JP3961740B2 - Torque converter lockup device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a lockup device, and more particularly, to a lockup device for mechanically connecting a front cover of a torque converter and a turbine side member.
[0002]
[Prior art]
There is a lock-up device as a device for mechanically connecting a front cover of a torque converter and a turbine side member. This type of conventional apparatus generally includes an input side plate that is axially movable between a front cover and a turbine, an intermediate plate that is disposed to face the input side plate, and a turbine side. An output side plate connected to the member, and a damper for elastically connecting the intermediate plate and the output side plate in the rotational direction. The input side plate can be connected to and disconnected from the front cover. The damper has a plurality of torsion springs.
[0003]
In this lockup device, when torque is input to the input side plate, the torque is transmitted to the turbine side member sequentially via the intermediate plate, the damper, and the output side plate. At this time, a plurality of torsion springs are compressed in the rotational direction according to the magnitude of the torque, and the intermediate plate and the output side plate rotate relative to each other to absorb torsional vibration.
[0004]
This lockup device generally includes a stopper mechanism for restricting relative rotation of the intermediate plate and the output side plate by a predetermined angle or more. As such a stopper mechanism, there is provided a stop pin that protrudes in the axial direction from the intermediate plate, and a pin support portion that is formed to extend in the rotation direction on the output side plate and through which the stopper pin is disposed. There is.
[0005]
In this stopper mechanism, when the intermediate plate and the output side plate rotate relative to each other, the stop pin moves in the rotation direction within the pin support portion. When the intermediate plate and the output side plate rotate relative to each other by a predetermined angle, the stop pin comes into contact with the circumferential end of the pin support portion, and the relative rotation between the intermediate plate and the output side plate is restricted. Thereby, the intermediate plate and the output side plate can be relatively rotated by a predetermined angle.
[0006]
As another stopper mechanism, the input side plate and the intermediate plate (or the intermediate plate and the output side plate) rotate relative to each other so that the torsion spring is brought into a close contact state (a state compressed to the maximum in the rotational direction). In some cases, the relative rotation of both plates is restricted.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the conventional lockup device, a plurality of torsion springs are arranged on the output side plate as described above, and a pin support portion of the stopper mechanism is formed between the circumferential directions of the plurality of torsion springs. For this reason, a space for both the torsion spring and the pin support portion must be secured on the output side plate, and the rotational direction length of the torsion spring is limited. In such a lock-up device, a torsion spring having a sufficient length in the rotational direction cannot be disposed on the output side plate, and the torsional vibration cannot be sufficiently absorbed.
[0008]
In addition, in the stopper mechanism that uses the torsion spring in close contact, the burden on the torsion spring is large, and it is difficult to extend the service life.
An object of the present invention is to ensure a sufficient circumferential length without increasing the load acting on the torsion spring.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
A lockup device according to claim 1 is a device for mechanically connecting a front cover of a torque converter and a turbine-side member, an input-side member, an intermediate member, a first damper portion, and an output And a side member. The input side member is disposed between the front cover and the turbine so as to be movable in the axial direction, and can be connected to and disconnected from the front cover, and a plurality of first protrusions are formed at intervals in the circumferential direction. ing. The intermediate member is disposed to face the input side member, and has a plurality of second protrusions that can contact the plurality of first protrusions from the rotation direction. The first damper portion elastically connects the input side member and the intermediate member in the rotation direction. The output side member receives torque from the intermediate member and is connected to the turbine side member. The first protrusion is formed to protrude from the outer peripheral portion of the input side member to the turbine side, and the second protrusion is formed to protrude from the outer peripheral portion of the intermediate member to the engine side.
[0010]
In this device, when the lockup device is turned on, the input side member moves in the axial direction and is connected to the front cover. Then, torque from the engine is input from the front cover to the input side member, and mechanically transmitted to the turbine side member via the first damper portion, the intermediate plate, and the output side member in order. Moreover, according to the magnitude | size of the torsional vibration input into a 1st damper part, a 1st damper part act | operates and an input side member and an intermediate member rotate relatively. At this time, when the intermediate member rotates relative to the input side member by a predetermined angle, the second protrusion comes into contact with the first protrusion from the rotation direction, so that the relative rotation between the input side member and the intermediate member falls within a predetermined angle range. Limited.
