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Patent 1040509 Summary

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(12) Patent: (11) CA 1040509
(21) Application Number: 1040509
(54) English Title: HYDRODYNAMIC TORQUE CONVERTERS
(54) French Title: CONVERTISSEURS DE COUPLE HYDRODYNAMIQUES
Status: Term Expired - Post Grant Beyond Limit
Bibliographic Data
Abstracts

English Abstract


ABSTRACT OF DISCLOSURE
This invention relates to hydrodynamic torque
converters and to torque converter blade systems. A
torque converter in accordance with the invention is
particularly suitable for transmissions for vehicles
where a more or less distinct top speed is required even
when direct drive is not used and where it is important
to avoid the simultaneous existence of high torque
absorption and low efficiency at high speed ratios.
The blade system is characterised by a range of ratios
for the radii of the outlet and inlet edges of pump,
turbine and guide blades as well as a range of angles
.alpha., .beta., ? and ? as herein defined on pages 20 and
21 of the Specification and set out in a tabular form
on page 23 of the Specification.


Claims

Note: Claims are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.


THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN
EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED
AS FOLLOWS:
1. A hydrodynamic torque converter comprising a rotatable
casing enclosing a closed circuit for circulation of a work-
ing fluid defined by a torroidal working chamber having an
annular core therein, the closed circuit including in cross-
section an outflow section, an inflow section and radial
inner and radial outer transition regions connecting the
inflow and outflow sections, a blade system located within
the working chamber and including a ring of pump blades,
a ring of guide blades, and a ring of turbine blades, the
blades of the blade system being generally radially dis-
posed within the working chamber in accordance with the
parameters set out in the following table, in which Ro/Ri
is the ratio of the outlet and inlet radii for the res-
pective rings of blades, .alpha. (alpha) is the inlet angle of
the blades,.beta. (beta) is that angle formed between a chord
drawn for a blade and a radial line drawn from the centre
of rotation of the system and the outermost edge of the blade,
? (gamma) is the angle subtended at the centre of rotation
of the blade system by the innermost edges of two adjacent
blades, ? (delta) is a measure of the curvature of the
blade, and in which the radii of the outermost edges of
the pump (R3) and turbine (R4) blades are at least 85%
of the maximum, radius of the torroidal working chamber.
- 24 -

T A B L E
<IMG>
2. A torque converter according to Claim 1 wherein the ring of
pump blades is fixedly mounted against rotation in either
direction and including a lock-up clutch.
3. A torque converter according to Claim 1 wherein the ring
of guide blades is rotationally fixed relative to a stationary
abutment.
4. A torque converter according to Claim 1 wherein the ring of
guide blades is mounted on a free wheel carried by a stationary
abutment.
5. A torque converter according to Claim 1 wherein the ring of
turbine blades is rotationally fixedly carried by a turbine
shaft constituting an output for the converter.
- 25 -

6. A torque converter according to Claim 4 wherein the -free
wheel includes a spring member having a connecting spring
force providing a slip torque between 0.5 and 1% of
torque converter, torque absorption at maximum efficiency point
so as to reduce the slip speed.
7. A torque converter according to Claim 1 in which the
blades of the said turbine ring have an inlet radius of about
.3% of the length of the blade and the blades of the said guide
ring have a nose radius about 13% of the length of the blade.
8. A torque converter according to Claim 1 having a blade
system, wherein the value of .beta. (beta) for the pump, turbine
and guide blades fall within the ranges of 20°, 16°, 22°, 12°
39° 29° respectively.
9. A torque converter according to Claim 1 wherein the value
of .alpha. for the pump, turbine and guide blades fall within the
ranges 86°, 83°, 25°, 14°, 31°, 24° respectively.
10. A torque converter according to Claim 1 wherein the
radial positions of outlet of the pump, inlet of the turbine
- 26 -

and outlet of the blades fall within the ranges 85%
85-96%, 50-65% considered as percentages of the maximum
diameter of the torroidal working chamber.
11. A torque converter according to Claim 1 wherein the
value of (delta) for the pump, turbine and guide blades fall
within the ranges +10-°-30°, 80°-100°, 40°-80°, respectively.
12. A torque converter according to Claim 1 wherein the
torroidal working chamber has axial extension less than 50%
of the maximum diameter thereof.
13. A torque converter according to Claim 1 including a
lock-up clutch and means for selectively releasing the ring
of turbine blades from an extension of a secondary output
shaft.
14. A torque converter according to Claim 1 in which the
Ro/Ri ratio for the pump, the turbine and the guide blades
fall within the ranges 1.7 - 1.45; 0.6 - 0.5; 1.2-1.1,
respectively.
- 27 -

Description

Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.


