JP2008075861A - Hydraulic power transmission - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a hydraulic power transmission which reduces gear tooth hammering sound of a lock-up clutch. <P>SOLUTION: The hydraulic power transmission provided with the lock-up clutch is configured so as to provide between a first plate engaging on a spline of inner peripheral surface of a clutch outer cylinder and a retaining plate a bias member which mutually urges them in reverse direction of circumferential direction. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a fluid transmission device having a lock-up clutch used for an automatic transmission of an automobile.

  In an automatic transmission of an automobile, a fluid transmission device (torque converter) is used as a kind of transmission device when the output of an engine is transmitted to the automatic transmission. However, since the power transmission is performed through the fluid in the fluid transmission device, the power cannot be transmitted 100%. Therefore, a technique is known in which a lock-up clutch is provided so that an input shaft and an output shaft can be mechanically connected (Patent Document 1).

  In a pressurization type lockup clutch as described in Patent Document 1, a spline is formed on the inner peripheral surface of a clutch drum connected to an input shaft, and a drive plate and a retaining plate that are engaged with the spline are provided. Then, the input plate and the output shaft are mechanically connected by pressing the drive plate by the pressing force of the lockup piston and sandwiching the drive plate and the retaining plate with the friction plate coupled to the output shaft. .

JP 2005-220972 A

  Here, backlash exists between the spline teeth on the inner peripheral surface of the clutch drum and the spline teeth of the drive plate and retaining plate that engage with the teeth, and the output torque of the engine fluctuates. For this reason, there is a problem that the tooth side surfaces of the splines collide from a separated state at the time of non-lock-up, and a rattling sound is generated.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a fluid transmission device that reduces the rattling noise of a lock-up clutch.

  According to the present invention, a front cover coupled to an input shaft to which rotational force from the engine is input and filled with hydraulic oil inward, an impeller shell coupled to the front cover, and the impeller shell are provided. The pump impeller, the turbine runner which is disposed so as to face the impeller shell, and is driven to rotate by hydraulic oil by rotation of the pump impeller, and forms an outer shell of the turbine runner, and the input shaft A turbine shell connected to an output shaft provided coaxially with a lockup clutch provided in an inner space of the front cover, and the lockup clutch is connected to the front cover, A clutch outer cylinder portion formed coaxially with the input shaft, and an axial direction of the clutch outer cylinder portion on the inner peripheral surface of the clutch outer cylinder portion A first spline formed along the output shaft, a clutch inner cylinder connected to the output shaft and formed coaxially with the input shaft, and an outer circumferential surface of the clutch inner cylinder on the clutch inner cylinder A second spline formed along the axial direction, and a disc-shaped first plate formed on an outer peripheral edge of a spline that engages with the first spline, and movably provided along the first spline; A spline that engages with the first spline is formed on an outer peripheral edge, and a disc-shaped retaining plate in which movement along the first spline is restricted, and between the first plate and the retaining plate A disc-shaped second plate having an outer peripheral edge interposed and an inner peripheral edge on which a spline that engages with the second spline is formed, and is provided movably along the second spline; The first plate is moved toward the retaining plate by moving the hydraulic oil into the clutch hydraulic chamber formed inside the front cover, and the second plate is moved by the first plate and the retaining plate. A fluid transmission device comprising a piston for sandwiching a plate, wherein a biasing member is provided between the first plate and the retaining plate for biasing them in the opposite circumferential direction. A fluid transmission device is provided.

  In the fluid transmission device of the present invention, the tooth side surfaces of the splines of the first plate and the retaining plate can be kept in contact with the tooth side surfaces of the first spline by the biasing of the biasing member. It is possible to reduce the occurrence of rattling noise from the splines and the first splines of the first plate and the retaining plate at the time of unlocking.

  In the present invention, the urging member includes one end portion disposed between a tooth bottom portion of the spline of the first plate and a tooth tip portion of the first spline, and the retaining plate. Disposed between the tooth bottom portion of the spline and the tooth tip portion of the first spline, and between the first spline and the outer peripheral edge of the second plate, The structure which is an elastic piece provided with the intermediate part which connects the said one end part and the said other end part is employable.

  According to this configuration, the urging member can be configured with a simpler configuration and without affecting the operation of the lockup clutch.

