JP2555188Y2 - Lockup clutch for torque converter - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

[0001]

The present invention relates to a lock-up clutch (directly-coupled clutch) built in an automobile torque converter.
About.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, a torque converter used in an automatic transmission of an automobile, when a vehicle speed exceeds a certain speed, eliminates slip loss due to a fluid coupling and increases power transmission efficiency. Is configured to transmit power to the output shaft through a lock-up clutch. The lock-up clutch built into the torque converter is provided with a piston frictionally connected to the converter housing so as to effectively absorb the torsional vibration caused by the fluctuation of the driving torque and to smoothly transmit the power. The output member connected to the shaft is relatively rotatably connected to the output member by a plurality of spring members arranged in the circumferential direction.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view of such a lock-up clutch 30, and FIG. 11 is an enlarged view of a main part thereof. As shown in these drawings, a conventional lock-up clutch 30 has a sub-plate 32 fixed to a piston 31 and a spring member 33 is supported by the sub-plate 32 from the outer peripheral side and the inner peripheral side. 33
The claw portion 35 of the output member 34 is engaged with the piston 31 to elastically connect the piston 31 and the output member 34 via a spring member 33 (for example, see Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 63-75655).

[0004]

However, in such a conventional example, as shown in FIG. 11, only the end 36 of the spring member 33 is supported by the sub-plate 32 from the outer peripheral side. Therefore, when the lock-up clutch 30 is actuated, the spring member 33 receives centrifugal force, and its end 36 is strongly pressed against the sub-plate 32, and the local portion of the sub-plate 32 in contact with the end 36 of the spring member 33 cannot be ignored. It has been pointed out that there is a possibility of causing abrasion.

The present invention has been devised for the purpose of solving the above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art.

[0006]

That is, the present invention is directed to a torque converter in which a piston connected to an input portion of a torque converter and an output member connected to an output shaft are connected by a plurality of spring members so as to be relatively rotatable. A lock-up clutch, wherein a plurality of pairs of windows are formed in the piston to support an end of the spring member from an outer peripheral side.

[0007]

When a centrifugal force acts on the spring member during operation of the lock-up clutch, the pair of windows and the partition between the pair of windows support the spring member from the outer peripheral side.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

1 and 2, reference numeral 1 denotes a hub connected to an output shaft (not shown). The piston 2 is rotatably and slidably fitted to the hub 1, and the inner peripheral end of an output member 3 combined with the piston 2 so as to be rotatable relative to the hub 2 is fixed.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the piston 2 has an annular portion 4 formed at its outer peripheral end.
The sub-plate 5 is fixed at a predetermined position on the inner peripheral side of the annular portion 4 with rivets 6. The sub-plate 5 has a plurality of spring receiving portions 8 for accommodating the spring members 7 and cuts and raises the support walls 9 that support the spring members 7 from the inner peripheral side (the radially inner side of the piston 2). (Figure 5
See FIG. 6).

On the other hand, as shown in detail in FIG. 7, the annular portion 4 of the piston 2 has a pair of substantially rectangular shapes for supporting the spring member 7 from the outer peripheral side (radially outward side of the piston 2). A plurality of sets of windows 10a and 10b are formed corresponding to the spring receiving portions 8 of the sub-plate 5. Window 1 of this piston 2
0a and 10b are formed such that the circumferential length L between the opening edges 11 and 12 at the circumferential ends is substantially the same as the circumferential length of the spring receiving portion 8 of the sub-plate 5, and the width dimension W Is formed smaller than the outer diameter of the spring member 7. Therefore, the inner peripheral side of the spring member 7 is supported by the support wall 9 of the sub-plate 5 and the edge 13 of the spring receiving portion 8, and the outer peripheral side thereof is the opening edges 11, 12 and the windows 10 a of the windows 10 a, 10 b of the piston 2. , 10b are supported by vertical walls (partitions) 14.

The output member 3 has a plurality of claw portions 15 formed on the outer peripheral end thereof, which are in contact with the substantially central end surface of the spring member 7 (see FIGS. 8 and 9). Therefore, the output member 3 is elastically connected to the piston 2 via the spring member 7.

