Torque converter with cooling fluid flow arrangement and arrangement for torque transfer to a damper

US8225916B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG · DE

Inventors

• Yang Liang · Beijing, CN
• Michael G. Swank · Shreve, US
• Jonathan Jameson · Wooster, US
• Kevin Parks · Wooster, US
• Steven Olsen · Bühl, DE
• Joachim Hoffmann · Esslingen am Neckar, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: May 1, 2008
• Grant date: Jul 24, 2012
• Expiry date: Apr 25, 2031

Classification

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

Abstract

A torque converter including: a membrane forming a portion of a release chamber for the clutch; a friction plate for a torque converter clutch, the plate rotationally connected to a turbine hub and disposed within the release chamber; and a damper element rotationally connected to the turbine hub and to the torque converter clutch. In lock-up mode for the converter, the plate is arranged to transmit torque to the turbine hub. The torque converter includes cooling fluid and a torus and the clutch further comprises friction material and in some aspects, during the lock-up mode, the release chamber is sealed except for a flow of the cooling fluid from the release chamber through the friction material to the torus. The plate includes oppositely disposed first and second radial surfaces and during a torque converter mode for the torque converter, respective pressures on the first and second surfaces are substantially equal.