JP2002122208A - Fitting structure of thrust sliding bearing in torque converter - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a fitting structure capable of improving the performance of a torque converter by reducing the sliding resistance in fitting a thrust sliding bearing interposed between a pump and a stator of the torque converter. SOLUTION: The thrust bearing 5 is fitted to the side of the pump 1 and a sliding surface 7 formed with an oil groove 8 is fitted by positioned in the side of the stator 3.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a mounting structure of a slide bearing for supporting a thrust load of a stator constituting a torque converter.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As is well known, a torque converter is a type of joint capable of transmitting the power of an engine to a transmission using a working fluid as a medium. The torque converter is a pump impeller which is rotated by the engine, and is delivered by rotation of the pump impeller. The turbine runner rotates in response to the movement of the working fluid, and further includes a stator that changes the direction of the working fluid exiting the turbine runner and guides the working fluid to the pump impeller.

FIG. 5 is a cross section of a general torque converter. FIG. 5A shows a pump impeller, FIG. 5B shows a turbine runner, and FIG. 5C shows a stator. A working fluid is sealed in the converter outer shell (d), and when the pump impeller (a) rotates together with the front cover by the engine, the turbine runner (b) starts rotating with the working fluid as a medium, and the pump impeller While the rotational speed difference between (a) and the turbine runner (b) is large, the turbine runner (b) is rotated at a large torque ratio due to the torque amplification effect due to the presence of the stator (c). The torque amplifying action is eliminated, and power is transmitted from the pump impeller (a) to the turbine runner (b) as a fluid coupling. Then, when the turbine runner (b) reaches a predetermined rotation speed, the lock-up piston (e) moves to engage with the friction material (g) of the front cover (f), and the converter outer shell.
The rotation of (d) is transmitted directly to the turbine runner (b).

As shown in FIG. 1, the torque converter has a thrust bearing (h) between a pump impeller (a) and a stator (c), and a stator (c) and a turbine runner.
(B), and a thrust bearing (u) is interposed between the turbine runner (b) and the front cover (f).

[0005] The stator (c) has a one-way clutch.
(R) is provided, and rotation in only one direction is allowed. That is, in the low speed range, the working fluid flowing out of the turbine runner (b) is stopped without rotating to guide the working fluid to rotate the pump impeller (a). That is, the stator
(C) The working fluid can be applied to the inner surface of the blade to change its flow direction.

However, when the rotation speed of the turbine runner (b) increases, the turbine runner (b) hits the blade back surface of the stator (c) and the stator (c) rotates. Thus, the stator
(C) is equipped with the above one-way clutch (ル) to rotate in only one direction, and rotates independently of the pump impeller (イ) and turbine runner (ロ), so the thrust load is placed between them. Thrust bearings (H) and (H) are interposed.

Similarly, until the rotation speed of the turbine runner (b) reaches a predetermined range and the lock-up piston (e) engages with the friction material (g) of the front cover (f), the turbine runner (b) is Since there is a speed difference with the front cover (f), a thrust bearing (nu) is interposed between them to support the thrust load. And each of these thrust bearings (H),
(I) and (nu) are both configured as thrust rolling bearings using rollers. Since the thrust rolling bearing has a plurality of rollers arranged and runners on both sides, the coefficient of friction is low, but the manufacturing cost is high, and the thickness is increased to some extent, and there is also a problem of intervening space.

Therefore, a torque converter may use a thrust sliding bearing instead of a thrust rolling bearing. For example, a thrust slide bearing is used in "a hydrodynamic torque converter having an axial support device provided with a slide bearing" according to JP-A-11-125320. This thrust slide bearing is a ring having a hole in the center, and a groove is formed on the slide surface along a part of the radially extending length.

[0009] The working fluid (lubricating oil) accumulates in this groove, and the hydrostatic pressure rises in the limiting portion, which is the tip of the groove, so that the lubricating oil flows out, and an oil film is formed on the sliding surface to be supported hydrostatically To reduce friction and eliminate the wear caused by friction ". By the way, the thrust slide bearing is attached to the stator, and if the pump rotates, slip occurs between the slide surface of the thrust slide bearing and the pump.

[0010] When the rotation of the pump is low, the stator is stopped and slippage occurs between the pump and the thrust slide bearing. However, there is no effect that the lubricating oil in the groove portion is semi-forced to flow to the slide surface. The friction coefficient of the sliding surface increases, and the sliding resistance in this case decreases the transmission efficiency of the torque converter. Of course, the thrust rolling bearing has smaller resistance, but as described above, the cost is high.

[0011]

As described above, the thrust bearing in the conventional torque converter has the above-mentioned problems. The problem to be solved by the present invention is this problem. An object of the present invention is to provide a mounting structure for a thrust slide bearing which can reduce the slip resistance and improve the performance of the torque converter.

