JPH0714254U - Lockup device for torque converter - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] In a lockup device of a torque converter having a hysteresis torque generation mechanism, not to disturb the flow of fluid in the turbine. [Structure] The lockup device includes a disc-shaped piston 10
, Elastic coupling mechanism, and hysteresis torque generating mechanism 12
It has and. The hysteresis torque generating mechanism 12 is
It is arranged between the inner peripheral end of the piston 10 and the outer peripheral flange of the turbine hub 6.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention relates to a lockup device, and more particularly to a lockup device for mechanically connecting a front cover of a torque converter and a turbine hub.

[0002]

[Prior art]

 A torque converter is a device that has three types of impellers (impeller, turbine, stator) inside and transmits power by the fluid inside. The impeller is integrally connected to the front cover that is connected to the input side member, and the turbine is connected to the output side member. Then, when the front cover and the impeller are rotated by the input side member, the turbine is rotated through the fluid, and the rotational force is transmitted to the output side member through the turbine hub.

Generally, a lock-up device for mechanically connecting the front cover and the turbine is arranged inside the torque converter between the front cover and the turbine. This lock-up device is composed of a disk-shaped piston that is in pressure contact with the front cover, and an elastic connection mechanism that elastically connects the disk-shaped piston and the turbine hub. This elastic coupling mechanism includes a torsion spring, etc., and is for reducing the transmission of the vibration on the input side to the output side as it is when the piston is pressed against the front cover.

Further, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-118256, there is also provided a lockup device provided with a hysteresis torque generating mechanism for the purpose of absorbing torque fluctuation on the input side.

[0005]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 In the hysteresis torque generating mechanism provided in the conventional lockup device, some of the components penetrate into the turbine shell. Therefore, protrusions are formed inside the turbine shell. These protrusions hinder the fluid flowing in the turbine, causing vortexes in the fluid and degrading the performance of the torque converter.

An object of the present invention is to prevent a flow of fluid in a turbine from being obstructed in a torque converter lockup device having a hysteresis torque generating mechanism.

[0007]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 A lockup device according to the present invention comprises a front cover connected to an input side member, a turbine hub connected to an output side member, and a torque converter main body connecting the front cover and the turbine hub via a fluid. A lock-up device provided in the provided torque converter, which includes a disk-shaped piston, an elastic coupling mechanism, and a hysteresis generation mechanism.

The piston is arranged between the front cover and the torque converter main body so as to be movable in the axial direction, and can be pressed against the front cover. The elastic connecting mechanism is a mechanism for elastically connecting the piston and the turbine hub in the circumferential direction. The hysteresis generation mechanism is arranged between the inner peripheral end of the piston and the outer peripheral flange of the turbine hub.

[0009]

[Action]

 In the lockup device for a torque converter according to the present invention, during the lockup operation, the disc-shaped piston moves axially and is pressed against the front cover. Power from the input side member is transmitted to the output side member via the front cover, the torque converter main body, and the turbine hub. At this time, the torque fluctuation transmitted to the lockup device has its energy attenuated by the elastic coupling mechanism and the hysteresis torque generating mechanism, and thus the torque fluctuation transmitted to the output side member side can be suppressed.

Here, the hysteresis torque generating mechanism is arranged between the inner peripheral end of the piston and the outer peripheral flange of the turbine hub. Therefore, unlike the conventional example, it is not necessary to pierce and fix the member that constitutes the hysteresis torque generating mechanism into the turbine shell. As a result, the fluid flows smoothly through the turbine.

[0011]

【Example】

First Embodiment FIG. 1 shows a torque converter 1 to which a lockup device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied. Here, OO is the rotation center line of the torque converter 1.

In the torque converter 1, a front cover 2 and an impeller shell 3a fixed to an outer peripheral wall 2a of the front cover 2 form a hydraulic oil chamber. The inner peripheral end of the impeller shell 3a is fixed to the impeller hub 3c. The front cover 2 is connected to a crankshaft (not shown) on the engine side. A torque converter main body including an impeller 3, a turbine 4, and a stator 5 and a lockup device 30 are arranged in a hydraulic oil chamber in the torque converter 1. A plurality of impeller blades 3b are fixed inside the impeller shell 3a, and the impeller 3 is constituted by both of them. A turbine 4 is arranged at a position facing the impeller 3. The turbine 4 includes a turbine shell 4 a, a plurality of turbine blades 4 b fixed to the inner peripheral wall of the turbine shell 4 a, and a turbine hub 6. The inner peripheral end of the turbine shell 4a is fixed to the outer peripheral flange 6a of the turbine hub 6 with rivets 7. The turbine hub 6 has a spline 6b that engages with an output shaft (not shown) on the inner peripheral portion.

A stator 5 is arranged between the inner peripheral portion of the impeller 3 and the inner peripheral portion of the turbine 4. The stator 5 adjusts the flow direction of the hydraulic oil returned from the turbine 4 to the impeller 3, and has an annular stator carrier 5a and a plurality of stator blades 5b formed on the outer peripheral surface of the stator carrier 5a. It is composed of. A one-way clutch mechanism 8 is arranged on the inner peripheral portion of the stator 5.

