Toroidal Impeller And Turbine Patents (Class 60/366)
  • Patent number: 10234007
    Abstract: A hydrokinetic torque coupling device comprising an impeller wheel (2) able to hydrokinetically drive a turbine wheel (3) into rotation, with the impeller wheel (2) being rotationally coupled to a cover (5), with the turbine wheel (3) being able to be axially moved between an engaged position and a disengaged position, wherein it comprises an elastically deformable stress overtaking member (25) axially inserted between the turbine wheel (3) and a part (12) of the cover (5), with the stress overtaking member (25) being able to limit the axial displacement of the turbine wheel (3) towards the above-mentioned part (12) of the cover (5), opposite the turbine wheel (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Valeo Embrayages
    Inventor: Alexandre Depraete
  • Patent number: 9657823
    Abstract: A piston plate assembly for a torque converter comprising: an aperture including a chamfer portion; and, a bushing installed in the aperture and including a radius portion proximate the chamfer portion, wherein the bushing is arranged to seal the piston directly to a transmission input shaft and the radius portion is arranged to ease assembly of the bushing onto the input shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Patrick Lindemann, Chad Mieczkowski, Brian Zaugg
  • Patent number: 8601803
    Abstract: The invention relates to a hydrodynamic clutch having constant or variable filling of work medium having a pump wheel, comprising pump wheel blading, and having a turbine wheel, comprising turbine wheel blading; pump wheel and turbine wheel forming a toroidal work space with one another, which is fillable with the work medium for torque transmission; having a storage space for receiving work medium from the work space, the storage space having a connection which conducts work medium to the work space; the work medium can be conducted from the storage space into the work space to increase the transmittable torque and from the work space into the storage space to reduce the transmittable torque. The hydrodynamic clutch is characterized in that the ratio of the volume of the work space to the installation volume of the hydrodynamic clutch is greater than 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Voith Patent GmbH
    Inventor: Harald Hoffeld
  • Patent number: 8484960
    Abstract: A torque converter for connecting to an input shaft of a transmission including a housing, a turbine housed in the housing, a turbine hub connected to the turbine, the input shaft of the transmission being located within the turbine hub, a piston plate connected to the housing so as to be radially fixed with respect to the housing, and a bushing connected to the piston plate and the turbine hub, the piston plate via the bushing and the turbine hub centering the turbine and the input shaft of the transmission. The bushing may have a radial flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Michael Vansickle
  • Patent number: 8479896
    Abstract: A hydrodynamic retarder having a first blade wheel and a second blade wheel concentric thereto, forming a hydrodynamic circuit grouped about a common rotary axis. Each blade wheel includes a base body and a blade arrangement fixed thereto including a plurality of blades each connected to receptacles in the base body. A first ring segment of at least one blade wheel includes at least one first blade having a flow edge facing the other blade wheel in each case, said edge having at least one extension running in a substantially straight line between the radial outer end thereof and the radial inner end thereof, and at least one second blade is provided in a second ring segment of the blade wheel, the blade having a retraction both opposite the flow edge facing the other blade wheel in each case, and opposite a protrusion protruding in the direction of the other blade wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Thomas Meid, Dirk Huhn, Michael Ptock, Michael Huber, Christian Selinka, Reinhold Mayer
  • Patent number: 8434300
    Abstract: A blade for a torque converter including a body having an outer edge, at least two shell tabs integral to the outer edge and extending therefrom and at least one flexible sealing flange adjacent to at least one of the at least two shell tabs, the at least one flexible sealing flange is integral to the outer edge and extending therefrom, wherein the outer edge is arranged to conform to an inner surface of a shell in a torque converter, the shell having at least two slots arranged therethrough, the at least one flexible sealing flange is arranged to conform to the inner surface of the shell to provide a fluid seal, the at least two shell tabs are disposed through the at least two slots and at least one of the at least two shell tabs is arranged to engage an outer surface of the shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Bhaskar Marathe
  • Patent number: 8291700
    Abstract: A drive train, including a hydrodynamic torque converter with a housing arranged to be rotationally driven by a drive unit for a motor vehicle and an output part. The drive train includes an input shaft for a transmission. The output part is non-rotatably connected to the input shaft. An internal circumference of the transmission input shaft is supported by the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Eugen Kombowski, Stephan Maienschein
  • Patent number: 7958724