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' . .This invcntion relates to hydrodynalllic torque
- converters and especially to a torque converter blade
~:~ system ~hich afIords improved input torque and effi.ciency
characteristics when compared with known torque converter
blade systems The torque converter of the invention
- is particularly suitable for use in transmissions for
.~ vehicles, where a more or less distinct top speed is
- ~ . required even when direct drive is not used and where
j - it is important to avoid the simultaneous e~is-tence of
:~ high torque absorption and low cfficiency at high speed
ra.tios, The invention is a:lso applicable to very :I.arge
. torque converters in which a one-~Yay c'lulch cannot bc
.. used for releasing a ring of guide blades but, never-
: j theless, necessitating the use of a lock-up clu-tch
~ Where the use of a one-way clutch on the guide ring is
'~ advisable, the characteristic features of a torque
;~ oonverter according to the inven-tion are such that -the
:
free wheel operates under especial].y favourable conditions
: It is characteristic of hydrodynamic torque COII-
:~. ' verters that the exten-t to which the input torque is
~ ~ 'increased or multlplied by the converter is greatest at/o.r~t~3
.'. to stall condition, that is, with the p~mlp member op~r-
ating and with the twrbine member standing still. As the
.: speed (n2)of the turbine member rises from zero relative
to. the speed (nl) of the pump the torque multipli~atiol3
. usually referred to as the torque ratio, decreases, and
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at some value of the ratio n2/nl less than unity, the
value of the output torque falls to that of the input
torque. When this point, con~only referred to as the
shift point, is reached the apparatus no longel functions
as a torque multiplying device and,if the speed of the
turbine rne~ber is increased to produce a higher value of -'
n2~ 1 than that at the shift point, the output torque
falls to a value less than that of the input torque,
so that the apparatus has no utility. Thus the useful
ra~ge of a hydrodynamic torque converter is ilormally between
stall and shift point.
Generally speaking torque converters fall into one
o~ two main types, namely a 1 1/2-stage type or a 2-
stage type In the 1 1/2-stage type the torque con-
verter blade system has only one ring of pump blades, ~'- '
one ring of turbine blades and one ring of guide blades
whereas the 2-stage type has one ring of pump blades~ two
rings of turbine blades Wi't}'l one intermediate ring of guide ''-
blades. However, many variants.of these two main type
.i . .
; of to'rque converter blade systems have been proposed
including blade systems having a divided guide blade
'ring and/or large nwllbers o~ rings of turbine blades
and/or'rings of guide blades and even a divided pump
ring '
The present invention is particularly but not `'
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exciusiYe~y dirccted to a torque converter blade systcm
of thc l l/2-stage type wherein the ring oE guide blades
is located in the torque converter working chamber in
a position (considered rela-tive to the direction of fluicl
flow within the ~rorking chamber) immediately before the
inle-t of the pump blades. The working chamber may be
formed with many different cross-sectional shapes such
as circular, half-circular, or pear-shaped, etc.~
A torque converter blade system according to the
invention influences the fluid circulation in the blade
system by virtue of novel and specific blade shape so
that, when the so-called shift~point is reached, the
circulation of *luid in the blade system rapidly di~nini.she~.
~apid diminution of the fluid circula-tion results in
not only a reduction in the torque absorption but also a
simultaneous reduction :in the e~ficiency thereby avoiding,
." ..
when the torque converter lS running above the shift
point, a high torque absorption and low efficiency since
under such running conditions mechanical energy is simply
converted into heat.
One known method of avoiding the above is the use
of a free wheel on the guide vane shaf-t so that, when
the pump and turbine are rotated at the same speed, there
is no force crcating flui.d circulation within the working
chamber. The.torque absorption of the blade system is,
therefore, low and depends primarily on the torque necessary
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. ~ to ~Irive the frec wheel. At speed ra-tios bet~Yeen the
~:~ shi~t point and n2/nl = 1 the guide blades are free
,
~ wheeling and the torque converter operates as a coupling
: with the torque absorption related to n1 and to (n2/n1)~
; . The existence of a free wheel in the torque convertcr
invariabl~ causes problems because it is required to
; function normally, whilst running in oil,both during connection
. and ~hen free-wheeling at high speed Moreover, the free
.. .
.j wheel is located in a space co~pletely filled with oil having
.
. a viscosity which may vary over a wide range due pri~arily
. to the variatlon in temperature ~ithin the working chamber. .
: A wide variation in the viscosity cons:ideral)ly reduces the
safely li.mits of the frictioll force required to locl~ thc
: free wheel. The temperatu:re o~ the fluid in the working chamber .:
":
: : may be within the range -4iOC up to ~k50C, and in spite of
:' such a wide temperature range it is not unusual -for di~er-
: ent oils between SAE 5 and SAE 20 or even SAE 30 to be used
.. The blade system of the present invention provides apar-t.
. fro~ speci~ic new char~ctcristics, an extre1uely hi.gh peal~
. efficiency in relation to the stall torque ratio ob-tained
. as well as provid:ing favourable input torque characteristics
.
;i belo~Y the shif-t point. ......................................... :~
.: The blade system o-~ the invention allolYs a torque
:~ converter incorporating a lock-up clutch to also include
^, a stationary ring o~ guide blades without producing
.
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excessi.ve losses in direct drive In -fact sucll a converter
only produces abo~lt 2% losses considered in re].ation to
full input power at stall and nl maximum l.rhereas a loss of
the order o~ 1% can be expected when the ring o-f guide biades
is.mounted on a free wheel Simultaneously, it should be
borne in mind that the free wheel is the weal~est point in
such torque converters in that it is the only component
~r~ich causes trouble.
Tpus elimination o~ the free wheel, even in the normal
power range ~or heavy duty service is of utmost interest,
and more particular].y in cases where the torque converter
incl~udes the power saving lock-up clutch in conjlmction with
a mu]ti-step gear box.
Furthermore, relatively large torque converters
require large ~ree wheels which are not generally available
o~f-the.-shel~ and must, therefore, be~ e~e made~thereby
increasing the cost of the torque converter. In such
applications the loss of an extra 1% in direct drive when
elimina.ting the free wheel is less important, especially
when a manufacturer or user can completcly ignore the cost
and avai.lability o-f the free wheel uni-ts.
In applications where a ~ree whcel is desirablc, the
conditions, under which the free wheel operates are improved,
because -the normal drag torque o-f the free wheel using a
blade system according to the invenlion ls sufficient to
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reduce the speed ol rotation of the ring of guide blades to
25% Of the speed of the rings of -the pump and the turbine
blades. Thus,-the loss is in fact lower than the normal
percentage loss and, simultaneously, wear on the free wheel
is reduced by virtue of the reduction in relative speeds.
In applications where a torque converter according to
the invention with or without direct drive i~s combined with
a ~echanical gear box, a transmission is obtained which
does not necessarily require automatic shifts because there
is no possibility to run at high speed ratios with low
efficiency and high torque absorption. Insuch cases it
is not necessary to effect a shirt into a higher gear at
a distinct point It does not mal;ter, thereforc~ if the
drlver eEfects a shif-t too late because a labe ~hift will
neither create overheatlng or increased fuel consumption
In fact, for an application, where direct drive will not
be used, there is obtained for the first time not only a
distinct top speed in each gear but also the advantage that
driving undcr unacceptable conclitions is not possible
SUMM~RY OF T~ INVENTION
~ ccorcling to tile present invention -the abo~re Ieatures
are a¢hieved by a blade system of such a form that (abo~re
a certain speed ratio which is only a little higher than
the shift point and for speed ratios higher than this value)
different quantities of circulation of fluid through the
blade system produce practically no change in the direction
of fluid flow through the guide blades 1~hereby, at loclc-up,
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where the pump and the turbine rotate at the same speed,
the guide blades may rotate slowly or be stationary -thereby
reducing agitation of the worlcing fluid because -the drag
torque of the guide blades will not, ol i-tsèlf, con-tribute
to but will counteract fluid circulati~n. When the guide
blades are stationary in conditions above the shift point,
the guide blades operate to balance the pumping e-ffect of
the pump blades relative to the turbine blades in such a
way that a low fluid circulation prevails through the blade
system, s~ as to achieve a low torque absorption.
It is important that the fluid circulation is achieved
within a small change of speed ratio and the test diagrams
hereinafter described show that this is the case. The
reason is that the inLet direction to the guide b:lade changes
quickly in the range close to the shift point, since with
a constant fluid quantity (which is counteracted by reduction
in fluid circulation) the quantity of fluid circulated
drops quickly due -to the shape of the blade system according
to the invention to values giving a torque absorption of
the pump as shown in ~igures 2 and 3.
Description of the Drawings.
The invention wil:l be descrLbed by way of example with
reference to the accompanying drawings in which:-
Figure 1 is a cross-section of a torque converter
having a ring of stationary guide blades and a blade
system according to the inven-tion;
- 8 -
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~ - ~ Figures 2 ancl ~ are graphs sllowing the performance
i of the torque converter according to Figure 1 and Wi th
,1
~ the blade sys-tem construc-ted and arranged for a rela-tively
: :.
high torque absorption characteristic;
Figures 3 and 3A are graphs showing the perIormance
o~ the torque converter according to Figure 1 and with
.
, the blade system constructed and arranged for a low
' torque absorption charac-teristic;
Figure 4 is a cross-section of a torque converter
~hich is similar to the torque converter of Figure 1
but modi~ied to inclucle a lock-up clutch and a releasable
turbine torquc transmitting member as disclosed in our
,
Britisll Patent No. 1~41~1,6~
. . .
; Fi~ures 5 and 5A arc ~rnphs showing the per~ormance
'!`: of the torque converter o~ Figure 4 having the blade
system o~ the invention with a ring of guide blades
~ounted on a one-way free wheel,
,
Figures 6 and 6A are graphs showing thc same
per~ormance curves as in Figure 5 but for a torque
converter having a low torque absorp-tion;
Figure 7 S}IOWS a torque convcrter which is the same as
that of Fig~re 4 e~cept that the ring of guide blades
is not mounted on a free wheel even though the converter
,~,
has a lock-up clutch. With this blade syste~ the torque
absorption of the torque converter has the same perform-
.~ , . .
~ ance characteristics as shown in Figure 5 and 5A.
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1 Figure 8 shows grapllically the losses experienced
.. 3 ` in a torque converter having tlle blade system of the
. ~ . .
~¦ invention when in dircct drive I'irstly with and secondly
without free wheel for the ring o~ guide blades.
, Figure 9 is a cross-section of the working chamber,
.,
in ~Yhich the blade sys-tem is mounted. I-lowever, the shape
of ~he cross-section itself is not essential for carrying out
¦ the invention. The blade system in question, however,
~;l is ~avourable in itsel:E and ~as mounted in such a wor~ing
cha~ber for the purpose of tests, the results of which
~ tests are included in this specification.
'I , .
Figures lOA, 10~ and lOC show diagramlllatioal:Ly the
blade shapes and their location in the rcspective blade
~-~ rings and partlcularLy diEferent blade angles and the
, ~ r~ tq~/e-
radius given in the~b~e inc:luded hereinaEter.
J Figures llA and llB show a preferred shape of a
¦ turbine and a guide blade respectively.
,.1
i Figurc 12 shows -the shape o:E a pump b]ade for a
;~, blade system having a high torque absorption withou-t
f adversely influencing the specific performance
;characteristics shown in the ~igures 2, 3, 5, 6 and 8.
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:~ . DESC}~IPTION OF l'R~ERnE`D EMBODIM~NT
T11e torque converter o:f`l~igure l includes a so--
calletl l.l/2-stage blade system in its simplest form
il and as previously mentioned ~Iowever, when the torque~
converter is fitted with a blade system according to
.~ the invention, the specific characteristics represented
graphically in Figures 2, 2a, 3 and 3a are obtained.
In ~igure l reference 2 is a stationary abutment
to which a guide blade hub 4 is attached and on which
a part 6 of a rotatable casing is mounted on a bearing
8, The rotatable casing part 6 also has a fron-t part
.. 12 an.d, -from the~drawing, it will be seen that a ring :.
;,
of pUlllp bla~les iS carried by the part 6 whereas the
~uide blade hub 1~ carries a rlng of gu:ide b].ades 16.
The inner ends of the pu~lp antl gl1ide blades are supported
- lr~ o? ~n o~ ~ ~ r es~a e c 7~ i v ~ J
on side rings~ which form a part
o~ an inner core. The stationary abut~ent 2 is journalled
through a bearing 22 onto~a turbine shaft 24 and, in
turn, the shaft 24 is also ~.ournalled in -the front part
12 of the rotatable casing by a plane bearing 26.
turbi.ne hllb 28 carrying the turbine blades 30 which are
associated with an inner core part ~2 is also carried
. on the turbine shaft 24.
Circulation of working -fluid and maintenance of the
pressure thereo-f in th~ working chamber is accomplished
bet~Yeen channels 34 and 44 in the stationary abutment 2,
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via channels 36, 38 and 40 in the turbine shaft 24, and via
return passages formed between the parts 2, 4 and the parts 28,
24. Circulation of the fluid through the working chamber may
be from channel 34 to channel 44 or vice versa. The rotatable
casing 6, 12 is normally driven by a fly-wheel 46 via an axially
slidable, torsionally and substantially stiff coupling 48. The
actual form of blades in the blade system according to the
invention is shown in Figures lOA, lOB and lOC, for pump blades
14, turbine blades 30 and guide blades 16 respectively.
Figure 2A shows the stall torque ration (STR) of a
torque converter having a blade system designed for a relatively
high torque absorption with the pump blades having their outlet
edges disposed on a fairly large diameter and with the outlet
in radial or positive direction relative to the pump movement.
It will be observed from Figure 2 that a shift point of n2/nl =
0.835 is achieved and that at a shift point of 0.865 the torque
absorption (M) has fallen to a value which is about 5-6% of the
torque absorption at stall. At a shift point slightly above
0.9 it will be seen that the torque absorption has fallen to 1.4%
of the torque absorption at stall and less than 2% of the torque
absorption at maximum efficiency. It is to be noted that, even
if the torque oonverter is Eitted with a free
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- 12 -
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wheel, the torqllo absorption will be at least half this
val~e at 1 : 1 in speed ratio l?urther, it is to be
noted that the peak efficiency of the blade syste1n is,in
its machined forlu or dye-cast ~orl~ above 90/0 eYen ~or a
small blade system having a diameter of below 250mm.
Further, for the high torque absorption in question a
fairly high stall torque ratio for this type of torque
converter of about 2 3 is achieved and further,that the
stall torque ratio is very stable for diflerent input
speeds (Figure 2~). A further advantage ~of the systcm
is that the primary torque developed below the shift
point is favourable having a relatively high ratio bet~een
:
torque at maxilllum point and torque a-t shift point of
abou~ 1.5~ and is cspccially s~litable ~or aQhieving ~laximu~
. ~ u ~ ot;~'r~
acceleration in norma~S4_u4~Y4 vehicl~ application.
Figure 3 sho~s that for the blade syste~l in
question but ~or a lower torqu~ absorption the same high peak
efficiency and stall torque ratio is obtained and that
the specific characteristlcs of the torque absorption
and efficiency above a certain point is still achieved.
On bo-th graphs it is seen that the efficien~y

