JP2002195375A - Torque converter - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To simplify a stator lock mechanism for a fluid type torque converter. SOLUTION: A stator 4 and a turbine 3 of the torque converter are made movable in a shaft direction for a casing 1 and an engagement means between the stator 4 and a fixing member is constituted of a shaft direction engagement means 5 for performing engagement by shaft direction moving by thrust force applying to the stator 4 or the turbine 3 by flow of fluid within a tourus. As a result, both of the number of parts and working man hour are reduced as compared with a conventional constitution making a one-way clutch as the engagement means and cost is reduced.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a torque converter for transmitting power of a prime mover to a transmission such as an automatic transmission via a fluid, and more particularly to a lock mechanism for a stator of the torque converter.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a fluid torque converter, a stator interposed in a torus formed by a pump and a turbine is, as is well known, from a stall state in which the rotational speed difference between the pump and the turbine is large to a predetermined rotational speed difference. This is provided to amplify torque to improve poor transmission efficiency due to fluid transmission. In the converter region where the flow of the fluid hits the blade surface due to a large difference in rotation speed between the pump and the turbine, the stator deflects the flow of the fluid returning from the turbine to the pump on the surface of the blade and does not hinder the rotation of the pump. In the coupling region where the rotation difference is small, when the fluid flow hits the back side of the blade, it runs idle in the same direction as the rotation direction of the pump and turbine, and does not hinder this flow. To act. To effect this, the stator is generally
The pump and the turbine are connected to an appropriate fixing member via a one-way clutch that makes the rotation in the same direction free of rotation and locks the rotation in the opposite direction.

[0003]

The one-way clutch employs a structure in which a number of radial engaging members (sprags and the like) are arranged between the inner race and the outer race with a circumferential spacing maintained by a spacing member. Therefore, the structure is complicated, the number of parts is large, and heat treatment such as quenching of the engagement surface between the inner race and the outer race is required, so that the product cost is reduced. Is difficult. However, the use of a one-way clutch is inevitable as long as the characteristics of the fluid flow between the pump and the turbine are utilized for fixing and idling the stator.

Therefore, the present invention focuses on the thrust force generated by the flow of the fluid in the torque converter, and uses the thrust force to fix the stator by simple engagement means without using a one-way clutch having a complicated structure. An object of the present invention is to provide a torque converter that performs idle rotation.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION To achieve the above objects, the present invention provides a casing, a pump disposed within the casing and connected to the casing, and forming a torus in cooperation with the pump. Turbine, a stator having blades interposed in the torus, and engagement means for detachably connecting the stator to a fixed member, a casing is connected to the prime mover, and the turbine is connected to the output shaft. In a torque converter that transmits the power of a prime mover to an output shaft via a fluid in a casing, the stator is movable in an axial direction with respect to a fixed member, and the engaging means is provided to the stator by a flow of fluid in the torus. It is characterized in that it is constituted by an axial engaging means that engages by axial movement of the stator due to the acting thrust force.

In the above structure, a lock-up clutch for removably connecting the casing and the turbine is provided in the casing.

Further, in the above configuration, the axial direction engaging means includes a friction member for preventing rotation of the stator, a friction member for preventing rotation of the fixed member, and a pressing member for sandwiching both friction members. The multi-plate clutch is configured.

[0008] In the above structure, one of the pressing members is formed integrally with the stator.

In the above structure, the pressing member is fitted to the fixed member to be centered, and the stator is fitted to the pressing member to be radially supported.

Next, the present invention provides a casing, a pump disposed in the casing and connected to the casing, a turbine forming a torus in cooperation with the pump, and a blade interposed in the torus. And a engaging means for detachably connecting the stator to a fixed member, a casing is connected to the prime mover, a turbine is connected to the output shaft, and the power of the prime mover is transmitted through the fluid in the casing. In the torque converter transmitting to the output shaft, the turbine is movable in the axial direction with respect to the casing, and the engagement means is engaged by the axial movement of the turbine by the thrust force acting on the turbine by the flow of the fluid in the torus. It is characterized by comprising an engaging means in the axial direction.

The thrust force in the above configuration acts in a direction in which the turbine or the stator is attracted to the pump.

