192 clutches and power-stop control – Vortex-flow drive and clutch – Including drive-lockup clutch
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-20
2001-09-18
Bonck, Rodney H (Department: 3681)
192 clutches and power-stop control
Vortex-flow drive and clutch
Including drive-lockup clutch
C029S889500
Reexamination Certificate
active
06290041
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to a hub arrangement for a hydrodynamic torque converter including a first hub area with a first connection area for connecting with a converter housing, a second hub area with a second connection area for connecting with a component of a lockup clutch of the torque converter, and a fluid channel arrangement with at least one fluid channel which connects a radial inner area of the hub arrangement with a radial outer area of the hub arrangement and which opens outward in the radial outer area in the direction of a hub rotational axis between the first hub area and the second hub area.
2. Description of the Related Art
A hub arrangement having a first hub area and a second hub area with a fluid channel arrangement connecting a radial inner area to a radial outer area of the hub arrangement is known, for example, from German Reference DE 44 23 640 A1.
FIG. 3
of the present application shows a torque converter provided with the known hub arrangement. The known hub arrangement
10
′ in the above reference comprises a hub component
12
′ with a bearing pin
14
′ connected integrally therewith, a first connection area
16
′ to which a housing cover
18
′ of a converter housing
20
′ is welded, and a second connection area
22
′ to which a carrier component
24
′ for a clutch piston
26
′ of a lockup clutch
28
′ is secured. The clutch piston
26
′ extends axially in its radial inner area and rests on an outer surface of the second connection area
22
′ with the intermediary of a sealing ring
30
′. Further, a fluid channel arrangement with a plurality of fluid channels extending substantially radially, but at a slight inclination, is formed in the hub component
12
′. The fluid channels
32
′ produce a fluid connection between a fluid chamber
34
′ formed between the converter housing cover
18
′ and the clutch piston
26
′ and—via the different shafts which are shown in the Figure and which are constructed as hollow shafts and especially also the transmission input shaft
40
′ constructed as a hollow shaft—a fluid source or fluid reservoir. The radial outer side of the space
34
′ communicates with a space
38
′ via depressions or grooves formed in friction facings at a clutch plate
42
′. The space
38
′ is substantially enclosed by the piston
26
′ and an impeller shell
36
′ of the converter housing
20
′. For the sake of completeness, it is noted that the different impeller wheel blades
44
′, a turbine wheel
46
′ with a turbine wheel hub
48
′, and a stator wheel
50
′, are arranged in the space
38
′. The space
38
′ may also be connected, as desired, with the fluid source or the fluid reservoir via an intermediate space
54
′ formed between the transmission input shaft
40
′ and a supporting shaft
52
′ of the stator wheel
50
′. Depending on the chamber (chamber
34
′ or space
38
′) into which the fluid is introduced, the fluid pressure will be increased in that chamber in relation to the other chamber and the clutch piston
26
′ will accordingly be moved either toward the housing cover
18
′, and therefore in a direction in which the clutch plate
42
′ is clamped, or in the opposite direction.
In this known torque converter, the hub arrangement
10
′, as was already mentioned, is formed of one part and is constructed in its different surface regions with configurations for supporting bearings and seal components, for example, of the clutch piston or housing cover. The fluid channels
32
′ are relatively difficult to produce, which results in complicated and cost-intensive production processes. This is partially caused by the inclined position of the channels. The inclined position of these fluid channels is required to ensure the shown constructional form of the hub arrangement in that the inner openings of the fluid channels in the hub arrangement lie very close to the axis of rotation. This arrangement prevents turbulence induced by the rotating movement to a great extent in the fluid flowing radially inward through the channels in the area of the radial inner openings. Accordingly, it is not possible to construct these fluid channels such that they extend substantially radially, namely, in the area of the hub arrangement formed by approximately annular walls.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is the object of the present invention to provide a hub arrangement for a hydrodynamic torque converter and a process for producing the hub that overcomes the problems of the prior art.
The object is met according to a first embodiment of the present invention by a hub arrangement for a hydrodynamic torque converter comprising a first hub area with a first connection area connectable with a converter housing, a second hub area with a second connection area connectable with a component of a lockup clutch of the torque converter, and a fluid channel arrangement with at least one fluid channel which connects a radial inner area of the hub arrangement with a radial outer area and which opens outward in the radial outer area axially between the first hub area and the second hub area.
The hub arrangement according to the first embodiment of the present invention has a first hub component which forms the first hub area with the first connection area and a second hub component which forms the second hub area with the second connection area, wherein the first hub component and the second hub component contact one another at least in some areas in surface regions thereof which are located opposite one another.
The hub arrangement further comprises a recess arrangement in at least one of the oppositely located surface regions of the first and second hub component for forming the fluid channel arrangement.
Because the hub arrangement is made of two parts, it is possible to prepare the fluid channel arrangement in a simple manner in that the recess arrangement is provided during the manufacture of the individual hub components. The fluid channel arrangement is then finally completed when the hub arrangement is assembled by the two hub components resting against one another. According to this embodiment of the present invention, no drilling processes or other work processes are required subsequent to the assembly of the hub arrangement to generate the different fluid channels or fluid channel arrangement in the hub component.
The hub arrangement according to the present invention may be produced in a particularly simple manner when a recess arrangement is formed only at one of the surface regions located opposite one another. In this embodiment, the first and the second hub components are structural component parts which are essentially symmetric with respect to rotation. Therefore, there is no need to ensure that the two hub components are in a predetermined rotational position relative to one another when connecting them.
In a further embodiment in which the at least one fluid channel of the fluid channel arrangement has a large width, mutually complementary recess arrangements are provided at both of the oppositely located surface regions. In this embodiment, however, it must be ensured when the two hub components are placed against one another that they are in a relative rotational position in which recesses that are allocated to one another at the two respective components are exactly aligned with one another and/or overlap one another.
The first hub component may have at least one fluid passage opening which is open toward the fluid channel arrangement in a radial inner area of the first hub component.
Further, the second hub component may have a substantially radially extending flange-like area located across from a substantially flange-like area of the first hub component. Furthermore, the first hub component may have a cup-shaped recess in its radia
Bechmann Dietrich
Hegel Thomas
Illig Roland
Meyer Andre
Wohner Günter
Bonck Rodney H
Cohen & Pontani, Lieberman & Pavane
Mannesmann Sachs AG
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