stays above 70% until the torque absorption has dropped
to a very low value.
When a torque converter according to Figure 1 having
a blade system providing the characteristics of Figures
2 and 3 is used in, for instance, a lift truck, two
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; ~ di~ferent and i~uportant features will be achieved when
`- compared wi-th e~isting torque converters of the
~; simple 1.1/2-stage type without free wheel. The two
.,
features are a distinct top speed for a certain engine
speed and the impossibility to operate under part
load at such a high speed ratio that the mechanical
energy is nearly all converted into heat. The last
~ entioned feature has the advantage that transmission
:
will ~nly require a very small cooling capacity thereby
reducing the fuel consumption and fulfilling, without
extra arrangements, the limited top speed requirement.
This, as Illentioned above, is achieved without a free
!l wheel lor the ring of guide blades.
Figure ~ ShOlYS a torque converter and blade systcm
; similar to that of ~igure 1 but modified to include an
' ~n 1)'5' ~f~ " 3,83~ Y/!3
B arrangemen-t (described in~ t ~ )
allowing lock-up of the turbine shaft to the rotatable
casing and,less importan-t in this specific case, the
; possibility of releasing the ring o~ turbine blades from
the turbine shaft. Such a release possibility enables
, .... .
a positive neutral to be obtained and thereby renders
unnecessary any other types of disconnection on the
secondary side for most fields of application. In the
embodiment of Figure ~ a stationary abutment, here
designated 102~ has a tubular extension 104 on which a
guide blade hub 106 and a free whcel 108 are moullted
thereby allowing the guide blade hub (and conse(luently
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~l,04~)5Q9
the guide blades) to rotate ln the same direction of rotation as
the rotatable casing 6, but not allowing rotation in the opposite
direction. The bladed components, the inner core, the bearings
and the shafts are constructed and mounted ln the same way as in :
the embodiment of Figure 1. The modification inc].udes an exten-
~ sion 110 carried by the turbine shaft 24 and to which a ring of
.~ turbine blades 112 can be connected and disconnected by a conical
. friction clutch 114. Connection and disconnection of the clutch -
114 is accomplished by establishing a pressure differential on
opposite sides of radial extension 110 in accordance with my U.S. ~. -
Patent No. 3,831,463. Another cone clutch 116 can be operated in
a similar way for connecting the turbine shaft 24 to the rotatable
casing 6/12A. If the turbine shaft is connected to the casing
and if the ring of turbine blades 112 is connected to the turbine
shaft, the whole blade system will rotate. However, due to the
construction and form of the blade system according to the inven~
tion, the ring of guide blades 16 wi].l not rotate at the same :
speed or even practically the same speed as the pump blades or the
turbine blades because, even at much lower speeds, it will not
significantly agitate circulation of fluid through the blade sys-
tem and therefore it will rotate at a considerably lower speed.
Rotation of the ring of guide blades at such speeds
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reduces tlle wear on the free wllcei and/or rela-tively speakillg
allows the free ~heel to operate under a higller conllection
force on the blocks in the free wheel which is highly
- desirable olYlng to the ~idc varia-tion in oil viscosi-ty and
without causing wear. Thus the blade system of the in-
vention has given the designer a wider scope for better
design ancl at the same time reduced wear of the free ~heel.
Fi~ures 5 and ~A show ~lle per~ormance obtained for
., .
a high torque absorption transmission according to l~igure
4 having a blade system according to the invention and with
the ring of guide blades mounted on a one-way free whec].
Wh~lco~par~d l~ith ~igure 2, Figure ~ indicates an e~tension
o~ the hydraulic torque converter Lield, lYhcre the torq~le
converter operates as a coupling. This coupling action,
however, due to rapidly falling torque absorption, is not
very useful and, for the majority of applications, a lock-
up clutch is required. In such circumstances the free
wheel avoids, when compared with normal blade systems,
the torque absorption of the blade system ~ se at sl)eed
j ratio 1 : 1.
When compared with known torque converter transmissions
- thi~ particular embodiment havillg a ~ree wheel has the
advantage tha-t the differential speed l~ill be low because
the guide blades ~ill have a high slip relative to the pump
and the turbine blades when the converter is in direct
drive.
. "
~ - 16 -
i~ , ' . ::.
- ' . . .
.. . . . . ..

