JP2010019355A - Stator of torque converter, and blade of stator - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a stator blade built in a torque converter, which changes the direction of a working fluid output from a turbine runner, introduces it to a pump impeller, and promotes a rotation. <P>SOLUTION: The blade 4 is formed by combining a front surface 5 and a rear surface 6. The cross sectional shape is similar to a wing of an airplane, having a space 15 inside. The front surface 5 and the rear surface 6 are formed on both sides of a blade piece 8 connected by a connecting piece 7 in a separated state at a predetermined interval. The blade 4 is formed by combining the front surface 5 of adjoining one blade piece 8 with the rear surface 6 of the other blade piece 8 and is also formed by combining the rear surface 6 of adjoining one blade piece 8 with the front surface 5 of the other blade piece 8. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a stator of a torque converter and a blade constituting the stator.

  As is well known, a torque converter is a kind of joint that can transmit engine power to a transmission using a working fluid as a medium. A pump impeller that is turned by the engine and a movement of the working fluid that is sent out by the rotation of the pump impeller. The turbine runner that rotates around the turbine runner, and the stator that changes the direction of the working fluid from the turbine runner and guides it to the pump impeller.

  Therefore, a plurality of blades are arranged at predetermined intervals at a predetermined angle on the pump impeller, turbine runner, and stator. The working fluid sealed in the torque converter is sent from the pump impeller through the blades in the outer peripheral direction, travels along the inner wall of the case of the torque converter, hits the blade of the turbine runner, and the turbine runner is the same as the pump impeller. It works to turn in the direction. Further, the working fluid sent out after hitting the turbine runner is changed in flow direction so as to encourage rotation of the pump impeller by hitting the blades of the stator, and flows into the pump impeller again from the inner periphery.

  FIG. 5 shows a cross section of a conventional torque converter. In the figure, (a) shows a pump impeller, (b) shows a turbine runner, (c) shows a stator, and (d) shows a piston, which are accommodated in a torque converter outer shell (e). Therefore, the front cover (f) rotates with the power from the engine, and the pump impeller (a) integrated with the front cover (f) rotates. As a result, the turbine runner (rotor ) Turns.

  A shaft (not shown) is fitted to the turbine hub (g) of the turbine runner (b), and the rotation of the turbine runner (b) can be transmitted to a transmission (not shown). That is, since the torque converter is a kind of fluid clutch, the turbine runner (b) starts to rotate as the rotational speed of the pump impeller (b) increases to some extent, and the speed of the turbine runner (b) increases as the speed further increases. It approaches the rotational speed of the impeller (I). However, in the torque converter using the working fluid as a medium, the rotational speed of the turbine runner (b) cannot be the same as that of the pump impeller (b).

  The torque converter is provided with a stator (c), and the flow direction of the working fluid sent out after hitting the turbine runner (b) is changed in a direction that promotes the rotation of the pump impeller (a). The stator (c) is disposed between the pump impeller (b) and the turbine runner (b), and is rotated between the stator (c) and the fixed shaft so as to rotate only in the rotation direction of the pump impeller (b). Has a one-way clutch.

  FIG. 6 shows the appearance of a conventional stator (c). The stator (c) is cast and is composed of a body (h), a core (re), and a plurality of blades (nu), (nu). The blades (nu), (nu),... Receive the working fluid flowing out from the turbine runner (b), rotate, and can be sent to the pump impeller (a) to facilitate the rotation.

  By the way, although the blade (nu) of the conventional stator (c) has a constant thickness, in order to rotate by receiving the working fluid from the turbine runner (b) and efficiently send it to the pump impeller side, an airplane Increase the plate thickness cross section on the inflow side like the blade cross section of the blade, make the entire section curved and reduce the plate thickness cross section so that no vortex is generated on the outflow side, and the flow of working fluid on both sides of the blade (nu) It is better to make a difference.

