JP4397512B2 - Torque converter assembly method and set plate - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method for attaching and assembling a set plate to a torque converter body, and to the set plate.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As is well known, a torque converter is a type 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.
[0003]
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a general torque converter. In FIG. 5, (a) shows a pump impeller, (b) shows a turbine runner, and (c) shows a stator. The working fluid is sealed in the converter shell (d), and the rotation of the crankshaft (e) of the engine is transmitted to the front cover (f) of the converter shell (d) so that the pump impeller (b) Rotate. Then, as the pump impeller (b) rotates, the turbine runner (b) starts to rotate with the working fluid as a medium, and the stator (c) moves while the rotational speed difference between the pump impeller (b) and the turbine runner (b) is large. As a result of the torque amplification effect, the turbine runner (b) is rotated at a large torque ratio.When the difference in rotational speed is reduced, the torque amplification function is lost and power is supplied from the pump impeller (a) to the turbine runner (b) as a fluid coupling. Reportedly.
[0004]
By the way, a plurality of set blocks (g), (g), etc. are fixed to the front cover (f) of the torque converter by welding or the like, and screwed to the end face of the engine crankshaft (e). Are connected to the set blocks (G), (G)... By screws. The center piece (re) fixed to the center of the front cover (f) fits into the hole (n) provided in the center of the end face of the crankshaft (e), and the torque converter is concentric with the crankshaft (e). Is made.
[0005]
By the way, although the internal structure of the torque converter is common, the size of the center piece (re) and the number and position of the set blocks (g) are different depending on the vehicle and the engine to be mounted. As shown in FIG. 6, the conventional torque converter is assembled by welding the set blocks (G), (G)... To the outer periphery of the front cover (F), and welding the center piece (R). is doing. And the position of the welded set blocks (G), (G) ... will differ depending on the vehicle and engine installed.
[0006]
In this case, with the front cover (f) fixed at a predetermined position, the set blocks (g), (g)... And the center piece (re) are held by a dedicated jig and welded. Therefore, the special jig will be different if the shape and mounting position of the set block (g) are different. Similarly, the same applies to a jig for holding the center piece (re).
[0007]
The front cover (f) to which the set blocks (g), (g), and the center piece (re) are welded is welded to the shell (le) of the pump impeller (b) and the outer periphery as shown in (b). Is done. In this case as well, the front cover (f) must be aligned with the shell (le) positioned at a predetermined position and welded. Since the center piece (re) is already welded to the center of the front cover (f), the center piece (re) is attached to the shell (le) to which the pump impeller (b) and turbine runner (b) are attached. The front cover (f) must be welded to coincide with the center.
[0008]
In this way, not only when welding the set block (g), (g) ... and center piece (re) to the front cover (f), but also when welding the shell (l) and the front cover (f). Correct positioning is required, the assembly work of the torque converter is troublesome, and the center piece (re) may be misaligned.
[0009]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
As described above, the assembly of the conventional torque converter has the above-described problems. The problem to be solved by the present invention is this problem. Assembling method is simplified and the center piece can be easily centered, and a set plate attached to the front cover is provided. provide.
[0010]
[Means for solving the problems]
In the torque converter assembling method according to the present invention, the set block and the center piece are welded to the front cover, and the front cover and the shell are welded in advance, instead of welding the outer periphery together with the shell. End up. After that, the set plate with the set block attached is fitted and fixed to the front cover, and the center piece is attached to the center.
[0011]
As long as the shell and the front cover, which are the outer shells of the torque converter main body, are the same, the outer periphery can be welded to the shell positioned using a common jig by overlapping the front cover with a predetermined jig. In this way, when the front cover is welded to the outer periphery of the shell, the positioning accuracy can be performed without worrying excessively.
[0012]
Then, the set plate and the center piece, which are attached to the set block, are correctly attached at predetermined positions to the torque converter main body to which the front cover is welded. The set plate generally forms a ring body, is positioned by fitting into the front cover, and is fixed by welding or the like so as not to come off. Similarly, the center piece is welded or press-fitted to the center with a jig suitable for its size and shape. The number of set blocks and their positions differ depending on the engine and vehicle type, but are attached to a predetermined set plate in advance.
[0013]
On the other hand, the set plate of the present invention is manufactured as an independent part having a plurality of screw holes formed around it, and is formed by molding a plate material. That is, the set block is integrally formed with the front portion, and the overall schematic shape is a ring body, and the outer peripheral portion is fitted to the front cover and attached. For example, a method of drawing a front front portion to form a screw hole, or processing a screw hole in a bent portion is adopted. Hereinafter, embodiments according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
[0014]
【Example】
FIG. 1 shows a method of assembling a torque converter according to the present invention. (a) is the state where the front cover 2 is welded to the shell 1 of the pump impeller and the torque converter main body is completed. Of course, necessary components such as the pump impeller, turbine runner, and stator are accommodated therein. Yes. However, in the present invention, the internal structure of the torque converter body is not limited.
[0015]