4~54;~9
Fi~ures G and 6A sho~Y performance graphs similar
to Figures 5 and 5~ but for a torque converter having low
torque absorption. It will be observed that different
torque absorptions do not essentially change the type of
performance and, as described, the virtue of the blade
,
system according to the invention used in conjunction
with arrangements giving the performances indicated in
. ,.
Figurcs 5/5A and 6/6A is that5~in direct drive~ the ring
; of guide blades rotates at an essentially lower speed
than would be the case in a locked-up torque converter,
thereby reducing wear on the free l~heel and allowing
- higher spring action for connection of the free wheel.
Figure 7 shows a torque converter which is the same
~31 as that;~f ~igure ~ except that the Lree wheel is omittcd,
When this torque converter is in direct drive then the
speed ratio is always 1 : 1 and the loss received by
having the guide vane stationary, even when the t-urbine
is rotating with the turbine shaft, is very low. As
mentioned previously, this saves the use of the free
wheel in large units and for small units it omits a
troubleso~e mechanical part. It also affords new featw es
-if~ for instance, the unit is moun-ted in a lift truck
;- because you can have a top speed of the truck when hydraulic
drive is used. Thus a speed range is available which is
c~;f,o~5
suitable for normal working~and, when direct drive is
`~ connected, a higher top speed is available for transporting
, . . .
: ...
. 17
' " ' .' .- -' :'- ' . . '
- ,
' ~'` ' ' ', , ' ' . ' ' ' ' ~ ' ' '
,. .
:
': :, ' . .. '