The lockup device 30 is arranged between the front cover 2 and the turbine shell 4 a, and mainly includes a disc-shaped piston 10, an elastic coupling mechanism 11, and a hysteresis torque generating mechanism 12. Has been done. The disc-shaped piston 10 has a cylindrical outer peripheral wall 10a extending axially rearward (rightward in FIG. 1) at an outer peripheral end, and a cylindrical outer peripheral wall 10a similarly extending axially rearward at an inner peripheral end. Has an inner peripheral wall 10b. The inner peripheral wall 10b is slidably supported on the outer peripheral surface of the turbine hub 6 in the axial direction and the circumferential direction. On the outer peripheral portion of the piston 10, an annular friction member 35 is adhered to the surface of the front cover 2 that faces the friction surface.

The elastic coupling mechanism 11 is arranged on the inner peripheral side of the outer peripheral wall 10 a of the piston 10. The elastic coupling mechanism 11 includes a retaining plate 31, a plurality of torsion springs 32, and bending claws 33. The retaining plate 31 is fixed to the piston 10 by a plurality of rivets 34. The retaining plate 31 has a cylindrical portion that extends in an annular shape, and accommodates a plurality of torsion springs 32 inside the cylinder. Both ends of each torsion spring 32 in the circumferential direction are supported by bending claws formed on the retaining plate 31. Further, bending claws 33 fixed to the outer peripheral portion of the turbine shell 4a are engaged with both ends of the torsion spring 32. As described above, the piston 10 and the turbine shell 4a are elastically connected in the circumferential direction by the elastic connecting mechanism 11 including the retaining plate 31, the torsion spring 32, and the bending claw 33. It will be.

Next, the hysteresis torque generating mechanism 12 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. The hysteresis torque generating mechanism 12 is arranged in the space between the inner peripheral end of the piston 10 and the outer peripheral flange 6a of the turbine hub 6. The hysteresis torque generating mechanism 12 includes an annular plate member 16, a spring member (wave spring) 17 for pressing the plate member 16 toward the piston 10, a support plate 15 for supporting the spring member 17, and a turbine hub 6. A guide plate 19 fixed to the outer peripheral flange 6a. Each member except the guide plate 19 is fixed to the inner peripheral end of the piston 10 by a plurality of rivets 14. A ring-shaped friction member 18 is bonded to the piston 10 side of the plate member 16. With this structure, the friction member 18 of the plate member 16 is pressed against the piston 10 by the spring member 17. The disk portion 16a of the plate member 16 is formed with a circumferentially long hole through which the body of the rivet 14 penetrates, and the plate member 16 can rotate relative to the piston 10 within a predetermined angle range. It is possible.

As shown in FIG. 3, the plate member 16 is formed with a cylindrical portion 16b extending in the axial direction from the inner peripheral end of the disc portion 16a. Further, a plurality of claw portions 16c extending in the axial direction are formed on the cylindrical portion 16b. The hysteresis torque generating mechanism 12 further includes a guide plate 19. On the other hand, at the inner peripheral end of the guide plate 19, a notch is formed in a portion of the plate member 16 corresponding to the claw portion 16c. The guide portions 19a on both sides of the notch are offset in the axial direction, and the tips thereof are in contact with both ends of the claw portion 16c in the circumferential direction. In this state, the plate member 16 is engaged with the turbine hub 6 such that the plate member 16 cannot rotate in the circumferential direction but can move in the axial direction.

With the above configuration, the piston 10 and the plate member 16 are relatively rotatable within a predetermined angle. The distance that the rivet 14 can move within the circumferential elongated hole formed in the disk portion 16a of the plate member 16 is shorter than the distance that the torsion spring 32 is compressed between the retaining plate 31 and the bending claw 33. It is set and functions as a stopper.

Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be described. Rotational force from the crankshaft on the engine side is transmitted to the front cover 2. The front cover 2 rotates and the impeller 3 rotates, and this rotation is transmitted to the turbine 4 via the operating oil. The flow of working oil returning from the turbine 4 to the impeller 3 is regulated by the stator 5. The rotation of the turbine 4 is transmitted to the output shaft (not shown) via the turbine hub 6.

When the output shaft (not shown) reaches a certain rotational speed, the hydraulic pressure of the working oil chamber in the torque converter 1 is increased and the hydraulic oil between the front cover 2 and the piston 10 is drained. As a result, the piston 10 is pressed against the front cover 2 side. Then, the friction member 35 of the piston 10 is pressed against the friction surface of the front cover 2. As a result, the rotation of the front cover 2 is transmitted from the piston 10 to the turbine 4 via the retaining plate 31 and the torsion spring 32. That is, the rotation of the front cover 2 is mechanically transmitted to the output shaft (not shown) via the turbine 4. Therefore, a good fuel economy with less energy loss can be obtained.