  Further, in the present invention, the first plate includes a first engagement portion that engages with the one end portion and prevents the one end portion from falling off in the radial direction of the first plate, It is possible to employ a configuration in which the retaining plate includes a second engagement portion that engages with the other end portion and prevents the other end portion from falling off in the radial direction of the retaining plate.

  According to this structure, it can prevent more reliably by the comparatively simple structure that the elastic piece which is the urging member falls off from the first plate and the retaining plate.

  In the present invention, the first and second plates and the retaining plate are each provided with a hole into which a pin for adjusting the rotational phase when the biasing member is assembled is inserted. Can be adopted.

  According to this configuration, it is possible to improve the assembling property of the first and second plates, the retaining plate, and the urging member.

  In the present invention, it is possible to adopt a configuration in which a plurality of the urging members are arranged at equal intervals at a plurality of locations in the circumferential direction of the first plate and the retaining plate.

  According to this configuration, the influence on the rotational balance of the input shaft and the output shaft due to the provision of the urging member can be minimized.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a fluid transmission device that reduces the rattling noise of the lock-up clutch.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of a fluid transmission device A (torque converter) with a lock-up clutch according to an embodiment of the present invention, and the fluid transmission device A of the fluid transmission device A with the axis L of the input shaft 1 as a boundary. A cross-sectional view of the upper half is shown.

  The fluid transmission device A is connected to an engine crankshaft (not shown) and connected to an input shaft 1 to which rotational force from the engine is input, and an impeller shell 3 connected to the front cover 2. And a pump impeller 4 provided inside the impeller shell 3, and a turbine 10 disposed to face the impeller shell 3 and the pump impeller 4.

  The turbine 10 forms a turbine runner 11 disposed so as to face the impeller shell 3, and an outer shell of the turbine runner 11, and is connected to an output shaft (turbine shaft) 5 provided coaxially with the input shaft 1. Turbine shell 12. The turbine shell 12 is connected to the output shaft 5 via a fixed sleeve 6 fixed to the output shaft 5. A stator 7 is disposed between a pump constituted by the impeller shell 3 and the pump impeller 4 and the turbine 10.

  The inner space formed by the front cover 2 and the impeller shell 3 is filled with hydraulic oil (not shown). The pump impeller 4 rotates integrally with the input shaft 1, and the turbine runner 11 is rotationally driven through the hydraulic oil by the rotation of the pump impeller 4, and the turbine 10 and the output shaft 5 rotate. The rotational force of the output shaft 5 is input to a transmission gear mechanism (not shown).

  A lockup clutch 20 is provided in the inner space of the front cover 2. The lockup clutch 20 mechanically and selectively connects the input shaft 1 and the output shaft 5. That is, it is mechanically engaged, disengaged or half-clutched. When fully engaged, the rotation of the engine can be transmitted directly to the output shaft 5 via the lockup clutch 20.

  The lockup clutch 20 has a clutch drum 21 fixed to the front cover 2. The clutch drum 21 has a clutch outer cylinder portion 21a formed coaxially with the input shaft 1, and a spline 21b is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the clutch outer cylinder portion 21a along the axial direction (axis L direction). ing.

  The lockup clutch 20 has a clutch hub 22. The clutch hub 22 has a clutch inner cylinder portion 22a formed coaxially with the input shaft 1, and a spline 22b is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the clutch inner cylinder portion 22a along the axial direction (axis L direction). Yes. The clutch hub 22 is connected to the output shaft 5 via a damper portion 23 and a fixed sleeve 6 that absorb fluctuations in engine torque during lockup.

  The lock-up clutch 20 has a spline 24a that engages with the spline 21b formed on the outer periphery, a disc-shaped drive plate (first plate) 24 that is movable along the spline 21b in the direction of the axis L, and a spline. A spline 25a that engages with 21b is formed on the outer peripheral edge, and a disc-shaped retaining plate 25 that is restricted from moving along the spline 21b. A spring retainer 26 is fixed to the end of the spline 21b, and the movement of the retaining plate 25 toward the turbine 10 is thereby restricted. The tooth shapes of the spline 24a and the spline 25a are the same.

  A disc-shaped driven plate (second plate) 26 is disposed between the drive plate 24 and the retaining plate 25. The driven plate 26 has an outer peripheral edge 26a interposed between the drive plate 24 and the retaining plate 25, and an inner peripheral edge on which a spline 26b that engages with the spline 22b is formed, and an axis L along the spline 22b. It is provided to be movable in the direction. A friction material 26 c is disposed on the front and back of the outer peripheral edge 26.

