Variable flow rate torque converter lockup clutch
US5819896A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 28, 1996 |
| Grant date | Oct 13, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 28, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF16H2045/0294
- WIPO fieldMechanical elements
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A lockup clutch for a torque converter (10) has a piston (63) with a tapered face (67) that engages a grooved friction material (61). The edge (71) of the piston face (67) extends outward away from the center portion (69) of the piston face (67) toward the friction material (61). The friction material (61) is arranged in a pattern of concentric lands (80, 82, 84) defining annular grooves (86) between adjacent lands with an innermost land (82) being free of radial grooves (92) and all other lands being connected by radial grooves (92) in communication with the interior of the torque converter housing (12, 14) through the torus circuit cavity. The innermost land (82) blocks fluid flow from the torus flow circuit cavity when the piston (63) engages the disk (61) in a hard lockup condition but permits fluid flow during a soft lockup condition.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.