In this embodiment, in order to change the torsional rigidity in two stages, two spring receiving portions 16 whose circumferential length is shorter than the spring receiving portions 8 are formed on the sub-plate 5 and the spring receiving portions 16 are formed in two places. A window 17 corresponding to the receiving portion 16 is formed in the piston 2, and the spring receiving portion 16 and the window 17 accommodate a spring member 18 shorter in length than the spring member 7 (FIGS. 2 and 5). 5). Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2, when the piston 2 and the output member 3 rotate relative to each other by a predetermined angle θ, as shown in FIG. 2, the opening edge 19 of the window 17, the edge 20 of the spring receiving portion 16, and the claw 15 It is compressed between and performs its function. Reference numeral 9a denotes a support wall that supports the spring member 18 from the inner peripheral side.

Reference numeral 21 denotes a converter housing as an input section of the torque converter. Reference numeral 22 denotes a friction material fixed to the side surface of the piston 2, and the friction material 22 frictionally engages with the converter housing 21.

In the lock-up clutch 23 constructed as described above, when the vehicle speed exceeds a certain speed, the hydraulic pressure acting on the right side of the piston 2 in FIG. 1 becomes higher than the hydraulic pressure acting on the left side of the piston 2 in FIG. The piston 2 slides toward the left side in FIG. 1, and the piston 2 frictionally engages with the converter housing 21 via the friction material 22. As a result, the rotational power of the engine input to the converter housing 21 is transmitted to an output shaft (not shown) via the lock-up clutch 23.

When the lock-up clutch 23 is engaged with the converter housing 21, the piston 2 and the output member 3 press and shrink the spring members 7 and 18 to relatively rotate with a sufficient torsion angle. Buffer the shock at The lock-up clutch 23 also prevents the piston 2 from changing due to engine torque fluctuations occurring during power transmission.
And the output member 3 press and shrink the spring members 7 and 18 to rotate relative to each other, absorb the impact force caused by the torque fluctuation, effectively suppress the torsional vibration of the power transmission system, and smoothly transmit the power. I do.

As described above, in this embodiment, the pair of windows 10a and 10b formed in the piston 2 and the pair of windows 10a and 10b are formed.
Since the spring member 7 is supported from the outer peripheral side by the vertical wall 14 between a and 10b, even if a centrifugal force acts on the spring member 7 when the lock-up clutch 23 is operated, the spring member 7 comes into contact with the spring member 7 of the piston 2. The surface pressure at the site can be reduced, and local wear at the site can be reduced.

[0018]

As is apparent from the above description, in the present invention, the piston connected to the input portion of the torque converter and the output member connected to the output shaft are connected by a plurality of spring members so as to be relatively rotatable. A lock-up clutch for a torque converter, wherein a plurality of pairs of windows are formed in the piston to support an end of the spring member from an outer peripheral side, so that when a centrifugal force acts on the spring member, The spring member can be supported by a pair of windows and a partition between the pair of windows. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the surface pressure of the portion of the piston that comes into contact with the spring member, and to reduce the local wear of that portion.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view (a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 2) of a lock-up clutch showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing the lock-up clutch with a part cut away.

FIG. 3 is a front view of a piston.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line BB in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a front view of a sub plate.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line CC of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a view in the direction of arrow D in FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is a front view of the output member.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along the line EE of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view of a conventional lock-up clutch.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged view of the main part.

[Explanation of symbols]

2 ... piston, 3 ... output member, 7 ... spring member, 10a,
10b: window, 21: converter housing (input unit),
23 ... Lock-up clutch.

Claims (1)

(57) [Scope of request for utility model registration] 1. A lock-up clutch for a torque converter in which a piston connected to an input portion of a torque converter and an output member connected to an output shaft are connected so as to be relatively rotatable by a plurality of spring members. A lock-up clutch for a torque converter, wherein a plurality of pairs of windows are formed and opened to support an end of the spring member from an outer peripheral side.