JP2001254759A - Clutch for automatic transmission - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the drag torque generated in a wet type clutch. SOLUTION: This clutch 1 transmits or shuts off the power between an engine and a transmission, and comprises an input side member 3, an intermediate member 5, a damper unit 7, an output side member 9, a clutch 11, and a casing 13. The torque from the engine is inputted in the input side member 3. The intermediate member 5 is deposed in a relatively turnable manner in a predetermined angular range to the input side member 3. The damper unit 7 elastically connect the input side member 3 to the intermediate member 5 in the rotational direction. The output side member 9 is connected to the transmission side. The clutch 11 transmits or shuts off the torque between the intermediate member 5 and the output side member 9. The casing 13 is provided to cover the damper unit 7 and the clutch 11 in an integratedly rotatable manner with the input side member 3, and a discharge hole 13a which can discharge outside the lubricating oil filled inside is formed on a side portion.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a clutch device for an automatic transmission, and more particularly to a clutch device for an automatic transmission for transmitting or interrupting power between an engine and a transmission.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a clutch device used in an automatic transmission, an input side plate to which a torque from an engine is input, an intermediate plate disposed opposite to the input side plate, and an input side plate and an intermediate plate are provided. One having a damper elastically connected in the rotation direction, an output plate disposed on the transmission side of the intermediate plate, and a clutch for transmitting or interrupting torque between the intermediate plate and the output plate. is there.

In this clutch device, when a torque is input to an input side plate, the torque is transmitted to an intermediate plate via a damper. Then, when hydraulic pressure is supplied to the clutch and the clutch is operated (turned on), the intermediate plate and the output side plate are connected. Thus, the torque from the engine is transmitted to the transmission via the input side plate, the damper, the intermediate plate, the clutch, and the output side plate sequentially.

As this type of clutch device, there is a wet type in which a clutch is disposed in lubricating oil to transmit or cut off power. The wet clutch device generally includes a casing formed to cover the damper and the clutch, and the inside of the casing is filled with lubricating oil. In this clutch device, when the clutch device rotates, the lubricating oil inside the casing collects on the outer peripheral portion of the casing due to centrifugal force. Therefore, the damper and the clutch operate while immersed in the lubricating oil.

[0005]

In such a clutch device, since the clutch is constantly immersed in the lubricating oil, even if the clutch is in the disengaged (off) state, it is caused by the lubricating oil present on both sides of the friction plate. As a result, drag torque is generated. For this reason, even when the clutch is off, the output side plate rotates due to the drag torque, and the vehicle starts moving. Further, for the same reason, there is a problem that the disengagement of the clutch is reduced, the loss torque is large, and the fuel efficiency is poor.

An object of the present invention is to reduce drag torque generated in a wet clutch device.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a clutch device for an automatic transmission for transmitting or interrupting power between an engine and a transmission, the clutch device including an input member and an intermediate member. Member, damper part,
An output side member, a clutch part, and a casing part are provided. The input side member receives the torque from the engine. The intermediate member is disposed so as to be rotatable relative to the input side member within a predetermined angle range. The damper part elastically connects the input side member and the intermediate member in the rotational direction. The output side member is connected to the transmission side. The clutch portion transmits or interrupts torque between the intermediate member and the output side member. The casing portion is provided so as to be rotatable integrally with the input side member and to cover the damper portion and the clutch portion, and has a discharge hole formed in the side portion to discharge the lubricating oil filled inside to the outside.

In this clutch device, when the clutch section is turned on, the intermediate member and the output side member are connected. In this state, when torque is input to the input side member, this torque is transmitted to the intermediate member via the damper portion, and further transmitted to the output side member via the clutch portion. At this time, the damper part elastically deforms according to the magnitude of the torque,
The relative rotation between the input-side member and the intermediate member absorbs torsional vibration.

