초록 ▼

A lock-up clutch for a hydrodynamic torque converter has at least one friction area on a first converter component, which area can be brought into working connection with at least one opposing friction area on a second converter component by an engaging movement of this converter component or which

A lock-up clutch for a hydrodynamic torque converter has at least one friction area on a first converter component, which area can be brought into working connection with at least one opposing friction area on a second converter component by an engaging movement of this converter component or which can be separated from this opposing friction area by a disengaging movement in the direction opposite that of the engaging movement. On at least one of the two converter components, a pump device acting in either the friction area or in the opposing friction area is present, which, as a result of its geometric shape, has the effect of building up a pressure gradient, by means of which a forced flow of hydraulic fluid through at least one predetermined section of the friction area and/or of the opposing friction area is produced.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A lock-up clutch for a hydrodynamic torque converter, said clutch comprising a first converter component having at least one first friction area, a second converter component having at least one second friction area opposing said at least one first friction area, said first and second fricti

1. A lock-up clutch for a hydrodynamic torque converter, said clutch comprising a first converter component having at least one first friction area, a second converter component having at least one second friction area opposing said at least one first friction area, said first and second friction areas being movable into working connection by an axial engaging movement of said first and second components, said first and second friction areas being movable out of working connection by an axial disengaging movement in the opposite direction from said engaging movement, and a pump device comprising a geometric arrangement of said first and second components which is effective to build up a pressure gradient which produces a forced flow of hydraulic fluid through at least one predetermined section of at least one of said first and second friction areas when relative rotation occurs between the first and second converter components, said relative rotation causing said forced flow. 2. A lock-up clutch as in claim 1 comprising at least one groove formed in at least one of said first and second friction areas, said groove having an inflow area and an outflow area for allowing passage of hydraulic fluid through said groove, said groove extending from an inflow side to an outflow side of said at least one of said friction areas, said pump device comprising a baffle element on at least one of said first and second components, said baffle element projecting into a flow path of the hydraulic fluid and having a guide surface which deflects flow into said inflow area, and having a turbulence generator which reduces pressure in said flow path.3. A lock-up clutch as in claim 2 wherein said first and second friction areas each have a radially inner side and a radially outer side, said baffle element having a radial projection which extends radially inward of said radially inner side and forms said guide surface, said guide surface deflecting said flow into said inflow area of said groove with a radial component.4. A lock-up clutch as in claim 3 wherein said radial projection has radially maximum inward point which forms a flow separation edge in said flow path, said baffle element approaching said radially inner side as it extends from said flow separation edge toward said outflow area.5. A lock-up clutch as in claim 4 wherein the outflow side of the friction area ends in the outflow area of the groove.6. A lock-up clutch as in claim 3 wherein said guide surface has a geometric form which forms a radial extension of the groove.7. A lock-up clutch as in claim 6 wherein said groove is arc-shaped, said baffle element having an arc-shaped guide surface with the same curvature as the groove.8. A lock-up clutch as in claim 2 wherein said groove has a crest point from which it extends radially inward in opposite directions toward said inflow area and said outflow area, said baffle element extending radially inward beyond the friction area.9. A lock-up clutch as in claim 3 wherein said pump device comprises a dynamic pressure generator associated with said guide surface.10. A lock-up clutch as in claim 9 wherein said dynamic pressure generator forms said inflow area of said groove and has a flow cross-section which converges in a radially outward direction of said groove.11. A lock-up clutch as in claim 10 wherein said dynamic pressure generator has an essentially edge-free transition between said radially inner side of said friction area and said inflow area.12. lock-up clutch as in claim 1 comprising at least one groove formed in at least one of said first and second friction areas to allow the passage of hydraulic fluid, said pump device comprising a displacement body provided on one of said first and second converter components and extending into the groove on the