[0012]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the pump and the turbine and the pump and the stator attract each other by the flow of the fluid according to the rotational speed difference between the pump and the turbine. Because the thrust force acts on the stator, the stator is movable in the axial direction, so that the stator is locked by the axial movement of the stator via the engagement of the axial engagement means. Further, since the thrust force decreases as the difference between the rotational speeds of the pump and the turbine decreases, the lock to the fixing member through the engagement of the axial engagement means is released by the axial return of the stator, and the stator idles. . By such an operation, locking of the stator in the converter region and idling of the stator in the coupling region are achieved as in the related art. Therefore, according to this configuration, by eliminating the use of a complicated and costly one-way clutch, the number of parts of the torque converter can be reduced and a simple configuration can be achieved.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the engagement of the lock-up clutch eliminates the rotational speed difference between the pump and the turbine, thereby eliminating the generation of the thrust force and reliably releasing the axial engagement means. Therefore, fluid transmission loss due to engagement of the axial engagement means in the lock-up state can be eliminated.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the axial engagement means is a multi-plate clutch, so that the engagement means is a simple and component made of only a friction material which does not require precise processing or heat treatment. The score can be reduced.

Further, in the structure of the fourth aspect, the integration of the stator and one of the pressing members of the axial engagement means makes it possible to simplify the structure by further reducing the number of components of the torque converter. .

Further, in the configuration according to the fifth aspect, since the stator and the fixing member are radially supported and centered via the pressing member, the stator and the one-way clutch as in the case of using the conventional one-way clutch are provided. This eliminates the need for a side bearing for radially supporting and centering the outer race on the fixing member.

Next, in the structure according to the sixth aspect, since the turbine is movable in the axial direction, the stator is locked to the fixed member via the engagement of the axial engagement means by the axial movement of the turbine. You. In addition, the thrust force decreases as the difference between the rotational speeds of the pump and the turbine decreases, so that the turbine is returned in the axial direction, whereby the lock to the fixing member via the engagement of the axial engagement means is released, and the stator idles. . By such an operation, locking of the stator in the converter region and idling of the stator in the coupling region are achieved as in the related art. Therefore, also in the case of this configuration, by eliminating the use of a complicated and expensive one-way clutch, the number of parts of the torque converter can be reduced and the configuration can be simplified.

[0018]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. First, FIGS. 1 and 2 show a first embodiment. Explaining from a schematic configuration, as shown in an axial cross section in FIG. 1, this torque converter includes a casing 1,
A pump 2 disposed in the casing and connected to the casing, a turbine 3 forming a torus in cooperation with the pump, a stator 4 having blades 4b interposed in the torus, and a fixing member 6, the casing 1 is connected to a prime mover (engine in this embodiment), and the turbine 3 is connected to an output shaft (in this embodiment, an input shaft of a transmission mechanism of an automatic transmission). ) To transmit the power of the prime mover to the output shaft via the fluid in the casing 1.

According to a feature of the present invention, the stator 4 and the turbine 3 are axially movable with respect to the casing 1, and the engagement means includes a thrust force acting on the stator 4 by the flow of the fluid in the torus (when the stator is a pump). (Force drawn in the direction, rightward force in the figure) and axial engagement means 5 engaged by axial movement of the stator 4 and turbine 3. The torque converter is further provided with a lock-up clutch 7 in the casing 1 for removably connecting the casing and the turbine 3.

Hereinafter, each part will be described in detail. Casing 1
Are a drum-shaped clutch case 11 attached to a drive plate fixed to a crankshaft of an engine, a bell-shaped torque converter case 12 also serving as an outer shell of the pump impeller 2, and a support shaft for a transmission case (not shown). And a boss 13 which also serves as a connecting member to the oil pump. These are formed by fitting press-formed products at a fitting portion and by welding.
In the drawings, reference numeral 14 denotes a centerpiece that fits into a crankshaft hole of an engine (not shown) to center the torque converter with respect to the crankshaft, and 15 denotes a seat for screwing a mounting bolt to a drive plate.

The pump impeller 2, the turbine runner 3, and the stator 4 are not particularly different from those of the prior art, so that the description thereof will be omitted. Of the lock-up clutch 7 is integrally riveted together with a damper disk 73 to a clutch hub 72 which supports the clutch plate 71 in the axial direction.

