Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
192300250 | With additional drive or clutch | 23 |
20080202881 | STARTER UNIT - The invention concerns a starter unit having a hydrodynamic clutch with a pump wheel and a turbine wheel which form together a torus-shaped working space, which can be filled and emptied with working medium by way of a supply and discharge medium. A circulatory flow of the working medium can be provided in said working space; at which a throttling component has been provided which can be moved by means of a pressure- controlled adjusting mechanism in order to affect the circulatory flow in and/or at the working space; and a mechanical bridging clutch having at least two coupling elements which can be placed in a friction-locked connection to each other via a pressure-controlled clutch-engaging device so that the pump wheel and the turbine wheel are torque connected. | 08-28-2008 |
20080202882 | Multi-function torque converter with a sealed impeller clutch apply chamber and method of forming and operating a multi-function torque converter - A torque converter including: a sealed liquid-tight fluid-containing chamber; an impeller clutch; and at least one piston for the clutch forming a part of the chamber. A torque converter including: first and second fluid-containing chambers; a torque converter clutch; a piston plate for the clutch having a one-way opening and forming part of the first chamber. The first chamber is liquid-tight for pressure levels greater than in the second chamber. During torque converter mode, fluid flows from a torus through the second chamber and one-way opening into the first chamber. A multi-function torque converter including: an impeller clutch; at least one impeller piston plate; a plate; and a fluid-containing chamber. The chamber is at least partially formed by a combination of one or more of the impeller plates and the plate and the combination is at least indirectly connected to balance axial forces generated by pressurization of the chamber. | 08-28-2008 |
20080308374 | Hydrodynamic torque converter having a bypass clutch - In a hydrodynamic torque converter having a long-life torque converter lock-up or bypass clutch with an axial piston structure for engaging the clutch plates of the clutch and fluid flow control structures are provided for supplying a controlled flow of lubricant to the clutch plates via the axial piston cylinder structure for lubricating and cooling the clutch plates and a torsion damper is provided adjacent the clutch and effective to reduce the transmission of torque oscillations to the vehicle transmission. | 12-18-2008 |
20090229937 | Torque converter reverse clutch system and method of operating a reverse clutch system - A torque converter including a clutch assembly and a channel. The clutch assembly includes: a reverse clutch with a piston plate, the reverse clutch controllably connecting a reverse stator and a drive hub; a forward clutch including the piston plate, the forward clutch controllably connecting a turbine and the drive hub; and a cavity partially formed by the piston plate. The channel supplies fluid to the cavity and to vent fluid from the cavity and the piston plate is displaceable in response to fluid pressure in the cavity to control operation of the reverse and forward clutches. In a preferred embodiment, forces associated with operation of the reverse and forward clutches are balanced within the clutch assembly. The torque converter also includes a clutch rotationally connected to a turbine and a ground and a one-way clutch rotationally connected to a forward stator and the ground. | 09-17-2009 |
20110214958 | FLUID COUPLING LAUNCH DEVICE - A launch device for a vehicle transmission including a housing, an impeller, a turbine, and first and second clutches with first and second pistons, respectively. The first and second pistons are sealingly engaged with one another. The first clutch releaseably engages the impeller with the housing and the second clutch releaseably engages the turbine with the housing. In an example embodiment, the first clutch is disposed radially outside of the second clutch. In an example embodiment, the first clutch is engaged by a first pressure, and the second clutch is engaged by a second pressure greater than the first pressure. | 09-08-2011 |
20110308909 | POWER TRANSMITTING APPARATUSES - A power transmitting apparatus, such as an automotive transmission, can be configured to reduce the size of a torque converter as well as improve the flexibility of the torque converter's layout. A power transmitting apparatus configured to transmit power from a driving source of a vehicle to its wheels and can be configured selectively transmit or cutting-off the driving force to the wheels can comprise a torque converter having a torque amplifying function. A clutch mechanism can include a first clutch device to transmit the driving force to the wheels through a power transmitting system of the torque converter and a second clutch to transmit the driving force without the power transmitting system of the torque converter. A selecting device can control the first clutch device or the second clutch device in accordance with conditions of the vehicle including start of a vehicle from a stop. A damping mechanism for damping torque variation can be configured to transmit power between the driving source and the torque converter. | 12-22-2011 |