  The lockup clutch 20 has a lockup piston 27. The lock-up piston 27 is guided by a boss portion 28a of the piston housing 28 fixed to the front cover 2 and an upper end portion 28b of the piston housing 28, and can move in the direction of the axis L.

  A clutch hydraulic chamber 29 is formed between the lockup piston 27 and the piston housing 28 in the inner space of the front cover 2. The lock-up piston 27 moves in the direction of the axis L due to a change in hydraulic pressure of the hydraulic oil in the clutch hydraulic chamber 29.

  The lockup piston 27 mainly includes a pressure receiving portion 27 a that receives hydraulic pressure from the hydraulic oil in the clutch hydraulic chamber 29, and a pressing portion 29 b that presses the drive plate 24. At the time of lock-up, the hydraulic oil is introduced into the clutch hydraulic chamber 29 to pressurize the clutch hydraulic chamber 29, and the lock-up piston 27 moves to the axis L direction turbine 10 side, and the drive plate 24 is restored. Press toward the inning plate 25 side. As a result, the driven plate 26 is sandwiched between the drive plate 24 and the retaining plate 25, and the input shaft 1 and the output shaft 5 are mechanically connected. Further, by reducing the hydraulic oil in the clutch hydraulic chamber 29, the lock-up piston 27 moves toward the axis L direction input shaft 1, and the drive plate 24 and the driven plate 26 come into contact with each other with a small pressure. Or it can be set as the fastening cancellation | release state from which the drive plate 24 and the driven plate 26 leave | separate completely.

  Next, referring to FIGS. 2 to 4A and 4B, the fluid transmission device A urges the drive plate 24 and the retaining plate 25 between the drive plate 24 and the retaining plate 25 in the opposite circumferential direction. A member 30 is provided. 2 is a perspective view of the drive plate 24, the driven plate 26, and the retaining plate 25 showing how the urging member 30 is mounted, and FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view thereof. 4 (a) is a front view of a main part (breaking view) of the mounting mode of the biasing member 30 as viewed from the retaining plate 25 side, and FIG. 4 (b) is a plan view of the main part of the configuration of FIG. FIG.

  In the case of this embodiment, the urging member 30 includes an end portion 31 disposed between the tooth bottom portion 24a ′ of the spline 24a of the drive plate 24 and the tooth tip portion 21b ′ of the spline 21b of the clutch drum 21. The end portion 32 disposed between the tooth bottom portion 25a 'of the spline 25a of the retaining plate 25 and the tooth tip portion 21b' of the spline 21b of the clutch drum 21, the spline 21b of the clutch drum 21 and the driven plate 26 is an elastic piece provided between the outer peripheral edge 26a of the 26 and an intermediate portion 33 connecting the end portion 31 and the end portion 32, for example, a metal piece of spring steel.

  The width of the intermediate portion 33 in the axial direction (see FIG. 4B) is smaller than the thickness of the driven plate 26. This is to prevent the drive plate 24 and the retaining plate 25 from biting the intermediate portion 33 during lock-up. The length of the urging member 30 in the circumferential direction (see FIGS. 4A and 4B) is made larger than the circumferential width of the tooth bottom portion 24a ′ (25a ′) of the spline 24a (spline 25a). Yes.

  In the present embodiment, the end portion 31 and the end portion 32 are disposed on the tooth bottom portions 24a ′ and 25a ′ of the splines 24a and 25a in the same phase, but are disposed on the tooth bottom portions of different phases. May be. In this case, the circumferential length of the urging member 30 is appropriately changed according to the distance between the locations. For example, in the case of the configuration in which the end portion 32 is disposed in the tooth bottom portion 25a ′ corresponding to the tooth bottom portion adjacent to the tooth bottom portion 24a ′ provided with the end portion 31, the circumferential width of the tooth bottom portion 24a ′ (25a ′) ) × 2 + (distance between adjacent tooth bottom portions 24a ′ (25a ′)), the length of the biasing member 30 in the circumferential direction is longer than the width calculated.

  The drive plate 24 includes an engagement portion 241 that engages with the end portion 31 of the urging member 30 and prevents the end portion 31 from falling off in the radial direction of the drive plate 24. FIG. 4C is a perspective view of the engaging portion 241 and is a notch formed in the lower portion of the tooth side surface of the spline 24a. The end portion 31 can slide along the engagement portion 241 in the axial direction (see FIG. 4B). The retaining plate 25 also includes an engaging portion 251 that engages with the end portion 32 of the urging member 30 and prevents the end portion 32 from falling off in the radial direction of the retaining plate 25. The configuration is shown in FIG. This is the same as the engaging portion 241 shown.

