IP Library Granted Patent US 8,434,602
Granted Patent B2
US 8,434,602 · App. 12/315,339 · Granted May 7, 2013

Torque transmission device

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,434,602
App. No.
12/315,339
Granted
May 7, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

A torque transfer device in the drive train of a motor vehicle for transferring torque between a drive unit and a shaft rotatable about a rotation axis, including: a hydrodynamic torque converter, which includes a converter cover, connectable to the drive unit, and which can be coupled through a pump shell to a turbine shell for torque transfer, which can be bridged by a torque converter lockup clutch for torque transfer, which comprises a piston, movable in an axial direction within a range towards the cover in order to clamp a friction liner support with at least one friction liner between the piston and the cover for torque transfer. A friction ring is disposed between the piston and the friction liner support, and the friction ring is movable in an axial direction within a range between the piston and the friction liner support and connected to the converter cover.

Claims (24)

1. A torque transfer device in the drive train of a motor vehicle for transferring torque between a drive unit ( 3 ) and a shaft ( 26 ) rotatable about a rotation axis ( 12 ), comprising: a hydrodynamic torque converter ( 6 ), which comprises a damper with at least one spring, a converter cover ( 14 ), connectable to the drive unit ( 3 ), and which can be coupled through a pump shell ( 20 ) to a turbine shell ( 21 ) for torque transfer, which can be bridged by a torque converter lockup clutch ( 31 ) for torque transfer, which comprises a piston ( 30 ), which can be moved in an axial direction within a range towards the converter cover ( 14 ) in order to clamp a friction liner support ( 34 ) with at least one friction liner ( 35 , 36 ) between the piston ( 30 ) and the converter cover ( 14 ) for torque transfer, wherein:

a friction ring ( 38 ) is disposed between the piston ( 30 ) and the friction liner support ( 34 );

said friction ring is movable in an axial direction within a range between the piston ( 30 ) and the friction liner support ( 34 ) and connected to the converter cover ( 14 ) for torque transfer;

the piston ( 30 ) is moveable to contact the friction ring ( 38 ) to displace the friction ring ( 38 ) so that the friction ring ( 38 ) engages with the friction liner ( 36 ) located between the friction ring ( 38 ) and the friction liner support ( 34 );

the friction liner support ( 34 ) is in direct contact with the at least one spring;

the friction ring ( 38 ) is movable in the axial direction by a leaf spring device ( 40 ) within the range, leaf spring device ( 40 ) connected to the converter cover ( 14 ) for torque transfer;

the leaf spring device ( 40 ) comprises plural leaf spring elements ( 41 ), which are substantially disposed in circumferential direction;

wherein the leaf spring elements ( 41 ) each comprise a first mounting spot ( 44 ), where the leaf spring elements ( 41 ) are mounted to the converter cover ( 14 ) and comprise a second mounting spot ( 45 ), where the leaf spring elements ( 41 ) are mounted to the piston ( 30 );

the leaf spring elements ( 41 ) respectively comprise a third mounting spot ( 46 ), where the leaf spring elements ( 41 ) are mounted to the friction ring ( 38 ); and

the third mounting spot ( 46 ), in a circumferential direction, is disposed respectively between the first mounting spot ( 44 ) and the second mounting spot ( 45 ).

2. The torque transfer device according to claim 1 , wherein the leaf spring elements ( 41 ) substantially comprise the shape of circular arcs.

3. The torque transfer device according to claim 1 , wherein the leaf spring elements ( 41 ) comprise one pass-through hole per mounting spot ( 44 - 46 ).

4. The torque transfer device according to claim 1 , wherein the friction ring ( 38 ) substantially comprises the configuration of a circular annular disk.

5. The torque transfer device according to claim 1 , wherein the friction ring ( 38 ) at its inner circumference comprises radially inward extending mounting ears ( 60 , 61 ), which are used for mounting the leaf spring device ( 40 ).

