JP3301258B2 - Fluid transmission with lock-up clutch - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a fluid transmission device for transmitting power through a fluid, and more particularly to a fluid transmission device having a lock-up clutch which can directly transmit power by connecting a lock-up clutch. It is.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, a fluid transmission device (torque converter) includes a pump impeller that is driven to rotate, a turbine runner that is driven by a fluid such as oil pumped by the pump impeller, and a turbine runner. A stator for supplying a fluid flow to the pump impeller again to amplify the rotational torque of the pump impeller, and a one-way clutch for fixing or idling the stator with respect to a fixed shaft according to a rotational speed ratio between the pump impeller and the turbine runner. It consists of: However, since such a torque converter transmits power from a pump impeller as an input element to a turbine runner as an output element via a fluid, it is directly connected mechanically like a disk type clutch. The power transmission efficiency becomes worse as compared with the one that transmits power. Therefore, a torque converter used for an automatic transmission of a vehicle includes a lock-up clutch that directly connects an input element and an output element. This lock-up clutch is for directly connecting and releasing the input element and the output element, and according to an operation state, a state in which power is transmitted from the input element to the output element via a fluid (lock-up OFF); A state in which the two are directly connected to each other and a state in which power is directly transmitted (lockup ON) is switched.

[0003] However, in the lock-up ON state, the input element and the output element are mechanically directly connected without using a fluid, so that the power transmission efficiency is improved, but the torque caused by the engine explosion is increased. Fluctuations and rotation speed fluctuations are transmitted to the drive wheels, and the ride comfort of the vehicle may be impaired. As a countermeasure against this, for example, JP-A-63-2
Japanese Patent No. 51661 discloses a torque converter provided with a damper mechanism for reducing vibration by an elastic body or a damper mass (inertial mass body). In this prior art, a weight having a large mass is provided as a damper mass in a lock-up clutch to increase the rotational inertia mass of an output element, thereby suppressing fluctuations in engine torque and rotation speed during lock-up ON.

[0004]

In the above-mentioned conventional torque converter, the weight functions as a damper mass to reduce vibration. That is, by increasing the mass of the output element constituted by a turbine runner or the like, the rotational inertial mass of the output element is increased and the vibration is reduced. However, in the case where the vibration is reduced in proportion to the rotational inertial mass of the output element as described above, in the above-described configuration of the related art, it is necessary to increase the mass of the weight, which is an additional mass, in accordance with the demand for vibration reduction. There is a problem that the weight of the torque converter itself increases or the size thereof increases.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problem, and an object of the present invention is to combine a stator, which was only idling at lock-up ON, with an output element. By using the mass of the stator as the mass of the rotational inertia of the output element and functioning as a damper mass, it is possible to suppress the increase in the weight and size of the torque converter due to the additional mass, and to reduce the vibration during lock-up ON. is there.

[0006]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention takes the following means. That is, the fluid transmission device with the lock-up clutch according to the first aspect of the present invention includes an input element including a pump impeller, an output element including a turbine runner, and the pump impeller and the turbine runner for amplifying torque of the input element. In a fluid transmission device with a lock-up clutch including a stator disposed between the input element and a lock-up clutch that directly connects the input element and the output element, the input element and the output element are directly connected by the lock-up clutch. A stator coupling means for coupling the stator and the output element at the time of lock-up is provided. Also, the second
In the fluid transmission device with a lock-up clutch according to the first aspect of the present invention, the stator is supported so as to move to the output element side in the first aspect, and the stator coupling means is configured to be driven by a fluid force generated at the time of the lock-up. The present invention is characterized in that a stator is moved to the output element side to couple the two.