  By providing such engagement portions 241 and 251, it is possible to more reliably prevent the urging member 30 from falling off the drive plate 24 and the retaining plate 25 with a relatively simple configuration. The reliability of the transmission device A can be improved.

  Thus, as shown in FIG. 4A, the urging member 30 having such a configuration has a circumferential direction opposite to the arrow D1 direction for the drive plate 24 and the retaining plate 25 in the direction of the arrow D1. These are urged in the direction of the direction arrow D2.

  By such biasing of the biasing member 30, the tooth side surfaces of the splines 24a and 25a of the drive plate 24 and the retaining plate 25 are always brought into contact with the tooth side surfaces of the spline 21b of the clutch drum 21 (P1 in FIG. 4A). , P2), and reducing the occurrence of rattling noise from the splines 24a, 25a of the drive plate 24 and the retaining plate 25 and the splines 21b of the clutch drum 21 at the time of non-lock-up. Can do.

  As the urging member (30), members having various configurations other than the elastic piece having the above configuration can be adopted. However, the biasing member 30 having the above-described configuration can reduce the occurrence of rattling noise by biasing the drive plate 24 and the retaining plate 25 in opposite directions in the circumferential direction with a simpler configuration. Each of the drive plate 24 and the retaining plate 25 is configured to engage with the spline 21b of the clutch drum 21. In addition to the drive plate 24 being movable, the drive plate 24 and the retaining plate 25 are A driven plate 26 exists between the two.

  The biasing member 30 of this embodiment has end portions 31 and 32 between the tooth bottom portion 24a ′ of the spline 24a, the tooth bottom portion 25a ′ of the spline 25a, and the tooth tip portion 21b ′ of the spline 21b of the clutch drum 21, respectively. By being arranged, the spline engagement between the drive plate 24 and the retaining plate 25 and the clutch drum 21 is not hindered, and the movement of the drive plate 24 is not hindered. Further, the intermediate portion 33 is disposed between the spline 21b of the clutch drum 21 and the outer peripheral edge 26a of the driven plate 26, thereby preventing the driven plate 26 from being held between the drive plate 24 and the retaining plate 25. The parts 31 and 32 can be connected. As described above, the urging member 30 of the present embodiment exhibits the above-described action without affecting the operation of the lockup clutch 20.

  By the way, when the drive plate 24 and the retaining plate 25 are assembled to the clutch drum 21, the splines 24a, 25a are engaged with the spline 21b, and when the driven plate 26 is assembled to the clutch hub 22, the splines It is necessary to engage 26b with the spline 22b.

  In order to assemble the urging member 30 together with these engaging operations, it is convenient to align the rotational phase of the drive plate 24, retaining plate 25, and driven plate 26 and assemble them at the same time.

  In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, when the urging member 30 is assembled to the drive plate 24, the retaining plate 25, and the driven plate 26, the pins 100 for performing the rotational phase alignment are inserted. Holes 124, 125, and 126 are formed. The holes 124, 125, and 126 are formed so as to be positioned so that the drive plates 24, the retaining plate 25, and the splines 24a, 25a, and 26b of the driven plate 26 are in phase.

  Therefore, when the urging member 30 is assembled, the pin 100 is first inserted into the holes 124, 125, 126. Subsequently, the urging member 30 is assembled to the drive plate 24 and the retaining plate 25, and the drive plate 24, the retaining plate 25, and the driven plate 26 are assembled together to the clutch drum 21 and the clutch hub 22. Thereafter, the pin 100 is extracted. With this configuration, it is possible to improve the assembling property of the drive plate 24, the retaining plate 25, the driven plate 26, and the urging member 30.

  Next, in the above embodiment, only one urging member 30 is provided, but a plurality of urging members 30 may be provided. By providing a plurality, the tooth side surfaces of the splines 24a and 25a of the drive plate 24 and the retaining plate 25 can always be brought into contact with the tooth side surfaces of the spline 21b of the clutch drum 21 more reliably over the entire circumference. Generation of rattling noise can be reduced.

