Abstract: A transmission for use in the power train of a motor vehicle has a rotary first component (such as a shaft), a second component which may but need not be rotatable, a fluid-conveying conduit having a first end portion extending into a first socket provided in the first component and a second end portion extending into a socket of the second component, a split-ring piston packing located in an external groove of the first end portion, and an O-ring received in an external groove of the second end portion. The O-ring prevents the conduit and the second component from rotating relative to each other.

Abstract: The housing of a hydrokinetic torque converter in the power train between the engine and the transmission of a motor vehicle contains a lockup valve which can be engaged to transmit torque directly from the output element of the engine to the output member of the turbine in the housing. Engagement of the lockup clutch at a relatively low RPM of the engine and/or under certain other circumstances is prevented or minimized by the provision of one or more valves which are designed to establish or to at least partially seal one or more paths for direct flow of hydraulic fluid between two compartments forming part of a chamber in the housing of the torque converter and being disposed at opposite sides of the axially movable piston of the lockup clutch. The valve or valves can be designed to react in response to changing RPM of the housing of the torque converter, in response to changes of the temperature of hydraulic fluid in the housing and/or in response to changes of the viscosity of such fluid.

Abstract: An infinitely variable transmission including a torque sensor, wherein torque is transmitted from a rotary input shaft to a rotary output shaft. The transmission includes adjustable sheaves for axial movement on the input and output shafts of the transmission and that are controlled by hydraulic piston and cylinder units. The torque sensor shifts the adjustable sheaves, which are urged towards each other by a force dependent upon the transmitted torque, into frictional engagement with an endless flexible element that drives the output shaft of the transmission. Retaining elements retain the hydraulic piston and cylinder units and adjustable sheaves on the input and output shafts of the transmission in a predetermined axial position when pressure is applied in a first direction during operation of the transmission, and permit the components to be shifted axially in the opposite direction to simplify assembly/disassembly procedures of the transmission and to reduce manufacturing costs.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for controlling a torque transmitting system and the torque transmittable by the torque transmitting system in a power train of a vehicle with a transmission and an engine, and with at least one actuator controllable by a control unit, such as an actuating unit, for operating the torque transmitting system. This is accomplished in that, in at least one operating state, such as starting or acceleration state, the control unit shifts between at least two operating states of the torque transmitting system in which the system transmitting different torques, so that a different, such as a higher or a lower, torque can be selected and transmitted in the respective operating states for providing a different, such as a higher or a lower, torque to power the vehicle.

Abstract: A motor vehicle has a continuously variable transmission and a hydraulic device to perform the functions of changing as well as maintaining the ratio of the continuously variable transmission. The hydraulic device comprises a valve arrangement with at least one connector terminal for controlling a transmission ratio change and at least one connector terminal for maintaining the transmission ratio at a set level.

Abstract: A clutch between the combustion engine and the manual multiple-gear-ratio transmission in the power train of a motor vehicle is disengaged or otherwise adjusted in response to a signal from a control unit which processes signals transmitted by sensors serving to monitor the positions and/or the extent of movements of one or more mobile components of the manual transmission. A signal to disengage or to otherwise adjust the clutch is generated when the monitored position(s) of and/or the magnitude(s) of force(s) acting upon one or more mobile components indicate that the operator of the motor vehicle intends to shift the transmission into or from a selected gear ratio.

Abstract: A flexible torque-transmitting device (1) such as a chain belt that runs in an endless loop around a first and second pair of conical disks in a continuously variable transmission of a motor vehicle includes means to keep the transverse force-transfer elements (2a, 2b) from becoming dislodged out of their seating positions in the lengthwise-running links (3a, 3b, 3c) of the chain belt.

Abstract: A continuously variable transmission with two adjustable pulleys and an endless torque-transmitting chain trained over the pulleys has a torque sensor which transmits variable torque from the rotary output element of a prime mover (such as the engine of a motor vehicle) to the axially movable flange of one of the pulleys. The torque sensor comprises one or more rolling elements and cam faces and/or guide surfaces which confine the rolling element(s) to movements radially and/or axially of the respective pulley. At least the rolling element(s) and those components of the torque sensor which define the cam faces and/or the guide surfaces of the torque sensor are confined in a fluid-containing plenum chamber adjacent the axially movable flange of the one pulley to thus achieve a pronounced reduction of space requirements of the unit including the one pulley and the torque sensor in the axial direction of the one pulley.

Abstract: A continuously variable transmission for use in the power train of a motor vehicle has parallel input and output shafts, an adjustable pulley on each shaft, an endless torque transmitting chain or belt trained over the pulleys, and a torque sensor which transmits variable torque from the engine of the motor vehicle to the pulley on the input shaft. The torque sensor also serves to initiate and regulate the adjustments of the pulleys.

