JP2013113422A - Structure for mounting torque converter with lock-up clutch - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a torque converter from abutting on a transmission-side member before the torque converter is fixed to an engine-side drive plate after the torque converter is assembled to an input shaft of a transmission in a freely slidable manner.SOLUTION: Dimensions of respective sections are determined in such a manner that an axial line-direction distance D1 from a tip of an input shaft 2 to a center 31 of a front cover 3 becomes shorter than an axial line-direction shortest distance D2 from an optional portion of a torque converter 1 to any member at the side of a transmission.

Description

  The present invention relates to a mounting structure for a torque converter with a lock-up clutch.

  A torque converter generally has three types of impellers including a pump impeller, a turbine, and a stator. The pump impeller is connected to the engine crankshaft, and the turbine is connected to the transmission input shaft. The pump impeller and the turbine are disposed to face each other, and a stator is disposed between them (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a torque converter 100 with a lockup clutch (hereinafter simply referred to as “torque converter 100”) that has been conventionally known. NN indicates an axis NN of the input shaft 2A and the like, and illustrations below the axis NN are omitted in FIGS. 2 and 3. Reference numeral 5 denotes a pump impeller, 6 denotes a turbine, and 7 denotes a stator.

  The pump impeller 5 is connected to the crankshaft 9 of the engine via the front cover 3, the drive plate 4 and the like. The pump impeller 5 is integrally formed with an impeller hub 53 on the rotation center side, and a claw portion 54 that engages with the rotor (gear) 11 of the oil pump 10 is formed at an end portion of the impeller hub 53 on the transmission side. ing. Since the claw portion 54 is provided integrally with the pump impeller 5, the rotational power of the pump impeller 5 drives the oil pump 10.

  The turbine 6 includes a turbine shell 61 and a plurality of turbine blades 62 fixed in the turbine shell 61. A turbine hub 63 is fastened to the rotation center side of the turbine shell 61, and this turbine hub 63 is spline-fitted to an input shaft 2A that inputs rotational power to the transmission.

  The stator 7 is disposed between the pump impeller 5 and the turbine 6, and is supported on the outer periphery of the end portion of the stator shaft 74 via a one-way clutch 73. The inner race 73a of the one-way clutch 73 is spline fitted to the outer periphery of the end of the stator shaft 74.

JP 2003-106402 A

  By the way, the torque converter 100 is first assembled to the input shaft 2 </ b> A and then connected to the crankshaft 9 via the drive plate 4. However, the torque converter 100 is in a state where the position in the direction of the axis NN is not determined before being connected to the crankshaft 9 side. That is, the torque converter 100 slides freely in the direction of the axis NN relative to the input shaft 2A until it is connected to the crankshaft 9 side.

  The torque converter 100 is assembled to the input shaft 2A and unitized and transported together with the transmission, but is not connected to the crankshaft 9 side of the engine during transport. For this reason, it is necessary to take measures so that the torque converter 100 does not slide freely in the direction of the axis NN with respect to the input shaft 2A during conveyance of the unit. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, a part of the torque converter 100 (impeller shell 51 in the example of FIG. 3) is adjacent to another member (oil pump assembly OA or housing case HC in the example of FIG. 3). Until the contact, the torque converter 100 is fully slid toward the transmission side and conveyed. In FIG. 3, the slid torque converter 100 is indicated by a solid line, and other portions are indicated by a two-dot chain line.

  However, when the torque converter 100 is rotated during evaluation by the unit tester, there is a problem that the contact portion of the torque converter 100 that is in contact with the other member (the impeller shell 51 in the example of FIG. 3) is damaged. .

  Further, when the variation in the contact position between the torque converter 100 and other members on the transmission side is large, the claw portion 54 of the impeller hub 53 bottoms on the rotor (gear) 11 of the oil pump 10 and causes various problems. There is a fear.

  The present invention was devised in view of the above-described problems. The torque converter is mounted on the transmission side in a state before the torque converter is slidably assembled to the input shaft of the transmission and fixed to the drive plate on the engine side. It is an object of the present invention to provide a mounting structure for a torque converter with a lock-up clutch that can prevent contact with a certain member.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, the torque converter mounting structure with a lock-up clutch according to the present invention has a center portion that intersects the axis of the input shaft and is connected to the crankshaft of the engine via a drive plate. A cover, a pump impeller disposed on the transmission side of the front cover and provided integrally with the front cover, and the pump impeller and the blade side of the pump impinge each other between the front cover and the pump impeller. And a stator disposed between the pump impeller and the turbine, and before the front cover is connected to the crankshaft via the drive plate, the input shaft Can be slidably mounted in the axial direction. A torque converter with a close-up clutch mounting structure, wherein an axial distance from the tip of the input shaft to the center of the front cover is from any part of the torque converter to any member on the transmission side The dimensions of each part are determined so as to be smaller than the shortest distance in the axial direction.

