JP4648663B2 - Torque converter lockup damper device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a lock-up damper device for a torque converter that connects damper springs in series.

  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.

  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 the flow direction so as to hit the blades of the stator and promote the rotation of the pump impeller, 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) is a pump impeller, (B) is a turbine runner, (C) is a stator, and (D) is a piston, which are housed in a torque converter outer shell (M). Therefore, the front cover (e) rotates with the power from the engine, and the pump impeller (a) integrated with the front cover (e) rotates. ) Turns.

  A shaft (not shown) is fitted to the turbine hub (f) of the turbine runner (b), and the rotation of the turbine runner (b) can be transmitted to a transmission (not shown). Since the torque converter is a kind of fluid clutch, when the rotation speed of the pump impeller (a) is low, the rotation of the turbine runner (ro) can be stopped (the car can be stopped), but the pump As the rotational speed of the impeller (b) increases, the turbine runner (b) starts to rotate, and as the speed further increases, the speed of the turbine runner (b) approaches the rotational speed of the pump impeller (b). 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).

  Therefore, as shown in the figure, when the piston (d) is provided in the torque converter outer shell (mu), and the rotational speed of the turbine runner (b) exceeds a predetermined region, The piston (d) can be operated to move in the axial direction and engage with the front cover (e). Since a friction material (g) is attached to the outer periphery of the piston, the piston (d) can rotate at the same speed as the front cover (e) without slipping. This piston (d) is connected to the turbine runner (b), and the turbine runner (b) is rotated by the piston (d), and the power from the engine is lost to the transmission through the fluid. Can be transmitted with high efficiency of almost 100%.

  In this way, when the rotational speed of the turbine runner (b) increases and a certain condition is reached, the piston (d) engages with the front cover (e) and the turbine runner ( B) can be directly rotated. However, before the engagement, the rotational speeds of the turbine runner (B) and the front cover (E) are not completely the same. appear. Damper springs (H), (H) ... between the piston (D) and the turbine runner (B) in order to mitigate this impact at the time of engagement and, on the other hand, not transmit the torque fluctuation of the engine after the engagement. A lockup damper (N) equipped with is attached.

  Therefore, when the piston (d) rotating at the same speed as the turbine runner (b) is engaged with the slightly faster front cover (e), the speed of the piston (d) increases momentarily and the turbine runner ( (B) Torque to rotate faster is applied. The damper springs (h), (h) are configured to absorb and absorb this shocking torque. The piston (d) is coaxially attached to the turbine hub (f) of the turbine runner (b), but it is positioned with the turbine runner (b) by the compression deformation of the damper springs (h), (h). It has a structure capable of producing a phase difference.

  Conventionally, various structures of lock-up dampers are known. For example, a “damper mechanism” according to Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-169714 has a plurality of units connected in series via an intermediate member to ensure a wide torsion angle characteristic. This is a damper mechanism in which the elastic member (coil spring) is arranged on the outer periphery, and the movement of the connecting portion of the elastic member including the intermediate member is restricted to stabilize the damper characteristics.

  Therefore, the lockup damper mechanism includes a retaining plate, a driven member, a coil spring arranged in series on the outer peripheral portion, an intermediate member, and a pressing plate that restricts the axial movement of the intermediate member. Yes. The coil spring elastically connects the retaining plate and the driven member. In this case, the intermediate member is rotatable relative to the retaining plate and the driven member, and an intermediate support portion disposed between the coil springs and an annular coupling portion that restricts the movement of the intermediate support portion in the radial direction outside. And have.

  Multiple coil springs (damper springs) are connected in series via an intermediate member to increase the torsion angle and further reduce the impact when the piston (retaining plate) engages the front cover. The transmission torque fluctuation to the transmission is reduced.

  However, when the piston (retaining plate) engages with the Freund cover, the damper spring compresses and deforms, but the damper spring arranged along the outer periphery of the piston rubs against the outer periphery of the piston during the compressive deformation and loses power. Invite. An intermediate member having an intermediate support portion interposed between adjacent damper springs rotates relative to the expansion and contraction of the damper spring. The intermediate member is positioned by the presser plate, but transmission power loss occurs due to sliding friction accompanying rotation. It affects not only the power loss due to the friction between the damper spring and the intermediate member but also the spring characteristics of the damper spring and affects the expansion and contraction.

FIG. 6 shows a case where both damper springs (H) and (H) are connected with an intermediate support (L) projecting outward from the intermediate member (R). When the claws (e) and (e) protrude from both sides of the intermediate support part (le) and fit into the holes of the damper springs (chi) and (chi), the damper spring (chi) is compressed The end of the damper spring is pressed against the piston. The central portion of the damper spring (h) jumps out in the outward direction and the arrow direction. For this reason, the damper spring (h) is in frictional contact with the outer periphery of the piston.
"Damper mechanism" according to JP-A-10-169714

  Thus, the conventional torque converter lock-up damper device has the above-described problems. The problems to be solved by the present invention are these problems, and provide a lock-up damper device for a torque converter having high transmission efficiency by eliminating power loss due to friction with a piston accompanying expansion and contraction of a damper spring. Also provided is a lockup damper device that can exhibit a stable damper function without hindering expansion and contraction of the damper spring.