  However, if the blade (nu) is shaped like a wing of an airplane, the weight of the blade (nu) will be heavy, and the stator (c) with a large number of blades (nu), (nu). As a result, even if the working fluid delivered from the turbine runner (b) hits the blades (nu), (nu)..., The stator (c) cannot immediately rotate. This leads to a decrease in performance of the torque converter, and as a result, a decrease in engine power transmission.

The blade according to US Patent No. US2007 / 0140841A1 has a shape having a first end (end portion 14) on one side of the main body 12, and a second end (end portion 16) on the other side. One end is configured to engage with the stator housing, and the second end is configured to engage with the stator core ring.
That is, the shape of the blade and the processing means of the blade are not particularly limited, and are characterized by having a first end and a second end that engage with the stator housing and the stator core ring.

The blade according to US 2007 / 0224042A1 has a first blade segment and a second blade segment connected to the stator housing and the core ring, the first blade segment and the second blade segment being formed separately. ing. That is, the blade has a two-piece structure including a first blade segment and a second blade segment.
In these U.S. patented stator blades, the blades are manufactured as separate parts, but the blade thickness is uniform.
"Blade" according to US Patent No. US2007 / 0140841A1 “Blade” according to US Patent No. US2007 / 0224042A1

  As described above, the conventional torque converter stator has the above-mentioned problems. The problems to be solved by the present invention are these problems, and provide a stator blade having a three-dimensional shape with a change in cross-sectional thickness and a reduced weight, and a stator including the blade.

  The stator according to the present invention includes a body portion, a core portion, and a plurality of blades, and the basic structure thereof is the same as that of the prior art. However, in the present invention, the body part, the core part, and the blade are configured as independent parts without casting the entire stator. Sometimes the core part is not provided, or the core part may be integrally formed on the outer periphery of the blade. Moreover, the blade is not a solid body but a hollow body.

  Therefore, the blade cross section has a three-dimensional cross section similar to the shape of an airplane wing, and is thick on the inlet side into which the working fluid flows and thin on the outflow side, and has a curved cross section as a whole. The blade of the present invention has a structure in which the front side surface and the back side surface are separately manufactured and attached to the body portion, and the front side surface and the back side surface of the adjacent blades are integrally formed. That is, the front side surface and the back side surface are connected by a connecting piece to constitute a pair of blade pieces. The blade piece is manufactured by punching and bending a thin plate material, or formed by molding an aluminum die cast or resin.

  By attaching the pair of blade pieces to the outer periphery of the body portion, the front side surface of the pair of adjacent blade pieces and the back side surface of the other blade piece are combined to form one blade. Here, when the connecting piece that connects the front side surface and the back side surface is provided on the outer peripheral side, or when provided on the inner peripheral side, it may be further provided on the inner peripheral side and the outer peripheral side. A shaft hole is provided on the outer periphery of the body portion, and a shaft portion provided on the inner peripheral side of the pair of blade pieces is fitted and attached.

  And when a connection piece is provided in the outer peripheral side, this connection piece will comprise a core part. When there is no connecting piece on the outer periphery, the outer periphery of each blade is fastened with a metal band to form the core part, but even when a connecting piece is provided on the outer peripheral side, the outer periphery of each blade is fastened with a metal band. It is also possible to do. Of course, connecting pieces are provided only on the inner peripheral side of the front and back side surfaces, and the shaft part protrudes from the inner peripheral side connecting piece and is fitted into the shaft hole on the outer periphery of the body part without fastening the outer periphery of the blade with a metal band. You can also

  The stator of the present invention generally has a three-part structure of a body part, a core part, and a blade. Therefore, it becomes possible to comprise with a material suitable for a body part, a core part, and a braid | blade. Sometimes the core does not have a core, but the inside of the blade is molded as a hollow body with a space, so its weight is reduced and the stator with many hollow blades is lightened and flows out of the turbine runner It can react quickly to the working fluid and rotate. As a result, the performance of the torque converter is improved, and consequently the power transmission efficiency of the engine is improved, and the fuel consumption performance of the vehicle is also improved.