During the above lock-up operation, the torque fluctuation transmitted from the input side causes the torsion spring 32 to expand and contract in the circumferential direction, which causes friction between the friction member 18 and the piston 10. Is attenuated by. Here, the hysteresis torque generating mechanism 12 is arranged between the inner peripheral end of the piston 10 and the outer peripheral flange 6a of the turbine hub 6, and the guide plate 19 is connected to the outer peripheral flange 6a of the turbine hub 6. Therefore, unlike the conventional example, it is not necessary to form a hole in the turbine shell and fix a part of the hysteresis torque generating mechanism. Therefore, no protrusion is formed inside the turbine shell 4a, and the flow of hydraulic oil circulating in the turbine 4 is not hindered.

Further, since the hysteresis torque generating mechanism 12 is arranged in the axial space between the inner peripheral end of the piston 10 and the outer peripheral flange 6a of the turbine hub 6, it is possible to reduce the axial dimension of the torque converter 1 as a whole. Have contributed. Second Embodiment In all the following embodiments , the hysteresis torque generating mechanism is arranged between the inner peripheral end of the piston and the outer peripheral flange of the turbine hub.

The guide plate 19 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 is formed with a plurality of pairs of guide portions 19b that are axially cut and raised on the inner peripheral side. The claw portion 16c of the plate member 16 is circumferentially sandwiched between the pair of guide portions 19b. In this embodiment, since the contact area between the claw portion 16c and the guide portion 19b is large, the surface pressure between the both is reduced. Therefore, the guide portion 19b and the claw portion 16c are less likely to be worn or damaged.

Third Embodiment In the hysteresis torque generating mechanism 12 shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the plate member 26 pressed by the spring member 17 toward the piston 10 side is a flat disk-shaped member, and the inner circumference thereof is It has a plurality of protrusions 26a extending inward in the radial direction. The protrusions 26a are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction. A guide plate 29 is fixed to the outer peripheral flange 6 a of the turbine hub 6 with rivets 7. The guide plate 29 includes a disc portion 29a fixed to the outer peripheral flange 6a, and a cylindrical portion 29b extending axially from the inner peripheral end of the disc portion 29a in the radial direction. The cylindrical portion 29b is formed with a pair of guide portions 29c that are cut and bent and bent outward in the radial direction at a plurality of portions corresponding to the protrusions 26a of the plate member 26. As is apparent from FIG. 7, the protrusions 26a of the plate member 26 are locked between each pair of guide portions 29c so as to be movable in the axial direction and immovable in the circumferential direction.

Also in this embodiment, since the contact area between the protrusion 26a and the guide portion 29c is large, wear and damage of both are unlikely to occur. Fourth Embodiment FIG. 8 to FIG. 11 show a fourth embodiment. Since this embodiment has the same basic structure as the first embodiment, only different points will be described and description of other structures will be omitted.

In this embodiment, the inner peripheral portion 13a of the retaining plate 13 extends to a position facing the outer peripheral flange 6a of the turbine hub 6, and performs the same function as the support member 15 of the first embodiment. The inner peripheral edge of the retaining plate 13 is a portion that has been conventionally punched out, and this portion is effectively used in this embodiment. Further, the guide plate 19 of the first embodiment is omitted. As shown in detail in FIGS. 9, 10 and 11, guide portions 24 are formed on the inner peripheral edge of the turbine shell 4a so as to contact both ends of the claw portions 16c of the plate member 16 in the circumferential direction. Since the contact area between the claw portion 16c and the guide portion 24 is large, abrasion and damage of both are unlikely to occur.

[0027]

[Effect of device]

 In the lockup device of the torque converter according to the present invention, the hysteresis torque generating mechanism is arranged between the inner peripheral end of the piston and the outer peripheral flange of the turbine hub. Therefore, unlike the conventional example, it is not necessary to penetrate and lock the member constituting the hysteresis torque generating mechanism in the turbine shell, and the fluid flows smoothly in the turbine.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic partial vertical cross-sectional view of a torque converter according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged view of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a view on arrow III in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 3 of the second embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view of a guide plate according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 2 of the third embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view of a guide plate according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 1 of the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 2 of the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a partial perspective view of a guide portion according to a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a view on arrow XI of FIG. 9.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Torque converter 2 Front cover 3 Impeller 4 Turbine 4a Turbine shell 6 Turbine hub 6a Outer peripheral flange 10 Disc-shaped piston 11 Elastic coupling mechanism 12 Hysteresis torque generating mechanism 16,26 Plate member 17 Spring member 30 Lockup device

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A torque converter comprising: a front cover connected to an input member; a turbine hub connected to an output member; and a torque converter body connecting the front cover and the turbine hub via a fluid. The lock-up device of claim 1, wherein the disc-shaped piston that is arranged movably in the axial direction between the front cover and the torque converter body and is capable of pressure contact with the front cover, and the piston and the turbine hub. A lockup device for a torque converter, comprising: an elastic connection mechanism that elastically connects in a circumferential direction; and a hysteresis torque generation mechanism that is arranged between an inner peripheral end of the piston and an outer peripheral flange of the turbine hub.