192 clutches and power-stop control – Vortex-flow drive and clutch – Including drive-lockup clutch
Patent
1989-08-02
1991-01-08
Bonck, Rodney H.
192 clutches and power-stop control
Vortex-flow drive and clutch
Including drive-lockup clutch
1921062, F16D 3318
Patent
active
049828215
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a lockup clutch to be incorporated into a torque converter of automobiles and the like, and more particularly to a friction device to be assembled in such lockup clutch.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Lockup clutches to which the invention is applied are disclosed, for example, in the U.S. Pat. No. 4,240,532, the Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 61-28126, and the Japanese Utility Model Application Nos. 61-170593 and 61-170594.
In such clutches, the piston as the input portion and the driven plate as the output portion are linked in the circumferential direction by means of plural damper springs (compressive coil springs), and the torque vibrations are absorbed by the expansion and contraction of these springs.
The torque vibration absorbing characteristics of clutches depend, generally, not only on characteristics of damper springs but also on friction characteristics of discs. That is, when the piston and driven plate of the lockup clutch deflect relatively, it is composed to cause a proper friction corresponding to such deflecting action, thereby building up a proper hysteresis torque on the deflection characteristics of the disc, so tha the torque vibrations may be effectively absorbed.
In the conventional lockup clutches, however, since there is no particular mechanism for generating the friction, the hysteresis torque cannot be set accurately to a desired value.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
To solve the above problems, this invention presents a friction device of a lockup clutch comprising an annular and plate-shaped piston linking with pressure to the input portion of a torque converter, an annular driven plate linking to the turbine of the torque converter, and damper springs for coupling the piston and driven plate in the circumferential direction, in which a friction mechanism is disposed between the internal circumferential portion of the piston and the turbine hub, and this friction mechansim is provided with a first friction member not rotatable relative to the turbine hub and a second friction member not rotatable relative to the piston, and these two friction members are pressed to each other so as to produce friction in the friction members by the relative rotation piston and turbine hub.
In such constitution, in the clutch linked state, that is, while the piston is press-fitted to the input portion of the torque converter, the piston and driven plate deflect relatively along with the expansion and contraction of damper spring. In this deflecting action, the piston turns about the flange and annular member of the turbine hub, which builds up friction in the friction mechanism.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a partial sectional view of an embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view of other emboidment of the invention;
FIG. 3 is a perspective exploded view of a friction mechanism in FIG. 2.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
In FIG. 1, an impeller 1 of a torque converter has the outer front end of its shell affixed to the outer front end of a front cover 2. The front cover 2 is coupled to the output portion of an engine which is not shown in the drawing, and composes an input portion of the torque converter. A turbine 3 is disposed between the impeller 1 and front cover 2, and a stator 5 is installed between the impeller 1 and the turbine 3. A shell 6 of the turbine 3 has its inner circumference linked to a hub 7. The hub 7 is coupled to an output shaft 9 (of which center line only is shown).
A lockup clutch 10 is installed between the front cover 2 and turbine 3. The lockup clutch 10 comprises approximately annular and plate-shaped piston 11 and driven plate 12, and plural springs 13 (of which only one is shown) disposed at an interval in the circumferential direction.
On the outer circumference of the piston 11, an annular friction lining 15 is applied. The lining 15 opposes the inside of the outer circumference in the axial direction, and as the piston
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patent: 4240532 (1980-12-01), Blomquist
patent: 4406355 (1983-09-01), Bionaz
patent: 4437551 (1984-03-01), Gimmler et al.
patent: 4576260 (1986-03-01), Koshimo
patent: 4580668 (1986-04-01), Pickard et al.
Bonck Rodney H.
Kabushiki Kaisha Daikin Seisakusho
Whitelaw Nicholas
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