GB871887A - Improvements in and relating to hydodynamic couplings - Google Patents

Abstract

871,887. Hydraulic transmission of power. CLARK EQUIPMENT CO. April 25, 1960 [May 1, 1959], No. 14402/60. Class 69 (2). An hydraulic coupling or converter comprises a plurality of varied wheels 30, 36, 38, one of which has a hub portion 100 having an internal cylindrical surface provided with a plurality of helically-arranged grooves 108 for admitting fluid to the annular chamber 44 formed by the wheels, and additional means 114 for discharging fluid from the annular chamber. As shown applied to a torque converter having an impeller 30 connected by a flexible coupling 52, 54 to a driving wheel 24, a turbine connected to an output shaft 49 driving transmission in a housing 72, and a reactor 38 connected by a one-way clutch 45 to a sleeve 47 secured to a stationary casing 70, the impeller is formed with a radially-extending face 126 having grooves or passages 128 which lead to the chamber of the converter and are connected to the helical grooves 108 in its hub portion 100. The grooves 108 lead from a chamber 104 connected by a pipe 96 to a reservoir 94 in the casing 70 and, during rotation of the impeller, fluid in the reservoir is drawn into the chamber 104 and passes through passages defined by the grooves 108 and sleeve 47 and the passages 128 into the converter chamber 44. Fluid discharged from the converter passes through a gap 112 and annular space 114 between the sleeve 47 and shaft 49 into a chamber 106 and through a pipe 118 having apertures 120 back to the reservoir 94. The impeller is formed with cooling fins 130 and the casing 70 is provided with slots 132 so that air drawn down a gap 138 between the casing 70 and housing 72 passes through the slots 132 and over the impeller to cool the fluid in the casing and converter. Additional cooling may be effected by replacing the pipe 118 with another without apertures and, after removing the plug 127, connecting the pipe to a cooler.