Hydrokinetic torque converter with lockup clutch

US5575363A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Fichtel & Sachs · DE

Inventors

• Uwe Dehrmann · Würzburg, DE
• Peter Volland · Rannungen, DE
• Wolfgang Kundermann · Schweinfurt, DE
• Hans-Wilhelm Wienholt · Schweinfurt, DE
• Ruthard Knoblach · Bergrheinfeld, DE
• Herbert Schmid · Gmunden, AT

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 19, 1994
• Grant date: Nov 19, 1996
• Expiry date: Dec 19, 2014

Classification

• Technology area (CPC F): Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
• CPC primary: F16H2045/0294
• WIPO field: Mechanical elements
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A hydrokinetic torque converter with a lock-up clutch which is located axially between the turbine wheel and the converter housing comprises a piston which, along with the converter housing, defines a chamber. The chamber is connected by means of at least one essentially radial flow guide to a longitudinal hole in the driven shaft. When oil which has been supplied by the converter circuit and has penetrated into the chamber in the vicinity of the friction lining flows through the chamber, the oil can be transported radially inward for discharge by means of the flow guide toward the converter axis, until it can be introduced into the driven shaft inside a ring-shaped zone surrounding the converter-axis which promotes the formation of a vortex when the converter housing is in rotation, and can then be transported via the longitudinal hole in the driven shaft to the reservoir.