The axial engagement means 5 for removably connecting the stator 4 to the fixing member 6 is fixed by fixing the boss 4a of the stator 4 to an outer diameter side member as shown in FIG. A multi-plate clutch having the member 6 as a hub is formed on the outer periphery of the fixed member 6 with a thin plate-like friction material 51 whose outer peripheral side is rotationally engaged with the spline teeth 4c on the inner periphery of the boss portion 4a of the stator 4. A frictional material 52 in the form of a thin plate whose inner peripheral side is detently engaged with the outer peripheral spline 6a.
52 are formed by a pair of pressing members 53 and 54 which sandwich a friction material assembly in which a large number of 52 are alternately stacked. The friction material assemblies (friction materials 51, 52) are provided with friction materials of different materials alternately to prevent seizure of both friction materials 51, 52. For example, the friction material 51 is a copper plate, and the friction material 52 is an iron plate. The pressing members 53 and 54 are provided with through holes 53a and 54a of a stator shaft (not shown) on the inner periphery thereof, and splines 53b and 54b on the outer periphery thereof for preventing rotation of the spline teeth 4c on the inner periphery of the boss portion 4a of the stator 4. And stepped portions 53c, 54c whose diameters are increased in the through holes 53a, 54a.
The stepped portions are fitted to the outer periphery of the fixing member 6 so as to be centered and supported by the fixing member 6.

Returning to FIG. 1 (however, see FIG. 2 for the detailed configuration), the surfaces of the pressing members 53 and 54 facing the friction material assembly are press contact surfaces, and the back surfaces of the thrust bearings 55 and 56 are The shaft 1 is axially supported by the lock-up clutch hub 72 and the boss portion 13 of the casing 1 through the respective components. Furthermore, on the back side of both pressing members 53 and 54,
Snap rings 41 and 42 that fit into ring grooves provided on the inner periphery of the boss 4a of the stator 4 are provided. Among these snap rings, the snap ring 41 on the back side of the pressing member 53 constitutes a thrust force transmitting means for transmitting a thrust force for engaging the friction material assembly from the boss portion 4a of the stator 4 to the pressing member 53. Further, the pressing member 54
The snap ring 42 on the back side is for retaining. The interval between the two ring grooves is such that the friction material 5
The interval is set to be sufficient to prevent dragging due to sliding contact between the first and the second. Note that, with reference to FIG.
Are oil grooves for communicating an oil passage between the stator shaft and the boss portion 13 of the casing 1 into the casing 1 for lubrication and cooling of the friction material assembly, and 53e and 54e are axial oil holes communicating therewith. Show.

In the torque converter having the above-described structure, a lock-up clutch hub 72 is provided in a casing 1 thereof.
Oil is supplied from the tip of an input shaft (not shown) spline-engaged and connected via a lock-up off chamber (a space between the clutch case portion 11 and the clutch plate 71) for torque transmission by fluid, and is supplied. Oil fills the torus and the converter chamber in casing 1.

The pressure (lock-up off pressure) of the oil thus supplied is regulated by a primary regulator valve of the automatic transmission, and the line pressure supplied to each hydraulic servo for shifting is changed to a secondary regulator. A pressure regulated further lower by a valve, ie a secondary pressure, for the clutch engagement and only then via a lock-up control valve or the like to the stator shaft and the casing 1
In a state where the lock-up ON pressure (pressure substantially equal to the secondary pressure) supplied from the oil passage between the boss portion 13 and the oil passage is not supplied, that is, in a state where the oil passage is drain-connected via a cooler or the like, Oil circulation through the torque converter is performed. In this state, the clutch plate 7
1 is pushed back by the lock-up off pressure and disengaged, so that the lock-up clutch 7 is released. At this time, as is well known, the engine torque transmitted to the casing 1 is transmitted from the pump impeller 2 to the turbine runner 3 via the fluid, and further spline-engaged with the turbine runner 3 via the hub 72 as an output member. It is transmitted to the input shaft of the automatic transmission.