    Abstract: A blade for a torque converter including a body having an outer edge, the outer edge arranged to conform to an inner surface of a shell in the torque converter, the shell having at least two slots arranged therethrough, and a surface extending from the outer edge, the surface having at least two tabs, wherein the surface is arranged to conform to the inner surface of the shell to provide a fluid seal, the at least two tabs are disposed through the at least two slots and at least one of the at least two tabs is arranged to engage an outer surface of the shell. The invention further includes a torque converter including the present invention blades and a method of assembling the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Benedikt Wiegert
  • Publication number: 20100294973
    Abstract: Metal coated organic polymer compositions are useful as vehicular transmission parts. Such parts may have lighter weight, and/or superior corrosion resistance, and/or be more easily fabricated than similar conventional transmission parts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2008
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Applicants: MORPH TECHNOLOGIES, INC., E.I. DU PONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPANY
    Inventors: Andri E. Elia, Michael R. Day, Jonathan McCrea, Glenn Steed, Andrew Wang
  • Publication number: 20090113886
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a hydrodynamic machine, especially a hydrodynamic retarder, including a bladed primary wheel and a bladed secondary wheel which are arranged opposite of each other axially with respect to their blade configurations such that they jointly form a working chamber. The working chamber can be filled with a working medium for one operating state in order to transmit torque from the primary wheel to the secondary wheel by means of a circulatory flow of the working medium. The working chamber can be emptied of the working medium for a non-operating state in order to prevent a transmission of torque from the primary wheel to the secondary wheel. A suction apparatus is connected with a fluidic connection to the working chamber in order to suck off working medium and/or air from the working chamber for forming a negative pressure in the working chamber in the non-operating state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2008
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Inventors: Dieter Laukemann, Werner Adams
  • Patent number: 7454902
    Abstract: A torque converter 1 is a device for transmitting torque by fluid, and includes a front cover 14, an impeller 18, a turbine 19, and a stator 20. The impeller 18, the turbine 19 and the stator 20 constitute a fluid operating chamber 6 having a torus shape. Flattening (L/D1) is less than or equal to 0.18, wherein D1 is an outer diameter of the fluid operating chamber 6 and L is the axial direction length of the fluid operating chamber 6. In the impeller shell 22, a surface 22a on which the impeller blades 23 are fixed has an impeller straight portion 22b showing a straight line in a cross section. In the turbine shell 25, a surface 25a on which the turbine blades 26 are fixed has a turbine straight portion 25b showing a straight line in a cross section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Assignee: Exedy Corporation
    Inventors: Takao Fukunaga, Yasunori Kunisaki
  • Patent number: 7225614
    Abstract: An impeller 3 configures a fluid chamber and includes impeller blades 17 and an annular impeller hub 18. A turbine 4 is disposed to face the impeller 3 and includes turbine blades 22 and an annular turbine hub 23 disposed at an inner peripheral side of the turbine blades 22. A ball bearing 8 is disposed between an inner peripheral surface of the impeller hub 18 and an outer peripheral surface of the turbine hub 23. A first stop ring 34 that engages with a first groove 19 and an engagement groove 31a fixes the ball bearing 8 with respect to the impeller hub 18 due to the ball bearing 8 and the impeller hub 18 being brought into close proximity to each other in the axial direction. A second stop ring 35 engaged with a second groove 24a fixes the ball bearing 8 and the turbine hub 23.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: Exedy Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Tanaka, Teruhiko Tanaka
  • Patent number: 7150148
    Abstract: A front cover 5 of a converter cover 4 is formed with a punched hole 12, a thrust bearing 13 having the same outer shape as that of the punched hole 12 is fitted to the punched hole 12, a bearing housing 14 is fitted to the outside, thereby tightly closing the converter cover 4 to support the thrust bearing 13. A thrust applied from a turbine hub 9 to the thrust bearing 13 is received by a flange 14b of the bearing housing 14.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2006
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Yutaka Giken
    Inventor: Masatoshi Takabayashi
  • Patent number: 7032729
    Abstract: A torque converter housing includes an end cover that is secured to an impeller outer wall in a unique manner. The outward portions of the end cover extend in a radial direction but not in an axial direction. The end cover preferably does not extend axially beyond a plane of a clutch supported within the assembly. The impeller outer wall extends axially beyond the plane where it is secured to the end cover. The inventive arrangement changes the location of the connection between the impeller outer wall and the end cover, which enables the use of various other optional and advantageous features of the inventive arrangement. In one example, the impeller outer wall is welded to the end cover. In another example, a threaded connection secures the impeller outer wall to the end cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: RonJo Co.