At this time, since the casing rotates integrally with the input side member, the lubricating oil filled in the casing collects at the outer peripheral portion of the casing under centrifugal force. When the liquid level of the lubricating oil reaches the same radial position as the discharge hole formed on the side of the casing, the lubricating oil is discharged from the discharge hole to the outside of the casing. Here, when a certain amount of lubricating oil accumulates inside the casing, the accumulated lubricating oil is discharged from the discharge hole. For this reason, it can suppress that a clutch part is immersed in lubricating oil, and the drag torque produced in a clutch part is reduced.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the clutch device of the first aspect, the discharge hole is formed on an outer peripheral side of the clutch portion. In this clutch device, since the discharge hole is formed on the outer peripheral side of the clutch portion, it is possible to suppress the entire clutch portion from being immersed in the lubricating oil, and it is possible to more reliably reduce the drag torque.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the clutch device of the first or second aspect, the damper portion is formed on an outer peripheral side of the clutch portion, and the discharge hole is formed between the damper portion and the clutch portion in a radial direction. Have been. In this clutch device, the lubricating oil is first immersed in the damper portion arranged on the outer peripheral side, and then discharged from the discharge hole to the outside of the casing portion. For this reason, the clutch portion is not immersed in the lubricating oil.

Here, since the clutch portion is not immersed in the lubricating oil, the drag torque can be reduced, and the damper portion can be immersed in the lubricating oil. Wear and deterioration can be suppressed. A clutch device according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the clutch device according to any one of the first to third aspects, further including a supply unit for supplying lubricating oil into the casing, and the discharge hole is configured to supply the discharge amount of the lubricating oil. It is formed to be larger than the supply amount from the part.

In this clutch device, since the amount of lubricating oil discharged from the discharge hole is larger than the amount supplied from the supply section, the lubricating oil does not reach the inner peripheral side beyond the discharge hole. Therefore, it is possible to reliably suppress the clutch portion from being immersed in the lubricating oil while supplying the lubricating oil into the casing portion. The clutch device according to claim 5 is a clutch device according to claims 1 to 4.
In any one of the clutch devices, the discharge hole communicates with the supply portion via an oil chamber disposed outside the casing portion.

In this clutch device, when the lubricating oil is discharged from the discharge hole, it moves to the oil chamber, and further moves from the oil chamber to the supply unit. Thereby, the lubricating oil can be circulated and used. A clutch device according to a sixth aspect of the present invention is the clutch device according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, further including a seal portion for preventing lubricating oil from flowing between the casing portion and the engine. .

In this clutch device, the space between the casing and the engine is sealed, so that the lubricating oil discharged from the discharge hole does not move to the engine side. Therefore, the engine and its peripheral members can be prevented from being contaminated by the lubricating oil.

[0016]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a clutch device 1 to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied. An engine (not shown) is arranged on the left side of FIG. 1, and a transmission (not shown) is arranged on the right side of FIG. The OO line shown in FIG. 1 is the rotation axis of the clutch device 1.

The clutch device 1 is a device for transmitting or interrupting power between the engine and the transmission, and includes an input member 3, an intermediate member 5, a damper portion 7, an output member 9, A clutch unit 11 and a casing 13 are provided. The input side member 3 is a member to which torque from the engine is input, and has an input plate 14 connected to a member on the engine side, and a pair of annular plates 15 and 17 connected to the input plate 14. ing.
The pair of annular plates 15 and 17 are arranged to face each other in the axial direction. The pair of annular plates 15, 17
The outer peripheral portions are fixed by a plurality of rivets 16 and can rotate integrally. One of the annular plates 15 has an outer peripheral portion extending further outward than the outer peripheral edge of the other annular plate 17, and this portion is integrally rotatably connected to the inner wall of the outer peripheral portion of the casing 13. A spring accommodating portion 15a for accommodating a torsion spring 19 described later is provided at a radially intermediate portion of each of the annular plates 15, 17.
17a are formed.

The intermediate member 5 includes a pair of annular plates 15,
17, an annular portion 21 disposed between the axial directions
And a clutch accommodating portion 23 formed on the inner peripheral side. In the annular portion 21, a plurality of window holes 21a for supporting the torsion spring 19 are formed at predetermined intervals in the circumferential direction. An outer peripheral cylindrical portion 23a formed to extend toward the transmission side (the right side in FIG. 1).
And an inner cylindrical portion 2 formed concentrically with the outer cylindrical portion 23a
3b. A hydraulic chamber is formed by a part of the outer cylindrical part 23a, the inner cylindrical part 23b, and a part of the side wall connecting these parts. An inner peripheral engaging portion is formed on the inner peripheral portion of the outer cylindrical portion 23a.

