JPH09217813A - Damper device for torque converter - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable assembly without using any rivet by providing a retainer plate which holds multiple springs provided with projected pieces clamped on the projected part of a lockup piston and a divider member which is arranged between the lockup piston and the retainer plate. SOLUTION: A damper device 30 installed in a lockup clutch is provided with, in a lockup piston 3, a retainer plate 13 of which internal end part is fixed and which holds an external spring 4, a clutch plate 8 fixed to a turbine hub 7, and a divider member 9. Also multiple projected parts 10 projecting in axial direction are provided on the piston 3 in circumferential direction, and holes 13d are formed in multiple projected pieces 13c which are provided on the internal surface of the retainer plate 13 so that they correspond to the projected parts 10. Then the holes 13d provided in the retainer plate 13 are fitted closely onto the projected part 10 of the piston 3 and clamped in radial direction so as to form the retainer plate 13 and the lockup piston 3 integrally with each other.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is used for a torque converter having a lock-up mechanism of an automatic transmission for a vehicle,
The present invention relates to a damper device for absorbing abrupt torque fluctuations, and more particularly, to a compact damper device that has a simple structure and improves assembly.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, a torque converter transmits power through a fluid, so that a smooth running can be realized. On the other hand, a torque converter has a disadvantage in that fuel consumption is deteriorated due to energy loss due to slippage of the fluid. To solve this,
Recent torque converters have a lock-up mechanism.

The lock-up mechanism comprises a lock-up clutch having a friction surface. When the vehicle speed exceeds a predetermined speed, the flow of fluid in the torque converter automatically changes, and the friction surface of the piston of the lock-up clutch is changed. Is pressed against the front cover of the torque converter to directly connect the engine and the drive wheels. This eliminates the effect of fluid slippage, thereby improving fuel economy.

In such a torque converter, when the piston of the lock-up clutch (lock-up piston) is engaged with and released from the front cover of the torque converter, a sudden torque fluctuation from the engine is absorbed. A damper device comprising a plurality of springs is provided.

A conventional lock-up damper device is disclosed in, for example, US Pat. No. 5,246,399. This conventional example discloses a two-stage damper device in which the front retainer plate is fixed to the front retainer plate with rivets via a ring member.

In particular, in the above-mentioned conventional example, since a stopper for the inner and outer peripheral springs is used, as a method for limiting the relative rotation angle between the retainer plate and the inner hub,
The rotation of the inner hub with respect to the ring member is restricted. This limits the rotation angle of the inner hub (divider) and prevents excessive torque input to the inner and outer peripheral springs.

[0007]

However, in the case of using the rivet, it is necessary to crimp both ends at the same time, the assembling workability is poor, and the rivet itself is required to have high dimensional accuracy.

Further, since the crimped portion is relatively large,
The entire damper device was not compact.

Further, a separate cost is required for molding the rivet and the ring member for fixing the rivet.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a damper device for a lock-up clutch, which has improved assembly workability, is compact, and can reduce cost.

[0011]

In order to achieve the above object, the damper device of the present invention includes a lock-up mechanism having a lock-up clutch that is displaceable between a fastened state and a disengaged state, and power is generated by a fluid. A damper device for a torque converter with a lock-up mechanism having a torque converter main body for transmission, comprising an input-side lock-up piston having a protrusion protruding in an axial direction, and an outer circumference and an inner circumference of the lock-up piston. A retainer plate that includes a plurality of springs that are arranged and a protruding piece that is crimped to the protrusion of the lock-up piston, and that retains the outer or inner peripheral spring, and the outer and inner peripheral springs in a continuous manner. It is placed between the lock-up piston and the retainer plate for holding and is rotatable and penetrates in the axial direction. A divider member having a window portion that extends in the circumferential direction, abut against the respective end faces of the inner peripheral or the outer periphery of the spring, and characterized in that it consists of the connected output member to the output side.

[0012]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The present invention is a damper device in which a window portion is formed in a divider and a protruding piece of a retainer is directly caulked to a protruding portion of a lockup piston.

The twisting angle of the spring is limited by twisting the caulking portion formed on the outer diameter or the inner diameter of the retainer plate in the divider window portion by a circumferential gap.

Further, the protruding piece of the retainer plate can be provided on the outer peripheral side of the retainer plate.

The protruding piece of the retainer plate can be provided on the inner peripheral side of the retainer plate.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. Needless to say, the examples described below are intended to illustrate the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention. In the drawings, the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals.

FIG. 1 is an axial partial sectional view showing a damper device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, showing a damper device 30 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 shows a disengaged state of the lock-up clutch.

The damper device 30 includes a retainer plate 13 having an inner peripheral end fixed to the input piston, that is, the lockup piston 3, and holding the outer peripheral spring 4.
And an output member fixed to the turbine hub 7 by rivets 6, that is, a clutch plate 8.

