Hydrodynamic clutch arrangement

US6640946B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Mannesmann Sachs AG · DE

Inventors

• Thomas Bauer · Deizisau, DE
• Peter Frey · Hofheim, DE
• Ruthard Knoblach · Bergrheinfeld, DE
• Christoph Sasse · Schweinfurt, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Feb 11, 2002
• Grant date: Nov 4, 2003
• Expiry date: Feb 11, 2022

Classification

• Technology area (CPC F): Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
• CPC primary: F16H2045/0284
• WIPO field: Mechanical elements
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A hydrodynamic clutch arrangement, particularly a torque converter or fluid coupling, includes a housing arrangement, a turbine wheel provided in the housing arrangement, a lockup clutch arrangement by which a torque transmitting connection can be produced selectively between the turbine wheel and the housing arrangement. The lockup clutch arrangement includes at least two friction members which are rotatable with a one of the housing arrangement and turbine wheel, at least one counter-friction member which is interposed between two friction members and is rotatable with the other of the housing arrangement and turbine wheel and can be brought into contact with friction surface regions of the friction members in friction surface regions of the counter-friction member. The counter-friction member has a substantially ring-shaped counter-friction member body having an outer radius (Ra) in a ratio of 1.1:1 to 1.5:1 to an outer radius (ra) of the friction surface region or regions provided on the friction members and/or an inner radius (Ri) in a ratio of 0.4:1 to 0.8:1 to an inner radius (ri) of the friction surface region or regions provided on the friction members.