20120061198 | POWER TRANSMITTING APPARATUSES - A power transmitting apparatus with improved power transmitting efficiency and reduced lag time for shifting speeds can comprise a starting clutch mechanism configured to selectively transmit and cut off driving power of engine to wheels of a vehicle, a plurality of gear-stage clutch devices operatively positioned to transmit power between the starting clutch mechanism and the wheels, an input and an output of the plurality of gear-stage clutch devices configured at predetermined gear ratios, and a gear-stage selecting device configured to select any one of the gear-stage clutch devices in accordance with a vehicle operating condition and selectively set a gear ratio for power transmission from the engine to the wheels. The gear-stage clutch devices can comprise alternately arranged driving clutch discs and driven clutch discs, and hydraulic pistons. The hydraulic pistons can be configured to selectively engage or disengage the driving clutch discs and driven clutch discs such that driving power of the engine is transmitted to the wheels at a corresponding predetermined gear ratio when the driving clutch discs and driven clutch discs are engaged. | 03-15-2012 |
20120181130 | TORQUE CONVERTER - It is an object of the present invention to inhibit axial size increase and simplify a structure of a torque converter including a clutch disposed between a front cover and an impeller. The torque converter includes a front cover, a housing, a torque converter main body, a lock-up clutch and an impeller clutch. The housing includes an outer periphery coupled to that of the front cover. The torque converter main body, including an impeller, is disposed in a space enclosed by the front cover and the housing. The impeller clutch is disposed between the housing and the impeller for allowing/preventing torque transmission. Further, the impeller clutch includes a plate fixed to a radially outer part of the impeller and a friction facing disposed between the housing and the plate. | 07-19-2012 |
20120241271 | TORQUE CONVERTER CLUTCH AND DAMPER - A clutch and damper assembly for a torque converter includes a clutch piston with a piston friction surface for engaging the clutch and an outer sealing diameter, and a damper. The piston friction surface is disposed radially inward of the damper and the outer sealing diameter is disposed radially outward of the damper. In an example embodiment, the clutch piston includes an inner sealing diameter disposed radially inward of the piston friction surface. In some example embodiments, the damper includes a resilient element and a drive plate. The drive plate is drivingly engaged with the resilient element and frictionally engageable with the clutch piston. | 09-27-2012 |
20120247900 | BEARING CENTERING PLATE CENTERED ON A PISTON - An assembly for a clutch, including a piston plate having an annular portion with a first substantially circumferentially aligned surface, and a bearing centering plate including at least one second substantially circumferentially aligned surface engaged with the first surface, the bearing centering plate arranged to retain a thrust bearing or bushing. An assembly for a clutch, including a piston plate having a first surface aligned with an axis of rotation for the clutch, at a first substantially uniform distance from the axis, and facing radially outward, a thrust bearing or bushing, and a bearing centering plate. The bearing centering plate including at least one second surface arranged to contact the first surface, and at least one third surface aligned with the axis, at a second substantially uniform distance from the axis, facing radially inward or radially outward, and arranged to contact a circumference of the thrust bearing or the bushing. | 10-04-2012 |
20130081916 | TORQUE CONVERTER ASSEMBLY WITH FLUID MANIFOLD - A manifold for a torque converter assembly is disclosed. The manifold may have a base portion configured to be fixedly connected to a frame of a mobile machine. The base portion may have a first face, a second face, and an outer radial surface located between the first face and the second face. The manifold may also have a sleeve portion extending axially away from the second face of the base portion. The sleeve portion may have an outer radial surface. The base portion may further have a first passageway configured to receive hydraulic fluid. The first passageway may have an inlet in the outer radial surface of the base portion and an outlet in the outer radial surface of the sleeve portion. The manifold may also have a second passageway configured to receive hydraulic fluid. The second passageway may have an inlet in the first face and an outlet in the second face. | 04-04-2013 |