  By the way, the blade of the present invention is configured as a combination of a pair of blade pieces in which the front side surface and the back side surface are connected by a connecting piece, and the shaft portion provided on the pair of blade pieces is fitted into the shaft hole on the outer periphery of the body portion. It is done. The front side surface of one adjacent blade piece and the back side surface of the other blade piece are combined to form one blade, and the front side surface and the back side surface provided on both sides at a predetermined interval are formed. The pair of blade pieces is easy to attach to the outer periphery of the body portion, and the directions of the blades configured in combination are constant without any variation.

  By the way, if the connecting piece is provided on the outer periphery, the connecting piece serves as a core portion, and a core portion is provided for winding and fastening a metal band to constrain the outer periphery of each blade constituted by a pair of blade pieces. There is no need. And the hollow blade similar to the plane of the wing of an airplane has a better flow of working fluid than the conventional constant thickness blade, the performance of the stator is improved, and the power transmission efficiency of the engine is improved. The fuel efficiency of the vehicle is also improved.

  FIG. 1 is an embodiment showing the appearance of a stator 1 according to the present invention, in which 2 denotes a body portion, 3 denotes a core portion, and 4 denotes a blade. The stator 1 has a three-part structure of the body part 2, the core part 3, and the blade 4, and is not integrally cast by casting as in the prior art. A plurality of blades 4, 4... Are arranged radially and are attached between the body portion 2 and the core portion 3.

  The body portion 2 is provided with a one-way clutch (not shown). Therefore, the blades 4, 4... Rotate only in one direction, and the working fluid flowing out from the turbine runner can be sent to the pump impeller side. That is, the basic structure and operation of the stator 1 are the same as those of the conventional stator, and the working fluid flowing out from the turbine runner flows so as to promote rotation of the pump impeller by hitting the blades 4, 4. The direction is changed, and the pump operates again to flow into the pump impeller from the inner periphery.

  By the way, the blade 4 constituting the stator of the present invention is configured as a hollow body having a space inside, and one blade 4 is configured by combining adjacent front and back side surfaces with each other. . That is, the front side surface 5 and the back side surface 6 are connected by the connecting piece 7 to form a pair of blade pieces, and the blade pieces are attached to the outer periphery of the body portion 2. The front side surface 5 constituting the blade piece is combined with the back side surface constituting the adjacent blade piece to form one blade 4.

  Thus, the stator 1 shown in FIG. 1 is comprised by attaching a several blade piece to a body part outer periphery. By the way, the pair of blade pieces has a front side surface 5 on one side through a connecting piece, and a back side surface 6 on the other side, and the front shaft piece is placed on the inner peripheral side of the front side surface 5 and the back side. A back shaft piece is provided on the inner peripheral side of the surface 5. Accordingly, the front shaft piece and the back shaft piece can be fitted and attached to the shaft holes formed on the outer periphery of the body portion.

  FIG. 2 shows a pair of blade pieces 8 constituting a blade according to the present invention, where (a) is a perspective view, (b) is a front view, (c) a side view, and (d) a bottom view. In the figure, 5 represents a front side surface, 6 represents a back side surface, 7 represents a connecting piece, and the overall shape is substantially U-shaped. Here, the front side surface 5 and the back side surface 6 are smoothly curved, the front shaft piece 9 extends at the front end of the front side surface 5, and the back shaft piece 10 extends at the front end of the back side surface 6. However, the curved shapes of the front side surface 5 and the back side surface 6 are different.

  By the way, the blade piece 8 is attached to the outer periphery of the body portion 2, but the front shaft piece 9 and the back shaft piece 10 are fitted in shaft holes 13 and 13 provided on the outer periphery of the body portion 2. As shown in FIG. 3, when the blade piece 8 is attached to the outer periphery of the body portion 2, the front shaft piece 9 and the back shaft piece 10 are fitted in different shaft holes 13 and 13, respectively. 5 and the back side surface 6 are arranged radially.