A third aspect of the present invention relates to a pump impeller.
Input element, the turbine runner output element,
The pump impeller is used to amplify the torque of the input element.
Stator disposed between the rotor and the turbine runner.
And the engagement or disengagement is released, and when engaged, the stator is
A one-way clutch that rotates only in one direction,
Lock-up clutch that directly connects the force element and the output element
Fluid transmission with lock-up clutch
In this case, the engagement of the one-way clutch is released,
A locker that directly connects the input element and the output element.
When the clutch is turned on, the stator and the
A stator coupling means for coupling with the output element is provided;
While the one-way clutch is engaged,
When the lock-up clutch is turned off,
The torque of the input element is amplified by the function of the stator
It is characterized by being performed. Further, a fourth invention is a pump.
Input element consisting of impeller and turbine runner
Before the output element and the torque of the input element are amplified,
Between the pump impeller and the turbine runner.
Directly connected to the input element and the output element
Lock-up clutch with a lock-up clutch
In the fluid transmission with a switch, the lock-up
Switch that directly connects the input element and the output element
At the time of backup, the stator and the output element are connected
To rotate the stator and the output element integrally.
On the other hand, when the lock-up clutch is
And an actuator for releasing the connection between the
It is characterized by

[Action] The first inventions or the third invention or the fourth
According to the invention, when not locked up, the stator amplifies the torque of the input element by its original function. Then, at the time of lock-up, the stator is coupled to the output element by the stator coupling means, and the rotational inertial mass of the output element is increased. According to the second aspect, when the lock-up is not performed, the stator functions to amplify the torque of the input element, as in the first aspect. Then, at the time of lock-up, the stator automatically moves to the output element side by the fluid pressure, and couples with the output element, thereby increasing the rotational inertial mass of the output element.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a fluid transmission with a lock-up clutch according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The shell 2 of the pump impeller 1 is integrated by welding to the front cover 3, and the shell 2 and the front cover 3 form a torque converter housing 4. A turbine runner 5 is arranged facing the pump impeller 1, and the turbine runner 5 is fixed to a turbine hub 9 by rivets 10 together with a driven plate 7 of a damper mechanism 6. Further, the damper mechanism 6 buffers the torque transmitted from the lock-up clutch 11 to the turbine hub 9 via the driven-side plate 7. And the lock-up clutch 11
A piston member 12 is provided along the inner surface of the front cover 3 and is provided on the turbine hub 9 so as to slide in the axial direction. A friction member provided on a surface of the outer peripheral portion facing the inner surface of the front cover 3 is provided. Material 13. Further, the plate 14 on the driving side of the damper mechanism 6
Are engaged with the piston member 12 so as to rotate integrally with each other, and a spring 15 is arranged between the driving-side plate 14 and the driven-side plate 7 so as to cushion the two in the circumferential direction. ing.

The input element described in the claims of the present application is a member that rotates integrally with the pump impeller 1. In the present embodiment, the input element is the pump impeller 1, the shell 2,
The front cover 3 and the like correspond to this. The output element is a member that rotates integrally with the turbine runner 5, and in the present embodiment, the output element is
The damper mechanism 6, the turbine hub 9, the lock-up clutch 11 and the like correspond to this.

A stator 1 is disposed between an inflow portion on the inner peripheral side of the pump impeller 1 and an outflow portion on the inner peripheral side of the turbine runner 5.
6 are arranged. This stator 16 is used for the blade 1
7, a stator body 19 provided with
One-way cam front 20 fixedly fitted to the inner peripheral side of
It is composed of A stator hub 21 is fixed to a fixed shaft (not shown) arranged at the center.
A one-way cam rear 22 is fixed to the outer periphery.
Here, the one-way cam front 20 and the one-way cam rear 22 are engaged, so that the one-way clutch 2
3 is engaged. Here, FIG. 3 shows a circumferential cross-sectional view of the engagement portion between the two 20 and 22. As shown in FIG. 3A, the one-way clutch 23 engages a projecting portion 20a provided on the one-way cam front 20 and a sloped step portion 22a provided on the one-way cam rear 22 to form a one-way clutch on the stator 16 side. The rotation of the cam front 20 in the direction of the arrow in the drawing is restricted.

