Hydrokinetic torque converter

US6085879A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• LuK Getriebe-Systeme GmbH · DE

Inventors

• Gunter Ebinger · Bühl, DE
• Paul Granderath · Bühlertal, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 10, 1999
• Grant date: Jul 11, 2000
• Expiry date: Mar 10, 2019

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 wherein the axially movable piston of the bypass clutch is adjacent a substantially radially extending wall of the rotary converter housing and engages such wall when the clutch is in use to transmit torque directly between the housing an a hollow rotary output shaft of the torque converter. The piston and the wall of the housing define a plenum chamber which can receive a hydraulic fluid from a pump or can be caused to discharge fluid by way of an axial passage in the output shaft. The path between the passage and the chamber is defined in part by a coaxial projection of the wall which extends toward or into the passage and cooperates with surfaces on the piston and on the output shaft to ensure a turbulence-free flow of fluid between the chamber and the passage and to prevent stagnation of fluid in the path.