, ~0~5~9
the vehicle. Such a speed conlbinatlon is, of course9
advantageous because it will never be necessary to have
an auto~atic~ connection of the direct drive and because
in spite of the stationary ring of guide blades it is not
possible -to obtain a high torque absorption and a low
efficiency at the same time.
One advantage of this embodiment is that it is now
possible without incurring excessive losses to produce
a torque converter whicll can operate in direct drive with~
stationary ring of guide blades
Figure 8 shows the torque absorption o~ -the torquc
converters accordin~ to ~igures ~ and 7 at and helow the
direct drivc condition, These graphs show that for most
applications, especially for large vehicles, omission of
the free wheel for the guide blades is justified whereas
for smaller vehicles with high speed engines, ~ostly running
in direct drive, the free wheel may be included.
Point 2 and the line 2 show dcvelop~ent of the torque
absorption at and below n2/nl = 1.0 for -the torque converter
of the invention having a stationary guide vane. ~his
means at n2/nl = 1.0, the direct drive may be connected
without free wheel.
.
Point 1 shows the torque ab~orption at and below n2/n
= 1 .o for known torque converters having a known blade
system with the ring of guide blades mounted on a free
,, . ~
~ wheel.
,, i , . .
- 18 -
~1 " '' '' ' .. ' ' ~'
, .. . ,. .. .. ::: . ....
i. :.