In the first embodiment, a plurality of fitting recesses 8 are provided at predetermined intervals in a circumferential direction of the turbine hub 9 as a stator connecting means according to the present invention,
(See FIG. 2) Further, the stator body 19 is provided with a projection 18 having the same turning radius as the fitting recess 8 (that is, parallel to the fitting recess 8 when viewed in the axial direction).

The lock-up clutch 11 is
The piston member 12 is connected to a hydraulic circuit (not shown).
3 is engaged or disengaged from the front cover 3, and the transmission form of the torque is switched. That is,
When the front cover 3 serving as an input element engages with the friction member 13 serving as an output element, a lock-up ON state in which power is mechanically transmitted is established. When the engagement of the friction material 13 with the front cover 3 is released, the pump impeller 1
Then, a lock-up OFF state in which power is transmitted to the turbine runner 5 via the oil through the oil is provided.

Next, the operation of the above-described torque converter will be described.

Normally, when the lock-up for transmitting power via oil is OFF, the pump impeller 1 integrated with the front cover 3 rotates, and the oil pumped by the rotational force collides with the turbine runner 5 to cause the turbine runner 5 to rotate. The runner 5 is rotated. The oil that has collided with the turbine runner 5 flows into the stator 16 and flows into the blade 17.
After the flow direction is corrected, the rotation torque is supplied to the pump impeller 1 again to amplify the rotation torque. This is an area generally called a converter range. At this time, the stator 16 is urged toward the pump impeller 1 (to the right in FIG. 1) by the oil, so that the one-way cam front 20 comes into contact with the one-way cam rear 22, and as shown in FIG. The portion 20a and the slope step 22a are engaged. As a result, the stator 16 is in a state of being rotatably supported in only one direction.

Here, the flow direction of the oil flowing into the blades 17 of the stator 16 is shown in FIG. 4, and the change in the flow direction of the oil depending on the operation state of the torque converter will be described. In the converter range, as shown in FIG. 4 (a), the oil collides with the blade 17 in a state along the blade 17, so that the blade 17 receives a force toward the pump impeller 1 (rightward in the figure). Become. However, when the rotational speeds of the pump impeller 1 and the turbine runner 5 gradually become equal, the oil flowing out of the turbine runner 5 collides with the blade 17 from the back side of the blade 17 as shown in FIG. Thereby, the blade 17
Is different from the converter range and receives a force on the turbine runner 5 side (left direction in the figure), and as shown in FIG. 3 (b), the projecting portion 20a of the one-way cam front 20 and the sloped step portion 22a of the one-way cam rear 22, Is disengaged,
The stator 16 idles. This is a so-called coupling range.

At the time of lock-up ON in which the friction member 13 and the front cover 3 are engaged, the rotational force of the front cover 3 as an input element is transmitted to the piston member 12 and the damper mechanism 6 via the friction member 13 and the turbine hub 9 is rotated. To rotate. At this time, since the pump impeller 1 and the turbine runner 5 rotate integrally, the rotation speeds of both are naturally equal to each other and the coupling range described above is satisfied.
7 is urged toward the turbine runner 5 as described above. As a result, as described above, the protruding portion 20a of the one-way cam front 20 and the slope step 22a of the one-way cam rear 22 are provided.
And the stator 16 is disengaged from the turbine runner 5.
Move to the side. The stator 16 that has moved to the turbine runner 5 side engages with the fitting recess 8 provided in the turbine hub 9 at the projection 18 and rotates integrally with the turbine runner 5. That is, the stator 16 having a function of supplying the oil flowing out of the turbine runner 5 to the pump impeller 1 when the lock-up is OFF and amplifying the rotational torque thereof is automatically coupled to the turbine hub 9 when the lock-up is ON. By rotating integrally, the rotational inertia mass of the output element is increased and functions as a damper mass. This makes it possible to effectively use the existing stator mass as the damper mass when the lock-up is turned on, thereby suppressing an increase in the weight and an increase in the size of the torque converter due to the additional mass.

