JP2607205Y2 - Stator support structure for torque converter - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a stator support structure for a torque converter, and more particularly to a stator support structure for a torque converter in which the stator is supported by a one-way clutch.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A torque converter is a device having three types of impellers (impeller, turbine, and stator) therein and transmitting power by fluid. In such a torque converter, a stator is arranged between the impeller and the turbine. The stator is fixed to the stator shaft via a one-way clutch. The one-way clutch includes an outer race fixed to a stator carrier, an inner race fixed to a stator shaft, and a plurality of sprags disposed between the two races. The impeller hub side of the one-way clutch is supported by a flange extending inward from the stator carrier. For example, a thrust bearing is arranged between the inner peripheral flange and the impeller hub.
An annular retainer is disposed on the opposite side of the one-way clutch, and this retainer regulates the movement of both races in the axial direction.

[0003]

In recent years, it has been desired to reduce the axial dimension of the torque converter, that is, to flatten the torque converter. In order to reduce the axial dimension of the entire torque converter, it is necessary to reduce the axial dimension of each component of the stator support structure. However, since the inner peripheral flange of the stator carrier needs to be formed integrally with the stator carrier, it has to be thick. Therefore, the axial dimension of the torque converter cannot be reduced.

An object of the present invention is to reduce an axial dimension of a stator support structure of a torque converter.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a stator support structure for a torque converter, comprising: an impeller having an impeller hub fixed to an inner peripheral end; a turbine facing the impeller;
It is used for a torque converter including a stator disposed between inner peripheral portions of the impeller and the turbine, and includes a one-way clutch and a support member.

[0006] The one-way clutch includes an outer race fixed to a stator carrier of the stator and an inner race arranged on the inner peripheral side of the outer race, and permits rotation of the outer race in only one direction. The support member is disposed on a side of the one-way clutch on the impeller hub side. Outer race outer surface
The knurled surface is formed on the
It is press-fitted into the inner periphery of the data carrier. Outer
A flat groove is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the base. Support member
Is a disk-shaped and annular plate. Support member is flat
It has claws inserted into the grooves. As a result, the support member
Engagement with outer race is impossible relative rotation. Outer
-The outer surface of the race has a knurled impeller hub
A smooth surface is formed on the side. On the outer periphery of the support member
Has a cylindrical wall that extends in the axial direction, and the cylindrical wall is smooth
It is fitted to a proper surface. The pawl extends from the cylindrical wall. The stator support structure of the torque converter according to claim 2,
A one-way torque converter including an impeller having an impeller hub fixed to an inner peripheral end thereof, a turbine opposed to the impeller, and a stator disposed between inner peripheral portions of the impeller and the turbine. The vehicle includes a clutch and a support member. The one-way clutch includes an outer race fixed to a stator carrier of a stator, and an inner race disposed on an inner peripheral side of the outer race, and allows rotation of the outer race in only one direction. The support member is disposed on a side of the one-way clutch on the impeller hub side. The support member is disposed on a side of the one-way clutch on the impeller hub side. A knurl surface and a flat groove are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the outer race, and the outer race is pressed into the inner peripheral side of the stator carrier. Branch
The holding member is a disk-shaped and annular plate. The support members
It has claws, and the claws are inserted into flat grooves
Between the outer peripheral surface of the stator and the inner peripheral surface of the stator carrier.
ing. The support member engages with the outer race so that it cannot rotate
I agree. 4. The torque converter according to claim 3,
The impeller hub is fixed to the inner peripheral end of the rotor support structure.
An impeller, a turbine facing the impeller,
Disposed between the inner periphery of the impeller and the turbine
Used for a torque converter including a stator
And has a one-way clutch and a support member.
You. The one-way clutch includes a stator key of the stator.
Outer race fixed to the carrier and outer race
And an inner race disposed on the inner peripheral side of the outer race.
-Allow the race to rotate only in one direction. The support member
Is the side of the one-way clutch on the impeller hub side
Are located in Rolle on the outer peripheral surface of the outer race
The outer race is
It is press-fitted into the inner circumference of the rear. Outer race outer circumference
A flat groove is formed on the surface. Is the support member disk-shaped?
This is an annular plate. The support member is inserted into the flat groove
Have nails. As a result, the support member is outer
Engages with the base so that it cannot rotate relatively. Stator carrier
Is a support for sandwiching the support member between the outer race and the outer race.
It has an indentation.

