Power split torque converter
A torque transmission apparatus, including: a first vibration damper with a first input part arranged to receive torque from an engine, a first output part and at least one first spring engaged with the first input and output parts; and a torque converter including a cover non-rotatably connected to the first output part, an impeller with at least one first blade and an impeller shell non-rotatably connected to the cover, a turbine with at least one second blade and a turbine shell, an output hub and a planetary gear set including a first component non-rotatably connected to the turbine shell or a second component non-rotatably connected to the output hub.
1. A torque transmission apparatus, comprising:
a first vibration damper including:
a first input part arranged to receive torque from an engine;
a first output part; and,
at least one first spring engaged with the first input and output parts; and,
a torque converter including:
a cover non-rotatably connected to the first output part;
an impeller with at least one first blade and an impeller shell non-rotatably connected to the cover;
a turbine with at least one second blade and a turbine shell;
an output hub; and,
a planetary gear set including:
a first component non-rotatably connected to the turbine shell; or,
a second component non-rotatably connected to the output hub.
2. The torque transmission apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
the first component is non-rotatably connected to the turbine shell; and,
the second component is non-rotatably connected to the output hub.
3. The torque transmission apparatus of claim 2 , wherein:
the first component is a ring gear;
the second component includes a planetary carrier and at least one planetary gear;
the planetary gear set includes a sun gear non-rotatably connected to the first input part;
the planetary gear is engaged with the ring and sun gears; and,
the planetary carrier non-rotatably connected to the output hub.
4. The torque transmission apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
the first component is a ring gear; and,
the second component includes a planetary carrier.
5. The torque transmission apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
the planetary gear set includes a third component non-rotatably connected to the first input part.
6. The torque transmission apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
the torque converter includes a torque converter clutch including:
a portion of the turbine shell;
a portion of the impeller shell; and,
friction material; and,
in a lock-up mode, the friction material is substantially non-rotatably connected with the portion of the turbine shell and the portion of the impeller shell.
7. The torque transmission apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the turbine is rotatable with respect to the output hub.
8. The torque transmission apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
in a torque converter mode the first component is rotatable with respect to the impeller shell; and,
in a lock-up mode, the first component is non-rotatably connected to the impeller shell.
9. The torque transmission apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
the torque converter includes a second vibration damper assembly including:
a second input part non-rotatably connected to the turbine shell;
a second output part non-rotatably connected to the first component; and,
at least one second spring engaged with the second input and output parts.
10. The torque transmission apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the torque converter includes a bushing in contact with a radially innermost end of the turbine shell and the bushing is arranged to contact an input shaft for a transmission.
11. A torque transmission apparatus, comprising:
a vibration damper including:
an input part arranged to receive torque from an engine;
an output part; and,
at least one spring engaged with the input and output parts;
a torque converter including:
an impeller with at least one first blade and an impeller shell;
a turbine with at least one second blade and a turbine shell;
an output hub;
a cover non-rotatably connected to the output part, the impeller shell non-rotatably connected to the cover; and,
a planetary gear set including:
a ring gear non-rotatably connected to the turbine shell; and,
a planetary carrier non-rotatably connected to the output hub.
12. The torque transmission apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the planetary gear set includes:
a sun gear non-rotatably connected to the input part; and,
at least one planetary gear:
connected to the planetary carrier; and,
engaged with the ring gear and the sun gear.
13. The torque transmission apparatus of claim 11 , wherein:
the torque converter includes a torque converter clutch including:
a portion of the turbine shell;
a portion of the impeller shell; and,
friction material; and,
in a lock-up mode:
the friction material is substantially non-rotatably connected with the portion of the turbine shell and the portion of the impeller shell; and,
the ring gear is non-rotatably connected with the impeller shell.
14. The torque transmission apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the turbine is rotatable with respect to the output hub.
15. A torque transmission apparatus, comprising:
a first vibration damper including:
a first input part arranged to receive torque from an engine;
a first output part; and,
at least one first spring engaged with the first input and output parts; and,
a torque converter including:
an impeller with at least one first blade and an impeller shell;
a turbine with at least one second blade and a turbine shell;
an output hub;
a cover non-rotatably connected to the first output part, the impeller shell non-rotatably connected to cover;
a second vibration damper including:
a second input part non-rotatably connected to the turbine shell;
a second output part; and,
at least one second spring engaged with the second input and output parts; and,
a planetary gear set including:
a ring gear non-rotatably connected to the second output part; and,
a planetary carrier non-rotatably connected to the output hub.
16. The torque transmission apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the planetary gear set includes:
a sun gear non-rotatably connected to the first input part; and,
at least one planetary gear:
connected to the planetary carrier; and,
engaged with the ring gear and the sun gear.
17. The torque transmission apparatus of claim 15 , wherein:
in a torque converter mode the turbine shell is rotatable with respect to the impeller shell;
in a lock-up mode, the turbine shell is substantially non-rotatably connected to the impeller shell; and,
in both the torque converter and lock-up modes, a torque path is formed from the turbine shell to the output hub through the planetary gear set.
18. The torque transmission apparatus of claim 15 , wherein:
the torque converter includes a torque converter clutch including:
a portion of the turbine shell;
a portion of the impeller shell; and,
friction material; and,
in a lock-up mode, the friction material is substantially non-rotatably connected with the portion of the turbine shell and the portion of the impeller shell.
19. The torque transmission apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the turbine is rotatable with respect to the output hub.
20. The torque transmission apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the second input part includes a portion engaged with the turbine shell and rotatable with respect to the turbine shell.