[0011]
Here, since the relative rotation between the input side member and the intermediate member is restricted by the first and second protrusions, it is not necessary to provide a separate stopper mechanism. Therefore, a sufficient circumferential space for arranging the first damper portion can be secured.
[0012]
In this apparatus, since the first protrusion is formed on the outer peripheral portion of the input side member and the second protrusion is formed on the outer peripheral portion of the intermediate member, both protrusions do not buffer the first damper portion. For this reason, the space for arrange | positioning a 1st damper part can be ensured more widely. Therefore, the circumferential length of the first damper portion can be sufficiently secured. Further, since the first and second protrusions may be formed on the input side and the outer peripheral portion of the intermediate member, both protrusions can be easily formed.
[0013]
The lockup device according to claim 2 is the device according to claim 1 , wherein the first damper portion has a plurality of torsion springs arranged in the rotation direction, and the first protrusion and the second protrusion are the torsion springs. The input side member and the intermediate member are formed with a width in the circumferential direction so that the input side member and the intermediate member can be relatively rotated by an angle difference smaller than the angle difference between the free state and the contact state.
[0014]
In this device, when torque is input to the first damper portion, the plurality of torsion springs are compressed in the rotation direction, and the input side member and the intermediate member rotate relative to each other. The relative rotation between the input side member and the intermediate member is limited to a predetermined angle range by the first protrusion and the second protrusion. Since the first protrusion and the second protrusion are formed with the predetermined width in the circumferential direction, the relative rotation between the input side member and the intermediate member is restricted before the torsion spring comes into close contact. .
[0015]
Here, since the torsion spring does not come into close contact with each other, the stress of the torsion spring can be prevented from becoming extremely high, and the degree of freedom in designing the torsion spring is increased.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, the lockup device according to the first or second aspect further includes a second damper portion for elastically connecting the intermediate member and the output side member in the rotational direction.
[0016]
In this device, when torque is input to the input side member, the torque is transmitted to the output side member sequentially via the first damper portion, the intermediate member, the second damper portion, and the output side member. At this time, when torsional vibration is input to the first and second damper portions, the torsional vibration is absorbed according to the torsional characteristics of each damper portion.
Here, even in a lockup device having a plurality of damper portions, relative rotation between the input side member and the intermediate member can be restricted by the first protrusion and the second protrusion.
[0017]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
1 and 2 show a lock-up device 6 in which an embodiment of the present invention is adopted. An engine (not shown) is arranged on the left side of FIG. 1, and a transmission (not shown) is arranged on the right side. A center line indicated by a one-dot chain line in FIG. 1 is a rotation axis of the torque converter 1. The arrow R1 in FIG. 2 is the engine rotation direction, and the arrow R2 is the opposite direction. Since the overall configuration of the torque converter 1 is the same as the conventional one, detailed description thereof is omitted here.
[0018]
The torque converter 1 includes a front cover 3, a torus 7 including three types of impellers (impeller 4, turbine 5, stator (not shown)), and a lockup device 6.
The front cover 3 is a disk-like member connected to an engine crankshaft (not shown), and forms a hydraulic oil chamber of the torque converter 1 together with the impeller 4. A turbine 5 is disposed in the hydraulic oil chamber so as to face the impeller 4 in the axial direction. An inner peripheral portion of the turbine 5 is connected to a turbine hub 11 described later. The turbine hub 11 is connected to a main drive shaft (not shown) of the transmission.
[0019]
The turbine hub 11 is a cylindrical member, and includes a boss 10 and a disk-like flange 12 formed on the outer peripheral surface of the boss 10. A spline is formed on the inner peripheral portion of the boss 10, and the main drive shaft on the transmission side is spline-engaged with the spline. An outer peripheral surface 10 a is formed on the engine side of the boss 10.
[0020]
The lockup device 6 is a device that mechanically transmits torque from the front cover 3 to the turbine 5 and absorbs and attenuates input torsional vibration. Between the front cover 3 and the turbine 5 in the axial direction. Is arranged. The lockup device 6 includes an input side plate 21, an intermediate plate 23, a first damper 25, an output side plate 27, and a second damper 29.
