JP5009646B2 - Torque converter lockup damper device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a lockup damper device for a torque converter, and relates to a lockup damper device in which a plurality of damper springs arranged on different radii are connected in series via a separator.

  As is well known, a torque converter is a type of joint that can transmit engine power to a transmission using a working fluid as a medium. A pump impeller that is turned by the engine and a movement of the working fluid that is sent out by the rotation of the pump impeller. The turbine runner that rotates around the turbine runner, and the stator that changes the direction of the working fluid from the turbine runner and guides it to the pump impeller.

  Therefore, a plurality of blades are arranged at predetermined intervals at a predetermined angle on the pump impeller, turbine runner, and stator. The working fluid sealed in the torque converter is sent from the pump impeller through the blades in the outer circumferential direction, travels along the inner wall of the case of the torque converter, hits the blade of the turbine runner, and the turbine runner is the same as the pump impeller. It works to turn in the direction. Further, the working fluid sent out after hitting the turbine runner is changed in the flow direction so as to hit the blades of the stator and promote the rotation of the pump impeller, and flows into the pump impeller again from the inner periphery.

  FIG. 12 shows a cross section of a conventional torque converter. In the figure, (a) shows a pump impeller, (b) shows a turbine runner, (c) shows a stator, and (d) shows a piston, which are accommodated in a torque converter outer shell (e). Therefore, the front cover (f) rotates with the power from the engine, and the pump impeller (a) integrated with the front cover (f) rotates. As a result, the turbine runner (rotor ) Turns.

  A shaft (not shown) is fitted to the turbine hub (g) of the turbine runner (b), and the rotation of the turbine runner (b) can be transmitted to a transmission (not shown). Since the torque converter is a kind of fluid clutch, when the rotation speed of the pump impeller (a) is low, the rotation of the turbine runner (ro) can be stopped (the car can be stopped), but the pump As the rotational speed of the impeller (b) increases, the turbine runner (b) starts to rotate, and as the speed further increases, the speed of the turbine runner (b) approaches the rotational speed of the pump impeller (b). However, in the torque converter using the working fluid as a medium, the rotational speed of the turbine runner (b) cannot be the same as that of the pump impeller (b).

  Therefore, as shown in the figure, a piston (d) is provided in the torque converter outer shell (e), and when the rotational speed of the turbine runner (b) exceeds a predetermined region, The piston (d) moves in the axial direction and operates to engage with the front cover (f). Since a friction material (h) is attached to the outer periphery of the piston, the piston (d) can rotate at the same speed as the front cover (f) without slipping. The piston (d) is connected to the turbine runner (b), and the turbine runner (b) is directly rotated by the piston (d), and the power from the engine is transmitted to the transmission via the fluid. It can be transmitted with high efficiency of almost 100% without any loss.

  In this way, when the rotational speed of the turbine runner (b) increases and a certain condition is reached, the piston (d) engages with the front cover (f). ) And the front cover (f) are not completely the same in rotational speed, and the piston (d) engages with the front cover (f) to generate an impact based on the speed difference. In order to mitigate the impact at the time of engagement, and not transmit the torque fluctuation of the engine after engagement, between the piston (d) and the turbine runner (b), a damper spring (re), (re) ..., A lockup damper (N) equipped with is attached.

  Therefore, when the piston (d) rotating at the same speed as the turbine runner (b) is engaged with the slightly faster front cover (e), the speed of the piston (d) increases momentarily and the turbine runner ( (B) Torque to rotate faster is applied. The damper springs (re), (re),... Are configured to absorb and absorb this shocking torque. The piston (d) is coaxially attached to the turbine hub (g) of the turbine runner (b), but the damper spring (re), (re),. It has a structure capable of producing a phase difference.

  Conventionally, various structures of lock-up dampers are known. For example, a “damper mechanism” according to Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-169714 has a plurality of units connected in series via an intermediate member to ensure a wide torsion angle characteristic. This is a damper mechanism in which the elastic member (damper spring) is arranged on the outer peripheral portion, and the movement of the connecting portion of the elastic member including the intermediate member is restricted to stabilize the damper characteristics.

  Therefore, the lockup damper mechanism includes a retaining plate, a driven member, a coil spring arranged in series in the outer peripheral portion, an intermediate member, and a pressing plate that restricts the axial movement of the intermediate member. Yes. The coil spring elastically connects the retaining plate and the driven member. In this case, the intermediate member is rotatable relative to the retaining plate and the driven member, and an intermediate support portion disposed between the coil springs and an annular coupling portion that restricts the movement of the intermediate support portion in the radial direction outside. And have.