Abstract: A power train for us in a motor vehicle has a prime mover (such as a combustion engine), an automated gearbox which transmits torque to the wheels of the vehicle, a friction clutch between the prime mover and the gearbox, a computerized control unit which receives signals from several sensors, and one or more actuators which operate the clutch and/or the gearbox in response to signals from the control unit. The actuator for selecting the gear ratio of the gearbox and for shifting the gearbox into and from selected gears employs two transmissions each of which has a worm gearing receiving torque from a discrete electric motor of the actuator and a spur gearing which transmits motion from the respective worm gearing to a mobile component of the gearbox. The connection between the worm and spur gearings in at least one of the transmissions can comprise a damper cooperating with one or more sensors serving to transmit signals to the control unit.

Abstract: The invention relates to a hydrodynamic torque converter including a turbine wheel arranged inside of a housing, a torque converter lockup clutch, an axially mounted piston, a torsional vibration damper and a hub. The turbine wheel and the piston are rotationally fixed to the input component of the damper. The input component is connected to the hub by means of a connection provided with a circumferential backlash. The output component of the damper is connected to the hub without circumferential backlash.

Abstract: A hydrokinetic torque converter is provided with a lockup clutch wherein the piston and other constituents of the lockup clutch are adequately cooled during each stage of operation of the torque converter and its clutch. The piston of the lockup clutch and/or the component which cooperates with the piston to transmit torque from the housing directly to the turbine of the torque converter is provided with a friction lining which establishes a portion of the path for the flow of fluid coolant between the fluid-filled compartments at opposite sides of the piston. The rate of fluid flow between the compartments is regulated by one or more adjustable valves which are carried by the housing of the torque converter and/or by the piston of the lockup clutch.

Abstract: A continuously variable chain-belt transmission has two cone-disk pulleys (pairs of conical disks) (4, 5), a chain belt (2) as well as a noise-damping device (23) for damping the noise generated by the chain-belt running over the cone-disk pulleys. The noise-damping device is arranged at the bearings of the conical disks (4, 5) and prevents sound waves from being transmitted through material portions of the transmission from the conical disks to adjacent parts.

Abstract: A hydrokinetic torque converter in the power train between the engine and the wheels of a motor vehicle has a rotary engine-driven housing which is of one piece with a pump and contains a rotary turbine having a hub which drives the input shaft of a transmission. A lockup clutch can be engaged, either entirely or with slip, to transmit torque from the housing or from the pump to the hub of the turbine. Such clutch can employ flat or conical friction linings and/or friction surfaces, for example, a friction lining on the shell of the turbine and a friction surface on a wall of the housing. The shell of the turbine in the torque converter employing such clutch is movable axially to advance the friction lining into or from engagement with the friction surface. Alternatively, the lockup clutch can be installed in a torus which is defined by the turbine and the pump of the torque converter, and such clutch can be cooled by one or more streams of a hydraulic fluid.

Abstract: The invention relates to improvements in dampers which can be utilized in the power trains of motor vehicles to absorb torsional vibrations of the rotary output shaft of the engine and/or torsional vibrations of the rotary input element of a change-speed transmission normally receiving torque by way of a torque converter. One of the dampers is installed externally of the housing of the torque converter and, if used, another damper can be installed in the power flow between the piston of a lockup clutch in the housing of the torque converter and a turbine of the torque converter. The external damper can include an energy storing component and a friction generating component which latter is or can be sealed from the energy storing component.

Abstract: An endless chain for the transmission of torque between adjustable pulleys of a continuously variable transmission has a series of successive composite links. The neighboring links of the series have overlapping portions with registering openings for composite rocker elements each having two bolts carrying projections at the sides of the chain to abut the adjacent links and/or to oppose unintentional separation of the bolts from the respective links. At least one of the bolts carries a single projection; for example, each bolt can carry a single projection and the projections of the bolts constituting a rocker element can be located at opposite sides or at the same side of the chain. The projections can be of one piece with or can be affixed to the respective bolts. The bolts can be inserted into the respective openings at the one or the other side of the chain.

Abstract: The invention relates to a pressure medium system with at least one valve and one pressure medium supply, whereby a differential pressure can be purposely controlled in a positive and negative pressure area, especially for controlling a torque converter lockup clutch of a hydrodynamic torque converter.

Abstract: A hydrokinetic torque converter for use with a transmission in the power train of a motor vehicle has a housing rotatable by the engine and containing a pump, a turbine and at least one stator as well as a rotary output device connected to the input shaft of the transmission. The pump is normally rotatable by the housing; the turbine is rotatable (a) by the fluid which is circulated by the pump or (b) by the housing in response to engagement of a lockup clutch; and the stator can be connected to the stationary case of the transmission or is rotatable by the circulating fluid. First and second hubs are non-rotatably but axially movably mounted on the output member and are respectively connectable with the turbine and the stator by suitable clutches.

Abstract: A hydrokinetic torque converter, which exhibits important advantages regarding the consumption of fuel and the operation at low RPM in the power train of a motor vehicle, has a stator, a pump and a turbine which jointly form a toroidal structure having a meridian cross-sectional outline which is asymmetrical with reference to at least one axis other than the rotational axis of the housing of the torque converter.

Abstract: A motor vehicle has a clutch which is controlled by an electronic clutch management system. When the vehicle is in gear with the engine running and is stationary or almost stationary with no gas being given, the system causes the clutch to become engaged just enough to make the vehicle creep.