JP4331841B2 - Torque converter - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a torque converter, and in particular, includes a pump impeller connected to a crankshaft of an engine and a turbine impeller connected to a load so as to face the pump impeller, and a pump extension that covers an outer periphery and a rear surface of the turbine impeller. Is connected to a pump impeller to form a pump assembly, and relates to an improvement of a torque converter in which a discharge oil passage of an oil pump is connected between a pump impeller and a turbine impeller.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Since the oil supplied from the oil pump into the torque converter may contain foreign matter such as chips and wear powder, a foreign matter pocket for collecting such foreign matter may be provided in the torque converter. Already known.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, the foreign matter pocket as described above is not cleaned unless the torque converter is specially disassembled and repaired, and therefore a sufficient volume is required to accommodate a large amount of foreign matter. However, it is not preferable to form the foreign substance pocket with a large capacity because it causes an increase in the size of the torque converter.
[0004]
The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and allows foreign matter that has entered without being provided with a foreign matter pocket to be discharged to the outside together with oil without impeding power transmission. An object of the present invention is to provide the torque converter in which a pocket is unnecessary.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention comprises a pump extension that includes a pump impeller connected to an engine and a turbine impeller connected to a load so as to face the pump impeller and covers an outer periphery and a rear surface of the turbine impeller. Is connected to the pump impeller to form a pump assembly, and in the torque converter in which the oil pump discharge oil passage is connected between the pump impeller and the turbine impeller, the pump extension extends from the outer periphery of the pump impeller. A cylindrical portion surrounding the outer periphery of the turbine impeller is provided, and an escape hole is formed in the cylindrical portion, and a centrifugal valve that opens and closes the escape hole is provided in the cylindrical portion, and the centrifugal valve is configured to rotate the pump impeller. number is leaked to the outside of the pump assembly to pump assembly of the oil together with foreign matters open the escape hole when under regular rotation speed, the rotational speed of the pump impeller or regular rpm The relief closing the hole and that the first feature and Turkey to stop leakage of the oil.
[0006]
According to the first feature, when the rotational speed of the pump impeller is less than the normal rotational speed, the centrifugal valve is opened and the relief hole formed in the cylindrical portion of the pump extension is opened . Some of the oil leaks to the outside due to centrifugal force. At this time, if foreign matter such as abrasion powder exists in the oil in the torque converter, the foreign matter is discharged out of the torque converter together with the oil by the centrifugal force acting on the foreign matter. Therefore, foreign matter does not stay in the torque converter, so there is no need to provide a foreign matter pocket in the torque converter, and the torque converter can be made compact.
[0007]
When the rotational speed of the pump impeller exceeds the normal rotational speed, the centrifugal valve closes the escape hole and stops oil leakage, so that the pressure in the torque converter is restored to normal and the normal transmission efficiency is ensured. be able to.
[0008]
Also, such a valve means, and relief hole bored in the cylindrical portion of the pump extension which surrounds the outer periphery of the turbine impeller, attached to the cylindrical portion, rotational speed regular rotation speed of the pump impeller When it is less than, the escape hole is opened, and the pump impeller closes the escape hole when the rotational speed of the pump impeller exceeds the normal rotational speed. Therefore , it is easy to discharge foreign matter from the pump assembly and stop oil leakage. Can be done.
[0009]
According to the present invention, in addition to the above features, the centrifugal valve includes an elastic valve body having a proximal end fixed to the inner surface of the cylindrical portion in the vicinity of the escape hole and a distal end portion facing the escape hole, A second feature is that it is composed of a weight attached to the tip.
[0010]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below based on examples of the present invention shown in the accompanying drawings.
[0011]
1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a torque converter according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of part 3 of FIG.
[0012]
First, in FIG. 1, a drive shaft 4a, a torque converter T, and a shift gear of a primary reduction gear 4 are applied to a crankshaft 2 supported on a crankcase 1 of an engine E via a bearing 3 from the right outer surface side of the crankcase 1. The clutch Cc is sequentially attached, and the output of the crankshaft 2 is transmitted to the input shaft of a multi-stage transmission (not shown) via the shift clutch Cc, the torque converter T and the primary reduction gear 4.
[0013]
The torque converter T includes a pump impeller 10, a turbine impeller 11, and a stator impeller 12. The pump impeller 10 is disposed adjacent to the transmission clutch Cc, and the boss 10a formed at the center of the pump impeller 10 faces the right side surface of the boss 12a formed at the center of the stator impeller 12. And is supported on the crankshaft 2 via a needle bearing 13.