  FIG. 13 shows a specific example of a conventional lock-up damper (nu). This lock-up damper (nu) is provided with an intermediate member (le), and damper springs (re) and (re) are attached in series. That is, it has a piston-side spring retainer (e) and a turbine-side spring retainer (wa), (f), and the piston-side spring retainer (e) is sandwiched between the turbine-side spring retainer (wa), (f). .

  Then, two damper springs (re) and (re) are accommodated in the spring accommodating space (yo) formed in the turbine side spring receiver (wa) and (f), and both damper springs (re) and (re) An intermediate support portion (t) of the intermediate member (le) is interposed therebetween, and the damper springs (re) and (re) are in series. And, between the two damper springs (re) and (re) adjacent to the two damper springs (re) and (re) in series with the intermediate support part (t) interposed between them, a ring-shaped A spring retainer (re) projecting inside the piston side spring retainer (e) is interposed.

  By the way, when the piston (d) engages with the front cover (f), the rotational speed of the piston (d) increases momentarily, and as a result, engages with the piston (d) on the outer periphery. The rotational speed of the piston-side spring retainer (e) also increases, and the damper springs (re) and (re) in series are appropriately compressed and deformed. By this compression deformation, the impact torque when the piston (d) engages with the front cover (f) is relieved.

By arranging the damper springs (re), (re),... In series, a large compressive deformation can be realized, so a relatively small impact torque can be absorbed. However, the conventional lock-up damper device is an arrangement in which two damper springs (re) and (re) are arranged in series as shown in FIG. 13, and a larger number of damper springs (re), ( Re) ... is difficult to arrange.
"Damper mechanism" according to JP-A-10-169714

  As described above, in the conventional torque converter, the damper springs of the lock-up damper are connected in series. However, there is a problem in space when a larger number of damper springs are connected in series. The problems to be solved by the present invention are these problems. By connecting a large number of damper springs in series, the piston can be engaged with the front cover at a lower engine speed so as to be in a lock-up state. A lock-up damper device that can be used is provided.

  The lock-up damper device of the torque converter targeted by the present invention expands the twist angle so as to efficiently relieve the impact torque when the piston engages with the front cover by connecting the damper springs in series. I can do it. Moreover, the damper springs are not arranged in series on the same radius, but damper springs arranged on different radii are arranged in series.

  A plurality of damper springs are paired in series on the inner diameter side, and a pair of damper springs that are paired in this manner are arranged at a plurality of locations, and a plurality of damper springs are also paired in series on the outer diameter side. The pair of damper springs that make up this pair is arranged at a plurality of locations. By the way, in order to serially connect a plurality of damper springs arranged on the inner diameter side, a first separator serving as an intermediate support part is rotatably attached, and an intermediate support part for serially connecting a plurality of damper springs arranged on the outer diameter side; The second separator is attached rotatably.

  Further, a third separator is rotatably attached in order to connect the inner diameter side damper spring and the outer diameter side damper spring in series. An input side plate is fixed to the piston to restrain the damper spring, while an output side disk is attached to the turbine side and connected to the inner diameter side damper spring or the outer diameter side damper spring. However, the present invention does not limit the arrangement form of the inner diameter side damper springs and the arrangement form of the outer diameter side damper springs, and the connection structure between the damper spring and the piston arranged on the input side and the damper spring arranged on the output side. The connection structure with the turbine runner is not limited.

  Since the lock-up damper device targeted by the present invention has damper springs arranged in series, it can be greatly expanded and contracted when the piston is engaged with the front cover, and the effect of suppressing impact is great. In particular, in the present invention, damper springs are arranged on the inner diameter side and the outer diameter side, respectively, and since these springs are arranged in series, the spring coefficient becomes small, and a relatively small impact torque can be absorbed. I can do it.

  For this reason, even in a speed range where the engine speed is low, the piston can be engaged with the front cover to be in a lock-up state, which leads to an improvement in fuel consumption. In the conventional serial configuration, if the spring coefficient of the damper spring is large and the lockup state is established in a region where the engine speed is low, the amount of compressive deformation of the damper spring is small and is directly transmitted to the turbine side as a large impact torque.

  In the present invention, the damper springs on the inner diameter side and the outer diameter side are arranged in series, so that the spring coefficient is reduced and the amount of compressive deformation when receiving the impact torque is increased. However, the auxiliary damper is provided in the damper spring. By housing the spring, the spring coefficient when the deformation exceeds a certain region can be increased, and the relative rotation angle between the piston and the turbine runner is regulated by providing a stopper.

  FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a torque converter provided with a lockup damper device of the present invention. The basic structure is the same as that of the conventional torque converter shown in FIG. 1, where 1 is a pump impeller, 2 is a turbine runner, 3 is a stator, and 4 is a piston. It is accommodated in the converter outer shell 5. The front cover 6 rotates by receiving power from the engine, and the pump impeller 1 integrated with the front cover 6 rotates. As a result, the turbine runner 2 rotates through the working fluid.

A shaft (not shown) is fitted on the turbine hub 7 of the turbine runner 2 so that the rotation of the turbine runner 2 can be transmitted to a transmission (not shown).
When the rotational speed of the turbine runner 2 exceeds a predetermined region, the piston 4 provided in the torque converter outer shell 5 moves in the axial direction and engages with the front cover 6, and the piston 4 slides. Without rotating at the same speed as the front cover 6. The piston 4 is connected to the turbine runner 2, and the turbine runner 2 is directly rotated by the piston 4.

  As described above, when the rotational speed of the turbine runner 2 becomes high and a certain condition is reached, the piston 4 engages with the front cover 6, but before the engagement, the rotational speed of the turbine runner 2 and the front cover 6. Are not completely the same, the piston 4 is engaged with the front cover 6 to generate an impact based on the speed difference. In order to alleviate the impact at the time of engagement and not transmit the torque fluctuation of the engine after the engagement, between the piston 4 and the turbine runner 2, the damper springs 8, 8. A lock-up damper device 10 with a-is attached.

  The present invention is characterized by this lock-up damper device, and is particularly characterized by the arrangement of the damper springs 8, 8,... And the damper springs 9, 9,. When the piston 4 rotating at the same speed together with the turbine runner 2 is engaged with the slightly faster front cover 6, the speed of the piston 4 increases instantaneously, and a torque that tries to rotate the turbine runner 2 faster acts. To do. The damper springs 8, 8... And the damper springs 9, 9.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the lock-up damper device 10 is provided with damper springs 8, 8,... On the inner diameter side and damper springs 9, 9,. The ability to absorb and relax is improved. That is, it is configured to absorb a relatively small impact torque.

  FIG. 2 is an embodiment showing a front view of the lockup damper device. A disk-shaped plate 11 is fixed to the piston 4 via rivets 12, 12,... .. Are provided between the piston 4 and the damper springs 8, 8... On the inner diameter side. Two springs 8 and 8 are accommodated in one spring accommodating portion 13, and a first intermediate support portion 14 is interposed between the damper springs 8 and 8 and arranged in series. For this purpose, a first separator 15 formed with the first intermediate support portions 14, 14... Is rotatably mounted between the plate 11 and the piston 4.

  A second separator 16 is rotatably mounted between the plate 11 and the piston 4. The plate 11 is riveted with a spacer 17 between the piston 4 and the rotation of the second separator 16 is guaranteed. .. Are provided between the outer periphery of the plate 11 riveted to the piston 4 and the second separator, and two second spring accommodating portions 18 are provided in one second spring accommodating portion 18. Damper springs 9, 9 are accommodated.

  The two damper springs 9 and 9 are arranged in series with a second intermediate support portion 19 interposed therebetween. For this reason, the second intermediate support portions 19, 19. The third separator 20 having the structure is attached so as to be rotatable. In the lockup damper device 10 of the present invention, two damper springs 8 and 8 are accommodated in the first spring accommodating portion 13 in series on the inner diameter side, and two damper springs 9 and 9 are disposed in series on the outer diameter side. In the second spring accommodating portion 18. And the damper springs 9 and 9 of the outer diameter side in series are connected in series with the damper springs 8 and 8 of the inner diameter side in series.

  The second separator 16 can connect the damper springs 8 and 8 on the inner diameter side and the damper springs 9 and 9 on the outer diameter side in series. FIG. 3 is an embodiment showing the internal structure of the lockup damper device 10. FIG. 4 shows the plate 11 constituting the lockup damper device 10. The plate 11 has a hole in the center, the first spring accommodating portions 13, 13, 13 are provided around the plate 11, and the spring receivers 21, 21, 21 of the damper springs 9, 9,. is doing.