[0007]

In the stator support structure for the torque converter according to the present invention, the support member is disposed on the side of the one-way clutch on the impeller hub side. Since this support member can support each member of the one-way clutch in the axial direction instead of the inner peripheral flange of the conventional stator carrier, the inner peripheral flange of the conventional stator carrier can be omitted. In addition, since the support member can be manufactured from, for example, a sheet metal, the axial dimension of the stator support structure is significantly reduced.

[0008]

FIG. 1 shows a thin (flattened) torque converter 1 to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied, and OO is its rotation center line. In the figure, the torque converter includes a front cover 2 fixed to an input side member.
And an impeller shell 5a fixed to the outer peripheral wall 2a of the front cover 2 to form a hydraulic oil chamber. In the hydraulic oil chamber, a torus 3 mainly composed of three types of impellers
And a lock-up device 4. The torus 3 mainly includes an impeller 5, a turbine 6, and a stator 7. The impeller plate 5b of the impeller 5 is fixed inside the impeller shell 5a. The inner peripheral end of the impeller shell 5a is fixed to the impeller hub 5c. The turbine 6 is disposed in the hydraulic oil chamber so as to face the impeller 5, and mainly includes a turbine shell 6a and a plurality of turbine blades 6b fixed to the turbine shell 6a. An inner peripheral end of the turbine shell 6a is fixed to a flange 8a of the turbine hub 8 by a plurality of rivets 9. A spline hole 8b connected to a main drive shaft (not shown) extending from the transmission side is formed in the inner periphery of the turbine hub 8.

The stator 7 includes an impeller 5 and a turbine 6
An annular stator carrier 7a and a plurality of stator blades fixed on the stator carrier 7a for adjusting the direction of hydraulic oil returned from the turbine 6 to the impeller 5 7b. The stator carrier 7a does not have a conventional thick inner peripheral flange. An annular receiving portion 22 (FIG. 2) protruding radially inward is formed on an inner peripheral portion of the stator carrier 7a on the impeller hub 5c side.

As shown in detail in FIG. 2, the stator support structure 10 mainly comprises a one-way clutch mechanism 11, an annular holding member 12, and an annular retainer 21 made of sheet metal. The one-way clutch mechanism 11 is a mechanism for rotating the stator 7 only in one direction,
It comprises an outer race 13, an inner race 15, and a clutch member 14 arranged between the two races. The outer race 13 has a smooth outer peripheral surface 13a on the impeller hub 5c side, and a knurl surface 13b continuing from the outer peripheral surface 13a. This knurled surface 13b
Are pressed into the inner peripheral surface of the stator carrier 7a. A plurality of flat grooves 13c are formed on the knurl surface 13b at equal intervals in the circumferential direction.

The retainer 21 supports the side portions of each member of the one-way clutch mechanism 11 in the axial direction. A cylindrical wall 21 a extending in the axial direction is formed on the outer periphery of the retainer 21, and the cylindrical wall 21 a is formed on the cylindrical surface 1 of the outer race 13.
3a. The plurality of claws 21b formed on the cylindrical wall 21a are inserted into the grooves 13c of the outer race 13, whereby the outer race 13 and the retainer 21 are engaged with each other so that they cannot rotate relative to each other. The receiving portion 22 of the stator carrier 7a contacts the outer peripheral end of the retainer 21 from the impeller hub 5c side, thereby prohibiting the movement of the retainer 21 to the impeller hub 5c side. An inner race 15 is provided on an inner peripheral portion of the retainer 21.
The pressing part 21c which abuts from the impeller hub 5c side is formed. The thrust bearing 16 is arranged between the retainer 21 and the impeller hub 5c.

On the other hand, the side portions of the outer race 13 and the inner race 15 on the turbine hub 8 side are in contact with the holding member 12, respectively. Holding member 12 and turbine hub 8
A thrust bearing 17 (FIG. 1) is disposed between the two. A spline hole 15 that engages with a stator shaft (not shown) is formed in the inner peripheral portion of the inner race 15.
a is formed.

In FIG. 1, the lock-up device 4 is disposed in a space between the front cover 2 and the turbine shell 6a. The input side piston of the lockup device 4 can be connected to and disconnected from the friction surface of the front cover 2, and the output side member is fixed to the back surface of the turbine shell 6a. Next, the operation will be described.

