Hydrodynamic torque converter including a releasable turbine member

Claim 2

A torque converter of the type having a rotating casing enclosing a working chamber having therein a pump member including at least one ring of pump blades, a reaction member including at least one ring of guide blades and a turbine member including one or more rings of turbine blades, and a turbine shaft which comprises the output of the torque converter, said turbine member forming the sole fluid force transmitting means within the working chamber for transferring fluid forces to the turbine shaft, said turbine shaft including a radial extension completely free of fluid force transmitting blades and fixedly connected to the turbine shaft for rotation therewith, at least one of said turbine member and said turbine shaft extension being a movable member movable axially towards and away from the other, such that the turbine member and the said extension are relatively movable between at least a first position in which the turbine member is connected to the said turbine shaft extension for rotation with the turbine shaft and a second position in which all of said blades of the turbine member are completely released from the turbine shaft extension to rotate in relation to the turbine shaft such that no fluid forces are transferred by the turbine member to the turbine shaft.

Claim 3

A torque converter according to claim 1, including means for creating a fluid pressure differential on opposite sides of said movable member, the axial movements of said movable member being responsive to said pressure differential for movement between said first and second positions.

Claim 4

A torque converter according to claim 2, wherein the said extension is located on the side of the turbine member opposite from the working chamber.

Claim 5

A torque converter according to claim 3, wherein the turbine member is the movable member and including a maximum pressure valve in the turbIne member to determine the magnitude of the said pressure differential across the turbine member.

Claim 6

A torque converter according to claim 3, including a friction clutch arranged to engage the turbine member with the said turbine shaft extension, said friction clutch forming a seal to seal the space between the turbine member and the extension.

Claim 7

A torque converter according to claim 5, wherein said friction clutch is a cone clutch.

Claim 8

A torque converter according to claim 6, wherein one part of the cone clutch is formed on the radially outermost portion of the said extension, and the other part of the cone clutch is formed on the radial outermost portion of the turbine member.

Claim 9

A torque converter according to claim 7, including a first passageway in the torque converter leading to the working chamber containing the pump, turbine and reaction members, and a second passageway in the torque converter leading to a space between the turbine shaft extension and the turbine member, the connection of the turbine member to the turbine shaft being effected by conveying fluid into the working chamber through the first passageway and venting the space between the turbine shaft extension and the turbine member through the second passageway, and release of the turbine member from the turbine shaft being effected by oppositely directing the flow of fluid in said first and second passageways.

Claim 10

A torque converter according to claim 8, wherein the torque converter includes a feeder fluid pump, valve means directing fluid either to the first passageway to the working chamber or to the second passageway to the space between the turbine shaft extension and the turbine member and venting the other passageway, said valve means including at least one maximum pressure valve downstream from the feeder fluid pump between the space formed by the turbine member and the turbine shaft extension and the working chamber and at least one maximum pressure valve in a line leading to and from the working chamber of the torque converter.

Claim 11

A torque converter according to claim 2, including means for directing pressurized fluid through the transmission to one side of said movable member for causing a pressure differential in one direction to engage the turbine member with the turbine shaft extension, and means for reversing the direction of flow through the torque converter to direct the pressurized fluid to the opposite side of the movable member to release the turbine member and the turbine shaft extension.

Claim 12

A torque converter according to claim 10, including a maximum pressure valve permitting fluid of a pre-determined pressure to flow through the movable member in either direction while maintaining the existing pressure differential.

Claim 13

A torque converter according to claim 1, wherein each of said pump, reaction and turbine members includes only one blade ring thereon.

Claim 14

A torque converter according to claim 12, wherein the reaction member ring is mounted on a free-wheel allowing the reaction member to rotate freely in one direction.

Claim 15

A torque converter according to claim 13, wherein the reaction member is fixedly mounted on a stationary part of the torque converter, the blading system being formed so as to allow connection of the rotating casing to the turbine shaft without abnormal direct drive losses.

Claim 16

A torque converter according to claim 1, including a driving source member drivingly engaged with the said rotating casing, said engagement including studs on one member projecting into radial slots in the other member, and including a layer of elastic material surrounding said studs and contacting both the studs and the sides of said slots.

Claim 17

A torque converter according to claim 1, wherein the space between the turbine member and the said turbine shaft extension forms a first chamber, and including means responsive to a pressure differential between the chamber and the area surrounding the chamber for moving the said movable member between said first and Second positions.

Claim 18

A torque converter according to claim 16, said movable member being the turbine member, and including a friction clutch formed by facing surfaces on the turbine member and the turbine shaft extension, which clutch is engaged in the said first position.

Claim 19

A torque converter according to claim 17, wherein said friction clutch is a cone clutch.

Claim 20

A torque converter according to claim 1, including a maximum pressure valve across the movable member for fluid circulation during the said first position.