[0021]
The input side plate 21 is disposed on the turbine 5 side of the front cover 3 so as to be movable in the axial direction, and moves in the axial direction in accordance with a change in hydraulic pressure in the torque converter 1. The inner peripheral portion of the input side plate 21 is rotatably supported on the outer peripheral surface 10 a of the turbine hub 11. An annular facing 39 for connecting to the front cover 3 is mounted on the outer peripheral portion of the input plate 21 on the engine side, and a pressing portion 21a for pressing a torsion spring 31 (described later) in the rotational direction is provided on the turbine 5 side. Is formed. First claws 21 b that protrude toward the turbine 5 are formed at two opposing positions on the outer peripheral edge of the input side plate 21. Each first claw 21b has a predetermined width in the circumferential direction.
[0022]
The intermediate plate 23 is an annular member disposed on the turbine 5 side of the input side plate 21, and includes a first plate 33 and a second plate 35. The first plate 33 and the second plate 35 are fixed by a rivet 37 at a predetermined interval in the axial direction. A storage portion 35a for storing the torsion spring 31 is formed at two opposing positions on the outer peripheral portion of the second plate 35, and the circumferential direction of the torsion spring 31 is between the circumferential directions of the two storage portions 35a. Support portions 35c for supporting both ends are formed. A second claw 35b that can be brought into contact with the first claw 21b of the input side plate 21 from the rotational direction is formed to protrude to the engine side at two opposing positions on the outer peripheral edge of the second plate 35. Similar to the first claw, the second claw 35b has a predetermined width in the circumferential direction. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the straight line connecting the two second claws 35b is orthogonal to the straight line connecting the two first claws 21b. That is, the 2nd nail | claw 35b (or 1st nail | claw 21b) is located in the circumferential direction center part of the notch between two 1st claw 21b (or 2nd nail | claw 35b). Therefore, the input side plate 21 and the intermediate plate 23 can be rotated relative to each other by an angle difference smaller than the angle difference between the free state of the torsion spring 31 and the close contact state (a state where the torsion spring 31 is compressed to the maximum in the rotation direction). Support portions 33d and 35d for supporting a coil spring 41, which will be described later, are formed at the radial intermediate portions of the first plate 33 and the second plate 35, respectively. The support portions 33d and 35d are formed to extend in the circumferential direction, and support both circumferential ends and radial ends of the coil spring 41.
[0023]
The first damper 25 elastically connects the input side plate 21 and the intermediate plate 23 in the rotational direction, and is composed of two torsion springs 31.
The output side plate 27 is disposed between the first plate 33 and the second plate 35 in the axial direction so as to be rotatable relative to the plates 33 and 35. The inner peripheral portion of the output side plate 27 is connected to the turbine hub 11. An accommodating portion 27a in which the coil spring 41 is disposed is formed in the radial intermediate portion of the output side plate 27 corresponding to the support portions 33d and 35d. The accommodating portion 27a is formed to extend in the circumferential direction, and supports both ends of the coil spring 41 in the circumferential direction. A stopper portion 27 b for restricting relative rotation between the intermediate plate 23 and the output side plate 27 is formed on the outer peripheral portion of the output side plate 27. The stopper portion 27b is a portion cut out in a circumferential direction at a plurality of locations on the outer peripheral portion of the output side plate 27, and the rivets 37 are arranged in the stopper portion 27b. As a result, when the intermediate plate 23 rotates relative to the output side plate 27 by a predetermined angle, the rivet 37 contacts the circumferential end of the stopper portion 27b at the position indicated by 37a in FIG. Relative rotation is restricted.
[0024]
The second damper 29 is configured to elastically connect the intermediate plate 23 and the output side plate 27 in the rotation direction, and includes three coil springs 41. The coil spring 41 is a spring having a smaller spring constant than the torsion spring 31. As a result, the second damper 29 has a lower rigidity than the first damper 25.
[0025]
Next, the operation of the lockup device 6 will be described.
When torque is input from the engine to the crankshaft, the torque is transmitted to the front cover 3 and the impeller 4 through a flexible plate (not shown). Then, the hydraulic oil driven by the rotation of the impeller 4 rotates the turbine 5, whereby torque is transmitted to the turbine 5. The torque of the turbine 5 is transmitted to the main drive shaft via the turbine hub 11.