20130087425 | MODULAR HYBRID TRANSMISSION - The disconnect clutch and motor of a parallel type hybrid electric vehicle are repositioned within the wet zone of an automatic transmission to compactly and efficiently reconfigure a drive line using a motor and transmission assembly. A drive shell is provided interposed between the engine output and the disconnect clutch input which surrounds the torque converter enabling the torque converter to move independent to the engine output shaft. The resulting structure is compact and provides good structural support and cooling for the disconnect clutch and motor. | 04-11-2013 |
20130140122 | FLUID COUPLING LAUNCH DEVICE - A launch device for a vehicle transmission includes a housing, an impeller, a turbine; and first and second clutches. The first and second clutches include first and second pistons, respectively. The first and second pistons are sealingly engaged with one another. The first clutch releaseably engages the impeller with the housing and the second clutch releaseably engages the turbine with the first piston. In an example embodiment, the first clutch is disposed radially outside of the second clutch and at least a portion of the first piston is disposed axially between the housing and the second piston. In an example embodiment, the first clutch is engaged by a first pressure, and the second clutch is engaged by a second pressure greater than the first pressure. | 06-06-2013 |
20130233664 | TORQUE CONVERTER WITH AN INPUT SHAFT CENTERING FEATURE - A torque converter, including: a cover arranged to receive torque from an engine; a centering flange fixedly connected to the cover and including a radially outwardly facing surface; a turbine; and a vibration damper with a first input component and a flange arranged to contact and engage an input shaft for a transmission to transmit torque to the input shaft. The torque converter includes: a torque convert clutch including a piston plate fixedly connected to the first input component, the piston plate including: a radially innermost distal end arranged to at least indirectly engage the input shaft; and a radially inwardly facing surface at least indirectly engaged with the radially outwardly facing surface. | 09-12-2013 |
20140251744 | ONE-WAY TURBINE WEDGE CLUTCH - A torque converter, including: a cover; a pump shell non-rotatably connected to the cover; a turbine shell; and a one-way clutch including: an outer race non-rotatably connected to the turbine shell and including a groove; an output hub including a first outer surface with first ramps; and at least one wedge plate including a second inner surface with second ramps engaged with the first ramps and a second outer surface disposed within the groove. For rotation of the outer race with respect to the output hub in a first direction, the outer race is rotatable with respect to the at least one wedge plate and the output hub. For rotation of the outer race with respect to the hub in a second direction, opposite the first direction, the at least one wedge plate is arranged to non-rotatably connect the outer race and the hub. | 09-11-2014 |
20150053521 | TWO-PASS MULTI-FUNCTION TORQUE CONVERTER WITH NORMALLY CLOSED IMPELLER CLUTCH - A multi-function torque converter, including: a cover arranged to receive torque; an impeller including an impeller shell and at least one impeller blade connected to the impeller shell; a turbine including a turbine shell and at least one turbine blade connected to the turbine shell; and an impeller clutch including a resilient element urging the impeller shell toward the cover to close the impeller clutch and including at least a portion located radially inward of the at least one impeller blade. | 02-26-2015 |
20150068856 | METHOD OF CONTROLLING CLUTCHES IN A MULTI-FUNCTION TORQUE CONVERTER - A method of controlling a multi-function torque converter including a cover, an impeller shell, a turbine shell, a first pressure chamber at least partially formed by the turbine shell and the cover; a second pressure chamber at least partially formed by the impeller and turbine shells, and a third pressure chamber at least partially formed by the impeller shell and the cover, an impeller clutch including a portion of the impeller shell, and a turbine clutch including a portion of the turbine shell, the method including: pressurizing the first pressure chamber to substantially a first fluid pressure level or to a second fluid pressure level greater than the first level; pressurizing the second pressure chamber to a third fluid pressure level greater than the first and second levels; passively draining the third pressure chamber to be substantially at the first level; and connecting the impeller shell to the cover. | 03-12-2015 |
