Damper device in lock-up clutch for torque converter

Details Damper device in lock-up clutch for torque converter Damper device in lock-up clutch for torque converter

1999-08-26

2001-01-30

Marmor, Charles A (Department: 3681)

192 clutches and power-stop control

Vortex-flow drive and clutch

Including drive-lockup clutch

C192S003280, C192S212000, C464S064100, C464S068800

Reexamination Certificate

active

06179106

ABSTRACT:

This application is based on and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 with respect to Japanese Application No. 10(1998)-24078 filed on Aug. 26, 1998, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to a torque converter. More particularly, the present invention pertains to a stopper structure forming a part of the damper device used in the lock-up clutch for a torque converter to restrict relative rotation between the driving and driven plates within a set angle.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Known stopper structures of a damper device used in a lock-up clutch for a torque converter are disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Sho. 60-175865, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Sho.61-252962, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Sho. 62-56623 and Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei.3-194247.
With such known damper devices, it has been found that some stopper structures must be mechanically strengthened or reinforced by heat treatment due to the fact that the pressure-receiving area is narrow, and the remaining stopper structures are rather complex in construction. Thus, with the stopper structures used in these known damper devices, additional production steps are necessary when the damper device is manufactured.
Thus the aforementioned damper devices are not well suited to being manufactured in a way that allows the production costs of the damper device to be reduced.
A need thus exists for a damper device which can be produced at a lower cost, yet which is identical or superior to the known damper devices in construction and operational characteristics.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In light of the foregoing, the present invention provides a damper device in a lock-up clutch for a torque converter device in which a driving plate is connected to a friction plate which is engaged with or disengaged from an input member of the torque converter, a driven plate rotates relative to the driving plate and is connected to an output member of the torque converter, and a spring device is interposed between the driving plate and the driven plate to establish torque transmission and torque absorption. The damper device includes a projection integrally formed on one of the driving plate and the driven plate, and an arc-shaped expanded part integrally formed at the other of the driving plate and the driven plate. The arc-shaped expanded part is provided with a concave portion having a circumferential end, and the projection is fitted in the concave portion so that the maximum relative rotation between the driving plate and the driven plates is attained when the projection engages the circumferential end of the concave portion.
According to another aspect of the invention, a torque converter device includes an input member, an output member, and a damper device. The damper device includes a driving plate connected to a friction plate which is engageable with and disengageable from the input member, a driven plate rotatable relative to the driving plate and connected to the output member, and an elastic device interposed between the driving plate and the driven plate to establish torque transmission and torque absorption. The damper device further includes a projection integrally formed in one piece with one of the driving plate and the driven plate, and an arc-shaped expanded part integrally formed in one piece with the other of the driving plate and the driven plate. The arc-shaped expanded part possesses a recessed portion in which is positioned the projection so that the maximum relative rotation between the driving plate and the driven plates is attained when the projection engages the circumferential end of the recessed portion.
Another aspect of the invention involves a damper device in a lock-up clutch of a torque converter device in which a driving plate is connected to a friction plate which is engaged with or disengaged from an input member of the torque converter and a driven plate rotates relative to the driving plate and is connected to an output member of the torque converter. The damper device includes at least one opening formed in the driven plate, at least one opening formed in the drive plate, and an elastic device positioned in the opening in the driven plate and the opening in the drive plate to establish torque transmission between the driven plate and the drive plate and to absorb torque variation between the drive plate and the driven plate. The damper device also includes a mechanism formed integrally and in one piece as a unitary structure with both the driven plate and the drive plate to prevent relative rotational movement between the driven plate and the drive plate after the driven plate and the drive plate have rotated a predetermined amount relative to one another.


REFERENCES:
patent: 5595539 (1997-01-01), Yamamoto
patent: 5935008 (1999-08-01), Mizukami
patent: 60-175865 (1985-09-01), None
patent: 61-252962 (1986-11-01), None
patent: 62-56623 (1987-03-01), None
patent: 3-194247 (1991-08-01), None
patent: 10082450 (1998-03-01), None

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