Hydrodynamic retarder

Details Hydrodynamic retarder Hydrodynamic retarder

1989-07-20

1991-01-08

Graham, Matthew C.

Brakes

Internal-resistance motion retarder

Using a rotary-type fluid damper

188294, F16D 5206

Patent

active

049828193

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a hydrodynamic retarder which is used, for example, as a supplementary brake of a large size motor vechile.


BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Prior Art
Traditionally, a supplementary brake is provided in a large size motor vehicle in addition to a main brake for directly braking wheels. A hydrodynamic retarder is one kind of supplementary brake. In the field of this hydrodynamic retarder, the following art is published. Namely, the retarder is provided with a rotor wheel having blades and a stator wheel having blades. The rotor wheel is fixed to a driving shaft of a vehicle and is able to rotate. The stator wheel is fixed to a housing connected with a vehicle body. When the housing is filled with working oil, the working oil flows from the rotor side into the stator side with whirls colliding in the stator wheel so that a retardation or brake power is generated with the rotor wheel.
Moreover, Japanese publication No. 38-20510 or GB Patent No. 1,365,670 founded on U.S. Pat. No. 3,072,222, describe art which prevents air flowing into the stator wheel when the brake is empty of working oil. As a result, power output losses by air whirls are eliminated.
The Japanese art, however, requires a large shutter blade and an actuator to open and shut the blades. The GB Patent is provided with a device outside of a torus of the retarder.
2. Object of the Invention
An object of the present invention is to simplify a hydrodynamic retarder.
Another object is to provide a hydrodynamic retarder which will make it possible to eliminate the air whirl losses with a retarder empty of working fluid.


STRUCTURE OF THE INVENTION

In order to accomplish the above objects, in the present invention, a rotor wheel is connected to an output shaft, a stator wheel is fixed to a housing, they are arranged in the housing to face each other, the housing is capable of being filled with and discharging working oil, the housing is filled with air when the retarder is empty of working oil, movable blades are attached movably to edges of stator blades facing the rotor wheel, and the movable blades are forced by coil springs to prevent the flow of air and allow the flow of working oil into the stator wheel.
When the housing is empty, the movable blades automatically prevent the air from flowing in the stator wheel by the springs. When the housing is filled with the working oil, the movable blades open against the forces of the springs by moving energy of the working oil.
The working oil, when it flows into the stator wheel, overcomes the forces of the springs, so that a large braking force is generated.
The retarder is miniaturized and made compact because the movable blades and the torsion springs are accommodated in a torus of the retarder. Increased weight and cost are thus eliminated and space required for the retarder is saved.
Moreover, the movable blades are able to open and close automatically by means of the force of the torsion springs and thus, the operation of the retarder becomes highly reliable.


BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a sketch of a large size motor vehicle such as a truck provided with a hydrodynamic retarder according to the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the hydrodynamic retarder;
FIG. 3 is a front view of a stator wheel;
FIG. 3a is an enlarged view of a portion IIIa in FIG. 3;
FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line IV--IV of FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a main portion of the stator wheel;
FIG. 6 is a front view of a torsion spring;
FIG. 7 is a plan view taken in the direction of the arrow VII in FIG. 6;
FIG. 8 is a diagram explanatory of the operation when a retarder is empty;
FIG. 9 is a diagram explanatory of the operation when the retarder is filled with working oil; and
FIG. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view of another embodiment of the present invention.


BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION



Embodiment 1

In FIG. 1 showing a sketch of a large size truck provided with a hydrodynamic retarder accord

REFERENCES:
patent: 3072222 (1963-01-01), Kugel
patent: 3952508 (1976-04-01), Bopp
patent: 4194600 (1980-03-01), Armasow et al.

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