Power plants – Pressure fluid source and motor – Coaxial impeller and turbine unit
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-30
2001-09-18
Look, Edward K. (Department: 3745)
Power plants
Pressure fluid source and motor
Coaxial impeller and turbine unit
C060S365000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06289674
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The instant invention relates to improvements in devices for changing the mechanical advantage between rotary input and output elements, and more particularly to improvements in hydrokinetic or hydrodynamic torque converters.
Torque converters of the class to which the present invention pertains are disclosed in published German patent application Serial No. 36 34 395 which describes and shows a toroidal torque converter housing serving to accommodate and to be permanently connected to (e.g., of one piece with) a pump, to accommodate a turbine, and to (normally or often) accommodate a stator between the turbine and the pump. The housing of the torque converter which is described in the aforementioned published German patent application is a toroidal structure having a circular (round) meridian cross-sectional outline. A meridian section includes the common rotational axis of the stator and/or turbine and pump.
Published German patent application Serial No. 35 39 705 discloses a torque converter wherein the toroidal structure has a meridian cross-sectional outline in a plane including the common rotational axis of the turbine and the pump, and the outline is symmetrical with reference to the so-called normal axis, namely an axis located in the meridian plane and normal to the common rotational axis of the aforementioned constituents of the apparatus.
A drawback of hydrokinetic torque converters of the type disclosed in the published German patent applications is that, if the designer is called upon to deliver a torque converter having a bulk wherein the radial dimension (as measured along the normal axis at right angles to the common rotational axis) cannot exceed a predetermined value, the axial length of the torque converter (namely as measured in the direction of the common rotational axis of the pump and turbine) is, or is likely to be, excessive. On the other hand, if the space which is available in the axial direction of the torque converter is rather limited, the required radial diensions of the torque converter (in the direction of the common rotational axis of the pump and turbine) are often excessive.
Another drawback of certain hydrokinetic torque converters (including those specifically referred to hereinbefore) is that the losses, particularly at a relatively low RPM and at the brake locking point, are too prononced. This entails excessive fuel consumption and/or a low torque conversion when the torque converter is utilized in a motor vehicle, especially in a motor vehicle (such as a passenger car) wherein the power train comprises an automatic or an automated change-speed transmission. Thus, there exists an urgent need for hydrokinetic torque converters wherein the dimensions of the rotary housing for the pump, for the turbine, and also (if provided) for the stator can be caused to readily conform to the space which is available (e.g., under the hood of a motor vehicle) without adversely affecting the fuel consumption and/or the torque conversion when the torque converter is in actual use.
The subject matter of the entire commonly owned German priority patent application Serial No. 198 45 718.9 (filed Oct. 5, 1999) is incorporated herein by reference.
Furthermore, this patent application herewith incorporates by reference each and every United States, German and other pending or published patent application, Letters Patent and/or any other publication (such as a Utility Model or Design Letters Patent) which adequately describes and/or shows hydrokinetic torque converters adapted to be redesigned to embody the present invention, to be perused to enhance the understanding of our improved hydrokinetic torque converter and/or to be combined with the improved hydrokinetic torque converter for the purpose of jointly constituting a power train in a motor vehicle or in other arrangements or apparatus which normally employ a torque converter or whose operation and/or efficiency and/or other desirable characteristics can be enhanced as a result of the incorporation of our improved hydrokinetic torque converter therein, as long as such publication(s) is(are) identified in this specification.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
An object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved hydrokinetic torque converter which is more versatile than heretofore known and employed torque converters.
Another object of the invention is to provide a hydrokinetic torque converter wherein the dimensions of the housing can readily conform to the dimensions of the available space (e.g., under the hood of or elsewhere in the chassis of a motor vehicle) without adversely influencing the performance of the apparatus.
A further object of the invention is to provide a hydrokinetic torque converter which, when utilized in the power train of a motor vehicle, contributes to the comfort of the occupant or occupants of the motor vehicle.
An additional object of the invention is to provide a hydrokinetic torque converter which can be produced, such as mass produced, at a reasonable cost and which can serve as an ideal or highly satisfactory arrangement for the transmission of torque between a prime mover (particularly the rotary output element of a prime mover in the power train of an automobile) and one or more sets of wheels or other types of rotary driven parts.
A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved combination of a hydrokinetic torque converter and a single-stage or multistage damper or shock absorber which can effectively counteract unforeseen and undesirable surges or abrupt drops of torque transmission.
Another object of the invention is to provide a simple and, if necessary, compact hydrokinetic torque converter which can be utilized as a superior substitute for heretofore known and utilized hydrokinetic torque converters.
Still another object of the invention is to provide an assembly, such as the power train of a motor vehicle, which embodies a hydrokinetic torque converter of the above outlined character.
A further object of the invention is to provide novel and improved component parts, such as a stator and/or a turbine and/or a pump, for use in the above outlined hydrokinetic torque converter.
Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved toroidal structure for use in the above outlined hydrokinetic torque converter.
A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved method of conforming to each other the dimensions and/or the configurations of parts in a torque converter in order to accomplish the above outlined objects and to benefit from the above outlined advantages of the improved torque converter.
An additional object of the invention is to provide a torque converter which can be installed in an existing arrangement, such as the power train of a motor vehicle, as a superior substitute for existing hydrokinetic torque converters.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a hydrokinetic torque converter which comprises a pump member, a turbine member and a stator member. These members are rotatable about a common axis and together form a toroidal structure for the flow of a hydraulic fluid through the torque converter. The toroidal structure has a meridian cross-sectional outline in a plane which includes the common axis and further includes a second axis which is normal to the common axis. The outline is asymmetrical with reference to the normal axis.
The plane can include at least one additional axis, and the cross-sectional outline of the toroidal structure can be asymmetrical with reference to the at least one additional axis and/or with reference to the normal axis.
Still further, the plane can include the common axis, the normal axis and a third axis which makes with the normal axis an angle a other than 0°, 90° and 180°; the cross-sectional outline of the toroidal structure can be symmetrical with reference to the third axis.
The cross-sectional outline of the toroidal structure can be configurated in such a way that it includes a first port
Biber Allan
Gundlapalli Ravishankar
Halene Clemens
Middelmann Volker
Darby & Darby
Leslie Michael
Look Edward K.
LuK Getriebe-Systeme GmbH
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