    Inventors: Ronald E. Prater, Joseph A. Szuba
  • Patent number: 7021438
    Abstract: A power transmission device for an astride-riding vehicle is provided, the power transmission device including a torque converter T and a clutch C disposed in series in a transmission route between an engine E and a gear speed change device M. The torque converter T is arranged so that a pump capacity ? is a maximum at a speed ratio e=0, and gradually decreases in response to an increase in the speed ratio e. Linear properties in which both the engine rotational speed and the turbine rotational speed increase substantially linearly in response to an acceleration operation of the engine can therefore be obtained, thereby providing good drivability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: Yutaka Giken Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seiji Makita, Masafumi Imasaka, Tokuji Yoshimoto
  • Patent number: 6840040
    Abstract: The hydrodynamic coupling includes a pump blade wheel and a turbine blade wheel together forming at least one toroidal operating space capable of receiving an operating medium. The housing at least partially in an axial direction contains the pump blade wheel and forms an intermediate space at least with the pump blade wheel. The pump blade wheel defines at least one connection channel between the toroidal operating space and the intermediate space, the connection channel having at least one directional component that is oriented essentially tangentially to the contour of the circulation of the operating medium in the operating state between the pump blade wheel and the turbine blade wheel. The connection channel provides a partial flow of operating medium in the operating space, providing a rinsing effect for deposits collected on the housing in the intermediate space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2005
    Assignee: Voith Tubro GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Harald Hoffeld, Günther Schüttler
  • Patent number: 6698195
    Abstract: The invention relates to a flow-controlled, hydrodynamic coupling having an operating chamber (5.2) which is formed from a pump impeller (3.2) and a turbine impeller (4.2) and is intended for introducing an operating medium. In order to make it possible for the operating chamber to be completely filled at a slip of 100% even in the case of large torques which are to be transmitted, according to the invention the inlet (3.2.1) for introducing the operating medium into the operating chamber (5.2) is arranged at a point of the operating chamber (5.2) which is situated radially as far outward as possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Voith Turbo GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Walter Hellinger
  • Patent number: 6663044
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a vapor compression cycle environmental control system for use on aircraft. The system includes an environmental control subsystem which supplies pressurized ram air at a desired temperature to the aircraft's flight deck and/or cabin. The environmental control subsystem uses a vapor compression cycle subsystem to provide the ram air at the desired temperature. The system further includes an air turbine driven by engine bleed air to provide power to an aircraft mounted accessory drive and to provide heated air to an anti-ice system. The aircraft mounted accessory drive provides power to an air compressor which forms part of the environmental control subsystem and to a working fluid compressor which forms part of the vapor compression cycle subsystem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Jules Ricardo Munoz, Luca Bertuccioli, Michael K. Sahm, Jay Fletcher, Charles E. Lents, Richard Welch, Steve Squier, Arthur Chris Becker
  • Patent number: 6408621
    Abstract: A fluid coupling assembly 10 is provided and includes a stationary housing 12, which h forms a first chamber 14; an inner housing or output member 16 which is rotatably disposed within chamber 14 and which forms a second chamber 18; and a rotor or drive member 20, which is rotatably disposed within chamber 18. An amount of fluid is contained within chambers 14 and 18 and is used to transmit torque between the rotor 20 and the inner housing 16. Assembly 10 further includes a pump assembly 24 which is effective to circulate the fluid through assembly 10. An electrical valve 30 is coupled to housing 12 and is effective to selectively control the flow of fluid into chambers 14 and 18. A water jacket 32 within housing 12 is used to cool the fluid flowing through assembly 10. Assembly 10 selectively transmits torque from rotor 20 to housing 16, thereby driving the rotation of a fan assembly 34.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: Engineered Dynamics Corporation
    Inventors: George Moser, Gordon Sommer
  • Patent number: 6196551
    Abstract: A seal structure has a seal lip and a splash lip. The splash lip is disposed to contact a rotating shaft at an axial location intermediate the seal lip and a support bushing to prevent a high velocity oil stream, departing between the bushing and the shaft, from impinging the seal lip prior the velocity of the oil stream being reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Steven Wayne Zellers
  • Patent number: 5771691
    Abstract: A torque converter for translating kinetic energy between a prime mover and a transmission including a turbine assembly rotatable about an axis and which includes a shell, a core and a plurality of turbine blades mounted therebetween. The turbine blades have flat working surfaces such that each of the turbine blades is contained in a single plane and such that each of the turbine blades is positioned spatially so as to define an angle Alpha of between -5.degree. and 65.degree. relative to the axis of rotation of the turbine assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Assignee: Borg-Warner Automotive, Inc.