The lock-up piston 3 is provided with a plurality of projections 10 circumferentially projecting a predetermined distance in the axial direction. Further, a plurality of protruding pieces 13c that protrude inward in the radial direction are provided on the inner peripheral portion of the retainer plate 13 in the circumferential direction. The same number of protrusions 10 and protruding pieces 13c are provided. A hole 13d penetrating in the axial direction is provided at a substantially central portion of the projecting piece 13c.

The retainer plate 13 is fixed to the lockup piston 3 in the following manner. The retainer plate 13 is provided on the protrusion 10 of the lockup piston 3.
The hole 13d of the protruding piece 13c is fitted and crimped in the radial direction. As a result, the tip of the protrusion 10 is crushed to form a plurality of caulking portions 11. The retainer plate 13 is fixed to the lock-up piston 3 at a plurality of positions in the circumferential direction by the caulking portion 11 so as to be integrated.

The damper device 30 is further sandwiched between the lock-up piston 3 and the retainer plate 13, and is capable of rotating relative to the lock-up piston 3 and the retainer plate 13 in the circumferential direction. It has a plurality of outer peripheral springs 4 and inner peripheral springs 5 arranged in the. The outer peripheral spring 4 and the inner peripheral spring 5 are torsion springs.

The friction material 2 is attached to the outer surface of the lock-up piston 3, and when the lock-up piston 3 slides in the axial direction and comes into contact with the inner surface of the front cover 1, the friction material 2 locks up. Piston 3 and front cover 1
Are brought into close contact with each other, and a torque is transmitted in a state where the two are directly connected.

The turbine runner 14, which is the output member of the torque converter, is attached to the turbine hub 7 by the rivets 6.
It is fixed to.

Here, the retainer plate 13 has a spring holding portion 13a for holding the outer peripheral spring 4 at an end portion on the outer diameter side and an end face torque transmitting portion 13b for engaging the outer peripheral spring 4 and transmitting torque. Have Also,
The clutch plate 8 holds the inner peripheral spring 5 at the end opposite to the side fixed to the turbine hub 7 with the rivets 6, that is, the outer peripheral end, and engages with the inner peripheral spring 5 to transmit torque. The spring holding part 8a is provided.

The divider member 9 is movable in the circumferential direction relative to the lockup piston 3 and the retainer plate 13. However, as shown in FIG.
The retainer plate 13 is attached to the window 9d of the divider member 9.
Since the projecting piece 13c is fitted, the projecting piece 13c abuts on both ends 9e of the window 9d in the circumferential direction, so that the movement of the divider member 9 in any circumferential direction is restricted. That is, the divider member 9 is rotatable, that is, movable only by a distance corresponding to the circumferential width of the window 9d. A plurality of window portions 9d are provided in the circumferential direction.

On the outer diameter side of the divider member 9, a torque transmitting claw portion 9 which engages with the outer peripheral spring 4 and transmits torque.
b, a torque transmitting portion 9c that engages with the inner peripheral spring 5 and transmits torque is provided on the inner diameter side.
A spring holding portion 9a for holding the inner peripheral spring 5 is provided at the end portion on the inner peripheral side.

In the torque transmission path in the first embodiment described above, the lockup piston 3 (input side) directly connected to the engine side front cover 1 via the friction material 2 is used.
→ retainer plate 13 → outer peripheral spring 4 → divider member 9 → inner peripheral spring 5 → clutch plate 8
The order is (output member, output side).

According to the first embodiment, when the outer peripheral spring 4 is twisted by a predetermined angle, the protruding piece 13 of the retainer plate 13 is twisted.
c and the window portion 9d of the divider member 9 are brought into contact with each other, and the movement of the divider member 9 is restricted so that the outer spring 4 functions as a stopper.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.

FIG. 3 is an axial partial sectional view showing a damper device of a second embodiment of the present invention, showing a damper device 40 of the second embodiment of the present invention. Incidentally, FIG. 3 shows a released state of the lockup clutch.

The damper device 40 has a retainer plate 16 for fixing the inner peripheral spring 5 to the input piston, that is, the lock-up piston 3, the outer peripheral end of which is fixed.
And an output member, that is, the clutch plate 18.

The lock-up piston 3 is provided with a plurality of protrusions 10 circumferentially projecting a predetermined distance in the axial direction. Further, a plurality of protruding pieces 16d that protrude inward in the radial direction are provided on the outer peripheral portion of the retainer plate 16 in the circumferential direction. The same number of protrusions 10 and protruding pieces 16d are provided. A hole 16e penetrating in the axial direction is provided substantially at the center of the protruding piece 16d.

The retainer plate 16 is fixed to the lockup piston 3 in the following manner. The retainer plate 16 is attached to the protrusion 10 of the lockup piston 3.
The hole 16e of the protruding piece 16d is fitted and crimped in the axial direction. As a result, the tip of the protrusion 10 is crushed to form a plurality of caulking portions 11. By this caulking portion 11, the retainer plate 16 is fixed to the lock-up piston 3 at a plurality of positions in the circumferential direction to be integrated.