20150096857 | STATOR ASSEMBLY WITH INNER RACE PILOT RING - A stator assembly for a torque converter includes a housing, a blocking element, an inner race, and a first ring. The housing includes a plurality of stator blades, a central axis, and a pocket. The blocking element is disposed in the pocket and is pivotable about an axis parallel to the central axis. The inner race includes an outer notch for engaging the blocking element, an inner spline for engaging a transmission shaft, and a first outer piloting surface. The first ring is for radially positioning the housing on the inner race first outer piloting surface. In some example embodiments, the housing includes a bore and the first ring is pressed into the housing bore. In some example embodiments, the housing includes a radially extending surface in contact with the first ring. In an example embodiment, the radially extending surface limits axial displacement of the inner race. | 04-09-2015 |
20150114779 | TORQUE CONVERTER HAVING INTEGRATED FLEX PLATE FOR HYBRID ELECTRIC VEHICLE - An assembly includes a torque converter concentric with an axis, a rotor hub drivably connected for rotation about the axis to an electric machine and selectively to an engine through a disconnect clutch, a coupler located between the rotor hub and torque converter, providing a rotational connection and an axial connection between the coupler and the rotor hub, and a flex plate providing second rotational and axial connections between the coupler and the torque converter. | 04-30-2015 |
20150114780 | TORQUE CONVERTER FLEX PLATE FOR HYBRID ELECTRIC VEHICLE - An assembly includes a torque converter concentric with an axis and including a casing, a rotor hub drivably connected for rotation about the axis to an electric machine, a coupler connected to the rotor hub, and a flex plate coupled for elastic displacement between the coupler and a surface of the casing that faces away from the coupler. | 04-30-2015 |
20160109011 | APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING OPERATION OF A TORQUE CONVERTER - An apparatus for controlling an operation of a torque converter having a turbine and an impeller includes a drive member, a first clutch member, and a second clutch member. The drive member is configured to rotate in unison with an output shaft of a prime mover. The first clutch member is associated with the impeller and disposed in selective engagement with the drive member. The first clutch member is configured to allow rotation of the impeller and cause torque multiplication to occur in the torque converter upon engagement of the drive member with the first clutch member. The second clutch member is associated with the turbine and disposed in selective engagement with the drive member. The second clutch member is configured to allow rotation of the output shaft of the prime mover and the turbine in unison upon engagement of the drive member with the second clutch member. | 04-21-2016 |
192300260 | Simultaneously operative clutches | 1 |
20110233019 | POWER TRANSMITTING APPARATUS - A power transmitting apparatus for transmitting power from a driving source of a vehicle to its wheels can be adapted to properly select transmitting or cutting-off of the driving force of the driving source to or from the wheels. The apparatus can comprise a torque converter having a torque amplifying function; a clutch mechanism including a first clutch device operable on advancement of the vehicle and adapted to transmit the driving force of the driving source to the wheels through a power transmitting system of the torque converter and a second clutch device adapted to transmit the driving force of the driving source to the wheels without the power transmitting system of the torque converter. A selecting device can be configured to operate the first clutch device and/or the second clutch device in accordance with operation modes of the vehicle, including starting. | 09-29-2011 |
192300270 | Alternatively operative clutches | 1 |
20140299432 | AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FOR VEHICLE - A vehicle automatic transmission of a multistage type having a plurality of shift stages selectively established depending on a combination of engagement and release of multiple engagement elements, comprises: a torque converter coupled to an input rotating member of the automatic transmission; an oil pump coupled to a pump side of the torque converter, at least one of the multiple engagement elements being a meshing engagement element, and the meshing engagement element being at least partially disposed on an inner circumferential side of at least one of the torque converter and the oil pump. | 10-09-2014 |