. ~ ~
.1 :
" ~ 0S~9
Point 3 shows the torque and torque developmellt
.
when a torque conYer-ter with the bladc system accor~ing
to the invention has a free ~heel. ~
The difference between points 1 and 3 depends on
whetller or not the ring of guide blades is allo~ed a
considerable drag relative to the pump and the turbine
blades without increasing the torque absorption. This
diagram indicates why, in some cases, the torque
,~
; characteristic of the blade system of the invention renders
a rree wheel;unnecessary, even in direct drive and why, in
other case~s wllen using a free t~heel and direct dr:ive3
both thQ running conditlons or the free wheel are improved
, .
and the losses in direct drive ale diminished in relation
to known forms of torque converters. To obtain a good
understanding of the influence on fuel consumption it is
necessary to divide the percentage losses at maximum power
the percentage average load of the engine for the
application under consideration. This means that for
an application with high average load, the extra loss
when omitting the free whee] is of minor importance,
whereas for an application, using a high speed and
having a relatively low average load, the extra loss in
question will be of considerable importance. For instance
a torque converter for an industrial application can omit
the free wlleel if using the blade system of the invention
with a locl~~up clutch connected.
r
. ~ , i .
, ...................................... . .
, ~ , ~ , ' , .
! . .. . . .
' :' ' . '' . :
,
........... , `

