Abstract: A fluid coupling interposed between an induction motor and a load has an impeller and a turbine together defining a working chamber connected via radially inward and radially outward passages with a delay chamber on the impeller side of a corotating housing. The two sets of passages are selectively blockable by shutters that are controlled by an evaluator, inserted in a space between the motor and load shafts, which also accommodates a power supply consisting of one or more batteries. The evaluator responds to several sensors, measuring such parameters as motor torque, load speed and acceleration, to drain or refill the working chamber.

Abstract: A hydrodynamic power transmission unit is constructed with cylindrical bearings positioned in the annular space between the outer hollow driver shaft and the concentrically disposed inner driven shaft and flow channels are provided to not only supply lubricating oil to the cylindrical bearings independently of the drive fluid supplied to the impeller and turbine discs but also to remove the spent lubricating oil in a way that it does not mix with the drive fluid. The resultant transmission unit, which can be used as a clutch for driving the cooling fan of an internal combustion engine, is more reliable and less expensive than prior art transmission units, and less noisy.

Abstract: An attachment for automatically connecting a torque converter impeller housing to an engine output member including splines on the output member, splines on the impeller housing, a plurality of ramp surfaces on impeller housing, and a corresponding plurality of resilient tangs on the engine output member. When the torque converter impeller housing is supported on the transmission and shifted as a unit with the latter toward the engine the splines automatically engage to connect the impeller housing and the engine output member for unitary rotation while the ramp surfaces first cam the tangs to positions permitting unrestricted movement of the impeller housing to an assembled position and are thereafter automatically engaged by the tangs to prevent withdrawal from the assembled position.

Abstract: A hydrodynamic reversing transmission wherein each of the forward and reverse drive trains between the input and output shafts has a starting torque converter with a stationary housing, a rotary turbine wheel and a set of adjustable guide vanes. The draining lines of the torque converters have inlet portions which are connected with the respective housings and are oriented in such a way that the direction of fluid flow therein is identical with or closely approximates the direction of fluid flow between the adjacent blades of the turbine wheel when the respective torque converters are operated within the counterbraking range. Each inlet portion has an aperture which is in permanent communication with the sump. The ratio of the outer diameter to the inner diameter of each turbine wheel is between 1.1 and 1.25, and the ratio of distances between the tips of neighboring blades of the turbine wheel to the outer diameter of the turbine wheel is between 0.06 and 0.09.

Abstract: A pressure regulating device for use in a hydraulic control system for an automatic transmission having a torque convertor, a gear transmission and an hydraulic control system provides a first pressure regulating valve for regulating the pressurized fluid output from a pump to a line pressure level, and applying the line pressure to the hydraulic control system. A second pressure regulating valve regulates the pressure of an excess portion of fluid supplied to the hydraulic control system from the first pressure regulating valve, and supplies the excess fluid to the torque convertor and regions requiring lubrication. Overheating of fluid in the torque convertor is prevented at low pressures by a bypass passage which assures at least a minimum fluid flow through the torque convertor at all times.

Abstract: A multiple stage energized fluiel flywheel is contained within a housing. An axially extending shaft is rotatably mounted within the housing. Fluid is introduced into the unit through an initial axial flow section and further pressure increases are experienced in a radial blower section and an annular squirrel cage section peripherally arranged about the radial blower. Pressurized fluid discharged from the squirrel cages is directed to either a peripheral exhaust ring which discharges pressurized fluid to the reservoir interior or to an adjacent hydraulic motor. The hydraulic motor includes a rotor which is secured to the stator section of the initial axial pumping section. The axial shaft, radial blower, squirrel cage and exhaust section rotate as a unit in one direction of operation. The hydraulic motor and axial pumping section stator rotate as a unit in the opposite direction of rotation. The flywheel may operate using air, hydraulic fluid or other motive fluids.

Abstract: A hydraulic torque converter with a toroidal space bounded by a pump member, a turbine member and a free-wheeling stator has an inlet channel for fresh transmission fluid (oil) which opens into the pump torus at a location spaced from the pump member, preferably via the stator, whereby the relatively cool volume of newly admitted fluid mingles with the fluid already present instead of being immediately centrifugated toward the peripheries of the pump and turbine members from which it would quickly return to the sump. The inlet channel may include one or more radial passages in a spacer ring separating the stationary races of the journal bearings by which the pump member and the stator are supported on a trunnion rigid with the converter housing.

Abstract: A hydrocentrifugal machine is disclosed in which the rotor is a vortex-expeller rotor defining two generally spiral-shaped vortex-expeller passages and a hydraulic induction coil comprising a helical, inwardly-opening channel is affixed to the inner face of the outer, cylindrical wall of the centrifugation chamber.

