
a first pressure chamber at least partially formed by the impeller shell and the cover;
an impeller clutch including a portion of the impeller shell;
and,
a resilient element assembly located in the first pressure chamber, the resilient element assembly includes at least one groove and radially inward flow of fluid out of the first pressure chamber is at least partly through the at least one groove;
wherein:
fluid pressure in the torus is arranged to exert a first force on the impeller shell to displace the impeller shell in a first direction to substantially non-rotatably connect the portion of the impeller shell to the cover for a closed mode for the impeller clutch;
the resilient element assembly applies a second force to the impeller shell in a second direction opposite the first direction;
and,
when the second force is greater than the first force, the resilient element assembly is arranged to displace the impeller shell in the second direction to disengage the impeller shell and cover for an open mode for the impeller clutch.

10 more elements

A multi-function torque converter, comprising:

a cover arranged to receive torque;
an impeller including an impeller shell and at least one impeller blade connected to the impeller shell;
a turbine including a turbine shell and at least one turbine blade connected to the turbine shell;
a torus at least partially enclosed by the impeller and turbine shells;
a first pressure chamber at least partially formed by the impeller shell and the cover;
a second pressure chamber at least partially formed by the turbine shell and the cover;
an impeller clutch including a portion of the impeller shell;
a resilient element assembly located in the first pressure chamber and urging the impeller shell in a first direction with a first force, the resilient element assembly includes at least one groove and radially inward flow of fluid out of the first pressure chamber is at least partly through the at least one groove;
and,
a turbine clutch including a portion of the turbine shell, wherein:
when a second force, produced by fluid pressure in the torus, in a second direction opposite the first direction is greater than the first force, the second force is arranged to displace the impeller shell in the second direction to substantially non-rotatably connect the portion of the impeller shell and the cover for a closed mode for the impeller clutch;
when the first force is greater than the second force, the resilient element assembly is arranged to displace the impeller shell in the first direction to disengage the impeller shell and cover for an open mode for the impeller clutch;
and,
a difference in the fluid pressure in the torus and fluid pressure in the second chamber is arranged to displace the turbine shell in the first or second direction to disengage or engage, respectively, the portion of the turbine shell with the portion of the impeller shell.

11 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Two pass multi-function torque converter

Life of this patent

Two pass multi-function torque converter

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18