The front cover shown in (a) is not provided with a set block and a center piece, and a boss 3 projects from the center of the front cover 2. After the front cover 2 is welded, the center piece 4 is fitted to the boss 3 of the front cover 2 and the set plate 5 is fitted to the outer periphery of the front cover 2 as shown in FIG.
[0016]
Since the center piece 4 has a cylindrical body, it can be attached by simply press-fitting into the boss 4 and is not welded. Of course, there may be a case where welding is performed without providing the boss 4. One set plate 5 is a schematic ring body as shown in FIG. 2, and a set block 7 is attached to a hole 8 provided in the front portion 6 by press-fitting. And the outer peripheral part 9 which comprises a cylinder fits on the outer periphery of the front cover 2, and is welded.
[0017]
The center piece 4 attached to the center of the front cover is fitted into a hole provided in the end face of the crankshaft of the engine, and the set blocks 7, 7... Are screwed to a drive plate attached to the end face of the crankshaft. This is the same as the connection structure shown in FIG. 5, and in the case of a conventional structure directly welded to the front cover 2, cutting is performed to align the set block end faces. No alignment is required.
[0018]
2 shows the set plate 5 before the set blocks 7, 7... Are attached, the set blocks 7, 7... Can be fitted into the holes 8, 8. At this time, the set blocks 7, 7... Can be press-fitted into the holes 8, 8... And may be loosely fitted so as to be movable as shown in FIG. When mounting in the loosely fitted state, the set block 7 can be moved so that it is aligned with the drive plate and screwed. Further, the front portion 6 of the set plate 5 is bent and deformed so that the end face of the set block can be adapted to the drive plate.
[0019]
2 is formed such that holes 8, 8,... Are formed in the front portion 6 and set blocks 7, 7,... Separately manufactured are fitted in the holes 8, 8,. The set plate 10 shown in FIG. 1 is obtained by integrally forming a set block on a front portion 11 and machining a screw hole 12 therein. The set plate 10 can be manufactured by punching and forming a plate material to produce an L-shaped cross section. However, the front portion 11 is further drawn to form a hole, and then screwed to form a screw hole 12.
[0020]
FIG. 5 shows an embodiment in which another set plate 13 is shown. The set block is also integrated in this set plate. That is, the front part 14 is bent and overlapped, and the screw hole 12 is processed in this. The set plates 10 and 13 provided integrally with the set block are fitted into the front cover 2 of the torque converter and fixed by welding or the like.
[0021]
Although the outer periphery of the set plate 5 shown in FIG. 1 is fitted and welded to the front cover, it can be crimped. There are various methods for fixing by caulking, but it is necessary to transmit power from the crankshaft of the engine, that is, it is necessary not to slip with the applied torque. For example, an uneven groove is provided on the outer periphery of the front cover, and the unevenness that fits into the groove can be formed on the inner surface of the outer peripheral portion of the set plate.
[0022]
As described above, the assembly of the torque converter of the present invention is the one in which the center piece and the set plate are attached after the front cover is welded to the shell, and the set plate is formed by integrating the set block, The following effects can be obtained.
[0023]
【The invention's effect】
In assembling the torque converter according to the present invention, after welding the front cover to the shell, a center piece is attached to the center of the front cover, and a set plate having a plurality of set blocks is fitted to the outer periphery of the front cover. The assembly process is simplified. When changing the set block and center piece according to the type of engine after sharing the torque converter main body, fit and fix the set plate with the required number of set blocks in the specified position on the front cover Only the positioning of the set block is accurate.
[0024]
The set block is attached to the set plate in advance by press-fitting, etc., so that the assembly man-hour is shortened compared to the conventional technique in which multiple set blocks are welded to the front cover. In the case where it is provided, the production man-hour is further reduced.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 shows an assembly process of a torque converter according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a set plate having a hole for press-fitting a set block in a front portion.
FIG. 3 shows the case where the set block is mounted in the set plate hole in a loosely fitted state.
FIG. 4 is a set plate in which a set block is integrally formed.
FIG. 5 is a set plate in which a set block is integrally formed.
FIG. 6 is a connection structure of a torque converter and a crankshaft.
FIG. 7 shows a process for assembling a conventional torque converter.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Shell 2 Front cover 3 Boss 4 Centerpiece 5 Set plate 6 Front part 7 Set block 8 Hole 9 Outer part
10 Set plate
11 Front
12 Screw holes
13 Set plate
14 Front

Claims (5)

In a method of assembling a torque converter in which a front cover is attached to a shell containing necessary components such as a pump impeller, a turbine runner, and a stator, the outer periphery of the front cover is welded to the shell, and then the center of the front cover is installed. A torque converter assembling method, characterized in that a center piece is attached and a set plate having a set block attached to the front portion is fitted and fixed to the front cover. The torque converter assembling method according to claim 1, wherein a boss is provided at the center of the front cover, and a center piece is press-fitted into the boss. In a set plate that is connected to a drive plate attached to the end face of the crankshaft of the engine and transmits power to the torque converter, the set plate forms a ring body and has a front part and an outer peripheral part that fits into the front cover of the torque converter, A torque converter set plate, characterized in that a set block is integrally formed on the front part. 4. The torque converter set plate according to claim 3, wherein the front portion is drawn and screwed into the formed hole. The torque converter set plate according to claim 3, wherein the front portion is bent and formed with a screw hole.

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