The damper device 40 is further sandwiched between the lock-up piston 3 and the retainer plate 16, and is capable of rotating relative to the lock-up piston 3 and the retainer plate 16 in the circumferential direction. It has a plurality of outer peripheral springs 4 and inner peripheral springs 5 arranged in the. The outer peripheral spring 4 and the inner peripheral spring 5 are torsion springs.

The friction material 2 is attached to the outer surface of the lock-up piston 3, and when the lock-up piston 3 slides in the axial direction and comes into contact with the inner surface of the front cover 1, the friction material 2 is locked up. Piston 3 and front cover 1
Are brought into close contact with each other, and a torque is transmitted in a state where the two are directly connected.

The turbine runner 14, which is the output member of the torque converter, is attached to the turbine hub 7 by the rivets 6.
It is fixed to.

The retainer plate 16 has spring holding portions 16a and 16b for holding the inner peripheral spring 5 at the end portion on the inner diameter side. Further, a torque transmission portion 16c that engages with the inner peripheral spring 5 and transmits torque is provided.

The divider member 15 is movable in the circumferential direction relative to the lockup piston 3 and the retainer plate 16. However, as shown in FIG. 4, since the protruding piece 16d of the retainer plate 16 is fitted in the window portion 15d of the divider member 15, the protruding piece 1
Since 6d contacts both ends 15e of the window 15d in the circumferential direction, movement of the divider member 15 in any of the circumferential directions is restricted. That is, the divider member 15
Is rotatable, that is, movable only for a distance corresponding to the circumferential width of the window portion 15d. A plurality of windows 15d are provided in the circumferential direction.

A torque transmitting claw portion 15b that engages with the outer peripheral spring 4 to transmit torque is provided on the outer diameter side of the divider member 15, and a torque transmitting portion 15c for torque transmission is also provided on the inner diameter side. A spring holding portion 15a for holding the outer peripheral spring 4 is provided at the end portion on the outer diameter side.

Further, the output member 18 is fixed to the outer surface of the turbine liner 14 by the fixing portion 18b. Further, it is provided with a torque transmission claw portion 18a for engaging the outer peripheral spring 4 and transmitting torque.

In the torque transmission path in the second embodiment described above, the lockup piston 3 (input side) is directly connected to the front cover 1 on the engine side via the friction material 2.
→ Retainer plate 16 → Inner peripheral spring 5 → Divider member 15 → Outer peripheral spring 4 → Output member 18 (output side).

According to the second embodiment, when the inner peripheral spring 5 is twisted by a predetermined angle, the protruding piece 16 of the retainer plate 16 is
d and the window portion 15d of the divider member 15 are brought into contact with each other, and the movement of the divider member 15 is restricted, so that the inner peripheral spring 5 serves as a stopper.

[0043]

According to the present invention described above, the following effects can be obtained.

(1) Since rivets are not used, it is not necessary to crimp both ends at the same time, workability in assembling is improved, and high dimensional accuracy is not required for the crimped portion.

(2) Further, since the rivet is not used, the caulking portion can be made relatively small and the damper device as a whole can be made compact.

(3) Since the rivet and the ring member for fixing the rivet are not used, a separate cost for molding the rivet and the ring member is unnecessary.

(4) When the inner and outer springs are twisted by a predetermined angle, the projecting piece of the retainer plate and the window portion of the divider member come into contact with each other, and the movement of the divider member is restricted, thereby functioning as a stopper of the inner and outer springs. Prevents excessive torque from being applied to the circumferential spring.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partial axial sectional view showing a damper device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the damper device of FIG. 1 as viewed from the right.

FIG. 3 is a partial axial sectional view showing a damper device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the damper device of FIG. 3 as viewed from the right side.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Front Cover 3 Lockup Piston 4 Outer Spring 5 Inner Spring 8 Clutch Plate 9,15 Divider Member 13,16 Retainer Plate

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A damper device for a torque converter with a lock-up mechanism, comprising: a lock-up mechanism having a lock-up clutch displaceable between a fastened state and a disengaged state; and a torque converter body for transmitting power by fluid. The lockup piston on the input side having a protrusion protruding in the axial direction, a plurality of springs arranged on the outer circumference and the inner circumference of the lockup piston, and the protrusion on the lockup piston. A retainer plate that includes a protruding piece that is tightened and that holds the outer or inner springs, and a continuous retainer that holds the outer and inner springs.
A divider member that is disposed between the lock-up piston and the retainer plate, is rotatable, and has a window portion that penetrates in the axial direction and extends in the circumferential direction, and each end surface of the inner or outer spring. A damper device, comprising: an output member that is in contact with and is connected to an output side. 2. The damper device according to claim 1, wherein the protruding piece of the retainer plate is provided on an outer peripheral side of the retainer plate. 3. The damper device according to claim 1, wherein the protruding piece of the retainer plate is provided on an inner peripheral side of the retainer plate.