    Inventors: Malcolm E. Kirkwood, Michael E. Fingerman
  • Patent number: 5224348
    Abstract: A coreless torque converter has a unique layout or arrangement of stator, pump impeller and turbine runner, in which at least one of these elements has a portion formed to have an axial dimension which is reduced to minimize an offset amount of a center of swirl generated by working fluid recirculating through the converter to provide a high torque ratio and improved efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1993
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Eiji Ejiri
  • Patent number: 4905471
    Abstract: A great number of blades are disposed in a shell inside with appropriate distances left between them in a circumferential direction of a shell. Each blade has an approximately fan-shaped blade body and a flange protruding from an inner peripheral edge in a prescribed direction along a circumference of a shell. An outer peripheral edge of each blade is secured to the shell. The flange of each blade is made contact with a neighboring blade over the entire circumferential length of the blade, and these contacting portions are secured each other in a watertight manner. A core ring is not installed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 6, 1990
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Daikin Seisakusho
    Inventor: Mitsuyoshi Mori
  • Patent number: 4711328
    Abstract: A hydrodynamic retarder has a centrally disposed chamber which is filled with hydraulic fluid and subjected to centrifugal forces. A valve mechanism, responsive to the operator, is opened by a control valve system when vehicle retarding action is requested to permit rapid filling of the retarder vane space from the centrally disposed chamber. The valve mechanism is also closed by the control valve system after a predetermined time. This accommodates fast filling of the retarder but does not permit air ingestion by the retarder. A passage, in the stationary housing portion of the retarder, is opened to the transmission pump circuit during retarding action to maintain the retarder pressure and fluid circulation for cooling. The central chamber has an air control valve to admit air to the chamber as the chamber empties of hydraulic fluid and to permit air exhaust therefrom when the chamber is refilled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1987
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Rayman E. Bazilio, James F. Hartz, Anthony R. Uliana
  • Patent number: 4483656
    Abstract: A vortex blower having an impeller provided with an annular recess laterally opening around an axis of rotation, a casing disposed so as to face the impeller and cover a radially outer portion of the impeller, an arcuate recess formed around the rotation axis in a portion of the casing which extends between a suction port and a discharge port and opposes to the annular recess, and a plurality of blades provided in the annular recess to divide the recess into a plurality of circumferentially arranged pockets, each having a radially outer end extending towards the arcuate recess beyond the annular recess. The vortex blower having such a construction can operate safely even when drawing air in which dust is suspended.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1982
    Date of Patent: November 20, 1984
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Abe, Katsuo Motosaka
  • Patent number: 3987874
    Abstract: A dual chamber hydrodynamic retarder in a torque converter and power shift gear transmission. The retarder inlet at a point in the stator housing extends radially inward into a radial outer port of one stator in alignment with toric flow. The toroidal flow is divided by transfer ports extending radially outward and axially in the rotor to the other chamber to simultaneously fill both chambers. Each chamber has an outlet at a point in the stator and within its outer diameter dividing axial toric flow into outlet flow and continuing toric flow. Both the inlet and outlet provide toric flow pumping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1975
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1976
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Reece R. Fuehrer, Richard B. Anderson
  • Patent number: 3940929
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1974
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1976
    Inventor: Alexandre Bezimensky