[0014]
A transmission plate 15 that is engaged with the output portion of the transmission clutch Cc is fixed to the outer surface of the pump impeller 10. Therefore, the output torque of the transmission clutch Cc is transmitted to the pump impeller 10 through the transmission plate 15. The shift clutch Cc is controlled to be in an off state in order to avoid a shift shock when a multi-stage transmission (not shown) is switched.
[0015]
A cylindrical stator shaft 20 is disposed on the crankshaft 2 between the boss 10a of the pump impeller 10 and the ball bearing 3 that supports the crankshaft 2, and is formed at the right end of the stator shaft 20. The dog 20 a thus engaged is engaged with a notch 40 formed on the inner periphery of the boss 12 a of the stator impeller 12. Thus, the stator shaft 20 is connected to the stator impeller 12. The right end portion of the stator shaft 20 is supported on the crankshaft 2 via a needle bearing 14 so as to be relatively rotatable. A stator arm plate 16 is fixed to the left end portion of the stator shaft 20, and an outer peripheral surface of a cylindrical portion 16 a that the stator arm plate 16 has in an intermediate portion is supported on the crankcase 1 via a ball bearing 17. The outer periphery of the stator arm plate 16 is supported by the crankcase 1 via a free wheel 18.
[0016]
A boss 11a fixed at the center of the turbine impeller 11 is supported on the stator shaft 20 via a needle bearing 21 so as to be relatively rotatable, and is disposed to face the left end surface of the boss 12a of the stator impeller 12. The
[0017]
The boss 12a of the stator impeller 12 is restricted in axial movement by the bosses 10a, 11a of the pump impeller 10 and the turbine impeller 11, and the boss 10a of the pump impeller 10 and the stator impeller 12 is controlled. , 12a are formed with radial grooves as oil inlets 30.
[0018]
A turbine shaft 19 is integrally connected to the boss 11 a of the turbine impeller 11, and the left end thereof is supported on the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 16 a of the stator arm plate 16 via a ball bearing 22. A one-way clutch 24 is provided between the turbine shaft 19 and the crankshaft 2 so as to pass through the lateral hole 23 of the stator shaft 20. The one-way clutch 24 is turned on when a reverse load is applied to the turbine shaft 19 and directly connects the turbine shaft 19 and the crankshaft 2.
[0019]
A drive gear 4a of the primary speed reducer 4 is integrally formed on the outer periphery of the left end portion of the turbine shaft 19, and a driven gear 4b provided on the input shaft of the transmission is meshed with the drive gear 4a. The primary reduction gear 4 configured in this way is arranged between the crankcase 1 and the torque converter T.
[0020]
The pump impeller 10 is integrally formed with a cylindrical portion 10b that surrounds the outer periphery of the turbine impeller 11, and a side cover 34 that covers the rear surface of the turbine impeller 11 is fitted into the opening of the cylindrical portion 10b and stopped. It is fixed with the ring 37. The cylindrical portion 10b and the side cover 34 constitute a pump extension portion 35, and the pump extension portion 35 and the pump impeller 10 constitute a pump assembly 36.
[0021]
The side cover 34 is fitted to the outer peripheral surface of the turbine shaft 19 so as to be relatively rotatable. The side cover 34 defines an oil chamber 41 communicating with the oil passage between the pump impeller 10 and the turbine impeller 11 between the side cover 34 and the rear surface of the turbine impeller 11.
[0022]
The axial position of the pump impeller 10 is determined by the pressing plate 42 fixed to the intermediate step portion 2a of the crankshaft 2 coming into contact with the outer end surface of the boss 10a. It is determined by the ball bearing 17 that supports the shaft 19.
[0023]
The crankshaft 2 is provided with an upstream supply oil passage 25a that opens to the right end surface thereof, and a downstream supply oil passage 25b that is connected to a lubricating portion around the crankshaft 2, and the upstream supply oil passage 25a is connected to the crankshaft 2 by the crankshaft 2. A discharge passage 26 of the driven oil pump 27 is connected. An oil filter 38 is interposed in the discharge passage 26, and the oil pump 27 pumps the oil sucked up from the oil reservoir 28 through the oil filter 38 to the upstream supply oil passage 25a. The oil sump 28 is formed at the bottom of the crankcase 1.
[0024]
The crankshaft 2 is provided with an inlet hole 32 that communicates the upstream supply oil passage 25a with the inner peripheral surface of the boss 12a of the stator impeller 12. Therefore, the inlet hole 32 communicates with the oil inlet 30 through the notch 40 of the boss 12a.