[0026]
When the vehicle reaches a predetermined speed, hydraulic fluid between the front cover 3 and the input side plate 21 is drained from the inner peripheral side by a hydraulic mechanism (not shown). Then, since a hydraulic pressure difference is generated on both axial sides of the lockup device 6, the input side plate 21 moves to the front cover 3 side and the facing 39 is pressed against the front cover 3. Thereby, the torque from the front cover 3 is mechanically transmitted to the turbine hub 11 via the lockup device 6. This torque is further transmitted to the main drive shaft.
[0027]
In the lockup device 6, torque from the front cover 3 is input to the input side plate 21 and is transmitted to the turbine hub 11 via the torsion spring 31, the intermediate plate 23, the coil spring 41, and the output side plate 27 in order. The At this time, the torsional vibration is absorbed by the coil spring 41 and the torsion spring 31 being compressed in the rotational direction according to the magnitude of the torsional vibration input to the lockup device 6.
[0028]
In the range where the torsional vibration is small, first, the coil spring 41 is compressed in the rotational direction by the support portions 33d and 35d and the accommodating portion 27a, so that the intermediate plate 23 and the output side plate 27 are relatively rotated. When the torsional vibration becomes larger than this range, the torsion spring 31 is then compressed in the rotational direction by the pressing portion 21a and the support portion 35c, whereby the input side plate 21 and the intermediate plate 23 are relatively rotated. When a larger torsional vibration is input and the intermediate plate 23 rotates relative to the output side plate 27 by a predetermined angle, the rivet 37a comes into contact with the circumferential end of the stopper portion 27b and the relative relationship between the plates 23 and 27 is reached. Rotation is limited.
[0029]
When a larger torsional vibration is input and the intermediate plate 23 rotates relative to the input side plate 21 by a predetermined angle, the second claw 35b comes into contact with the first claw 21b from the rotation direction. Thereby, the relative rotation of the input side plate 21 and the intermediate plate 23 is limited.
Here, since it is not necessary to provide a stopper mechanism between the circumferential directions of the torsion spring 31, a sufficient space in the circumferential direction for arranging the torsion spring 31 can be secured. Moreover, in this lockup device 6, since the torsion spring 31 is not brought into a close contact state, it is possible to prevent the stress of the torsion spring 31 from becoming extremely high.
[0030]
[Other Embodiments]
(A) The circumferential end surfaces of the first claw 21b and the second claw 35b are formed to have a predetermined area in the radial direction so that the surface pressure when both the claws 21b and 35b come into contact with each other is reduced. Also good.
(B) Three or more first claws 21b and second claws 35b may be formed in the circumferential direction.
[0031]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, since it is not necessary to provide a stopper mechanism between the circumferential directions of the torsion springs, the circumferential direction length can be sufficiently secured without increasing the stress of the torsion springs.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a lock-up device in which an embodiment according to the present invention is adopted.
FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the lockup device.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Torque Converter 3 Front Cover 6 Lockup Device 11 Turbine Hub 21 Input Side Plate 21b First Claw 23 Intermediate Plate 25 First Damper 27 Output Side Member 29 Second Damper 35b Second Claw

Claims (3)

A lockup device for mechanically connecting a front cover of a torque converter and a turbine side member,
An input which is arranged between the front cover and the turbine so as to be movable in the axial direction, can be connected to and disconnected from the front cover, and has a plurality of first protrusions formed at intervals in the circumferential direction. Side members;
An intermediate member that is disposed to face the input side member and has a plurality of second protrusions that can contact the plurality of first protrusions from a rotational direction;
A first damper portion for elastically connecting the input side member and the intermediate member in the rotational direction;
Torque is input from the intermediate member, and an output side member connected to the turbine side member;
Equipped with a,
The first protrusion is formed to protrude from the outer peripheral portion of the input side member to the turbine side, and the second protrusion is formed to protrude from the outer peripheral portion of the intermediate member to the engine side.
Torque converter lockup device. The first damper portion has a plurality of torsion springs arranged in the rotation direction,
The first protrusion and the second protrusion are circumferentially long so that the input side member and the intermediate member can be rotated relative to each other by an angle difference smaller than an angle difference between a free state and a close contact state of the torsion spring. Formed with
The lockup device for a torque converter according to claim 1 . The lockup device for a torque converter according to claim 1 or 2 , further comprising a second damper portion for elastically connecting the intermediate member and the output side member in a rotation direction.

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