  FIG. 5 shows the first separator 15 alone, but the first intermediate support portions 14, 14, 14 are provided at three locations on the inner periphery of the ring-shaped first separator 15. The first intermediate support portion 14 is interposed in series between the two damper springs 8 and 8 accommodated in the first spring accommodating portion 13. Therefore, if the plate 11 fixed to the piston 4 rotates rapidly with respect to the turbine 2, the damper springs 8 and 8 accommodated in the first spring accommodating portion 13 are compressed and deformed, and the second interposed therebetween. The 1st intermediate support part 14 moves and the 1st separator 15 can rotate.

  If the two damper springs 8, 8 connected in series via the first intermediate support portion 14 come into contact with the spring receiver 22 provided in the second separator 16 and the plate 11 rotates together with the piston 4, The two damper springs 8 and 8 are compressed and deformed to press the spring receiver 22. As a result, the second separator 16 attached between the piston 4 and the plate 11 can rotate.

  FIG. 6 is an embodiment showing the second separator 16 alone. The second separator 16 substantially forms a ring body, and the spring receivers 22, 22, 22 are provided at three locations on the inner periphery, and a spring retainer 23 is disposed on the outer peripheral side at the same position as the spring receivers 22, 22, 22. , 23, 23 are provided. The outer side damper springs 9, 9,... Are housed in second spring housing portions 18, 18,... Formed between the outer ring 24 of the second separator 16 and the spring receiver 21 provided on the outer periphery of the plate 11. In addition, two damper springs 9 and 9 are arranged in series between the spring retainers 23 and 23. The outer ring 24 is formed with guide portions 32, 32,... So that the damper springs 9, 9,... Housed in the second spring housing portions 18, 18,. ing.

FIG. 7 shows an embodiment showing the third separator 20. The third separator 20 of the ring body is provided with second intermediate support portions 19, 19, 19 at three locations on the inner periphery.
The damper springs 9, 9,... Are disposed on the inner diameter side of the third separator 20, and the second intermediate support portions 19, 19, 19 provided on the inner periphery are arranged in the second spring accommodating portions 18, 18, 18 with 2 The damper springs 9, 9,... Are connected in series by the book being interposed between the damper springs 9, 9,.

    Therefore, if the damper springs 8, 8... On the inner diameter side are compressed and deformed to press the spring receivers 22, 22... And the second separator 16 rotates as a result, the spring retainers 23, 23 of the second separator・ ・ Damper springs 9, 9,... Then, the spring receivers 25, 25,... Provided on the outer periphery of the output side disk 31 attached to the turbine hub 7 together with the turbine runner 2 are pressed as the damper springs 9, 9,. become. FIG. 8 shows a specific example of the output side disk.

  Here, the damper springs 9, 9,... Are arranged on the inner diameter side of the third separator 20, and the third separator 20 rotates with compression deformation. Therefore, the damper springs 9, 9,... Have little frictional sliding with the third separator 20, and the hysteresis of the damper springs 9, 9,.

  FIG. 14 shows a conventional torque converter in which damper springs (re), (re),... Are arranged in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the piston (d). In this way, when the damper springs (re), (re) ... are in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the piston, the damper springs (re), (re) ... The intermediate member (le) rotates in accordance with the compression deformation, and each of the damper springs (re), (re),... Generates frictional slip between the inner peripheral surface of the piston (d).

  However, in the present invention, the third separator 20 exists on the outer diameter side of the damper springs 9, 9. Since the second intermediate support portions 19, 19,... Are provided inside the third separator 20, and the damper springs 9, 9,... Are connected in series, the rotation of the third separator 20 is effective. There is no frictional sliding with the damper springs 9, 9.

  The spring receivers 25, 25,... Are provided at the same positions as the spring retainers 23, 23,... Formed on the second separator 16, and two springs 25, 25,. The both ends of the damper springs 9, 9... Received are in contact with the spring receivers 25, 25. Stoppers 26, 26, and 26 are provided at three locations on the inner diameter side of the output side disk 31. Contact pieces 27, 27, 27 formed on the inner diameter side of the plate 11 shown in FIG.

  That is, when the damper springs 8, 8... And the damper springs 9, 9,. The contact pieces 27, 27,... Of the plate 11 hit the stoppers 26, 26,. Further, auxiliary damper springs 28, 28,... Are fitted and combined with the inner diameter portions of the damper springs 9, 9,... Arranged on the outer diameter side, so that the compression deformation of the damper springs 9, 9,. The spring retainers 23, 23,... Of the second separator 16 hit the auxiliary damper springs 28, 28,.

  The auxiliary damper springs 28, 28,... Have a large spring coefficient and work to suppress the rotation of the second separator 16 if the spring retainers 23, 23,. When the auxiliary damper springs 28, 28,... Are compressed to some extent, the stoppers 26, 26,.

