US3852955A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Torque limiting converter stator
Assignee: Motors Liquidation Co
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Filing: 1974-02-08
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Granted: 1974-12-10
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Expires: 1994-02-08
Abstract
Abstract A variable capacity torque converter in which the reactor vanes are pivoted in response to the torque absorption capacity of the impeller to limit the torque output of the turbine. The torque ratio, output torque divided by input torque, of the converter is reduced by controlling the angle of the reactor vanes such that, when the torque capacity of the impeller is at a high value, the torque ratio is lowered to limit the maximum torque that can be delivered by the turbine. The reactor vanes are pivotally mounted on an axially movable member such that fluid flow forces, proportional to impeller capacity, acting on the reactor vanes cause the vanes and the movable member to move axially resulting in pivoting of the vanes to change the torque ratio of the torque converter.
Inventors
- 👤 Q Wonn
- 👤 W Vukovich
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 20:34
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16H; F16H41/00; F16H41/24; F16H41/26; F16H61/00; F16H61/38; F16H61/48; F16H61/50; F16H61/52; F16H61/56
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
161 words
A fluid torque converter comprising, impeller means adapted to be driven by an engine for creating fluid flow in said torque converter; turbine means for delivering torque from said torque converter in response to fluid flow from said impeller; and reactor means for redirecting the fluid flow from said turbine to said impeller including a plurality of vane means angularly disposed in the flow path between said turbine and impeller, annular drum means, and a plurality of pivot means rotatably supported in said annular drum means having one portion secured to the vane means and another portion operatively connected to a relatively stationary member, said vane means and said annular drum means being movable axially relative to said impeller means in response to fluid flow forces on said vane means for changing the angular disposition of said vane means in said flow path for controlling the capacity of said torque converter to limit the maximum output torque of said torque converter.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
161 words
A fluid torque converter comprising, impeller means adapted to be driven by an engine for creating fluid flow in said torque converter; turbine means for delivering torque from said torque converter in response to fluid flow from said impeller; and reactor means for redirecting the fluid flow from said turbine to said impeller including a plurality of vane means angularly disposed in the flow path between said turbine and impeller, annular drum means, and a plurality of pivot means rotatably supported in said annular drum means having one portion secured to the vane means and another portion operatively connected to a relatively stationary member, said vane means and said annular drum means being movable axially relative to said impeller means in response to fluid flow forces on said vane means for changing the angular disposition of said vane means in said flow path for controlling the capacity of said torque converter to limit the maximum output torque of said torque converter.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
149 words
A variable capacity tOrque converter comprising, impeller means adapted to be driven by a prime mover for delivering fluid flow; turbine means for delivering torque from said torque converter in response to fluid flow from said impeller means; and reactor means disposed between said turbine means and said impeller means for redirecting flow therebetween including vane means, an annular member disposed for axial movement between said turbine means and said impeller means in response to fluid flow forces on said vane means, pivotal means for mounting said vane means on said annular member and for pivoting said vane means in the flow path in response to axial movement of said annular member for limiting the capacity of said torque converter, and connecting means including one-way means for preventing rotation of said vanes and annular member in the direction opposite to the rotation of the impeller means and turbine means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
149 words
A variable capacity tOrque converter comprising, impeller means adapted to be driven by a prime mover for delivering fluid flow; turbine means for delivering torque from said torque converter in response to fluid flow from said impeller means; and reactor means disposed between said turbine means and said impeller means for redirecting flow therebetween including vane means, an annular member disposed for axial movement between said turbine means and said impeller means in response to fluid flow forces on said vane means, pivotal means for mounting said vane means on said annular member and for pivoting said vane means in the flow path in response to axial movement of said annular member for limiting the capacity of said torque converter, and connecting means including one-way means for preventing rotation of said vanes and annular member in the direction opposite to the rotation of the impeller means and turbine means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
185 words
A fluid torque converter comprising, impeller means adapted to be driven by an engine for creating fluid flow in said torque converter; turbine means for delivering torque from said torque converter in response to fluid flow from said impeller; and reactor means for redirecting the fluid flow from said turbine to said impeller including a plurality of vane means angularly disposed in the flow path between said turbine and impeller, annular drum means, a plurality of pivot means rotatably supported in said annular drum means having one portion secured to the vane means and another portion operatively connected to a relatively stationary member, spring means for biasing said annular drum means in one direction to establish maximum torque ratio in said torque converter, said vane means and said annular drum means being movable axially relative to said impeller means against said spring means in response to fluid flow forces on said vane means for changing the angular disposition of said vane means in said flow path for reducing the torque ratio of said torque converter to limit the maximum output torque of said torque converter.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
