JPH08233064A - Coupling device between engine and torque converter - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To perform easy and reliable coupling without needing fastening by means of a bolt by a method wherein the outer peripheral edge of a drive plate attached on the output shaft of an engine is folded in such a manner to extend to the outer periphery of a torque converter and an engaging part to engage a first boss is formed at a folded part. CONSTITUTION: A plurality of first bosses 10 protruded in a direction crossing a rotary shaft A at right angles are fixed on the outer periphery on the engine 1 side of a torque converter 7 through welding. A resilient body 11 formed of rubber is fitted in the outer periphery of the first boss 10. When an engine 1 and a torque converter 7 are intercoupled, a drive plate 6 is rotated and positioned in such a manner that the notch 18 of the folded part 16 of a drive plate 6 is matched with the first boss 10 of the torque converter 7. A jig 13 is then inserted in an insertion hole 14 and engaged with the recessed part 12a of a second boss 12 to fix the torque converter 7.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a coupling device for an engine and a torque converter.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As an example of a conventional engine-torque converter coupling device, as shown in FIG. 5, a drive plate 30 is attached to an output shaft 3 of an engine 1 with bolts 31, and a torque converter 32 is attached to the drive plate 30. Some are attached with bolts 33. The bolt 31 is fastened from the drive plate 30 to the output shaft 3 of the engine 1, and the bolt 33 is fastened from the drive plate 30 to the torque converter 32. When inspecting the engine 32, the transmission (not shown), etc., from the opening 35 between the oil pan 4 below the cylinder block 2 of the engine 1 and the torque converter housing 34 to the socket in the direction shown by the arrow in FIG. A bolt 33 for fastening the drive plate 30 and the torque converter 32 is turned by inserting a tool such as a wrench.

In addition, as another conventional technique, the actual fairness 5
As disclosed in JP-A-26266, an outer peripheral edge portion of a drive plate is bent so as to wrap around an outer periphery of a torque converter, and a starting ring gear is fixed in the vicinity of a corner portion of the bent portion. The bent portion of the drive plate is fastened to the torque converter with bolts in the direction perpendicular to the output shaft of the, and a service hole for inserting the bolt is opened in the outer periphery of the torque converter case, and the starting ring gear is installed in this service hole. There is known a connection structure of an engine and a torque converter, which is provided with an opening for operating the engine. This is a bolt service that rotates the starting ring gear from the outside while matching the threaded boss that is welded and fixed to the outer periphery of the torque converter with the bolt hole where the bent portion of the drive plate is opened. It is inserted through the hole and fastened.

Further, as another conventional technique, as disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 2-141750, a connecting means for connecting a drive plate and a torque converter is used to transmit the torque of the engine to the torque converter. It is known that a force transmission structure and a thrust force absorption structure that does not transmit axial thrust force due to expansion of the torque converter to the drive plate are known. In this product, a boss is provided on the surface of the torque converter that faces the drive plate, a hole for inserting the boss is provided in the drive plate, and the boss is inserted into this hole to separate the drive plate and the torque converter. It is to connect.

[0005]

In the conventional engine 1 and torque converter 32 coupling device shown in FIG. 5, in order to rotate the bolt 33 for fastening the drive plate 30 and the torque converter 32, Attach a tool such as a socket wrench to the oil pan below the cylinder block 2 of the engine 1.
Since it has to be inserted through the opening 35 between the 4 and the torque converter housing 34, there is a problem that workability is poor.

Further, in the connecting structure for an engine and a torque converter disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 5-26266, when the drive plate and the torque converter are fastened, the starting ring gear is placed outside while looking into the case from the service hole. It is necessary to match the boss provided on the outer periphery of the torque converter with the bolt hole formed in the bent portion of the drive plate, which causes a problem of poor assembling.

In the one disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 2-141750, the torque converter is brought closer to the drive plate by aligning the position of the boss provided on the torque converter with the hole provided in the drive plate. There was a problem that assembly was poor.