Claim 21

A torque converter according to claim 19, said maximum pressure valve being located in the radial inner portion of the movable member.

Claim 22

A torque converter according to claim 1, including a direct drive means for drivingly engaging the rotating casing with the turbine shaft for direct drive.

Claim 23

A torque converter according to claim 21, wherein said direct drive means includes means for drivingly engaging the rotating casing with the said turbine shaft extension for direct drive from the rotating casing through the turbine shaft extension to the turbine shaft.

Claim 24

A torque converter according to claim 22, wherein the turbine member and the turbine shaft extension constitute first and second elements of a servo-motor, respectively, and means for creating a pressure differential on opposite sides of the turbine member for establishing said first position, and said direct drive means including a means for creating a pressure differential across the turbine shaft extension for engaging the turbine shaft extension with the rotating casing in said direct drive position.

Claim 25

A torque converter according to claim 23, including a first clutch having frictional surfaces arranged to contact each other to engage the turbine member and the turbine shaft extension in said first position.

Claim 26

A torque converter according to claim 24, said clutch being a cone clutch.

Claim 27

A torque converter according to claim 24, wherein at least the radially outermost portion of the torque converter is axially movable towards and away from the rotating casing, and including a further clutch having frictional surfaces arranged to contact each other to engage the turbine shaft with the rotating casing for direct drive.

Claim 28

A torque converter according to claim 26, wherein the said further clutch is a cone clutch.

Claim 29

A torque converter according to claim 26, including a maximum pressure valve in at least one of said servo-motor elements to establish the magnitude of the pressure differential thereacross.

Claim 30

A torque converter according to claim 26, wherein the said frictional surfaces of the first clutch are formed on facing surfaces of the turbine member and the turbine shaft extension, and the said frictional surfaces of the second clutch are formed on facing surfaces of the turbine shaft extension and the rotating casing.

Claim 31

A torque converter according to claim 29, wherein the first clutch is constructed to act as a seal to enclose the space between the turbine member and the turbine shaft extension, and the second clutch is constructed to act as a seal to enclose the space between the turbine shaft extension and the rotating casing.

Claim 32

A torque converter according to claim 26, wherein the turbine member is the movable member which moves between the first and second positions, and including a spring means resisting the said outward part of the turbine shaft extension towards the rotating casing.

Claim 33

A torque converter according to claim 26, including a first passageway in the torque converter leading to the space between the turbine shaft extension and the rotating casing and a second passageway leading to a space between the turbine shaft extension and the turbine member, and including means for conveying fluid to and from the said passageways in the following manner: (a) into the said second passageway at a reduced pressure and venting said fluid through the first passageway for releasing both of said friction clutches, (b) introDucing pressurized fluid at a pressure substantially higher than said reduced pressure into said second passageway for engaging said further clutch to establish direct drive between the rotating casing and the turbine shaft extension, and (c) introducing pressurized fluid through said first passageway and venting said fluid through said second passageway for engaging the first said friction clutch between the turbine shaft extension and the turbine member in said first position.

Claim 34

A torque converter according to claim 32, including an adjustable multi-way valve movable to one position to open a vent for pressurized fluid from a source, to establish a vent from the space between the turbine shaft extension and the casing and simultaneously to provide a restricted connection to the space between the said extension, and the turbine member, said valve being movable to a second position to convey pressurized fluid from the supply source to the space between the said turbine shaft extension and the rotating casing, said fluid then passing through a maximum pressure valve and being vented through said valve, and said valve further being movable to a third position to control the supply of pressurized fluid to the space between said turbine shaft extension and the turbine member and to vent the space between said turbine shaft extension and the rotating casing, and including a remote control device for adjusting the position of said multi-way valve.

Claim 35

A torque converter according to claim 26, wherein both of said frictional clutches are cone clutches, the said frictional surfaces of the first clutch being formed on the facing surfaces of the turbine member and the turbine shaft extension, and the frictional surfaces of the second clutch being formed on the facing surfaces of the turbine shaft extension and the rotating casing, both of said cone clutches having substantially the same conical angle, and the friction surfaces of the said further friction clutch having a lower coefficient of friction than the surfaces of the first said friction clutch.

Claim 36

A torque converter according to claim 1, including a friction clutch arranged to engage the turbine member with the turbine shaft extension, said friction clutch forming a seal to seal the space between the turbine member and the extension.

Claim 37

A torque converter according to claim 35, said friction clutch being a cone clutch.

