Fluid-cooling system

Claim 2

In a transmission; an input and an output; heat exchanger means having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet with a fluidcooling passage therebetween; drive means connecting said input and output including torque converter drive means having a fluidoperating chamber with an inlet port connected to said fluid outlet, and an outlet port connected to said fluid inlet and an exhaust port to exhaust fluid from said torque converter drive means, and selectively operable to provide a drive between said input and output and during such drive to circulate operating fluid in said chamber from said inlet port to said outlet port and through said cooling passage from said fluid inlet to said fluid outlet and thence to said inlet port; additional drive means selectively operable to provide another drive between said input aNd output bypassing and relieving said torque converter drive means of said torque converter drive; and source means receiving fluid from said exhaust port and delivering fluid under pressure to said inlet port for said circulation by said torque converter drive means; and impeller means operatively connected to said output adjacent said inlet port for forcing said fluid received from said source means through said cooling passage while said additional drive means is operable.

Claim 3

A transmission comprising an input, an output, a first torque-transmitting means including a torque converter for at times connecting said input to said output, said torque converter including an inlet, an outlet and an exhaust, a second torque-transmitting means including mechanical means for at times directly connecting said input to said output, a heat exchanger, first and second ports formed in said heat exchanger at opposite ends thereof, a plurality of tubes in said heat exchanger forming a labyrinth path around the outside surfaces of said tubes between said first and second ports, a fluid pump for supplying fluid under pressure through a first passage to said inlet to said torque converter, a second passage between said first port and said outlet from said torque converter, and a third passage between said second port and said inlet into said torque converter, said torque converter when operative providing a centrifugal pressure head between said inlet and said outlet for recirculating said fluid through said heat exchanger, impeller means adjacent said inlet and operatively connected to said output for imparting a centrifugal pressure to said fluid for recirculating said fluid through said heat exchanger when said torque converter is inoperative, and said fluid pump supplying makeup fluid at all times to replace fluid flowing through said exhaust.

Claim 4

A transmission comprising an input, an output, a first torque-transmitting means including a torque converter for at times connecting said input to said output, said torque converter including an inlet, an outlet and an exhaust, a second torque-transmitting means including mechanical means for at times directly connecting said input to said output, a heat exchanger, first and second ports formed in said heat exchanger at opposite ends thereof, a plurality of tubes in said heat exchanger forming a labyrinth path around the outside surfaces of said tubes between said first and second ports, a fluid pump for supplying fluid under pressure through a first passage to said inlet to said torque converter, a second passage between said first port and said outlet from said torque converter, and a third passage between said second port and said inlet into said torque converter, said torque converter when operative providing a centrifugal pressure head between said inlet and said outlet for recirculating said fluid through said heat exchanger, impeller means adjacent said inlet and operatively connected to said output for imparting a centrifugal pressure to said fluid for recirculating said fluid through said heat exchanger when said torque converter is inoperative, and said fluid pump supplying makeup fluid at all times to replace fluid flowing through said exhaust.

Claim 5

A fluid-cooling system for use in a transmission having a power input shaft, an output shaft, an intermediate shaft for transmitting torque from said power input shaft to said output shaft, first torque-transmitting means for at times connecting said intermediate shaft to said power input shaft through one torque path, second torque-transmitting means for at times connecting said intermediate shaft to said power input shaft through a second torque path, said cooling system comprising a fluid torque converter, said fluid torque converter being operable in only one of said torque paths, a water-cooled heat exchanger, an impeller operatively connected to said intermediate shaft for rotation therewith, fluid pump means for supplying fluid under pressure to said torque converter for torque multiplication use thereby when said torque converter is inoperative, and at all times to said transmission for lubrication purposes regardless of which torque path is operative, said torque converter when operative and said impeller at all times serving as centrifugal pumps to pump said fluid to said heat exchanger, said heat exchanger serving to cool said fluid received under pressure from said torque converter and said impeller prior to reentry into said transmission.

Claim 6

A fluid-cooling system for use in a transmission having a power input shaft, an output shaft, an intermediate shaft for transmitting torque from said power input shaft to said output shaft, first torque-transmitting means for at times connecting said intermediate shaft to said power input shaft through one torque path, second torque-transmitting means for at times connecting said intermediate shaft to said power input shaft through a second torque path, said cooling system comprising a fluid torque converter, said fluid torque converter being operable in only one of said torque paths, a water-cooled heat exchanger, an impeller operatively connected to said intermediate shaft for rotation therewith, fluid pump means for supplying fluid under pressure to said torque converter for torque multiplication use thereby when said torque converter is inoperative, and at all times to said transmission for lubrication purposes regardless of which torque path is operative, said torque converter when operative and said impeller at all times serving as centrifugal pumps to pump said fluid to said heat exchanger, said heat exchanger serving to cool said fluid received under pressure from said torque converter and said impeller prior to reentry into said transmission.

