Granted Patent B2

US 8,991,166 · App. 13/309,499 · Granted Mar 31, 2015

Abstract

Claims (53)

1. A drive connection for fixing a torque converter to an engine crankshaft comprising:

a crankshaft including:

an end face;

a rotational axis; and,

a threaded hole aligned with the axis;

a torque converter including:

a rotational axis; and,

a cover having an aperture aligned with the axis;

a threaded fastener extending through the aperture and engaged with the threaded hole to secure the cover to the end face; and,

a sealing element disposed between the fastener and the cover.

2. The drive connection of claim 1 , wherein the sealing element is a washer.

3. The drive connection of claim 1 , wherein the sealing element is an o-ring.

4. The drive connection of claim 1 , wherein:

the crankshaft includes an outer diameter; and,

the cover includes a centering plate for radially positioning the cover relative to the outer diameter.

5. The drive connection of claim 1 , wherein:

the cover includes a radial wall, and,

the end face includes an axial protrusion frictionally engaged with the radial wall.

6. The drive connection of claim 1 , wherein the end face and the cover each comprise complementary face splines, and the face splines are axially engaged.

7. The drive connection of claim 1 , wherein:

the crankshaft comprises an aperture; and,

the cover comprises an axial protrusion radially offset from the rotational axis and disposed in the aperture.

8. The drive connection of claim 7 , wherein the crankshaft aperture or the cover axial protrusion is tapered.

9. The drive connection of claim 1 , wherein:

the crankshaft or the cover includes a recessed area; and,

the sealing element is compressed by the other of the crankshaft or the cover into the recessed area.

10. The drive connection of claim 9 , wherein:

the crankshaft includes a circumferential face;

the cover includes a circumferential face axially aligned with the crankshaft circumferential face; and,

the recessed area is disposed on the crankshaft circumferential face or the cover circumferential face.

11. The drive connection of claim 1 , further comprising:

a drive adapter including:

an axial protrusion; and,

a face spline, wherein:

the crankshaft includes an aperture;

the cover includes a face spline;

the drive adapter axial protrusion is disposed in the crankshaft aperture; and,

the drive adapter face spline is engaged with the cover face spline.

12. A bolted torque converter connection comprising:

a torque converter cover with a rotational axis and an aperture aligned with the axis, the cover being arranged for fixing directly to an engine crankshaft by a fastener disposed in the aperture, wherein the fastener is sealed to the cover by a washer or an o-ring.

13. The bolted torque converter connection of claim 12 wherein the torque converter includes a radial wall for engaging the crankshaft.

14. The bolted torque converter connection of claim 13 wherein the radial wall includes a face spline or an axial protrusion.

15. A method of installing a torque converter between an engine and transmission comprising:

providing a torque converter cover including a rotational axis and a hole aligned with the cover rotational axis;

providing an engine crankshaft including a rotational axis and a threaded hole aligned with the crankshaft rotational axis;

installing a fastener through the cover hole into the threaded hole;

installing a transmission shaft into the torque converter; and,

sealing the fastener to the cover with a washer or o-ring.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

installing the fastener in the hole during assembly of the torque converter; and,

welding an impeller to the cover to retain the fastener in the converter.

17. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

radially positioning the cover relative to the crankshaft by a centering plate, a face spline, or an axial protrusion extending from the cover.

Assignments (8)