  FIG. 9 shows another embodiment of the torque converter provided with the lockup damper device 10 according to the present invention. Although it has substantially the same structure as the torque converter of FIG. 1, the form of the output side disk is different. The output side disk 29 in FIG. 9 is attached to the outer periphery of the turbine runner 2, and the stopper 30 is fixed to the turbine hub 7. FIG. 10 shows the output side disk 29 alone, and FIG. 11 shows the stopper 30.

The torque converter provided with the lockup damper apparatus of this invention. The front view of the lockup damper apparatus which concerns on this invention. Internal structure of the lockup damper device. Plate that constitutes the lock-up damper device. The 1st separator which comprises a lockup apparatus. A second separator constituting the lockup damper device. A third separator constituting the lockup damper device. Output side disk fixed to the turbine hub. A torque converter including a lockup damper device according to the present invention. Output side disk attached to the outer periphery of the turbine runner. Stopper that constitutes the lock-up damper device. Conventional torque converter. Conventional lock-up damper device. Conventional torque converter.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Pump impeller 2 Turbine runner 3 Stator 4 Piston 5 Torque converter outer shell 6 Front cover 7 Turbine hub 8 Damper spring 9 Damper spring
10 Lock-up damper device
11 plates
12 rivets
13 First spring housing
14 First intermediate support
15 First separator
16 Second separator
17 Spacer
18 Second spring housing
19 Second intermediate support
20 Third separator
21 Spring holder
22 Spring holder
23 Spring presser
24 outer ring
25 Spring holder
26 Stopper
27 per piece
28 Auxiliary damper spring
29 Output disk
30 Stopper
31 Output disk
32 Guide section

Claims (8)

A lockup damper device that is housed in a torque converter, elastically connects a turbine runner and a piston, and absorbs torque fluctuations of the engine in a lockup state in which the piston is engaged. A plurality of damper springs, each of which is paired with a first intermediate support portion provided in a first separator that is rotatably accommodated in a plurality of spring accommodating portions provided at a plurality of locations on the inner diameter side. The damper springs are connected in series, and are accommodated in spring accommodating portions provided at a plurality of locations on the outer diameter side, and are paired with a second intermediate support portion provided on a third separator mounted rotatably. a plurality of damper springs in series, the series in those inner diameter side of the damper spring and the outer diameter side of the second separator the damper spring yet another who is Connected by state, connects the input side of the damper spring on the piston, the output side of the damper spring connected to the turbine runner side, and the third separator being restricted axial movement by the piston and a second separator A torque converter lock-up damper device. The lockup damper device for a torque converter according to claim 1, wherein an auxiliary damper spring having a large spring coefficient is fitted to the inner diameter portion of the damper spring. The lockup damper device for a torque converter according to claim 1 or 2, wherein damper springs on the outer diameter side are arranged on the inner diameter side of the third separator and are arranged in series with a second intermediate support portion interposed therebetween. 4. The lockup damper device for a torque converter according to claim 1, wherein a guide portion is formed on an outer periphery of the second separator so that the outer diameter side damper spring does not move toward the turbine runner side. A lockup damper device that is housed in a torque converter, elastically connects a turbine runner and a piston, and absorbs torque fluctuations of the engine in a lockup state in which the piston is engaged. A plurality of damper springs, each of which is paired with a first intermediate support portion provided in a first separator that is rotatably accommodated in a plurality of spring accommodating portions provided at a plurality of locations on the inner diameter side. The damper springs are connected in series, and are accommodated in spring accommodating portions provided at a plurality of locations on the outer diameter side, and are paired with a second intermediate support portion provided on a third separator mounted rotatably. A plurality of damper springs are connected in series, and the damper spring on the inner diameter side and the damper spring on the outer diameter side are connected in series with another second separator. The input side damper spring is connected to the piston, the output side damper spring is connected to the turbine runner side, and the first separator and the second separator are restricted from moving in the axial direction by the piston and the plate. A lockup damper device for a torque converter, characterized in that The lock-up damper device for a torque converter according to claim 5, wherein an auxiliary damper spring having a large spring coefficient is fitted to an inner diameter portion of the damper spring. The lockup damper device for a torque converter according to claim 5 or 6, wherein damper springs on the outer diameter side are arranged on the inner diameter side of the third separator and are arranged in series with the second intermediate support portion interposed therebetween. 8. The lockup damper device for a torque converter according to claim 5, wherein a guide portion is formed on the outer periphery of the second separator so that the outer diameter side damper spring does not move toward the turbine runner side.

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