[0025]
The turbine shaft 19 is provided with an oil outlet 31 connected to the oil chamber 41 on the rear side of the turbine impeller 11. The oil outlet 31 is provided in the lateral hole 23 of the stator shaft 20 and the crankshaft 2. It communicates with the downstream supply oil passage 25 b through the outlet hole 33.
[0026]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the cylindrical portion 10b of the pump extension 35 is provided with a plurality of relief holes 45 that are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction and open the oil chamber 41 to the outside. A plurality of centrifugal valves 46 that open and close the holes 45 are provided in the cylindrical portion 10b. As shown in FIG. 3, each centrifugal valve 46 is an elastic valve whose base end is fixed to the inner surface of the cylindrical portion 10 b near the corresponding relief hole 45 with a rivet 48, and whose distal end is opposed to the corresponding relief hole 45. The plate 47 and a weight 49 attached to the tip of the elastic valve plate 47 are included.
[0027]
Thus, the elastic valve plate 47 opens the relief hole 45 with its own elastic force when it is less than the normal rotation speed of the pump impeller 10 (preferably less than a predetermined value less than the idle rotation speed of the engine E). (The state shown by the solid line in FIG. 3) When the rotational speed exceeds the normal rotational speed of the pump impeller 10 (preferably above a predetermined value lower than the idle rotational speed of the engine E), it is bent toward the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 10b by centrifugal force. The corresponding escape hole 45 is closed (shown in FIG. 3 by a chain line). The relief means 45 and the centrifugal valve 46 constitute a valve means 50.
[0028]
Next, the operation of the first embodiment will be described.
[0029]
During operation of the engine E, when the oil pump 27 driven by the crankshaft 2 pumps oil to the upstream supply oil passage 25 a of the crankshaft 2, the oil first passes through the inflow hole 32, the notch 40 and the oil inlet 30. Then, the oil flows into the torque converter T, fills the oil passage between the pump impeller 10 and the turbine impeller 11, fills the oil chamber 41, and then moves from the oil outlet 31 to the lateral hole 23 to lubricate the one-way clutch 24. Then, the oil flows to the downstream supply oil passage 25b of the crankshaft 2 through the outlet hole 33 and is used for lubrication around the crankshaft 2. In this way, the old and new oils are exchanged in the torque converter T, and the cooling is achieved.
[0030]
When the rotation of the crankshaft 2 is transmitted to the pump impeller 10 due to the ON state of the transmission clutch Cc, the oil in the torque converter T is pumped by the rotation of the pump impeller 10 and then the pump impeller 10 → the turbine impeller 11 → The rotational torque of the pump impeller 10 is transmitted to the turbine impeller 11 while circulating in the torque converter T as in the stator impeller 12 → pump impeller 10. At this time, if a torque amplifying action is generated between the pump impeller 10 and the turbine impeller 11, the accompanying reaction force is borne by the stator impeller 12, and the stator impeller 12 is caused by the locking action of the free wheel 18. The crankcase 1 is fixedly supported.
[0031]
When the torque amplifying action is finished, the stator impeller 12 rotates in the same direction together with the pump impeller 50 and the turbine impeller 51 while idling the free wheel 18 due to the reversal of the torque direction received by the stator impeller 12.
[0032]
By the way, when the rotational speed of the pump impeller 10 is less than the normal rotational speed, the relief hole 45 is opened by opening the centrifugal valve 46, so that a part of the oil in the torque converter T receives the centrifugal force and receives the pump. Leak to the outside from the escape hole 45 of the cylindrical portion 10b of the assembly 36. At this time, if foreign matter such as abrasion powder exists in the oil in the torque converter T, the foreign matter is discharged out of the torque converter T from the escape hole 45 together with the oil by centrifugal force. The foreign matter discharged out of the pump assembly 36 is returned to the oil sump 28 at the bottom of the crankcase 1 together with the oil, and is removed by the oil filter 38 when sucked and pumped by the oil pump 27 again.
[0033]
Thus, since no foreign matter is accumulated in the torque converter T, there is no need to provide a foreign matter pocket in the torque converter T as in the prior art, and the torque converter T can be made compact.
[0034]
When the rotational speed of the pump impeller 10 exceeds the normal rotational speed, the centrifugal valve 46 closes and closes the escape hole 45, so that no oil leaks from the escape hole 45 and the pressure in the torque converter T is normal. The normal transmission efficiency can be secured.