other of said first and second converter components, thereby restricting flow in said groove.13. A lock-up clutch as in claim 12 wherein said groove is dimensioned so that said d isplacement body can move through said groove without impact when said first and second converter components are in relative motion.14. A lock-up clutch as in claim 12 wherein said groove comprises an inflow area and an outflow area, said displacement body building up said pressure gradient between said inflow area and said outflow area.15. A lock-up clutch as in claim 12 wherein said displacement body has an essentially cylindrical shape.16. A lock-up clutch as in claim 12 wherein said displacement body has a distal end which extends into said groove leaving a predetermined axial clearance.17. A lock-up clutch as in claim 16 wherein said displacement body is made of a material which abrades to form said axial clearance.18. A lock up clutch as in claim 12 wherein said displacement body has an outside circumference which allows it to fit in said groove with predetermined amounts of radial clearance.19. A lock-up clutch as in claim 12 wherein friction area has a radial inner side and a radial outer side, and said groove has an inflow area and an outflow area which open on the same radial side of said at least one of said first and second friction areas.20. A lock-up clutch as in claim 19 wherein said inflow area and said outflow area open on said radial outer side.21. A lock-up clutch as in claim 1 wherein said first converter component has a first rotational axis and a radially inner side defining a first diameter, said second converter component has a second rotational axis and a radially outer side defining a second diameter which is smaller than said first diameter, said second converter component being arranged inside said first converter component to form a flow gap between said outer wall and said inner wall, said second rotational axis being spaced from said first rotational axis so that said radially outer side approaches said radial inner side to form a dynamic pressure point in said flow gap, whereby, said pump device is formed by said first and second converter components. 22. A lock-up clutch as in claim 21 wherein said first friction area is larger in radial extent than said than said second friction area and arranged so that said second friction area is in full contact with said first friction area regardless of the relative rotational position of said first and second converter components.23. A lock-up clutch as in claim 21 wherein said first converter component comprises a ring-shaped enclosure which projects axially toward said second converter component and forms said radially inner side.24. A lock-up clutch as in claim 21 further comprising a groove provided in at least one of said first and second friction areas.25. A lock-up clutch as in claim 1 further comprising a clutch disk having opposed axial sides installed axially between said first and second converter components, said first frictional area comprising a first friction lining on the axial side of said clutch disk facing said first converter component, said first friction lining having a radially inner side and a radially outer side, at least one of said radial sides deviating from circular, said first converter component having a ring-shaped enclosure which cooperates with said one of said radial sides to form a flow gap having dynamic pressure points.26. A lock-up clutch as in claim 26 wherein both of said radial sides deviate from circular, said first converter component having two of said ring shaped enclosures arranged one inside the other, each of said ring-shaped enclosures cooperating with a respective one of said radial sides to form a flow gap having dynamic pressure points.27. A lock-up clutch as in claim 25 wherein said ring-shaped enclosures is essentially circular.28. A lock-up clutch as in claim 25 further comprising a second friction lining on the axial side of said clutch disk facing said second converter component, said second friction lining having a radially inner side and a radially outer side, at least one of said radial sides deviating from circular, said second converter component having a ring-shaped enclosure which cooperates with said one of said radial sides to form a flow gap having dynamic pressure points, said second friction lining being rotationally offset from said first friction lining by a predetermined angle.29. A lock-up clutch as in claim 25 wherein at least one of said radial sides is elliptical.30. A lock-up clutch as in claim 25 wherein said friction lining and said ring-shaped enclosure have a common rotational axis.31. A lock-up clutch as in claim 25 wherein each axial side of said clutch disk is provided with one of said friction linings and each of said converter components is provided with one of said ring-shaped enclosures.32. A lock-up clutch as in claim 25 wherein said friction lining has a groove therein.33. A lock-up clutch as in claim 32 wherein said groove has an inflow area and an outflow area which both open out on the same radial side of the friction lining.34. A lock-up clutch as in claim 32 has a meandering shape.35. A lock-up clutch as in claim 32 wherein said groove has a waffle pattern.