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
C192S205000, C192S212000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06290042
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a lockup clutch for a torque converter with an axially displaceable piston for transmitting a torque from a drive side to a driven side of the torque converter. The piston is connected to a turbine wheel of the torque converter via a torsional vibration damper. The torsional vibration damper has an input part which is connected with the piston so as to be fixed with respect to rotation relative to it and an output part which is connected with the turbine wheel so as to be fixed with respect to rotation relative to it. A plurality of torsional damper springs are arranged between the input part and the output part distributed along the circumference of the torque converter such that a relative rotation is possible between the input part and the output part along a determined angular area. The torsional vibration damper has an individual cover plate connected directly with the turbine wheel having an axial securing device for the torsional damper springs.
2. Description of the Related Art
A prior art torque converter having a lockup clutch with a torsional vibration damper arranged between the piston of the lock up clutch and the turbine wheel of the torque converter is known, for example, from DE 197 21 642 C1. This torque converter is constructed so as to be quite narrow in the axial direction because only one cover plate is provided for the lockup clutch. The torsional vibration damper has an input part which is connected with the piston so as to be fixed with respect to rotation relative to it and an output part which is connected with the turbine wheel so as to be fixed with respect to rotation relative to it. A plurality of torsional damper springs are arranged between the input part and the output part distributed along the circumference of the torque converter such that a relative rotation is possible between the input part and the output part along a determined angular area. The input part of the torsional vibration damper contacts one end of a damper spring of the torsional vibration damper by its control edge and the output part contacts the other end of the damper spring by its control edge. During a relative rotation of the input part and output part the torsional damper springs are compressed, thereby damping torsional vibrations. Holding cams are provided for the axial securing of the torsional damper springs. However, the springs can bulge out in the axial direction when acted upon by force and contact the piston. The contact leads to wear of the piston during torsional vibrations.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is the object of the invention to a torque converter with a lockup clutch including a torsional vibration damper arranged between the piston of the lockup clutch and the turbine wheel of the torque converter such that the spring of the torsional vibration damper does not bulge out in an axial direction and contact the piston without increasing the axial space requirement of the torque converter.
This object is met in that the lockup clutch mentioned above includes devices for fixing the torsional damper springs in their axial position arranged around the circumferential direction of the torsional vibration springs.
Every torsional damper spring is accordingly guided along its entire length, so that bulging is impossible and knocking against the piston is prevented.
The device is preferably formed by at least one plate which engages around the torsional damper springs along more than one half of the circumference and which is installed in the driven part. In this way, guiding of the damping springs is realized particularly economically.
The device may comprise two plates which respectively engage around the torsional damper springs on the radial outer side and radial inner side and accordingly act as half-shells. Furthermore, collars or clips which snap into recesses in the driven part are provided for fastening the device to the torsional vibration damper.
The device may also comprise one plate bent in a U-shaped manner viewed in cross section, so that the one plate covers the torsional damper springs on the radial outer side and the radial inner side and on the side facing the driven part.
To manufacture the cover plate from a simple material, the device may comprise a plate or plates produced from wear-resistant and/or heat-treated material.
In a further embodiment, the device is formed with an axial bevel on at least one of the contact faces for the ends of the torsional damper springs on the input part and/or the output part of the cover plate.
The axial bevel causes the torsional damper springs to be pretensioned and deflected by the oblique introduction of force in the side remote of the piston. That is, the axial bevel introduces a pretensioning force that urges the spring to bulge in a direction facing away from the piston. In the embodiment having two bevels, the two bevels are preferably constructed so as to run in opposite directions axially.
The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of the disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages, and specific objects attained by its use, reference should be had to the drawing and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated and described preferred embodiments of the invention.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5209330 (1993-05-01), Macdonald
patent: 5769195 (1998-06-01), Fukushima
patent: 5772515 (1998-06-01), Yamakawa et al.
patent: 5964328 (1999-10-01), Fallu et al.
patent: 197 21 642 (1998-07-01), None
Bonck Rodney H
Cohen & Pontani, Lieberman & Pavane
Mannesmann Sachs AG
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