[0035]
A slight oil leak from the torque converter T hardly affects the transmission efficiency of the torque converter T, and the leak oil from the torque converter T is collected by the oil sump 28 at the bottom of the crankcase 1. Therefore, some oil leak in the closed state of the centrifugal valve 46 and some oil leak from the fitting portion of the cylindrical portion 10b and the side cover 34 are allowed in terms of the performance of the torque converter T. Accordingly, the centrifugal valve 46 can be easily manufactured, and it is not necessary to employ an oil-tight structure such as a seal member interposed between the fitting portion of the cylindrical portion 10b and the side cover 34 in the pump assembly 36, thereby reducing costs. Can contribute.
[0036]
When the rotational speed of the pump impeller 10 that switches between opening and closing of the centrifugal valve 46 is set to a predetermined value that is equal to or lower than the idle rotational speed of the engine E, the engine E is in an idle state after the engine E is started. The discharge of the foreign matter can be completed, and in the idling state, oil leakage due to the centrifugal force from the torque converter T can be substantially prevented to prepare for the start of the operation of the torque converter T.
[0037]
The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various design changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.
[0038]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the first feature of the present invention, the pump impeller connected to the engine and the turbine impeller connected to the load opposed to the pump impeller are provided, and the outer periphery and the rear surface of the turbine impeller are covered. In a torque converter in which the pump extension is connected to the pump impeller to form a pump assembly and the oil discharge path of the oil pump is connected between the pump impeller and the turbine impeller, the pump extension is connected to the outer periphery of the pump impeller. A cylindrical portion extending from the outer periphery of the turbine impeller and having a relief hole in the cylindrical portion, and a centrifugal valve for opening and closing the relief hole is provided in the cylindrical portion. the relief pump assembly of the oil by opening the holes when the car speed is lower than usual rotational speed is leaked to the outside of the pump assembly together with foreign material, speed is regular rotation speed than the pump impeller Wherein the in relief by closing the pores of you stop the leak of the oil, when the rotational speed of the pump impeller is less than the usual rotation speed, the oil along with the portion of the oil in the torque converter by utilizing the centrifugal force Foreign matter such as wear particles can be discharged out of the torque converter, and therefore no foreign matter is retained in the torque converter, so there is no need to provide a foreign matter pocket in the torque converter, and the torque converter can be made compact. it can. Further, when the rotation speed of the pump impeller becomes equal to or higher than the normal rotation speed, the oil leakage is stopped, the pressure in the torque converter is restored to normal, and normal transmission efficiency can be ensured.
[0039]
Also, such a valve means, and relief hole bored in the cylindrical portion of the pump extension which surrounds the outer periphery of the turbine impeller, attached to the cylindrical portion, rotational speed regular rotation speed of the pump impeller When it is less than, the escape hole is opened, and the pump impeller closes the escape hole when the rotational speed of the pump impeller exceeds the normal rotational speed. Therefore, it is easy to discharge foreign matter from the pump assembly and stop oil leakage. Can be done.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a torque converter according to the present invention.
2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG.
FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of part 3 in FIG. 2;
[Explanation of symbols]
E ... Engine T ... Torque converter 10 ... Pump impeller
10b · · · cylindrical portion 11 ... turbine impeller 26 ... discharge passage 27 .... Oirupon flop 35 ... pump extension 36 ... pump assembly 41 .... Oil chamber 45 ... Relief hole 46 ... Centrifugal valve
47 .. Elastic valve body
49 ... Weight

Claims (2)

A pump impeller (10) connected to the engine (E) and a turbine impeller (11) connected to the load facing the pump impeller (10) are provided to cover the outer periphery and the back surface of the turbine impeller (11). The pump extension (35) is connected to the pump impeller (10) to form a pump assembly (36), and the oil pump (27) is discharged between the pump impeller (10) and the turbine impeller (11). In the torque converter connected to the oil passage (26),
The pump extension (35) is provided with a cylindrical portion (10b) extending from the outer periphery of the pump impeller (10) and surrounding the outer periphery of the turbine impeller (11), and an escape hole (45) is provided in the cylindrical portion (10b). And a cylindrical valve (46) for opening and closing the relief hole (45) is provided in the cylindrical portion (10b). The centrifugal valve (46) has a rotational speed of the pump impeller (10) rotating at normal speed. When the number is less than the number, the escape hole (45) is opened to leak the oil in the pump assembly (36) together with foreign matter to the outside of the pump assembly (36), and the rotational speed of the pump impeller (10) is normal rotation. close the relief hole to be a few more (45) and said and Turkey to stop leakage of the oil, the torque converter. The torque converter according to claim 1,
The centrifugal valve (46) is connected to an elastic valve body (47) whose proximal end is fixed to the inner surface of the cylindrical portion (10b) near the escape hole (45) and whose distal end faces the escape hole (45). A torque converter comprising a weight (49) attached to the tip of the elastic valve element (47) .

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