Further, in the conventional engine-torque converter coupling device shown in FIG. 5 and the structure disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 5-26266, a bolt for connecting the drive plate and the torque converter is rotated. There is a problem that tools such as a socket wrench are required and it takes time and effort to turn the bolts using these tools.

Furthermore, in the above-mentioned conventional technique, when the transmission is removed, the center piece of the torque converter is caught by the output shaft of the engine, and the torque converter remains on the engine side, that is, the torque converter comes off the transmission and the transmission oil is removed. There was a problem of leakage.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems predominantly, and an engine and a torque can be easily and surely connected to the torque converter without requiring fastening with bolts or the like. An object is to provide a converter coupling device.

[0011]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention according to claim 1 is a device for connecting an engine and a torque converter, wherein an elastic body is provided on the outer periphery of the torque converter. The first boss that is fitted is projected,
An outer peripheral edge of a drive plate attached to an output shaft of an engine is bent so as to extend to an outer periphery of a torque converter, and an engaging portion for engaging the first boss is formed at the bent portion. To do.

Further, in order to achieve the above object, claim 2
In the present invention according to the description, the second boss with which the jig for fixing the torque converter is engaged is located at the same position in the rotational direction as the first boss with which the drive plate on the outer periphery of the torque converter is engaged. It is characterized in that it is projectingly provided and an insertion hole for inserting the jig is formed in the torque converter housing.

[0013]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the drive plate is attached to the output shaft of the engine, and the first boss of the torque converter is engaged with the engaging portion formed in the bent portion of the drive plate. A torque converter can be combined. Since the elastic body is externally fitted to the first boss that is engaged with the engaging portion of the drive plate, it is possible to prevent looseness between the torque converter and the drive plate. Further, when removing the torque converter from the engine, the coupling is released simply by removing the first boss of the torque converter from the engaging portion of the drive plate.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the jig is inserted through the insertion hole and engaged with the second boss to fix the torque converter, and prevent the rotation and the removal thereof. At this time, since the first boss is projectingly provided at the same position as the second boss in the rotational direction, the first boss can be easily aligned with the engaging portion formed on the bent portion of the drive plate. Further, since the torque converter is fixed, the transmission of the transmission oil can be prevented without the torque converter coming off the transmission.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of an engine / torque converter coupling device according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. In the drawings, the same reference numerals denote the same or corresponding parts.

In the engine 1 in this embodiment, a crank end 3 as an output shaft is located below a side portion of a cylinder block 2 and an oil is provided below the cylinder block 2 as schematically shown in FIG. Bread 4 is provided. A torque converter housing 5 is mounted on the side of the cylinder block 2, and a drive plate 6 mounted on the crank end 3 and a torque converter 7 connected to the next stage such as a transmission (not shown) are mounted inside the torque converter housing 7. And are combined and housed.

On the outer periphery of the torque converter 7 on the engine 1 side, a plurality of first bosses 10 projecting in a direction orthogonal to the rotation axis A shown by a chain line in FIG. 1 are fixed by welding or the like. An elastic body 11 made of rubber or the like is fitted around the outer periphery of each first boss 10. In addition, on the transmission-side outer periphery of the torque converter 7,
The second boss 12 is fixed by welding or the like at the same position as the first boss 10 in the direction of rotation so as to project in a direction orthogonal to the rotation axis. At the tip of the second boss 12, a recess 12 for engaging a jig 13 shown by a chain line in FIG.
A is formed, and an insertion hole 14 for inserting the jig 13 is formed below the torque converter housing 5.

A recess 3a for inserting the center piece 7a of the torque converter 7 is formed at the center of the end surface of the crank end 3, and a plurality of screw holes 3b are formed near the peripheral edge.