Abstract: A pressure limiter-regulator for a hydraulic control circuit. In a single body, a single spring acts both on a central spindle, which provides the pressure regulating function, and on a ball which provides the limiting function. The invention is applicable to the hydraulic feeding of a hydrokinetic torque converter.

Abstract: A torque converter assembly including means for reducing the axial thrust loading transmitted to the crankshaft by which the torque converter is driven and to thereby reduce thrust wear of the crankshaft bearing. This means includes a thrust washer loosely retained in the turbine hub of the torque converter and a shaft bolt securing the thrust washer and turbine hub to the end of a transmission input shaft driven by the torque converter. Also, the torque converter is coupled to the engine flywheel by a plug-in mounting comprising a plurality of drive lugs secured to the torque converter housing and received in aligned bores formed in the face of the flywheel.

Abstract: A primary pump drive for automatic motor vehicle transmissions, in which the primary pump is adapted to be driven directly from the input and is arranged with its axis parallel to the input axis. The pump is constructed as an internally toothed pump and its internally toothed wheel is provided with teeth at the external circumference thereof, into which engage the teeth of a gear connected with the input.

Abstract: A hydraulic machine including a turbine and a pump oriented for the same direction of rotation and axially spaced apart on a common shaft, and having a casing extending between the external turbine strut ring and the external pump strut ring in which a pump inverter is housed, the casing having an internal separating wall dividing it into two chambers, into one of which the pump inverter discharges.

Abstract: A centrifugal clutch for mechanical transmission which includes a two-part casing and an internal rotor with a pseudo-fluid, material between the casing and rotor, wherein a face of the rotor opposite a face of the casing has a succession of grooves or waves which are substantially sinu-soidally shaped in a peripheral direction, and wherein each internal face of the casing has a succession of concave pockets, which are substantially egg-shaped, as formed by an internal section of an egg-shell cut lengthwise through the egg, with the wider end of the egg cut off to a radius which will conform to the inside diameter of the casing, and with the narrower end of the egg cut off to a radius which will conform to the outside diameter of an internal boss within the casing.The two parts of the casing are joined together to form an annulus and the areas separating the pockets are chamfered adjacent the edges of the pockets and are flat or convex between the chamfered portions.

Abstract: A fluid drive transmission in which a moving fluid is used to connect the drive and driven members together. The drive and driven members both comprise rollers having longitudinally mounted, spiral shaped vanes extending about their periphery. The rollers are mounted in end to end spaced relationship in a common housing with a greater radial spacing provided between the periphery of the driving member and the housing than between the periphery of the driven member and housing. The system further includes a combined apparatus for supplemental braking which includes a valve connected in a closed hydraulic path between the ends of the housing. The valve is effective to retard the pressurized flow of the fluid upon application of the brakes thus assisting in slowing down the speed of operation of the transmission and retarding the drive output.

Abstract: A continuous brake (retarder) for vehicles, especially for heavy trucks or the like, which utilizes a hydrodynamic circulatory system in the form of a driven hydrodynamic coupling whose operating fluid is conducted into an external circulatory system by way of a cooler or radiator; a separate cooler is coordinated to the hydrodynamic coupling which serves at the same time as feed pump for the operating fluid; additionally, the hydrodynamic coupling is operatively connected with a turbine in the external circulatory system which serves for the drive of a separate fan coordinated to the separate cooler.

Abstract: A fluid coupling comprising a first member secured on a first shaft, a second member secured on a second shaft in axial alignment with said first shaft, and an annular fluid race chamber, one of said members having a vaned annulus within said fluid race chamber and the other said member presenting at least one gate into the fluid race chamber, said gate, or each gate, being arranged to allow the vaned annulus of the vaned member to pass relative thereto while obstructing the circumferential flow of fluid along the race chamber and whereby, when the race chamber is charged with fluid and the assembly is rotated, the fluid flows in the race chamber generate to a pressure gradiant acting circumferentially of the axis of rotation to create a pressure difference across the, or each, gate to impart rotation to the gated member.

Abstract: The rotor and stator wheels of a hydrodynamic retarder, with confronting annular gorges together defining a toroidal channel of circular or slightly elliptical cross-section, have blades within their gorges which are of wedge-shaped cross-section and have slightly rounded edges that may or may not coincide with the radial direction. The blades have flat leading and trailing flanks, the former including an angle of about 45.degree. - 55.degree. with the plane of rotation so as to be inclined to the axial direction at an angle of about 35.degree. to 45.degree.; the vertex angle of the wedges lies between about 15.degree. and 20.degree.. Such a blade structure can be cast in a unitary mold from which it is extracted by a helicoidal twisting motion. A suitable radius of curvature for the edge rounding is in the range of about 1.5% to 4% of the channel diameter.