  Here, since the front shaft piece 9 and the back shaft piece 10 are formed in a semicircular arc as shown in FIG. 2D, the blade piece 8 adjacent to the shaft hole 13 in which the front shaft piece 9 is fitted. The front shaft piece 9 of the adjacent blade piece 8 can be fitted into the shaft hole 13 into which the back shaft piece 10 is fitted. The back side surface 6 of the adjacent blade pieces 8, 8 is combined with the front side surface 5 to form one blade 4, and the front side surface 5 of the adjacent blade pieces 8, 8 is also combined with the back side surface 6. One blade 4 is configured.

  FIG. 3 shows a case where one blade piece 8 is attached to the outer periphery of the body portion, but the front shaft pieces 9, 9 of the blade pieces 8, 8... Are inserted into the shaft holes 13, 13. .. And the back shaft pieces 10, 10... Can be configured to constitute the stator 1 shown in FIG. The connecting piece 7 that connects the front side surface 5 and the back side surface 6 constitutes the core portion 3 of the stator 1.

  FIG. 4 shows another embodiment showing the blade piece 8, where (a) is a perspective view, (b) a front view, (c) a side view, and (d) a bottom view. In the figure, 5 is a front side surface, 6 is a back side surface, 11 is an outer peripheral side connecting piece, and 12 is an inner peripheral side connecting piece. And the axial part 14 protrudes and is provided in the inner peripheral side connection piece 12, and this axial part 14 fits and is attached to the axial hole 13 of a body part outer periphery. Therefore, the front side surface 5 and the back side surface 6 extend radially, and the blade piece 8 is similarly attached to the adjacent shaft hole 13.

  Each of the blade pieces 8, 8... Is arranged at equal intervals by fitting the shaft portions 14, 14... Into the shaft holes 13, 13. The front side surface 5 formed and the back side surface 6 formed on the other blade piece 8 adjacent to each other are combined with each other to constitute one blade 4. Similarly, the back side surface 6 formed on one blade piece 8 and the front side surface 5 formed on the other blade piece 8 adjacent to each other are combined to constitute one blade 4.

  In this way, the front side surfaces 5, 5... And the back side surfaces 6, 6... Of the blade pieces 8, 8. .. And the front side surfaces 5, 5... Constitute each blade 4, 4,..., And each blade 4, 4,. Here, the joint portion between the front side surface 5 and the back side surface 6 is brazed and fixed as necessary, and the shaft portion 14 fitted in the shaft hole 13 can be brazed so as not to come off.

  The blade 4 made by combining the front side surface 5 and the back side surface 6 has a cross-sectional shape similar to that of an airplane wing, has a space 15 inside, is thick on the inflow side, and thin on the outflow side. The flow of the working fluid hitting 4 becomes good. That is, the flow of the working fluid is equal in the blade having a constant thickness, but the flow of the working fluid is different between the front side surface 5 and the back side surface 6 due to the airfoil cross section. Therefore, the working fluid flowing out from the turbine runner by the rotation of the stator can be efficiently sent to the pump impeller, the performance of the torque converter can be improved, the power transmission efficiency of the engine can be improved, and the fuel efficiency of the vehicle can be improved. .

  The blade piece 8 of FIGS. 2 and 4 has the connecting pieces 7 and 11 on the outer peripheral side, but the connecting piece may be provided only on the inner peripheral side and not provided on the outer peripheral side. In this case, it is also possible to attach the core portion 3 wound around the outer periphery of each blade by a metal band and tightened. On the other hand, there is a case in which the connecting piece 11 is not provided on the outer periphery and the metal band is not fastened. The shaft portion 14 protrudes from the inner peripheral side connecting piece 12 and the shaft portion 14 is provided on the outer periphery of the body portion. 13 and fixed by attaching, brazing, welding or the like.