Claim 7

A fluid-cooling system for use in a transmission having a power input shaft, an output shaft, an intermediate shaft for transmitting torque from said power input shaft to said output shaft, first torque-transmitting means for at times connecting said intermediate shaft to said power input shaft through one torque path, second torque-transmitting means for at times connecting said intermediate shaft to said power input shaft through a second torque path, said cooling system comprising a fluid torque converter, said fluid torque converter being operable in one of said torque paths, a water-cooled heat exchanger, an inlet into said fluid torque converter, impeller means adjacent said inlet mounted for rotation with said intermediate shaft; and fluid pump means for supplying fluid under pressure to said torque converter for torque multiplication and lubrication purposes when said torque coNverter is operative and to said impeller for lubrication purposes when said torque converter is inoperative, said torque converter when operative and said impeller at all times causing said fluid to flow through said heat exchanger, said heat exchanger serving to cool all of said fluid received under pressure from said impeller and said torque converter prior to reentry into said transmission.

Claim 8

A fluid-cooling system for use in a transmission having a power input shaft, an output shaft, an intermediate shaft for transmitting torque from said power input shaft to said output shaft, first torque-transmitting means for at times connecting said intermediate shaft to said power input shaft through one torque path, second torque-transmitting means for at times connecting said intermediate shaft to said power input shaft through a second torque path, said cooling system comprising a fluid torque converter, said fluid torque converter being operable in one of said torque paths, a water-cooled heat exchanger, an inlet into said fluid torque converter, impeller means adjacent said inlet mounted for rotation with said intermediate shaft; and fluid pump means for supplying fluid under pressure to said torque converter for torque multiplication and lubrication purposes when said torque coNverter is operative and to said impeller for lubrication purposes when said torque converter is inoperative, said torque converter when operative and said impeller at all times causing said fluid to flow through said heat exchanger, said heat exchanger serving to cool all of said fluid received under pressure from said impeller and said torque converter prior to reentry into said transmission.

Claim 9

A fluid-cooling system for use in a transmission having a power input shaft, a shiftable gear unit, an intermediate shaft for transmitting torque from said power input shaft to said gear unit, first torque-transmitting means including a first clutch for at times connecting said intermediate shaft to said power input shaft through one torque path, second torque-transmitting means including a second clutch for at times connecting said intermediate shaft to said power input shaft through a second torque path, said cooling system comprising a fluid torque converter, said fluid torque converter being operable in one of said torque paths, an impeller rotatable by said intermediate shaft and located downstream of said torque converter, a heat exchanger, means for flowing water through said heat exchanger, fluid pump means for supplying fluid under pressure to said impeller and said torque converter, first passage means communicating between said fluid pump means and said impeller, second passage means communicating between said impeller and said torque converter for supplying fluid thereto for torque multiplication purposes when said torque converter is inoperative, third passage means communicating from said torque converter through said heat exchanger to said first passage means, said torque converter pumping said fluid through said third passage means when operative and said impeller pumping said fluid through said torque converter and said third passage means when said torque converter is inoperative, fourth passage means formed axially through said intermediate shaft and communicating between said second passage means and said first and second clutches and said shiftable gear unit for lubrication thereof throughout all transmission operations, and one-way check valve means for controlling fluid flow into said fourth passage means from said first passage means, the fluid being cooled by said water in said heat exchanger prior to reentry into said first passage means.

Claim 10

A fluid-cooling system for use in a transmission having a power input shaft, a shiftable gear unit, an intermediate shaft for transmitting torque from said power input shaft to said gear unit, first torque-transmitting means including a first clutch for at times connecting said intermediate shaft to said power input shaft through one torque path, second torque-transmitting means including a second clutch for at times connecting said intermediate shaft to said power input shaft through a second torque path, said cooling system comprising a fluid torque converter, said fluid torque converter being operable in one of said torque paths, an impeller rotatable by said intermediate shaft and located downstream of said torque converter, a heat exchanger, means for flowing water through said heat exchanger, fluid pump means for supplying fluid under pressure to said impeller and said torque converter, first passage means communicating between said fluid pump means and said impeller, second passage means communicating between said impeller and said torque converter for supplying fluid thereto for torque multiplication purposes when said torque converter is inoperative, third passage means communicating from said torque converter through said heat exchanger to said first passage means, said torque converter pumping said fluid through said third passage means when operative and said impeller pumping said fluid through said torque converter and said third passage means when said torque converter is inoperative, fourth passage means formed axially through said intermediate shaft and communicating between said second passage means and said first and second clutches and said shiftable gear unit for lubrication thereof throughout all transmission operations, and one-way check valve means for controlling fluid flow into said fourth passage means from said first passage means, the fluid being cooled by said water in said heat exchanger prior to reentry into said first passage means.

Claim 11

The system described in claim 5, and a sump operatively connected to said fluid pump means, and fifth passage means for returning said cooled fluid to said sump.