Abstract: A fluid coupling, of the kind in which the filling of its working circuit is determined by a movable trimming scoop, is driven by an electric motor. The coupling output drives a high-inertia load such as a long, loaded conveyor belt. During start-up, filling control means for the coupling increases the coupling filling except when the transmitted torque, determined by sensing the motor current, exceeds a predetermined value. The movable scoop is then held stationary to hold the degree of filling of the coupling constant until the torque again drops below the predetermined value.

Abstract: Two closely juxtaposed coaxial disks, one fixed and the other rotatable, are formed with confronting annular grooves partitioned by slanting vanes into coextensive pockets designed to decelerate the rotation upon the admission of hydraulic fluid into a chamber formed around the rotatable disk by the fixed disk and a brake housing secured thereto. The fixed disk has a limitedly rotatable annular insert which carries at least a part of each stationary vane thereof and can be moved between a working position in which its pockets are mutually isolated and an idling position in which these pockets intercommunicate either directly or through an external space. The annular insert may be urged into the idling position by a set of springs whose force is overcome, upon the production of hydraulic fluid, by the reaction torque exerted upon the stationary vanes.

Abstract: A hydrodynamic coupling for driving pumps, fans, and the like at variable shaft speeds includes coaxial primary and secondary impellers. The space defined within these impellers contains variable quantities of working fluid for transmitting the shaft torque from one impeller to the other. One of the impellers is equipped with a co-rotating casing, which encloses the other impeller and may serve to force working fluid into the working chamber. The fluid exits from the working chamber through an aperture in the higher-lying impeller and returns to a storage chamber from which a conduit transports it to the casing. A control valve in the conduit permits external flow control.

Abstract: A speed-sensitive device comprises a cylinder mounted on a shaft and rotatable therewith. The cylinder contains liquid that is pushed by the action of centrifugal force against a piston, the piston being connected to engage a clutch when the shaft speed reaches a predetermined minimum value. A speed-sensitive valve opens a bore connecting the opposite sides of the piston when the speed is above a minimum value to prevent a vacuum affecting the operation. The principal application is to a fluid coupling and the device operates a mechanical clutch that "locks up" the fluid coupling above the predetermined speed to prevent slip losses therein.1. Field of the InventionThe present invention is concerned with a speed sensitive device for power transmissions, and especially but not exclusively with a speed-sensitive lock-out device that is particularly suitable for use with fluid couplings and clutches.2.

Abstract: Drive apparatus providing input gearing with an input shaft adapted to be connected to a single-shaft gas turbine, output gearing with an output shaft for connection to a load, a fluid coupling interconnecting the input and output gearing, and fluid supply apparatus for directing metered fluid to the fluid coupling to control the amount of coupling, which provides for the speed of the output shaft to be varied, thus enabling the powering of loads characteristically having high starting and uneven running torques, such as positive displacement pumps and compressors.

Abstract: A temperature and speed responsive control for a fluid coupling adapted to drive a cooling fan for an internal combustion engine. The coupling is of the hydrokinetic type and includes an input or drive member adapted to be driven by the engine, an output or driven member defining a housing adapted to carry the fan, a fluid working chamber defined by the drive and driven member, a cylindrical sleeve controlled by a fluid pressure and operative to vary the output speed by controlling fluid circulation in the working chamber, means in the working chamber for producing the fluid pressure, and temperature and speed responsive means for controlling the fluid pressure to the sleeve in response to temperature and speed changes.

Abstract: A fluid drive composed of three coaxial cylindrical members mounted coaxially within a cylindrical housing. The outer of the three coaxial members is fixedly secured to an output shaft and the inner of the three coaxial members is fixedly secured to an input shaft. The intermediate cylindrical member has vanes for fluid interaction with vanes on the inner and outer cylinders.

Abstract: The invention relates to a hydrodynamic transmission system comprising at least one pump and a bladed turbine arranged to form a toroidal fluid circuit.The leading edges of the blades of the pump and turbine are inclined relative to the corresponding radial plane, and the blades are designed in such a way as to extend the path followed by the streams of fluid nearest the centre relative to the path followed by the streams of fluid furthest away from the centre. There is thus obtained a reduction in the shock and friction losses to improve performance and increase the starting torque.Disclosed application is to automobile vehicles.

Abstract: A temperature and speed responsive control for a fluid coupling adapted to drive a cooling fan for an internal combustion engine. The coupling is of the hydrokinetic type and includes an input or drive member adapted to be driven by the engine, an output or driven member defining a housing adapted to carry the fan, a fluid working chamber defined by the drive and driven member, a cylindrical sleeve controlled by a fluid pressure and operative to vary the output speed by controlling fluid circulation in the working chamber, means in the working chamber for producing the fluid pressure, and temperature and speed responsive means for controlling the fluid pressure to the sleeve in response to temperature and speed changes.