When the lock-up clutch is engaged or slip control is performed, oil is supplied into the converter chamber through an oil passage between the input shaft and the stator shaft under the control of a lock-up control valve or the like. As a result, the clutch engagement pressure, that is, the secondary pressure or the hydraulic pressure in the regulated state based on the secondary pressure is applied behind the clutch plate 71. As a result, the clutch plate 71 is
2, the friction material 71 a is pressed against the inner surface of the casing 1, and torque transmission by friction engagement is performed in parallel with the fluid transmission by the torque converter.

In the above operation, in the converter region where the hydraulic pressure is supplied from the lock-up off chamber side, a thrust force corresponding to the relative rotational speed difference between the pump impeller 2 and the turbine runner 3 acts on the blade 4b of the stator 4. As a result, the stator 4 is drawn to the pump impeller 3 side,
The force is transmitted to the friction material assembly via the snap ring 41 and the pressing member 53. Further, the turbine 3 is also drawn toward the pump impeller 2, and the force is transmitted to the friction material assembly via the turbine hub 72, the thrust bearing 55 and the pressing member 53. The pressing force transmitted to the friction material assembly in this manner is transmitted from the friction material assembly via the other pressing member 54 to the thrust bearing 56.
Through the casing 13. Then, by the reaction force support to the casing 13, the friction material assembly is sandwiched between the two pressing members 53 and 54, and the friction materials are engaged with each other,
The stator 4 is locked by the fixing member 6, and the locked state of the stator 4 occurs. This locked state is maintained as long as the engagement force by the friction material assembly is larger than the rotation force by the fluid force applied to the blade 4b of the stator 4. This state corresponds to the locked state of the stator 4 by the conventional one-way clutch, and a torque amplifying action is generated by the flow induction by the front side of the blade 4b.

On the other hand, in a coupling region where the relative rotational speed difference between the pump impeller 2 and the turbine runner 3 is small, the thrust force in the torque converter is reduced, so that the stator 4 and the turbine runner 3 move toward the pump impeller 2. Since the pulling force is reduced, the engaging force of the friction material assembly which receives the force via the snap ring 41 and the one pressing member 53 is released, and the stator 4 idles. This idling of the stator 4 corresponds to idling in a coupling region by a conventional one-way clutch.

As described above, the supply of hydraulic pressure and the operation of the lock-up clutch, and the locking and idling of the stator 4 are not particularly different from those of the conventional general torque converter. Then, it is also possible to perform control for relating the idling of the stator 4 to the operation of the lock-up clutch 7. That is, in the configuration of this embodiment, since the axial engagement means 5 operates by the relative rotation speed difference between the pump impeller 2 and the turbine runner 3, unlike the conventional one-way clutch that operates depending on the fluid flow, Even when the relative rotational speed difference is large to some extent, the axial engagement means 5 is forcibly released by engaging the lock-up clutch to eliminate the relative rotational speed difference, and the stator 4 is idled, thereby enabling the stator 4 to rotate.
Fluid loss due to the lock of the lock can be prevented. Conversely, this means that the engagement area of the lock-up clutch can be expanded toward the converter area.

Next, FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that one pressing member 53 is integrated with the boss 4 a of the stator 4. With this change, naturally, the pressing member 53
The snap ring on the rear side is eliminated, and the distance between the pressing surface of the pressing member 53 and the ring groove fitted in the snap ring 42 is set so that the friction members 51 and 52 slide in the clutch released state in which the friction material assembly is released. The spacing is sufficient to prevent dragging due to contact. The other configurations are substantially the same as those of the previous embodiment, and therefore, the same reference numerals are given to the corresponding members, and the description will not be repeated.

In such a case, the integration of the stator 4 and one pressing member 53 of the axial engagement means 5 can simplify the structure by further reducing the number of components of the torque converter.