Claim 38

A torque converter comprising: a rotating casing including in a working chamber a pump member, a turbine member and a reaction member, a turbine shaft comprising the torque converter output, said turbine member forming the sole fluid force transmitting means within the working chamber for transferring fluid forces to the turbine shaft, said turbine shaft having a radial extension completely free of fluid force transmitting blades and fixedly connected to the turbine shaft for rotation therewith, said turbine shaft extension and said turbine member forming a space therebetween, and including means for creating a pressure differential between said space and the area surrounding said space, and means responsive to said pressure differential for engaging and disengaging a coupling device of the torque converter to respectively drivingly engage the turbine member and the turbine shaft and to completely disengage the turbine member and the turbine shaft such that no fluid forces are transferred by the turbine member to the turbine shaft, said coupling including at least one of said turbine member or turbine shaft extension.

Claim 39

A torque converter comprising: a rotating casing including in a working chamber a pump member, a turbine member and a reaction member, a turbine shaft comprising the torque converter output, said turbine member forming the sole fluid force transmitting means within the working chamber for transferring fluid forces to the turbine shaft, said turbine shaft having a radial extension completely free of fluid force transmitting blades and fixedly connected to the turbine shaft for rotation therewith, said turbine shaft extension and said turbine member forming a space therebetween, and including means for creating a pressure differential between said space and the area surrounding said space, and means responsive to said pressure differential for engaging and disengaging a coupling device of the torque converter to respectively drivingly engage the turbine member and the turbine shaft and to completely disengage the turbine member and the turbine shaft such that no fluid forces are transferred by the turbine member to the turbine shaft, said coupling including at least one of said turbine member or turbine shaft extension.

Claim 40

A torque converter according to claim 37, wherein said coupling includes means for connecting the turbine member to the turbine shaft extension.

Claim 41

A torque converter according to claim 32, wherein the said coupling includes means for connecting the turbine shaft extension to the rotating casing.

Claim 42

A torque converter of the type having a rotating casing forming therein a working chamber having therein a pump member including at least one ring of pump blades, a reaction member including at least one ring of guide blades and a turbine member including one or more rings of turbine blades, and a turbine shaft which comprises the output of the torque converter, said turbine member forming the sole fluid force transmitting means within the working chamber for transferring fluid forces to the turbine shaft, said turbine shaft including a radial extension completely free of fluid force transmitting blades and fixedly connected to the turbine shaft for rotation therewith, at least one of said turbine member and said turbine shaft extension being a movable member movable axially towards and away from the other to respectively engage a coupling to drivingly connect the turbine member and the said extension together or release the coupling to completely release the turbine member from the turbine shaft extension for rotation in relation to the turbine shaft such that no fluid forces are transferred by the turbine member to the turbine shaft, said coupling consisting of surfaces to be engaged and disengaged with each other by means of a servo-motor, which servo-motor includes said movable member.

Claim 43

A torque converter of the type having a rotating casing forming therein a working chamber having therein a pump member including at least one ring of pump blades, a reaction member including at least one ring of guide blades and a turbine member including one or more rings of turbine blades, and a turbine shaft which comprises the output of the torque converter, said turbine member forming the sole fluid force transmitting means within the working chamber for transferring fluid forces to the turbine shaft, said turbine shaft including a radial extension completely free of fluid force transmitting blades and fixedly connected to the turbine shaft for rotation therewith, at least one of said turbine member and said turbine shaft extension being a movable member movable axially towards and away from the other to respectively engage a coupling to drivingly connect the turbine member and the said extension together or release the coupling to completely release the turbine member from the turbine shaft extension for rotation in relation to the turbine shaft such that no fluid forces are transferred by the turbine member to the turbine shaft, said coupling consisting of surfaces to be engaged and disengaged with each other by means of a servo-motor, which servo-motor includes said movable member.

Claim 44

A torque converter according to claim 40, wherein the turbine member is the movable member and constitutes the moving part of the servo-motor.

Claim 45

A torque converter according to claim 41, in which the coupling for operatively connecting the turbine member and the turbine shaft extension is a friction coupling.

Claim 46

A torque converter according to claim 41, in which the said coupling consists of only two surfaces.

Claim 47

A torque converter according to claim 43, in which the coupling surfaces are carried by the said turbine member and the said turbine shaft extension.

Claim 48

A torque converter according to claim 44, wherein the coupling surfaces are friction surfaces.

Claim 49

A torque converter according to claim 40, including a direct drive means for drivingly engaging the rotating casing with the turbine shaft extension for direct drive, and wherein both said turbine member and said turbine shaft extension are movable members of the servo-motor, the turbine shaft extension being movable into and out of engagement with the casing for engaging and disengaging the direct drive, and the turbine member being movable into and out of engagement with the turbine shaft extension for engaging and disengaging the hydraulic drive of the torque converter.

Claim 50

A torque converter according to claim 46, including means for delivering pressurized fluid into the space between the turbine shaft extension and the casing and out from the space between the turbine shaft extension and the turbine member, and for reversing the flow to deliver pressurized fluid into the space between the turbine shaft extension and the turbine member and out through the space between the turbine shaft extension and the casing.