[0012]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a mounting structure for a thrust slide bearing of a torque converter, wherein the thrust slide bearing is interposed between a pump and a stator and between a stator and a turbine runner. I have. It is also installed between the turbine runner and the front cover. Here, the thrust slide bearing to which the present invention is applied mainly has a mounting structure between the pump and the stator, and is characterized in that the thrust slide bearing is mounted on the pump side.

The thrust slide bearing forms a ring body,
Although an oil groove is formed on the slip surface, the form of the oil groove is not limited, for example, when the oil groove extends in the radial direction or when the oil groove extends obliquely to the radial direction. The material may be metal or resin. The oil groove is filled with lubricating oil, and when the thrust slide bearing rotates, the lubricating oil flows out of the oil groove to form a fluid lubrication state on the slip surface. That is, the mounting structure is such that the thrust slide bearing rotates so that the lubricating oil easily flows out of the oil groove.

Since the stator does not rotate in the low-speed rotation range of the pump and does not exceed the rotation speed of the pump even if it rotates, by installing a thrust slide bearing on the pump side, the lubricating oil flowing out of the oil groove is reduced. More. Also, in the case of a thrust slide bearing between the stator and the turbine runner, it is better to mount it on the turbine runner side. Hereinafter, embodiments according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0015]

FIG. 1 shows a cross section of a torque converter. The basic structure is the same as that of the torque converter shown in FIG. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a pump, 2 denotes a turbine runner, and 3 denotes a stator. A working fluid is sealed in the converter outer shell 4, and when the pump 1 is rotated by the engine, the turbine runner 2 starts rotating through the working fluid. In this case, the stator 3 is provided with a one-way clutch. The pump 1 is allowed to rotate in only one direction, and stops at a low speed without rotating so as to guide the working fluid flowing out of the turbine runner 2 to rotate the pump 1.

However, when the rotation speed of the turbine runner 2 increases, the working fluid hits the blade back surface of the stator 3 and the stator 3 rotates. As described above, the stator 3 is provided with the one-way clutch in order to perform rotation in only one direction, and is rotated independently of the pump 1 and the turbine runner 2. 5 are interposed.

FIG. 2 is a specific example showing the thrust slide bearing 5. As shown in the figure, this thrust bearing forms a ring body having a hole 6 in the center, and a flat sliding surface 7 is formed on the surface. A plurality of oil grooves 8, 8,... Are provided at equal intervals on the sliding surface 7,
The oil grooves 8, 8,... Accumulate lubricating oil and keep the sliding surface 7 in a fluid lubricated state.

FIG. 3 shows an enlarged view of the oil groove 8. The oil groove 8 is open to the outer periphery 9 of the slip surface and is cut toward the center hole 6, but the tip 14 of the oil groove 8 is slipped. The shape forms an elongated recess without being accommodated in the plane and reaching the center hole 6. Although the inner side surface 10 of the oil groove 8 stands almost vertically from the bottom, the boundary with the slip surface 7 is a curved surface of an appropriate size. Now, if the thrust slide bearing 5 rotates in the direction of the arrow, since the boundary with the oil groove 8 is a curved surface r, the lubricating oil flows out from the oil groove 8 to the slide surface 7.

Since the curved surface R at the tip end of the oil groove 8 is relatively large and R> r, the lubricating oil flowing into the oil groove 8 with the rotation of the bearing is removed from the rear side r surface and the front end side. Flows out along the R surface of the sliding surface 7 to provide a fluid lubrication state on the sliding surface 7. The direction of the thrust slide bearing 5 is inclined with respect to the radial direction so that the lubricating oil flows by rotating.

In FIG. 2, the oil groove 8 has an acute angle θ (θ <90 °) with respect to a tangent drawn at one point P on the outer periphery 9 of the slip surface.
It is inclined. That is, the opening 13 of the oil groove 8 is
The lubricating oil is inclined from the opening 13 to the oil groove 8 by rotating in the direction indicated by the arrow in the direction of rotation, or in the direction in which the sliding bearing advances relative to the rotating body that is in contact with the sliding surface 7. The lubricating oil flows into the sliding surface 7.

The thrust slide bearing 5 of the present invention is mounted on the pump side, and rotates at the same time as the pump 1 rotates. Therefore, the lubricating oil flows into the oil groove 8 with the rotation of the thrust slide bearing 5, and particularly at the start of rotation, the hydrostatic pressure of the lubricating oil filled in the oil groove 8 by the action of the inertia force is such that the rear side of the oil groove 8 Become higher, slip surface 7 and inner surface 10
It easily flows out from the R surface or C surface formed at the boundary with.

FIG. 4 is another embodiment showing a thrust slide bearing. The thrust slide bearing 5 is formed with oil grooves 8 extending inward from the outer periphery 9 of the sliding surface and oil grooves 11 extending outward from the inner periphery of the hole.
The oil groove 8 is the same as the oil groove 8 shown in FIG. 2 described above. One oil groove 11 extends outward from the inner periphery of the hole and is inclined so that lubricating oil can easily flow in with the rotation of the thrust slide bearing 5. It has become. That is, since the openings of the oil grooves 8 and 11 are inclined in the direction of rotation in the direction of rotation with respect to the tip or in the direction of relative rotation of the slide bearing with respect to the rotating body in contact with the slide surface 7, by rotating in the direction of the arrow. The lubricating oil flows into the oil grooves 8 and 11 from the openings, and this lubricating oil can flow out to the slip surface 7.