  According to the mounting structure of the torque converter with the lockup clutch having such a configuration, any member in which the axial distance from the tip end portion of the input shaft to the center portion of the front cover is on the transmission side from an arbitrary portion of the torque converter The torque converter is in contact with any member on the transmission side when transported in a state where the center of the front cover is in contact with the tip of the input shaft and is fixed. Without being damaged, the external appearance of the torque converter is not damaged even when the torque converter is rotated during evaluation with a unit tester.

  According to the torque converter with a lock-up clutch of the present invention, the torque converter can be attached to any member on the transmission side by conveying the center portion of the front cover in contact with the front end portion of the input shaft and fixing it. Even when the torque converter is rotated during evaluation by a unit tester, the appearance of the torque converter is not damaged.

It is sectional drawing which cut | disconnected and represented the torque converter with a lockup clutch which concerns on embodiment of this invention by the plane containing an axis line. It is sectional drawing which cut | disconnected and represented the torque converter with a lockup clutch which concerns on a prior art example by the plane containing an axis line. It is sectional drawing which represented the torque converter with a lockup clutch which concerns on a prior art example by cut | disconnecting by the plane containing an axis line, Comprising: It is a figure which shows the state which fully slid the torque converter with a lockup clutch to the transmission side in the axial direction. is there.

  Hereinafter, an attachment structure of a torque converter with a lock-up clutch according to an embodiment of the present invention (hereinafter simply referred to as “torque converter”) will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the torque converter 1. NN denotes an axis of the input shaft 2 or the like (hereinafter referred to as “axis NN”). In FIG. 1, the illustration below the axis NN is omitted. The torque converter 1 includes a front cover 3, a pump impeller 5, a turbine 6, a stator 7, a lock-up clutch 8, and the like.

  The front cover 3 is connected to the crankshaft 9 of the engine via the drive plate 4 and rotates integrally with the crankshaft 9. The front cover 3 illustrated in FIG. 1 extends from the substantially disc-shaped center portion 31 orthogonal to the axis NN of the input shaft 2 and the peripheral edge of the center portion 31 to the axial transmission side (left side in the figure). Joining the drive plate 4 with the cylindrical portion 32 that has been taken out, the disk portion 33 extending in the radial direction from the base portion of the cylindrical portion 32, the outer peripheral wall portion 34 formed on the transmission side from the outer edge portion of the disk portion 33 It has a surface and a female thread part, and is composed of a connection part 35 fixed to the disk part 33. In FIG. 1, the connecting portion 35 of the front cover 3 is fastened to the drive plate 4 with bolts B.

  The pump impeller 5 includes an impeller shell 51 provided integrally and continuously from the outer peripheral wall portion 34 of the front cover 3, a plurality of impeller blades 52 fixed in the impeller shell 51, and a rotation center of the impeller shell 51. And an impeller hub 53 formed on the side. A claw portion 54 is formed on the impeller hub 53, and the claw portion 54 is engaged with the engagement portion 12 of the rotor 11 of the oil pump 10 installed on the transmission side from the impeller hub 53. That is, the rotational power of the pump impeller 5 is transmitted to the rotor 11 of the oil pump 10, and the oil pump 10 is driven.

  The turbine 6 includes a turbine shell 61, a plurality of turbine blades 62 fixed in the turbine shell 61, and a turbine hub 63 that is fastened integrally with a fastener 64 on the rotation center side of the turbine shell 61. I have. The turbine hub 63 is spline fitted (or serrated fitted) to the input shaft 2. Therefore, the turbine 6 rotates integrally with the input shaft 2 but is slidable within a predetermined range in the direction of the axis NN. Of course, the turbine 6 is disposed between the front cover 3 and the pump impeller 5 with the pump impeller 5 and the blades 52 and 62 facing each other.

  The stator 7 is disposed near the rotation center axis between the pump impeller 5 and the turbine 6. The stator 7 includes a stator carrier 71 and a plurality of stator blades 72 that are provided on the outer diameter side of the stator carrier 71 and adjust the direction of hydraulic fluid that is returned from the turbine 6 to the impeller 5. The stator 7 is supported on the stator shaft 74 via a one-way clutch 73. Thrust bearings 75 are interposed between the stator carrier 71, the inner diameter side of the impeller shell 51, and the turbine hub 63, respectively.

  The inner race 73 a of the one-way clutch 73 is splined to the outer periphery of the stator shaft 74. For this reason, the stator 7 is slidable in the direction of the axis NN with respect to the stator shaft 74. The stator shaft 74 is formed of a hollow member, and the input shaft 2 is rotatably supported in the hollow portion via a bush or the like. The base of the stator shaft 74 is fixed to the housing H of the transmission.

  The lockup clutch 8 is installed on the outer peripheral side of the turbine hub 63 between the front cover 3 and the turbine 6.