  The lock-up damper device for a torque converter according to the present invention can expand the twist angle so as to further alleviate the impact when the piston is engaged with the front cover by connecting the damper springs in series. An intermediate support portion is interposed between adjacent damper springs, and the intermediate support portion is provided so as to protrude from the outer periphery of the intermediate member. Therefore, the basic structure is the same as that of the “damper mechanism” according to Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-169714, but the friction with the piston accompanying the expansion and contraction of the damper spring that occurs when the piston engages with the front cover. It is configured to prevent.

  The end of the damper spring in series abuts against the end of the intermediate support, but a cap having a flat contact surface is attached to the side end of the damper spring, and the damper spring contacts the end of the intermediate support through the cap. The structure is in contact. The shape of the intermediate support portion is bent into a substantially U-shaped cross section, and abuts against the cap so that the center axis of the damper spring is positioned within the U-shaped intermediate support portion.

  Since the lock-up damper device according to the present invention has damper springs arranged in series, it can be greatly expanded and contracted when the piston is engaged with the front cover, and the effect of suppressing impact is great. An intermediate support portion provided on the intermediate member is interposed between the damper springs arranged in series, and the intermediate member rotates as the damper spring expands and contracts.

  A cap is attached to the tip of the damper spring, and the intermediate support portion has a series structure in which the damper spring abuts via the cap. In addition, the intermediate support portion is generally U-shaped and abuts so that the center axis of the damper spring is positioned within the U-shaped intermediate support portion, so that the end of the damper spring does not contact the piston and the center portion is curved. And never jump out. Since the load can be transmitted smoothly regardless of the position of the spring and the intermediate support portion, the spring can smoothly expand and contract.

  Therefore, it does not rub against the piston as the damper spring expands and contracts, the spring characteristics of the damper spring are stabilized, and the loss of transmission power due to sliding friction is reduced. The damper spring moves along the outer peripheral surface of the piston as it expands and contracts.At this time, the loss of transmitted power is reduced and the spring is expanded and contracted by not contacting the outer peripheral surface of the piston, the inner surface and the outer peripheral surface of the plate. The effect is small. That is, the hysteresis phenomenon of the damper spring can be suppressed, and the spring characteristics can be stabilized.

  FIG. 1 shows a torque converter provided with a lockup damper device of the present invention. The basic structure is the same as that of the conventional torque converter shown in FIG. 5, and the lockup damper 1 is attached to the outer periphery of the turbine hub 4 together with the flange 3 of the turbine runner 2. A piston 5 is combined with the lock-up damper 1 and can be rotated together with the piston 5. The lock-up damper 1 relieves shock torque generated when the piston 5 engages with the front cover 6. Absorbs engine torque fluctuations during operation.

  FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of the lock-up damper device according to the present invention. In this lock-up damper 1, a plate 21 is fixed by rivets 8, 8,... Via spacers 7, 7,..., And spring retainers 9, 9,. It abuts against the tip of the damper spring 10, 10,. Further, an accommodation space is formed between the spring retainers 9, 9,..., And damper springs 10, 10 are accommodated in this accommodation space. Therefore, the damper springs 10, 10... Are attached to the outer periphery of the piston 5 through the plate 21.

  In the lock-up damper 1 shown in the figure, spring retainers 9, 9,... Are provided at four locations on the outer periphery of the plate, and two dampers are provided in each accommodating space formed between the spring retainers 9, 9,. The springs 10 are accommodated. However, the two damper springs 10 and 10 are not accommodated as they are, and the intermediate support portions 11 are interposed between the damper springs 10 and 10. The damper springs 10 and 10 are connected in series. Yes.

  A disk 14 is combined with the surface side (opposite side of the piston) of FIG. 2, and the flange 3 of the disk 14 is fixed to the turbine hub 4 together with the flange of the turbine runner 2. . Are also provided on the outer periphery of the disk 14, and the spring retainers 15, 15, abut against the tips of the damper springs 10, 10 connected in series, and the springs of the plate 21. It has a structure that is sandwiched between the pressers 9, 9,. Accordingly, when a change in rotational speed occurs between the plate 21 rotating together with the piston 5 and the disk 14 fixed to the turbine runner 2, the damper springs 10 and 10 expand and contract.