6. The torque transfer device according to claim 1 , wherein the shaft ( 26 ) is a transmission input shaft.

7. A method for assembling a torque transfer device according to claim 1 , comprising the following assembly steps:

mounting the leaf spring device ( 40 ) to a friction ring ( 38 );

inserting the friction ring ( 38 ), including the leaf spring device ( 40 ) mounted thereon, into the converter cover ( 14 ), in which the friction liner support ( 34 ) is disposed; and

mounting the leaf spring device ( 40 ) to the converter cover ( 14 ).

8. The method according to claim 7 , further comprising mounting the piston ( 30 ) to the leaf spring device ( 40 ).

9. A torque transfer device in the drive train of a motor vehicle for transferring torque between a drive unit ( 3 ) and a shaft ( 26 ) rotatable about a rotation axis ( 12 ), comprising: a hydrodynamic torque converter ( 6 ), which comprises a damper with at least one spring, a converter cover ( 14 ), connectable to the drive unit ( 3 ), and which can be coupled through a pump shell ( 20 ) to a turbine shell ( 21 ) for torque transfer, which can be bridged by a torque converter lockup clutch ( 31 ) for torque transfer, which comprises a piston ( 30 ), which can be moved in an axial direction within a range towards the converter cover ( 14 ) in order to clamp a friction liner support ( 34 ) with at least one friction liner ( 35 , 36 ) between the piston ( 30 ) and the converter cover ( 14 ) for torque transfer, wherein a friction ring ( 38 ) is disposed between the piston ( 30 ) and the friction liner support ( 34 ), wherein said friction ring is movable in an axial direction within a range between the piston ( 30 ) and the friction liner support ( 34 ) and connected to the converter cover ( 14 ) for torque transfer, and wherein the piston ( 30 ) is moveable to contact the friction ring ( 38 ) to displace the friction ring ( 38 ) so that the friction ring ( 38 ) engages with the friction liner ( 36 ) located between the friction ring ( 38 ) and the friction liner support ( 34 ) and wherein:

the friction liner support ( 34 ) is in direct contact with the at least one spring;

the friction ring is connected to the cover and the piston with a leaf spring; and,

respective connection points between a first leaf spring portion and the cover and friction ring and between a second leaf spring portion and the friction ring and piston are at a same radial distance from the rotation axis.

Assignments (8)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE PROPERTY NUMBERS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 037732 FRAME 0347. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE APP. NO. 14/553248 SHOULD BE APP. NO. 14/553258. Recorded Oct 11, 2016
From: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES GMBH & CO. KG
To: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KG
Reel/Frame 040404/0530 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 5, 2016
From: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES GMBH & CO. KG
To: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KG
Reel/Frame 037732/0347 →
MERGER AND CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 5, 2016
From: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KG; SCHAEFFLER VERWALTUNGS 5 GMBH
To: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES GMBH & CO. KG
Reel/Frame 037732/0228 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 1, 2012
From: THE ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND
To: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KG
Reel/Frame 028300/0323 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 25, 2012
From: LUK VERMOEGENSVERWALTUNGSGESELLSCHAFT MBH
To: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KG
Reel/Frame 028106/0935 →
MERGER Recorded Apr 25, 2012
From: LUK LAMELLEN UND KUPPLUNGSBAU BETEILIGUNGS KG
To: LUK VERMOEGENSVERWALTUNGSGESELLSCHAFT MBH
Reel/Frame 028106/0668 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jan 28, 2010
From: LUK LAMELLEN UND KUPPLUNGSBAU BETEILIGUNGS KG
To: THE ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND PLC
Reel/Frame 023861/0647 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 2, 2008
From: KOMBOWSKI, EUGEN; MAIENSCHEIN, STEPHAN
To: LUK LAMELLEN UND KUPPLUNGSBAU BETEILIGUNGS KG
Reel/Frame 021969/0455 →