  Hereinafter, the characteristic part of the mounting structure of the torque converter 1 will be described. The torque converter 1 having the above-described configuration is slidably attached to the input shaft 2 in the direction of the axis NN before the front cover 3 is connected to the crankshaft 9 via the drive plate 4. However, the tip portion of the input shaft 2 is longer toward the engine side in the axis NN direction than in the conventional example (however, the position and length of the spline fitting portion S are not changed and are the same as in the conventional example). ). The axial NN direction distance D1 from the tip of the input shaft 2 to the center part 31 of the front cover 3 is smaller than the shortest distance in the axial NN direction from any part of the torque converter 1 to any member on the transmission side. Thus, the dimensions of each part are determined. In the present embodiment, the shortest distance D2 in the axial line NN direction is the axial distance between the impeller shell 51 and the housing case HC (or the oil pump assembly OA), and the relationship of D1 <D2 is satisfied. Yes.

  The outer diameter of the extended portion of the input shaft 2, that is, the outer diameter of the engine side portion (front end side portion) from the spline fitting portion S is within the turbine hub 63 on the transmission side from the spline fitting portion S of the input shaft 2. Is smaller than the outer diameter of the portion (hereinafter also referred to as “fitting portion T”). The tip of the turbine hub 63 is also longer toward the engine side in the axis NN direction than the conventional example, and the inner diameter of the extended portion is closer to the input shaft on the engine side than the spline fitting portion S of the turbine hub 63. 2 is smaller than the inner diameter of the portion (fitting portion T) that is fitted to 2.

  According to the mounting structure of the torque converter 1, when the torque converter 1 is assembled to the input shaft 2 so as to be slidable in the direction of the axis NN and transported before the front cover 3 is fastened to the drive plate 4, 3 is preferably transported in a state in which the central portion 31 is fixed in contact with the tip of the input shaft 2. In this case, since the relationship of D1 <D2 is satisfied, the torque converter 1 does not come into contact with any member on the transmission side, and the torque converter 1 can be rotated even when the torque converter 1 is rotated during evaluation by the unit tester. The appearance will not be scratched. Although it is considered that the inner surface of the center portion 31 of the front cover 3 is slightly damaged by contacting the tip portion of the input shaft 2, the tip portion of the input shaft 2 and the center portion 31 of the front cover 3 Since the inner peripheral surface has a relatively high processing accuracy and can be completely brought into surface contact with each other, scratches generated at the central portion 31 and the tip of the input shaft 2 do not cause a problem in the function of the torque converter 1. Just do it.

  Incidentally, an oil passage through which hydraulic oil flows is formed inside the torque converter 1, and during operation (particularly during engagement of the lock-up clutch 8), the oil chamber on the engine side of the turbine hub 63 and the transmission of the turbine hub 63. The differential pressure with the oil chamber on the side increases. In the torque converter 100 according to the conventional example, the turbine hub 63 and the input shaft 2 suppress oil leakage at the transmission side fitting portion T from the spline fitting portion S without particularly providing a seal member or the like. However, since it is preferable that the oil leakage is as small as possible in operating the hydraulic pressure, a gap (a difference between the inner diameter of the input shaft 2 and the inner diameter of the turbine hub 63) at the fitting portion T between the input shaft 2 and the turbine hub 63 is reduced. It is desirable to make it smaller. However, if the gap is too small, the assemblability is impaired.

  However, according to the mounting structure of the torque converter 1 according to the present embodiment, the inner diameter of the extended tip end portion of the turbine hub 63 and the outer diameter of the extended tip end portion of the input shaft 2 are determined by the spline fitting portion. It is smaller than the inner and outer diameters at the fitting portion T on the transmission side from S. Therefore, the difference between the outer diameter of the input shaft 2 and the inner diameter of the durbin hub 63 is the same in the fitting portion T on the transmission side from the spline fitting portion S and the fitting portion U on the tip side from the spline fitting portion S. Even in such a case, since the cross-sectional area of the flow path becomes smaller (the circumference becomes longer) as the inner and outer diameters become smaller, oil leakage can be suppressed and the assembling property is not impaired.

  The present invention can be applied to, for example, a mounting structure of a torque converter with a lockup clutch mounted on an automobile.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Torque converter with lock-up clutch 2 Input shaft 3 Front cover 4 Drive plate 5 Pump impeller 6 Turbine 7 Stator 8 Lock-up clutch 9 Crankshaft 52 Impeller blade 62 Turbine blade 31 Center part D1 Axis direction distance D2 Axis direction shortest distance NN Axis line

Claims (1)

A front cover having a central portion intersecting with the axis of the input shaft and connected to the crankshaft of the engine via a drive plate;
A pump impeller disposed on the transmission side of the front cover and provided integrally with the front cover;
Between the front cover and the pump impeller, a turbine disposed with the pump impeller and the blade side facing each other,
A stator disposed between the pump impeller and the turbine;
With
Before the front cover is connected to the crankshaft via the drive plate, it is attached to the input shaft so as to be slidable in the axial direction.
The axial distance from the tip of the input shaft to the center of the front cover is smaller than the shortest axial distance from any part of the torque converter to any member on the transmission side. A mounting structure of a torque converter with a lock-up clutch, characterized in that dimensions are determined.