With the rotation of the thrust slide bearing 5, the lubricating oil filled in the oil groove 11 flows out of the oil groove tip to the sliding surface 7 by the action of centrifugal force, and the oil groove 8 by the action of inertia force caused by the rotation. The hydrostatic pressure on the rear side of the sliding surface is increased, and can flow out to the sliding surface 7. However, in the present invention, the form of the oil groove of the thrust slide bearing 5 is not limited to the case shown in FIGS.

For example, an oil groove extending in a radial direction (radially) may be used. The oil groove can be formed continuously from the inner circumference of the hole to the outer circumference of the slip surface.However, to apply centrifugal force to the lubricating oil that accumulates in the oil groove and allow it to flow out to the slip surface, the oil groove tip must be It is preferable to fit it.

The thrust slide bearing is mounted on the pump side.
2, 12,... Are formed. These notched grooves 12, 12 ...
The thrust slide bearing rotates with the rotation of the pump. Of course, the specific mounting method of the thrust slide bearing is not limited,
For example, screws can be used. On the other hand, the thrust slide bearing can be similarly mounted on the turbine runner side.

As described above, the mounting structure of the thrust slide bearing according to the present invention is provided on the pump and turbine runner sides where the thrust slide bearing rotates faster, and has the following effects. Can be obtained.

[0027]

In the torque converter, since the thrust slide bearing interposed between the pump and the stator is mounted on the pump side, the thrust slide bearing rotates together with the pump, and the slide rotation is performed between the thrust slide bearing and the stator. An oil groove is formed on the sliding surface of the thrust slide bearing, and centrifugal force is applied to the lubricating oil accumulated in the oil groove with the rotation of the thrust slide bearing. The hydrostatic pressure on the rear side of increases, and it easily flows to the slip surface.

Accordingly, the slip surface forms a fluid lubricated state, causing a decrease in the coefficient of friction, and improving the efficiency of the torque converter. On the other hand, by attaching the thrust slide bearing interposed between the turbine runner and the stator to the turbine runner side, the thrust slide bearing rotates rapidly with respect to the stator, and the lubricating oil in the oil groove flows out to the slide surface with the rotation. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows a torque converter using a thrust slide bearing between a pump and a stator.

FIG. 2 is a specific example of a thrust slide bearing.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of an oil groove.

FIG. 4 shows another specific example of a thrust slide bearing.

FIG. 5 is a conventional torque converter.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Pump 2 Turbine runner 3 Stator 4 Converter outer shell 5 Thrust sliding bearing 6 hole 7 Sliding surface 8 Oil groove 9 Sliding surface outer periphery 10 Inner surface 11 Oil groove 12 Notch groove 13 Opening 14 Tip

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Takashi Hori 10 Takane, Fujii-machi, Anjo-shi, Aichi Prefecture Inside Aisin AW Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Taku Suzuki 38 Aisin Ai・ Within Wu Kogyo Co., Ltd. (72) Koji Kobayashi 38, Ikenoue-cho, Takefu-shi, Fukui Prefecture Aisin A.W.K. Within Wu Industrial Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Osamu Yoshida 38 Ikenoue-machi, Takefu-shi, Fukui Prefecture Aisin A.W.Industry Co., Ltd. F term in Industrial Co., Ltd. (reference) 3J011 JA02 KA03 MA06 MA23 3J017 AA10 BA01 DA01

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A thrust slide bearing interposed between a pump and a stator of a torque converter, wherein the thrust slide bearing is mounted on a pump side and a slide surface having an oil groove is located on a stator side. Mounting structure of thrust slide bearing in torque converter. 2. A method of mounting a thrust slide bearing interposed between a turbine runner and a stator of a torque converter, wherein the thrust slide bearing is mounted on a turbine runner side and a slide surface having an oil groove is located on a stator side. Mounting structure of thrust slide bearing in torque converter. 3. A method for mounting a thrust slide bearing interposed between a pump and a stator and between a turbine runner and a stator of a torque converter, wherein one of the thrust slide bearings is mounted on a pump side and a slide surface having an oil groove is formed on the stator side. A thrust slide bearing mounting structure for a torque converter, wherein the other thrust slide bearing is mounted on a turbine runner side and a slide surface having an oil groove is positioned on a stator side. 4. The oil groove according to claim 1, wherein said oil groove is inclined with respect to a radial direction, and said inclination direction is a direction in which lubricating oil easily enters said oil groove by rotation of a thrust slide bearing. 3. A mounting structure for a thrust slide bearing in the torque converter according to 3.