.j ~
j ~
Figure 9 s~ows the cross-sectional shaI)e of the
. ~; . . . .
"`3 torque convertcr workillg challlber, in which by application
of the blade system of the invention the.perforlllance
~i graphs of Fi.g-ures 2, 2A, 3, 3~, 5,5A, 6,6A and 8 are
obtained. The cross-sectional shape of the workillg
-chamber, howe~rer, is not essential for achieving the
objects of the invention. However, the cross-sectional
~ shape shown combines the features of the invention ~ith
`~ . advantageous features for fabrication and it is, there-
~ore, of value that the performance is achieved with
this particular cross-section. ~:
,, . . .
. ; ~. r~'igures 10~, lOB and lOC show, schematically
pump l~i~ turbine 30 and gui.de blades 16 bearing reIer-
ences relating to characteristic dimensions and angular .
. relationships concerning disposition of the blades in
. their blade rings. In these Figures, the radii bearing
. relerence R2 etc. relate to radii bearing the same refer-
~ ences in Figure 9. In -these Figures-- ..
;~ ~ (alpha) indi.ca-tes the inlet ang].e of the
several blades and b the minimu~ dlstance between adjacent
blades in the same blade ring, Considered slightly
., , .. .
diflerently, b is the narrowest or throat portion of the
low channels formed between adjacent blades Considered
~`t' - geometricaliy, c~ is that angle formed bet~een a tangent
. . ~ ,
~ dra~n to a circle of radius b struck from a centre located
~ i , , , - ,:
..,
. ,.~ , . .
, .~ . . . . . ..
.. . . . . .
. - 20 -
:, . . . . .
" , . . . ~ .