The damper portion 7 is a portion for attenuating and absorbing a torque fluctuation between the input side member 3 and the output side member 5 and includes a plurality of torsion springs 19. The torsion spring 19 is a coil spring for elastically connecting the pair of annular plates 15, 17 and the annular portion 21 of the intermediate member 5 in the rotation direction, and is housed in the window 21 a of the annular portion 21. Annular plate 15,
17 are supported by the spring receiving portions 15a and 17a.

The output side member 9 is arranged on the transmission side of the intermediate member 5 and on the inner peripheral side of the clutch portion 11. A tubular portion 9 a is formed on the outer peripheral portion of the output side member 9 so as to face the outer peripheral side tubular portion 23 a of the clutch storage portion 23 of the intermediate member 5. An outer engaging portion is formed on the outer periphery of the cylindrical portion 9a. Also, the output side member 9
A spline hole is formed in the inner peripheral portion of the shaft, and the spline hole is movably axially engaged with a spline shaft of a shaft extending from the transmission.

The clutch section 11 is a section for transmitting or interrupting torque between the intermediate member 5 and the output side member 9.
The clutch unit 11 includes a plurality of first clutch plates 25 and second clutch plates 27 that are alternately arranged in the axial direction.
And a piston 29 for pressing the clutch plates 25 and 27 against each other. First clutch plate 25
An engagement portion is formed on the outer peripheral portion of the intermediate member 5, and the engagement portion is engaged with the inner engagement portion of the outer peripheral cylindrical portion 23 a of the intermediate member 5 so as to be movable in the axial direction and relatively unrotatable. . On the other hand, the second
An engaging portion is formed on an inner peripheral portion of the clutch plate 27, and the engaging portion is engaged with an outer peripheral engaging portion of the output-side member 9 so as to be movable in the axial direction and relatively non-rotatable.

The casing 13 is a cover-like member formed so as to cover the damper part 7 and the clutch part 11, and its outer peripheral part is connected to the outer peripheral part of the input plate 14. Therefore, the casing 13 has the input plate 1
4 and rotate together. Lubricating oil is supplied into the casing 13 via an oil passage formed in a shaft extending from the transmission (see an arrow A in FIG. 1). Also,
A discharge hole 13 a for discharging the lubricating oil in the casing 13 to the outside is formed near the clutch portion 11 on the transmission side surface of the casing 13. In this embodiment, the discharge hole 13a is formed between the damper part 7 and the clutch part 11 in the radial direction. Also, the discharge hole 13
“a” is formed to have a predetermined size so that the discharge amount of the lubricating oil is larger than the amount of the supplied lubricating oil. The lubricating oil discharged from the discharge hole 13a is discharged from a discharge hole 30a formed in the housing 30 to an oil pan (not shown).

The discharge holes 13a formed in the casing 13 are provided on the outer peripheral side and the inner peripheral side, respectively.
Seal members 31 and 33 are provided to prevent the lubricating oil discharged from a from entering other parts such as the engine side. In addition, in order to operate the piston 29 of the clutch unit 11, hydraulic oil (lubricating oil) is supplied into the hydraulic chamber 23 through an oil passage (not shown) formed in the transmission shaft and the intermediate member 5. (See arrow B in FIG. 1).

Next, the operation of the clutch device 1 will be described. When transmitting torque to the transmission side, hydraulic oil is supplied to the hydraulic chamber 23, whereby the piston 29 is operated and the first clutch plate 25 and the second clutch plate 27 are pressed against each other (clutch-on state). In such a clutch-on state, when torque from the engine is input to the input side member 3, this torque is transmitted to the torsion spring 19 via the pair of annular plates 15, 17, and the torsion spring 19 To the intermediate member 5. The torsion spring 19 is compressed according to the magnitude of this torque, and the input side member 3 and the intermediate member 5 rotate relatively. Utilizing this relative rotation, torsional vibration from the engine is absorbed.

