Double spline ring adapter for torque converter testing
A spline adapter assembly for connecting a torque converter one-way clutch to a shaft for testing. The spline adapter assembly includes an inner race ring including a radially outer roller body contact surface and a radially inner interface surface, and an adapter having a radially outer interface surface that is complementary to and engaged with the radially inner interface surface of the inner race ring and a radially inner shaft interface surface. The inner race ring of the spline adapter assembly replaces the original inner one-way clutch race ring and can be machined for each assembly being tested in order to provide the proper radially outer roller body contact surface configuration, and is connected to a universal adapter that mates with the test equipment.
1 . A spline adapter assembly for connecting a torque converter one-way clutch to a shaft for testing, the spline adapter assembly comprising:
an inner race ring configured to replace an original inner race ring of the torque converter one-way clutch in a torque converter stator, the inner race ring including:
a radially outer roller body contact surface and a radially inner interface surface; and
a cavity having an axial side wall and a radial outer wall, the radially inner interface surface forms at least a part of the radial outer wall of the cavity; and
an adapter having a radially outer interface surface that is complementary to and engaged with the radially inner interface surface of the inner race ring and a radially inner shaft interface surface, wherein the adapter is held axially between the axial side wall and a reactor side plate.
2 . The spline adapter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the adapter is formed of a steel plate.
3 . The spline adapter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the adapter is formed of a series of flat, laser-cut, steel sheets that are stacked on top of one another.
4 . The spline adapter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the radially inner interface surface of the inner race ring includes a plurality of teeth, and the radially outer interface surface of the adapter includes a plurality of corresponding teeth.
5 . The spline adapter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the radially inner shaft interface surface includes a splined opening.
6 . The spline adapter assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a second inner race ring including a radially outer roller body contact surface that is different from the radially outer roller body contact surface of the inner race ring, and the second inner race ring having a radially inner interface surface that is the same as the radially inner interface surface of the inner race ring.
7 . A method of mounting a torque converter stator having a one-way clutch for testing, the method comprising:
inserting a spline adapter assembly in place of a one-way clutch inner race ring into a torque converter stator, the spline adapter assembly including:
an inner race ring having a radially outer roller body contact surface and a radially inner interface surface, and a cavity having an axial side wall and a radial outer wall, the radially inner interface surface forms at least a part of the radial outer wall of the cavity; and
an adapter having a radially outer interface surface that is complementary to and engaged with the radially inner interface surface of the inner race ring and a radially inner shaft interface surface, wherein the adapter is held axially between the axial side wall and a reactor side plate; and
connecting the radially inner shaft interface surface with a test machine shaft having a complementary configuration.
8 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising: forming the adapter from a steel plate.
9 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising: forming the adapter from a series of flat, laser-cut, steel sheets that are stacked on top of one another.
10 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising: providing the radially inner interface surface of the inner ring with a plurality of teeth, and providing the radially outer interface surface of the adapter with a plurality of corresponding teeth.
11 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising: providing the radially inner shaft interface surface as a splined opening.