The drive plate 6, as shown in the perspective view of FIG. 2, has a recess 3a formed at the center of the crank end 3.
A hole 6a for inserting the center piece 7a of the torque converter 7 aligned with is formed, and a plurality of holes 6b are formed around the hole 6a so as to align with the screw hole 3b formed in the crank end 3. The drive plate 6 is attached to the crank end 3 by screwing a bolt 15 into the screw hole 3b. Further, the outer peripheral edge of the drive plate 6 is formed with a bent portion 16 that extends so as to overlap the outer periphery of the torque converter 7 in the axial direction. This bent portion 16 is
Starting ring gear around the engine corner
17 is fixed and the first boss is attached to the end on the torque converter 7 side.
A notch 18 that opens so that 10 is engaged is formed as an engaging portion. The engaging portion is not limited to the notch 18, but may be, for example, the torque converter 7 of the bent portion 16.
The first boss 10 can be engaged by forming a protrusion on the side end.

The present invention having the above-described structure is capable of connecting the bolt 15 when the engine 1 and the torque converter 7 are connected.
The notch 18 of the bent portion 16 of the drive plate 6 attached to the crank end 3 by the first of the torque converter 7.
The drive plate 6 is rotated so as to be aligned with the boss 10, the jig 13 is inserted through the insertion hole 14 formed in the torque converter housing 5, and the jig 13 is engaged with the recess 12a of the second boss 12 to engage the torque converter. Fix it so as to prevent 7 from rotating and coming off. Then, when the torque converter 7 is brought close to the drive plate 6, the elastic body externally fitted to the first boss is engaged with the notch formed in the bent portion of the drive plate as shown in FIG. The converter can be coupled to transmit the output of the engine to the torque converter.

The notch 18 formed at the end of the bent portion 16 of the drive plate 6 on the side of the torque converter 7 engages the elastic body 11 fitted on the first boss 10, as shown in FIG. The shape of the torque converter is not limited to the open shape so that the torque converter 7 of the bent portion 16 can be formed as shown in FIG.
The guide portion 18a that is inclined so as to gradually widen toward the side end portion, and the stopper portion 18b that protrudes inside the notch 18 so that the engagement between the first boss 10 and the notch 18 is not easily released.
Is preferably formed.

When inspecting the torque converter 7 or the transmission, or when removing the torque converter 7 from the engine 1, the drive plate 6
The first boss 10 is disengaged from the notch 18 of the bent portion 16 only by pulling the torque converter 7 away therefrom, and therefore the engine 1 and the torque converter 7 are disengaged. Further, the torque converter is fixed by inserting the jig 13 into the insertion hole 14 of the torque converter housing 5 and engaging with the recess 12a at the tip of the second boss 12, and the torque converter comes out of the transmission and the transmission oil is removed. It will not be leaked.

[0023]

Since the present invention is the engine and torque converter coupling device configured as described above,
The drive plate attached to the engine and the torque converter can be coupled easily and reliably without the need for bolting or the like. When the torque converter is fixed by a jig, the first boss and the second boss project from the outer periphery of the torque converter at the same rotation direction position, so that the alignment with the engagement portion of the drive plate is easy. Therefore, the assembling property can be improved. Further, when the torque converter is detached from the engine, the torque converter can be prevented from coming off from the transmission, and workability can be improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a coupling device for an engine and a torque converter according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the drive plate.

FIG. 3 is a view partially showing an engagement state of a notch formed in a bent portion of the drive plate and a first boss.

FIG. 4 is a view partially showing an engagement state of a notch formed in a bent portion of a drive plate and a first boss in another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a conventional engine and torque converter coupling device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Engine 3 Crank end 5 Torque converter housing 6 Drive plate 7 Torque converter 10 1st boss 11 Elastic body 12 2nd boss 13 Jig 14 Insert hole 16 Bent part 18 Notch

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A device for connecting an engine and a torque converter, wherein a first boss having an elastic body fitted on the outer periphery of the torque converter is provided so as to project, and a drive plate mounted on an output shaft of the engine. A coupling device for an engine and a torque converter, wherein an outer peripheral edge is bent so as to extend to an outer periphery of the torque converter, and an engaging portion for engaging the first boss is formed at the bent portion. 2. A second boss to which a jig for fixing the torque converter is engaged is provided at the same position as the first boss to be engaged with the drive plate on the outer periphery of the torque converter in the same rotational position. The engine / torque converter coupling device according to claim 1, wherein an insertion hole for inserting the jig is formed in the torque converter housing.