When the front cover 2 rotates due to the rotation of the engine, the impeller 5 rotates, and this rotational force is transmitted to the turbine 6 via hydraulic oil. The flow of hydraulic oil flowing from the turbine 6 to the impeller 5 is adjusted by the stator 7. Then, the torque of the turbine 6 is transmitted to a main drive shaft (not shown) of the transmission via the turbine hub 8.

During such operation, the outer race 13 and the retainer 21 of the one-way clutch mechanism 11 are
Rotates relative to the impeller hub 5c, but the friction between the two is reduced by the thrust bearing 16. Clutch member 14 and inner race 15
Is restricted from moving toward the turbine hub 8 by the holding member 12. Further, the movement of the clutch member 14 and the inner race 15 toward the impeller hub 5c is restricted by the retainer 21.

In this embodiment, the conventional inner peripheral flange of the stator carrier is omitted, and a thin retainer 21 made of sheet metal is used instead. Therefore, the axial distance between the one-way clutch mechanism 11 and the thrust bearing 16 is greatly reduced. This contributes to a further reduction in the axial dimension of the flattened torque converter 1 as a whole.

[0017]

In the stator support structure for a torque converter according to the present invention, the support member is arranged on the side of the one-way clutch on the impeller hub side. Since this member can be manufactured by, for example, sheet metal, the axial dimension of the stator support structure is significantly reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic longitudinal sectional partial view of a torque converter employing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic partial perspective view showing engagement between an outer race and a retainer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Torque converter 5 Impeller 5c Impeller hub 6 Turbine 7 Stator 10 Stator support structure 11 One-way clutch mechanism 13 Outer race 15 Inner race 16 Thrust bearing 21 Retainer

Claims (3)

(57) [Scope of request for utility model registration] 1. A stator support for a torque converter including an impeller having an impeller hub fixed to an inner peripheral end, a turbine facing the impeller, and a stator disposed between inner peripheral portions of the impeller and the turbine. A one-way clutch, comprising: an outer race fixed to a stator carrier of the stator; and an inner race disposed on an inner peripheral side of the outer race, wherein the one-way clutch allows rotation of the outer race only in one direction. A support member disposed on a side of the one-way clutch on the impeller hub side , wherein a knurl surface is formed on an outer peripheral surface of the outer race.
And the outer race is an inner periphery of the stator carrier.
Side, and a flat groove is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the outer race.
The support member is a disk-shaped and annular plate,
The support member has a claw inserted in the flat groove,
As a result, the support member rotates relative to the outer race.
The outer race of the outer race has a knurled surface
A smooth surface is formed on the impeller hub side, and an axially extending cylindrical wall is formed on the outer periphery of the support member.
Wherein the cylindrical wall fits over the smooth surface and the pawl extends from the cylindrical wall . 2. A stator support for a torque converter, comprising: an impeller having an impeller hub fixed to an inner peripheral end; a turbine facing the impeller; and a stator disposed between inner peripheral portions of the impeller and the turbine. A one-way clutch, comprising: an outer race fixed to a stator carrier of the stator; and an inner race disposed on an inner peripheral side of the outer race, wherein the one-way clutch allows rotation of the outer race only in one direction. A support member disposed on a side of the one-way clutch on the side of the impeller hub; and a knurled surface and a flat surface on an outer peripheral surface of the outer race.
A groove is formed, the outer race is press-fitted on the inner peripheral side of the stator carrier, and the support member is a disc-shaped and annular plate,
The support member is inserted into the flat groove and the outer race
Between the outer peripheral surface of the stator carrier and the inner peripheral surface of the stator carrier.
And the support member has a
The stator support structure of the torque converter, which is engaged with the outer race so as not to rotate relatively . (3) An impeller hub fixed to the inner peripheral end
A impeller, a turbine facing the impeller, and
A turbine disposed between the inner periphery of the impeller and the turbine
The stator support structure of the torque converter including the
So, Outer fixed to a stator carrier of the stator
A race and an inner race of the outer race.
Inner race and the rotation of the outer race
One-way clutch that allows only in the direction, Side of the one-way clutch on the impeller hub side
And a support member arranged in the A knurled surface is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the outer race.
And the outer race is an inner periphery of the stator carrier.
Is pressed into the side, A flat groove is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the outer race.
Yes, The support member is a disk-shaped and annular plate,
The support member has a claw inserted in the flat groove,
As a result, the support member rotates relative to the outer race.
Engagement is impossible, The stator carrier connects the support member to the outer rail.
Having a receiving portion sandwiched in the axial direction with the base, Stator support structure for torque converter.