The external view of the stator which concerns on this invention. The specific example of the blade piece which comprises the braid | blade of this invention. When one blade piece is attached to the outer periphery of the body. The specific example of the blade piece which comprises the braid | blade of this invention. Sectional drawing of a general torque converter. Conventional general stator.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Stator 2 Body part 3 Core part 4 Blade 5 Front side surface 6 Back side surface 7 Connection piece 8 Blade piece 9 Front shaft piece
10 Back shaft piece
11 Outer side connecting piece
12 Inner peripheral connecting piece
13 Shaft hole
14 Shaft
15 space

Claims (9)

A stator blade built in the torque converter that changes the direction of the working fluid exiting from the turbine runner and guides it to the pump impeller to promote rotation. The blade is smoothly curved back side as well as the smoothly curved front side. A blade composed of a combination with a surface, having a space inside, a cross-sectional shape similar to that of an airplane wing, and a blade connected by a connecting piece with the front side surface and the back side surface spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance The blade is formed on both sides of the piece, and the blade is configured by combining the front side surface of one adjacent blade piece and the back side surface of the other blade piece, and also the back side surface of one adjacent blade piece and the front side of the other blade piece. A stator blade comprising a combination of side surfaces. The said connection piece is provided in the outer peripheral side of a front side surface and a back side surface, The front shaft piece and back shaft piece which fit in the shaft hole provided in the body part outer periphery protruded at the front-end | tip of a front side surface, and the front-end | tip of a back side surface. Stator blades. The outer peripheral side connection piece and the inner peripheral side connection piece are provided on the outer peripheral side and the inner peripheral side of the front side surface and the back side surface, and the shaft portion that fits into the shaft hole on the outer periphery of the body portion is protruded from the inner peripheral side connection piece. The stator blade described. The stator blade according to claim 1, wherein a connecting piece is provided on the inner peripheral side of the front side surface and the rear side surface, and a shaft portion that fits into a shaft hole on the outer periphery of the body portion protrudes from the inner peripheral side connecting piece. A stator built in the torque converter that changes the direction of the working fluid exiting from the turbine runner and guides it to the pump impeller to promote rotation, with the front and back sides constituting the blade spaced apart by a predetermined distance The blade pieces connected by the connecting pieces are arranged and attached to the outer periphery of the body portion, and the front side surface of one adjacent blade piece and the back side surface of the other blade piece are combined to form a blade. The back side surface of the blade piece and the front side surface of the other blade piece are combined to form another blade. The blade has a space inside by combining the front side surface and the back side surface, and the cross-sectional shape of the blade is Torque converter stator characterized by being similar to a wing. The connecting piece is provided on the outer peripheral side of the front side surface and the back side surface, the front shaft piece and the back shaft piece protrude from the front end of the front side surface and the front end of the back side surface, and the front shaft piece and the back shaft piece are provided on the outer periphery of the body part. The stator of a torque converter according to claim 5, wherein the stator is fitted in a shaft hole. The outer peripheral side connecting piece and the inner peripheral side connecting piece are provided on the outer peripheral side and the inner peripheral side of the front side surface and the back side surface, and the shaft portion protruding from the inner peripheral side connecting piece is fitted into the shaft hole on the outer periphery of the body portion. The stator of the torque converter according to claim 5 attached. 6. The torque according to claim 5, wherein an inner peripheral side connecting piece is provided on the inner peripheral side of the front side surface and the rear side surface, and a shaft portion protruding from the inner peripheral side connecting piece is fitted into a shaft hole on the outer periphery of the body portion. Converter stator. The stator of a torque converter according to claim 6, 7, or 8, wherein a core portion is provided by winding a metal band around an outer periphery of each blade constituted by a combination of the front side surface and the back side surface.

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