  FIG. 3 shows an intermediate member 12 provided with intermediate support portions 11, 11,. The intermediate member 12 forms a ring body having a predetermined size, and the intermediate support portions 11, 11... Are formed at four locations of the intermediate member 12. As shown in FIG. 2B, the intermediate member 12 is sandwiched between the piston 5 and the plate 21, and is positioned using the spacers 7, 7,. Since the spacers 7, 7,... Are slightly thicker than the thickness of the intermediate member 12, the intermediate member 12 can be rotated using the spacers 7, 7,.

  The intermediate support portions 11, 11,... Formed so as to protrude outward from the intermediate member 12 are located between the damper springs 10, 10 connected in series as shown in FIG. It abuts against the tips of the springs 10 and 10. Moreover, in the present invention, caps 13 and 13 are interposed between the intermediate support portion 11 and the damper springs 10 and 10.

  FIG. 4 shows a case where the damper springs 10 and 10 are in series with the intermediate support portion 11 therebetween. The cap 13 on the disk has a flat surface 16, and the flat surface 16 is in contact with the side end surface of the intermediate support portion 11. The cap 13 is provided with a fitting portion 17 that is fitted in the center hole 18 of the damper spring 10.

  As shown in FIG. 4B, the intermediate support portion 11 has a generally U shape, the side piece portion 19 is displaced from the center O of the damper spring 10 by a dimension b, and the upper piece portion 20 is also formed. The damper spring 10 is disposed at a position shifted by a dimension a from the center O of the damper spring 10. That is, the cap 13 abuts on the intermediate support portion 11 so that the center O of the damper spring 10 is positioned inside the substantially U-shape. For this reason, when the damper spring 10 is compressed, the end portion of the damper spring is not pressed against the piston 5 and the center portion of the damper spring 10 is prevented from jumping outward.

  Incidentally, as shown in FIG. 4, the piston 5 is engaged with the front cover 6 by interposing a cap 13 between the damper spring 10 and the intermediate support portion 11 and making the intermediate support portion 11 substantially U-shaped. At this time, the damper spring 10 is sandwiched between the spring retainers 15, 15... Formed on the outer periphery of the disk 14 fixed to the turbine runner 2 side and the spring retainers 9, 9. , 10... Expand and contract. At this time, the damper springs 10, 10... Are elastically deformed so as not to come into contact with the outer peripheral surface and inner surface of the piston 5 and the outer peripheral surface of the plate 21, that is, so as not to rub against the piston 5. I can do it.

  Here, the distance b between the center O of the damper spring 10 and the side piece part of the intermediate support part 11 is 0 to 4 mm, and the distance a between the center O and the upper piece part of the intermediate support part 11 is 0 to 4 mm. That is, the pressing force acts on the center O of the damper spring 10 at the distances a and b, so that the end of the damper spring 10 rubs against the outer peripheral surface, the inner surface and the outer peripheral surface of the plate 21 on the piston 5. There is no.

The torque converter provided with the lockup damper apparatus of this invention. 1 shows an embodiment of a lockup damper device of the present invention. An intermediate member incorporated in the lockup damper device. Positional relationship between intermediate support and damper spring. Conventional torque converter. Positional relationship between conventional intermediate support and damper spring

Explanation of symbols

1 Lock-up damper 2 Turbine runner 3 Flange 4 Turbine hub 5 Piston 6 Front cover 7 Spacer 8 Rivet 9 Spring retainer
10 Damper spring
11 Intermediate support
12 Intermediate member
13 cap
14 discs
15 Spring presser
16 Flat surface
17 Insertion
18 Center hole
19 Side piece
20 Upper part
21 plates

Claims (1)

In a lockup damper device that is housed in a torque converter, elastically connects a turbine runner and a piston, and absorbs torque fluctuations of the engine in a lockup state in which the piston is engaged, the lockup damper has a ring shape The plate is attached to the piston with a gap by interposing a spacer, a spring presser is provided on the outer periphery of the plate, and a plurality of damper springs are connected and accommodated in series in the space formed between the spring pressers, The gap formed between the piston and the plate is sandwiched with an intermediate member that forms a ring body of a predetermined thickness with a predetermined thickness so that the spacer can be rotated as a guide, and the intermediate member protrudes outward . the shape of the intermediate support to form the intermediate support portion, the tip of the side piece portions extending in parallel to the piston and the side piece portion Luo bent perpendicularly bent like a U-shaped with a top piece portion extending piston side, and the intermediate support portion is in contact with the tip of the damper spring is located between the damper spring which is connected in series state, interposing a cap having a flat surface for contact with the side end surface of the intermediate support portion is formed between the damper spring and the intermediate support, as the damper spring is hard contact with the piston outer peripheral surface and inner surface, the intermediate The upper piece of the support is displaced 0-4 mm outward from the center of the damper spring, and the side piece of the intermediate support is displaced 0-4 mm from the center of the damper spring to the inside (opposite to the piston). A lockup damper device for a torque converter, characterized in that the center of the damper spring is positioned inside the intermediate support portion bent as described above .

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