- ~4~5~
.~ on the inlet edge of the blade, and another tangent
~ ' drawn at the said centre and to a circle containing
:
all the inlet edges of a ring o~ blades, for exalllple,
, a circle of radius R3 for the pllm]p blades.
, ~ ~beta) is that angle between a chord CH drawn
", and a ra,dial line RE (Figure 10~). -
,.~ ~ (gamma) is that angle s-u'btended at the axis of
. rotation X of -the blade system by inlet edges Iiand Ii~
. of the ri,ng of turbine blades shown in Figure lOB.
. ~ (delta) is a measure o~ the curva-ture or
. angular de.v:Lation between the in'l.et and outlet of each
.~ . ' , blade an,d is the angle formed at the :interseotion o~
.
centrc lines drawn through the in:Let ancl outlet etlges'of
~' a blad,e.
Z is the number of blades in a particular blade ring.
. ~0 is the pitch oI the in].et edges oI a ring of
~ blades, As an approximation, ~ ~ consicdered as a
,j ~ circum~erential dimension o~ a circle o~ radius R5
(Figure lOB) is equal to the chorcl Ii ~ Iii and
Sin c~ (Calculated) = b
' ~nd o< = ~ (calcula-ted) ~ ~
2 ~'
, . ',~ .
~ Figures llA and llB show a preferred cross sec-tional ''
.~ . ' shape ~or the turbille and guide blades respectivel~ cach
~l blade having a curved inlet of radius represented by
., ~ ' .
21 -
' ' ." ' . .: . . .: .
.. . . . .. . . .. . .
:- , ' ' "' ' ' : .
' ~ ' ' ' ' ~ : .

` 1~4~5q~
re~erence r and a tapered or bevellecl outlet edge.
In these Figures the maximum length and width of the
blades are indicated as a and c respectively,
Figure 12 shows a pump blade in cross-section having
a length a and a breadth c and inlet and outlet edges of
radius r. Although reference r has been used for nose
radii.in Figures llA, llB and 12, the actual dimension
of the radius for the respective blades i5 no-t necessarily
the same, Further Figures llA, llB and 12 ~ust be viewed
in conjunction ~rith Figures lOA, lOB and lOC showing the
angular relationship of the b:lades. Usc of the pump blade
of ~igure 12 affords the torque abs.orption Ms oharacteristic
o~ Figures 2,3,5 and 6 in Yhlch the continuolls line~ ~ e/~
represents the highest Ms and the dotted line represents
the lo~Yest Ms, Where yet higher and lower Ms values are
required, certain changes to the inlet and outlet portions
of the pump blade should be made. Such changas would not,
however, change the advantageous characteristics o~ a blade
system according to t,he invention.
The following table shows the ranges of ang:les 0~,
and ~ and a ratio Ro/Ri (namely the ratio of
the radii of -the outlet and inlet edges)~r~ the pump,
turbine and guide blades of the blade system hereindescribed,
'~ , ' . ' , ' :
1 - 22 -
' ;~ ~ ' ' '
'~-1 . . . ,:
Y
~ .,. ' ' :. ,, .' " , ' . , ' ` `' ' ', ' ' .~,- ,,,

'' 104~5Cg
. T A 1~ L E
. ' Rat l o ~ ~ ~. .. . _ _
. . R o/R i o~ ~ ~)
, . . . _ . __ _ . . _ _ . .
. Blade max min max min max min max min max lUi 11
. . ____ - .... _ .... _____ . - __ _
Guide .1,27 1.10 o ~ o 42 25 15 5 ~0 110
.~ _ . .. . _ . _ .. .~
. Pump 1,70 1.4~ 110 70 25 10 20 12 ~10 -30~
.
Turbine 0.6 0. 5 35 1~ 22 8 18~ lU~ t,0~ lU~
.' . . . . . . .
. . ,~. ' " ' ,.
'
. . ..
. ..
. . , ' ' ' ' ,,"
. .
.
. ' ~ .
. . ' ,. ..
, . ?,
.
. , , '
- 23 -
. '''
,.i ' , ....
~' ' .
..
: , ... .. .
i .
, ~ , '
- ; - ~ ,

Representative Drawing

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Administrative Status

2024-08-01:As part of the Next Generation Patents (NGP) transition, the Canadian Patents Database (CPD) now contains a more detailed Event History, which replicates the Event Log of our new back-office solution.

Please note that "Inactive:" events refers to events no longer in use in our new back-office solution.

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Event History

Description Date
Inactive: IPC from MCD 2006-03-11
Inactive: Expired (old Act Patent) latest possible expiry date 1995-10-17
Grant by Issuance 1978-10-17

Abandonment History

There is no abandonment history.

Owners on Record

Note: Records showing the ownership history in alphabetical order.

Current Owners on Record
S.R.M. HYDROMEKANIK AKTIEBOLAG
Past Owners on Record
None
Past Owners that do not appear in the "Owners on Record" listing will appear in other documentation within the application.
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Document
Description 
Date
(yyyy-mm-dd) 
Number of pages   Size of Image (KB) 
Drawings 1994-05-18 13 253
Claims 1994-05-18 4 149
Abstract 1994-05-18 1 21
Descriptions 1994-05-18 22 878