185 words
A fluid torque converter comprising, impeller means adapted to be driven by an engine for creating fluid flow in said torque converter; turbine means for delivering torque from said torque converter in response to fluid flow from said impeller; and reactor means for redirecting the fluid flow from said turbine to said impeller including a plurality of vane means angularly disposed in the flow path between said turbine and impeller, annular drum means, a plurality of pivot means rotatably supported in said annular drum means having one portion secured to the vane means and another portion operatively connected to a relatively stationary member, spring means for biasing said annular drum means in one direction to establish maximum torque ratio in said torque converter, said vane means and said annular drum means being movable axially relative to said impeller means against said spring means in response to fluid flow forces on said vane means for changing the angular disposition of said vane means in said flow path for reducing the torque ratio of said torque converter to limit the maximum output torque of said torque converter.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
228 words
A fluid torque converter comprising, impeller means adapted to be driven by an engine for creating fluid flow in said torque converter; turbine means for delivering torque from said torque converter in response to fluid flow from said impeller; reactor means for redirecting the fluid flow from said turbine to said impeller including a plurality of vane means angularly disposed in the flow path between said turbine and impeller, angular drum means, piston means slidably disposed in said drum means and being positioned therein by inlet pressure to the impeller means, a plurality of pivot means rotatably supported in said annular drum means having one portion secured to the vane means and another portion operatively connected to said piston means, and spring means for biasing said drum means in one direction to establish the maximum torque ratio in the torque converter and said piston means being movable by the inlet pressure to reduce the maximum torque ratio without changing the spring bias, said vane means and said annular drum means being movable axially relative to said impeller means and said piston means against said spring means in response to fluid flow forces on said vane means for changing the angular disposition of said vane means in said flow path for reducing the torque ratio of said torque converter to limit the maximum output torque of said torque converter.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
228 words
A fluid torque converter comprising, impeller means adapted to be driven by an engine for creating fluid flow in said torque converter; turbine means for delivering torque from said torque converter in response to fluid flow from said impeller; reactor means for redirecting the fluid flow from said turbine to said impeller including a plurality of vane means angularly disposed in the flow path between said turbine and impeller, angular drum means, piston means slidably disposed in said drum means and being positioned therein by inlet pressure to the impeller means, a plurality of pivot means rotatably supported in said annular drum means having one portion secured to the vane means and another portion operatively connected to said piston means, and spring means for biasing said drum means in one direction to establish the maximum torque ratio in the torque converter and said piston means being movable by the inlet pressure to reduce the maximum torque ratio without changing the spring bias, said vane means and said annular drum means being movable axially relative to said impeller means and said piston means against said spring means in response to fluid flow forces on said vane means for changing the angular disposition of said vane means in said flow path for reducing the torque ratio of said torque converter to limit the maximum output torque of said torque converter.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
170 words
A variable capacity torque converter comprising, impeller means adapted to be driven by a prime mover for delivering fluid flow; turbine means for delivering torque from said torque converter in response to fluid flow from said impeller means; and reactor means disposed between said turbine means and said impeller means for redirecting flow therebetween including vane means, an annular member disposed for axial movement between said turbine means and said impeller means in response to fluid flow forces on said vane means, crank means for mounting said vane means on sAid annular member and for pivoting said vane means in the flow path in response to axial movement of said annular member for limiting the capacity of said torque converter, connecting means including one-way means for preventing rotation of said vanes and annular member in the direction opposite to the rotation of the impeller means and turbine means, and spring means for biasing said annular member against axial movement and for drive connecting said annular member and said connecting means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
170 words
A variable capacity torque converter comprising, impeller means adapted to be driven by a prime mover for delivering fluid flow; turbine means for delivering torque from said torque converter in response to fluid flow from said impeller means; and reactor means disposed between said turbine means and said impeller means for redirecting flow therebetween including vane means, an annular member disposed for axial movement between said turbine means and said impeller means in response to fluid flow forces on said vane means, crank means for mounting said vane means on sAid annular member and for pivoting said vane means in the flow path in response to axial movement of said annular member for limiting the capacity of said torque converter, connecting means including one-way means for preventing rotation of said vanes and annular member in the direction opposite to the rotation of the impeller means and turbine means, and spring means for biasing said annular member against axial movement and for drive connecting said annular member and said connecting means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-12-09 | 1978-06-10 | 1978-12-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-12-09 | 1982-06-10 | 1982-12-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-12-09 | 1986-06-10 | 1986-12-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |