Drive unit with slip indicator for motor vehicles

Claim 2

In combination with a drive unit for an automotive vehicle containing a hydraulic clutch or torque converter between a drive engine and a gear shift system, wherein said clutch or converter has a pump wheel and a turbine wheel, a device for monitoring and indicating the relative rotational speeds of the pump wheel and the turbine wheel, comprising means to separately measure the rotational speeds of the pump wheel and the turbine wheel and means to separately display the measured speeds on a common indicator, and wherein said display means are connected to one another by a time delay means.

Claim 3

The combination of claim 1, further characterized in that the display means comprises pointer arms pivoted about a common axis on a calibrated dial.

Claim 4

The combination of claim 2, further comprising warning means which responds to predetermined differences in the rotational speeds of the turbine wheel and pump wheel.

Claim 5

The combination of claim 3, characterized in that the warning means includes an optical signal transmitter.

Claim 6

The combination of claim 3, characterized in that the warning means includes an acoustic signal transmitter.

Claim 7

The combination of claim 3, characterized in that the warning means includes both an optical and an acoustic signal transmitter.

Claim 8

The combination of claim 3, characterized in that said warning means includes means only indicating a large difference in the rotational speeds of the turbine wheel and the pump wheel that continue for a predetermined period of time.

Claim 9

The combination of claim 2, characterized in that one of the pointer arms is substantially in the form of a circular segment and the other of said pointer arms is substantially pin shaped.

Claim 10

The combination of claim 8, characterized in that the pointer arm in the form of a circular segment is associated with the turbine wheel.

Claim 11

The combination of claim 9, further comprising warning means which responds to predetermined differences in the rotational speeds of the turbine wheel and pump wheel, characterized in that the warning means includes at least one warning signal transmitter.

Claim 12

The combination of claim 1, characterized in that the means to measure the rotational speeds of the pump wheel and the turbine wheel each includes an electric voltage transmitter means producing a voltage dependent on the respective rotational speed thereof.

Claim 13

The combination of claim 1, further comprising warning means which responds to predetermined differences in the rotational speeds of the turbine wheel and pump wheel.

Claim 14

The combination of claim 12, further characterized in that the initiation of the warning means is dependent upon the maintenance of the predetErmined differences in the rotational speeds for a predetermined length of time.

Claim 15

In combination with a drive unit for an automotive vehicle containing a hydraulic clutch or a hydraulic torque converter between a drive engine and a gear shift system, wherein said clutch or converter has a pump wheel and a turbine wheel, a device for monitoring and indicating slippage conditions between the pump wheel and the turbine wheel, comprising means to sense and indicate the temperature of the hydraulic medium in the clutch or torque converter, and warning means responsive to predetermined temperature ranges, further characterized in that delaying means are provided for assuring that said warning means is initiated only after the maintenance of the predetermined temperature over a predetermined period of time.

Claim 16

In combination with a drive unit for an automotive vehicle containing a hydraulic clutch or a hydraulic torque converter between a drive engine and a gear shift system, wherein said clutch or converter has a pump wheel and a turbine wheel, a device for monitoring and indicating slippage conditions between the pump wheel and the turbine wheel, comprising means to sense and indicate the temperature of the hydraulic medium in the clutch or torque converter, and warning means responsive to predetermined temperature ranges, further characterized in that delaying means are provided for assuring that said warning means is initiated only after the maintenance of the predetermined temperature over a predetermined period of time.

Claim 17

The combination of a hydraulic torque converter having a pump wheel and a turbine wheel, and a device for monitoring and indicating the relative rotational speeds of the pump wheel and the turbine wheel, said device comprising means to separately measure the rotational speeds of the pump wheel and the turbine wheel and means to separately display the measured speeds on a common indicator, said display means being connected to one another by a time delay means.

Claim 18

The combination of a hydraulic torque converter having a pump wheel and a turbine wheel, and a device for monitoring and indicating the relative rotational speeds of the pump wheel and the turbine wheel, said device comprising means to separately measure the rotational speeds of the pump wheel and the turbine wheel and means to separately display the measured speeds on a common indicator, said display means being connected to one another by a time delay means.

Claim 19

The combination of claim 15, further characterized in that the display means comprises pointer arms pivoted about a common axis on a calibrated dial.

Claim 20

The combination of claim 15, further comprising warning means which responds to predetermined differences in a rotational speed of the turbine wheel and pump wheel.