192 clutches and power-stop control – Clutches – Operators
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-24
2001-04-10
Lorence, Richard M. (Department: 3681)
192 clutches and power-stop control
Clutches
Operators
C192S085060, C192S048800
Reexamination Certificate
active
06213272
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates, generally, to friction devices such as clutch or brake assemblies for use in transmissions, differentials or brake systems. More specifically, the present invention relates to multi-disk friction clutch or brake systems for use in such in transmissions or differentials.
DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
Multi-disk friction devices are employed in a wide range of applications as clutches or brakes. For example, such friction devices are frequently used in land-based vehicles. Generally speaking, land vehicles require three basic components. These components include a power plant (such as an internal combustion engine), a powertrain and wheels. The powertrain's main component is typically referred to as the “transmission.” Engine torque and speed are converted in the transmission in accordance with the tractive-power demand of the vehicle. Transmissions include one or more gear sets, which may include an inner sun gear, intermediate planet gears that are supported by their carriers and outer ring gears. Various components of the gear sets are held or powered to change the gear ratios in the transmission. The multi-disk pack clutch is a friction device, which is commonly employed as a holding mechanism in a transmission or differential. In addition, multi-disk friction devices also find use in industrial applications, such as wet brakes, for example, to brake the wheels on earth moving equipment.
The multi-disk pack clutch or brake assembly has a clutch sub-assembly including a set of plates and a set of friction disks, which are interleaved between one another. The plates and friction disks are bathed in a continual flow of lubricant and in “open pack” operation normally turn past one another without contact. The clutch or brake assembly also typically includes a piston. When a component of a gear set is to be held, as for example during a particular gear range, a piston is actuated so as to cause the plates and friction disks to come in contact with respect to one another. In certain applications, it is known to employ several multi-disk pack friction devices in combination to establish different drive connections throughout the transmission or differential to provide various gear ratios in operation, or to brake a component.
In the past in order to assemble such arrangements in the clutch or speed reduction sections of a multi-speed transmission, an assembly line has included a separate station for each clutch pack that is prestacked and then assembled so that externally splined separator plates and internally splined friction discs can be connected as a unit to the respective drive or braking components of the transmission. In such assembly operations, after each clutch pack is assembled a snap ring is inserted following insertion of a selected clutch pack at its assembly station so as to secure the clutch pack in place.
The use of preassembled unitary subassemblies is desirable in the manufacture of multi-speed automatic transmissions since they can be assembled off-site and easily assembled within a transmission case provided by an original equipment manufacturer.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In order to provide greater flexibility in the assembly of automatic transmission it is desirable to provide nested clutch housings including two clutch packs wherein one of the clutch packs has a housing that is nested in a second clutch pack housings so as to hold a clutch pack in the second housing thereby to facilitate assembly at a single work station and to use only a single connector to retain two clutch packs in place.
A feature of the present invention is that a nested clutch housing provides a preassembled clutch pack and a cavity that is sealed with respect to the other clutch housing for providing actuating fluid for the preassembled clutch pack.
A further advantage is to provide such a nested clutch housing assembly that eliminates the need for a clutch pack assembly station.
A still further advantage of the invention is to provide a compact, easily assembled friction clutch arrangement for use in transmissions wherein the axial length of the assembled units is reduced.
A further objective of the invention is to provide a method for assembly of clutch devices in a transmission including the steps of providing a first clutch housing having an open end and an inner diameter surface; providing a second clutch housing having an outer diameter surface configured to be nested in seated relationship within the inner diameter surface; providing first and second clutch packs; connecting one of the first and second clutch packs within the first clutch housing; and preassembling the other of the clutch packs with the second clutch housing; axially nesting the second clutch housing with the preassembled other of the clutch packs into the first clutch housing and engaging the retention surface of the second clutch housing against the one of the first and second clutch packs for retaining it within the first clutch housing.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2946241 (1960-07-01), Snyder
patent: 4454786 (1984-06-01), Stockton
patent: 4716787 (1988-01-01), Miura et al.
patent: 5029685 (1991-07-01), Takase et al.
patent: 5579883 (1996-12-01), Tsukamoto et al.
patent: 5913397 (1999-06-01), Okada et al.
Borg-Warner Inc.
Dziegielewski Greg
Lorence Richard M.
Reising, Ethington, Barnes, Kiesselle et al.
LandOfFree
Automatic transmission having nested clutch housings does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Automatic transmission having nested clutch housings, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Automatic transmission having nested clutch housings will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2498518