Next, the torque transmitted to the intermediate member 5 is transmitted to the transmission via the clutch portion 11 and the output side member 9. In such a clutch-on state, all the components of the clutch device 1 except the housing 30 are rotating, and therefore, the lubricating oil in the casing 13 is collected on the outer peripheral side by the action of the centrifugal force. When the lubricating oil accumulates and reaches the position of the discharge hole 13a, the lubricating oil is discharged to the space between the casing 13 and the housing 30 through the discharge hole 13a, and further passed through the hole 30a of the housing 30 to form an oil pan. Is discharged. On the other hand, new lubricating oil is supplied to the clutch unit 11 as shown by an arrow A in the casing 13, so that the clutch unit 1
In the vicinity of 1, it is in an oil spray state.

Here, since the damper portion 7 is always lubricated and the clutch portion 11 is also in an oil spray state, there is no lack of lubrication. Further, since the excess lubricating oil is discharged through the discharge holes 13a and 30a, the resistance due to the lubricating oil can be reduced, and the fuel efficiency can be improved. When the torque from the engine is not transmitted to the transmission, the supply of the hydraulic oil to the hydraulic chamber 23 is stopped. Then, the hydraulic oil in the hydraulic chamber 23 is discharged from a check ball (not shown), and the piston 29 is returned to an initial position by a return spring (not shown) (clutch off state).

In such a clutch off state, the first clutch plate 25 and the second clutch plate 27 are separated from each other without being pressed against each other, so that the torque on the input side is not transmitted to the output side. In such a clutch off state, the members on the input side of the clutch unit 11, that is, the input side member 3, the intermediate member 5, and the first clutch plate 25 are constantly rotating. Therefore, as described above, the lubricating oil is collected at the outer peripheral portion of the casing 13 under the centrifugal force. Therefore, when the lubricating oil accumulates and reaches the discharge hole 13a,
The lubricating oil passes through the discharge holes 13a and 30a and is collected in an oil pan.

At this time, as described above, the clutch 11
Is not immersed in the lubricating oil, so that the drag torque in the clutch portion 11 can be reduced. Therefore,
When the vehicle is in neutral (clutch off state), the vehicle can be prevented from starting to move. Further, according to the clutch device 1, since the viscous resistance of the lubricating oil does not occur, the disengagement of the clutch can be favorably maintained.

[Other Embodiments] The clutch portion 11 is formed at an axial position different from that of the damper portion 7, and is formed such that its outer peripheral end is located closer to the outer peripheral side than the inner peripheral end of the damper portion 7. May be. Also in this case, the discharge hole 13a is preferably formed on the outer peripheral side of the clutch unit 11.

[0030]

According to the present invention, in a wet type clutch device, excess lubricating oil near the clutch portion is discharged, so that drag torque generated in the clutch portion is reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a clutch device employing an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Clutch device 3 Input side member 5 Intermediate member 7 Damper part 9 Output side member 11 Clutch part 13 Casing 13a Discharge hole

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An automatic transmission clutch device for transmitting or interrupting power between an engine and a transmission, comprising: an input member to which torque from the engine is input; An intermediate member disposed so as to be relatively rotatable within a predetermined angle range, a damper portion elastically connecting the input side member and the intermediate member in a rotational direction, and an output side member connected to the transmission side. A clutch unit that transmits or interrupts torque between the intermediate member and the output-side member; and a clutch unit that is integrally rotatable with the input-side member and covers the damper unit and the clutch unit. A clutch device for an automatic transmission, comprising: a casing portion having a discharge hole formed at a side portion for discharging filled lubricating oil to the outside. 2. A clutch device for an automatic transmission according to claim 1, wherein said discharge hole is formed on an outer peripheral side of said clutch portion. 3. The automatic transmission according to claim 1, wherein said damper portion is formed on an outer peripheral side of said clutch portion, and said discharge hole is formed between said damper portion and said clutch portion in a radial direction. Transmission clutch device. 4. A supply unit for supplying lubricating oil into the casing, wherein the discharge hole is formed such that a discharge amount of the lubricating oil is larger than a supply amount from the supply unit. 4. The clutch device for an automatic transmission according to any one of 1 to 3. 5. The clutch device for an automatic transmission according to claim 1, wherein said discharge hole communicates with said supply portion via an oil chamber disposed outside said casing portion. 6. The clutch device for an automatic transmission according to claim 1, further comprising a seal portion for preventing lubricating oil from flowing between said casing portion and said engine.