  When a plurality of urging members 30 are provided, it is desirable to dispose them at a plurality of locations in the circumferential direction of the drive plate 24 and the retaining plate 25 at equal intervals. FIG. 5 shows an example in which three urging members 30 are provided, and shows an example in which the urging members 30 are arranged at equal intervals (orphans d) at intervals of 120 degrees. By arranging the plurality of urging members 30 at equal intervals in this way, the influence on the rotational balance of the input shaft 1 and the output shaft 5 due to the provision of the urging members 30 can be minimized.

It is the schematic which shows the whole structure of the fluid transmission apparatus A (torque converter) with a lockup clutch which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a drive plate 24, a driven plate 26, and a retaining plate 25 showing a mounting mode of the urging member 30. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the configuration of FIG. 2. (A) is a principal part front view (breaking figure) which looked at the mounting mode of the urging member 30 from the retaining plate 25 side, (b) is a principal part top view of the structure of Fig.4 (a), (c) is 4 is a perspective view of an engaging portion 241. FIG. It is a figure which shows the example which has arrange | positioned the several urging | biasing member 30 at equal intervals.

Explanation of symbols

A Fluid transmission device 1 Input shaft 2 Front cover 3 Impeller shell 4 Pump impeller 5 Output shaft 11 Turbine runner 12 Turbine shell 20 Lock-up clutch 21a Clutch outer cylinder portion 21b Spline 22a Clutch inner cylinder portion 22b Spline 24a Spline 24 Drive plate 25a Spline 25 Retaining plate 26a Outer peripheral edge 26b Spline 26 Driven plate 29 Clutch hydraulic chamber 27 Piston 30 Energizing member

Claims (5)

A front cover that is connected to an input shaft to which rotational force from the engine is input, and is filled with hydraulic oil inside;
An impeller shell coupled to the front cover;
A pump impeller provided on the impeller shell;
A turbine runner arranged to face the impeller shell and driven to rotate via hydraulic oil by rotation of the pump impeller;
A turbine shell that forms an outer shell of the turbine runner and is connected to an output shaft provided coaxially with the input shaft;
A lock-up clutch provided in the inner space of the front cover;
With
The lock-up clutch is
A clutch outer cylinder coupled to the front cover and formed coaxially with the input shaft;
A first spline formed on an inner peripheral surface of the clutch outer cylinder portion along an axial direction of the clutch outer cylinder portion;
A clutch inner cylinder portion connected to the output shaft and formed coaxially with the input shaft;
A second spline formed on the outer peripheral surface of the clutch inner cylinder portion along the axial direction of the clutch inner cylinder portion;
A spline that engages with the first spline is formed on an outer peripheral edge, and a disc-shaped first plate that is movably provided along the first spline;
A disc-shaped retaining plate in which a spline that engages with the first spline is formed on an outer peripheral edge, and movement along the first spline is restricted;
An outer peripheral edge interposed between the first plate and the retaining plate and an inner peripheral edge formed with a spline that engages with the second spline are movable along the second spline. A provided disc-shaped second plate;
It moves by introducing hydraulic oil into a clutch hydraulic chamber formed inside the front cover and presses the first plate toward the retaining plate, and the second plate is moved by the first plate and the retaining plate. A piston holding the plate,
In a fluid transmission device comprising:
A fluid transmission device, wherein a biasing member that biases the first plate and the retaining plate in a circumferential direction opposite to each other is provided between the first plate and the retaining plate. The biasing member is
One end portion disposed between a tooth bottom portion of the spline of the first plate and a tooth tip portion of the first spline;
The other end disposed between the bottom of the spline of the retaining plate and the tip of the first spline;
An intermediate portion that is disposed between the first spline and the outer peripheral edge of the second plate, and connects the one end and the other end;
The fluid transmission device according to claim 1, wherein the fluid transmission device is an elastic piece. The first plate includes a first engagement portion that engages with the one end portion and prevents the one end portion from falling off in a radial direction of the first plate;
3. The retaining plate according to claim 2, further comprising a second engaging portion that engages with the other end portion and prevents the other end portion from falling off in a radial direction of the retaining plate. The fluid transmission device described in 1.   The first and second plates and the retaining plate are each provided with a hole into which a pin for adjusting the rotational phase when the urging member is assembled is provided. Item 4. The fluid transmission device according to any one of Items 1 to 3.   5. The fluid transmission device according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the biasing members are arranged at equal intervals in a plurality of locations in the circumferential direction of the first plate and the retaining plate. .

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