As described above in detail, in this torque converter, since the stator 4 and the turbine 3 are movable in the axial direction, the pump impeller is driven by the flow of the fluid in accordance with the rotational speed difference between the pump impeller 2 and the turbine runner 3. 2 and the turbine runner 3 and between the pump impeller 2 and the stator 4, a thrust force acting in a mutually attracting direction acts on the stator 4 and the turbine runner 3. It is locked to the fixing member 6 through the engagement of the direction engaging means 5. Further, the thrust force decreases as the rotational speed difference between the pump impeller 2 and the turbine runner 3 decreases, so that the stator 4 and the turbine runner 3 are returned in the axial direction, and the fixing member 6 through the engagement of the axial engagement means 5. Is released, and the stator 4 idles. By such an operation, the locking of the stator 4 in the converter region and the idling of the stator 4 in the coupling region are achieved as in the related art. Therefore, according to this configuration, by eliminating the use of a complicated and costly one-way clutch, the number of parts of the torque converter can be reduced and a simple configuration can be achieved.

The engagement of the lock-up clutch 7 in the coupling region eliminates the rotational speed difference between the pump impeller 2 and the turbine runner 3 and eliminates the thrust force. Since it can be released, fluid transmission loss due to engagement of the axial engagement means 5 in the lock-up state can be eliminated.

Further, since the axial direction engaging means 5 has a multi-plate clutch structure, the engaging means is a simple one-piece clutch made of only a friction material which does not require precise machining or heat treatment such as a one-way clutch. It can be reduced.

Further, since the stator 4 and the fixing member 6 are radially supported and centered via the pressing member 5, the outer race of the stator and the one-way clutch as in the case of using the conventional one-way clutch is used as the fixing member. The arrangement of side bearings for radial and centering can be dispensed with.

As described above, the present invention has been described in detail based on the two embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to the disclosed contents of these embodiments, but various details are included within the scope of the claims. It is needless to say that the present invention can be implemented by changing the specific configuration.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an axial sectional view of a first embodiment of a torque converter according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged view of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a partial axial sectional view of a second embodiment of the torque converter of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Casing 2 Pump impeller (pump) 3 Turbine runner (turbine) 4 Stator 4b Blade 5 Axial engagement means 6 Fixing member 7 Lockup clutch 51,52 Friction material 53,54 Pressing member

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Naohisa Momoyama 10 Takane, Fujii-machi, Anjo, Aichi Prefecture Inside Aisin AW Co., Ltd. (72) Takashi Hori 10 Takane, Fujii-machi, Anjo, Aichi Aisin・ Within AW Co., Ltd. (72) Koji Tateiwa, Inventor Koji Tateiwa, Aichi Prefecture, Japan 10th Takane, Fujiimachi Aisin City Aichi Co., Ltd.・ AW Co., Ltd.

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A casing, a pump disposed in the casing and connected to the casing, a turbine forming a torus in cooperation with the pump, and a stator having blades interposed in the torus. Engaging means for detachably connecting the stator to the fixed member, wherein the casing is connected to the prime mover, and the turbine is connected to the output shaft to transmit the power of the prime mover to the output shaft via fluid in the casing. In the torque converter, the stator is movable in the axial direction with respect to the casing, and the engaging means is engaged in an axial direction of the stator by axial movement of the stator due to a thrust force acting on the stator by a flow of fluid in the torus. A torque converter comprising a combination means. 2. The torque converter according to claim 1, wherein a lock-up clutch for removably connecting the casing and the turbine is disposed in the casing. 3. An axial direction engaging means, comprising: a friction member for preventing rotation of the stator, a friction member for preventing rotation of the fixed member, and a pressing member for sandwiching the friction members. 3. The torque converter according to claim 1, wherein the torque converter is a plate clutch. 4. The torque converter according to claim 3, wherein one of said pressing members is integrated with a stator. 5. The torque converter according to claim 3, wherein the pressing member is centered by being fitted to a fixed member, and the stator is radially supported by being fitted to the pressing member. 6. A casing, a pump disposed in the casing and connected to the casing, a turbine forming a torus in cooperation with the pump, and a stator having blades interposed in the torus. Engaging means for detachably connecting the stator to the fixed member, wherein the casing is connected to the prime mover, and the turbine is connected to the output shaft to transmit the power of the prime mover to the output shaft via fluid in the casing. In the torque converter, the turbine is movable in an axial direction with respect to a casing, and the engaging means engages in an axial movement of the turbine due to a thrust force acting on the turbine by a flow of fluid in the torus. A torque converter comprising a combination means. 7. The torque converter according to claim 1, wherein the thrust force acts in a direction in which the turbine or the stator is attracted to the pump.