Next, FIG. 5 shows a fluid transmission with a lock-up clutch according to a second embodiment of the present invention. This second
The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in the aspect of the stator coupling means and the stator support structure. The configuration of the main part is the same as that of the first embodiment. The detailed description of the common configuration is omitted. First, in the second embodiment,
An outer race 24 is provided on the inner peripheral side of the stator main body 19, and an inner race 25 is provided on the outer peripheral side of the stator hub 21, respectively. And both 24, 2
Roller 2 having a predetermined twist angle and a tangent angle between 5
6 are arranged in the circumferential direction, and the stator 16 is arranged in one direction.
A one-way clutch is formed that allows rotation of the clutch and restricts rotation in the opposite direction. In the second embodiment, a synchronizer ring 27 is rotatably mounted on the turbine hub 9 as stator coupling means.
When the stator 16 moves toward the turbine runner 5 by the fluid force of the oil generated when the lock-up is ON, the stator 16 comes into contact with the synchronizer ring 27. At this time, the rotational force of the turbine hub 9 is transmitted to the stator 16 via the synchronizer ring 27, and the stator 16 rotates integrally with the turbine runner 5 in synchronization with the rotation of the turbine hub 9. With the above configuration, also in the second embodiment, the stator 16 can be connected to the turbine hub 9 and the stator mass is locked up.
Sometimes it can be effectively used as a damper mass.
In the second embodiment, the synchronizer ring 27 absorbs the difference between the rotational speeds of the turbine hub 9 and the stator 16 and synchronizes the rotation of the two, so that the coupling and release of the two can be performed smoothly.

FIG. 6 shows a fluid transmission with a lock-up clutch according to a third embodiment of the present invention. The third embodiment is different from the first embodiment in the aspect of the stator coupling means. The configuration of the stator support structure and other main parts is the same as that of the first embodiment. The detailed description of the common configuration will be omitted. In the third embodiment, as the stator coupling means, a plurality of fitting recesses 28 are formed at predetermined intervals in the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral portion of the stator 16 in the circumferential direction, and are formed in the core portion of the turbine runner 5. A plurality of protrusions 29 are provided in the circumferential direction at a position where the radius of rotation is equal to that of the fitting recess 28. Thereby, when the stator 16 moves to the turbine runner 5 side by the fluid force of the oil generated at the time of lock-up ON, the stator 16 and the turbine runner 5
The stator 16 rotates integrally with the turbine runner 5 by the abutment of the projection 8 and the projection 29 with each other. Thus, also in the third embodiment, the stator 16 is connected to the turbine runner 5 as an output element and rotates integrally therewith, so that when the lock-up is ON, the stator mass can be effectively used as a damper mass. it can. Further, in the third embodiment, unlike the first and second embodiments, the stator 16 is connected to the core portion of the turbine runner 5 having a small rigidity, so that the impact at the time of connection is reduced. Smooth connection and release are possible.

The stator 16 is used to transmit power through a fluid (when lockup is OFF).
The oil flowing out of the pump impeller 1 is caused to flow in the forward rotation direction with respect to the pump impeller 1 to amplify the rotational torque of the pump impeller 1. However, when the stator 16 for improving the torque transmission efficiency directly connects the input element and the output element and mechanically transmits the power (at the time of lock-up ON), the stator 16 simply intervenes in the fluid and does not become a resistance. It was just idle. Each of the above embodiments according to the present invention uses the fluid force acting on the stator in the coupling range as an urging force for moving the stator 16 to the turbine runner 5 side.
At the time of N, the stator 16 which does not perform its original function is made to function as a damper mass for increasing the rotational inertial mass of the output element.

As described above, in each of the embodiments, the stator 16 is moved to the turbine runner 5 side by the fluid force of the oil. However, an actuator for driving the stator 16 is separately provided to control the operation state. Alternatively, the coupling and release of the stator 16 with the output element may be controlled. It is also possible to move the output element to the stator 16 side and couple it to this.

Further, according to the present invention, a stator provided for amplifying the rotational torque of the pump impeller when the lock-up is OFF is provided by using a turbine runner or a member which rotates integrally with the turbine runner when the lock-up is ON, ie, an output. By combining with the element, it functions as these damper masses. Therefore, in addition to the coupling portion shown in each of the above embodiments, when the lockup is ON, the coupling with the stator is performed by a member that rotates integrally with the turbine runner, and if the stator functions as a damper mass of an output element, The basic operation and effect of the invention can be obtained.

In each embodiment of the present invention, the mass of the stator is used as a damper mass when the lock-up is ON, but a separate mass body is provided according to a demand for vibration reduction as long as the torque converter does not increase in size. Alternatively, the stator and the mass body may be used together to function as a damper mass.

[0024]

According to the fluid transmission with a lock-up clutch according to the present invention, the stator arranged to amplify the torque of the input element when the lock-up is not performed, the turbine including the turbine runner at the time of lock-up, By combining with an output element that rotates integrally with the runner, it functions as a damper mass of this output element, suppressing an increase in weight and size of the fluid transmission device due to the additional mass, and suppressing vibration caused by torque fluctuation. It can be reduced effectively.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a hydraulic power transmission with a lock-up clutch according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view of the turbine hub as viewed in a direction A in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view showing a one-way clutch of a stator of the fluid transmission device with a lock-up clutch according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

4A and 4B are diagrams illustrating a flow of a fluid flowing into a blade of a stator, wherein FIG. 4A is a diagram illustrating a flow of a fluid in a converter range, and FIG. 4B is a diagram illustrating a flow of a fluid in a coupling range.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a hydraulic power transmission with a lock-up clutch according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing a hydraulic power transmission with a lock-up clutch according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Pump impeller 5 ... Turbine runner 8 ... Fitting recessed part (coupling means) 11 ... Lock-up clutch 18 ... Projection part (coupling means) 16 ... Stator

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-4-194443 (JP, A) JP-A-5-79547 (JP, A) JP-A-5-209667 (JP, A) JP-A-63-1988 251661 (JP, A) JP-A-62-141955 (JP, U) U.S. Pat. No. 4,637,500 (US, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) F16H 45/02

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] An input element comprising a pump impeller; an output element comprising a turbine runner; a stator disposed between the pump impeller and the turbine runner to amplify a torque of the input element; And a lock-up clutch having a lock-up clutch that directly connects the output element and the output element, wherein at the time of lock-up in which the input element and the output element are directly connected by the lock-up clutch, the stator and the output element are connected to each other. kicking setting the stator coupling means for coupling the
Both when the lock-up clutch is off
The torque of the input element by the function of the stator
There hydraulic power transmission with a lockup clutch, characterized that you be amplified. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the stator is supported so as to move toward the output element.
The fluid transmission device with a lock-up clutch, wherein the stator coupling means moves the stator toward the output element by fluid force generated at the time of lock-up, and couples the two. 3. An input element comprising a pump impeller;
An output element comprising a turbine runner and a
The pump impeller and the turbine
With the stator disposed between the
Disengaged and the stator rotates only in one direction when engaged
A one-way clutch, the input element and the output
Lock-up clutch that directly connects
In the fluid transmission with a clutch, the engagement of the one-way clutch is released, and the
Lock-up club that directly connects an input element and the output element
When the switch is turned on, the stator and the output element
And that there is provided stator coupling means for coupling
In addition, the one-way clutch is engaged, and the
When the lock-up clutch is turned off,
The torque of the input element is amplified by the
Fluid transmission with lock-up clutch
Place. 4. An input element comprising a pump impeller;
-An output element consisting of a bin runner and the torque of the input element
The pump impeller and the turbine to amplify
A stator arranged between the runner and the input element;
A lock-up clutch for directly connecting to the output element.
In the fluid transmission with lock-up clutch obtained, the input element and the output can be moved by the lock-up clutch.
At the time of lock-up in which the force element is directly connected,
By combining the output element, the stator and the output element
And the lock-up clutch OF
At the time of F, the coupling between the stator and the output element is released.
Lock-up
Fluid transmission with scratch.