washer arrangement and hydrodynamic torque converter

Abstract

Washer arrangement comprising a pressure washer (1, 100) and a plate (2, 201); wherein the pressure washer (1, 100) has a substantially annular shape and comprises a washer body (112) and two or more positioning clips (111) projecting radially inward from an inner circumference of the washer body (112), wherein at least one side of the positioning clip has a positioning projection (1111) projecting in a circumferential direction, and the positioning projection (1111) defines a radial positioning section (1114) of the pressure washer (1, 100); wherein the plate (2, 201) has a substantially annular shape, with an inner circumferential section of the plate (2, 201) being provided with two or more positioning notches (211);an edge of at least one side of the positioning notch (211) is provided in the circumferential direction with a positioning groove (212) and the positioning groove (212) defines a radial positioning section (2121) of the plate (2, 201); and wherein the pressure disc (1, 100) is mounted on an end face of the plate (2, 201) and the positioning clamp (111) extends into the positioning notch (211) in a mounted state and the radial positioning section (1114) of the pressure disc (1, 100) and the radial positioning section (2121) of the plate (2, 201) are in contact with each other or are facing each other with a small interval, thereby defining a radial position of the pressure disc (1, 100) relative to the plate (2, 201).

Description

TECHNICAL AREA The present disclosure relates to the technical field of washers and in particular a pressure washer arrangement of a hydrodynamic torque converter. BACKGROUND American patent publication US2016 / 0273635A1 discloses a hydrodynamic torque converter and a pressure disk configuration. Referring to Fig. 1, the hydrodynamic torque converter includes a turbine 300, a stator 200, and an impeller 400 (also referred to as a pump). The side section of the stator 200 has a plate 201. The pressure disk 100 is connected to the plate 201 by a clip 101 positioned on the outer circumference of the pressure disk 100. In this connection mode, the clip 101 extends beyond the outer circumference of the plate 201 and occupies a certain amount of space within the hydrodynamic torque converter. However, with the miniaturization of the hydrodynamic torque converter's size, the space remaining for the outer circumferential section of the pressure plate 100, particularly the space in the radial direction of the hydrodynamic torque converter, is very limited. Therefore, in the existing connection mode, the clip 101 restricts the internal compact design of the hydrodynamic torque converter. Since the pressure plate 100 is primarily used to bear the axial pressure of the hydrodynamic torque converter, its manufacturing material (e.g., polyamide-imide, also known as Torlon) is usually expensive.However, the function of the clip 101 is only to fasten the pressure plate 100 to the plate 201, and there is no need to bear a large compressive force in the axial direction of the pressure plate 100. Therefore, the clip 101, positioned on the outer circumference of the pressure plate 100, increases the material costs of the pressure plate 100 to a certain extent. Documents DE 11 2015 006 406 T5 and DE 10 2014 225 617 A1 disclose washer arrangements and axial bearing arrangements for a torque converter, respectively. SUMMARY The purpose of the present disclosure is to overcome or at least mitigate the aforementioned shortcomings of the prior art and to provide a pressure plate that can save the interior space of the hydrodynamic torque converter and the material costs of the pressure plate. According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, a washer arrangement is provided comprising a pressure washer and a plate; wherein the pressure washer has a substantially annular shape and comprises a washer body and two or more positioning clips projecting radially inward from an inner circumference of the washer body, wherein at least one side of the positioning clip has a positioning projection projecting in a circumferential direction, and the positioning projection defines a radial positioning section of the pressure washer; wherein the plate has a substantially annular shape, with an inner circumferential section of the plate being provided with two or more positioning notches;an edge of at least one side of the positioning notch in the circumferential direction is provided with a positioning groove and the positioning groove defines a radial positioning section of the plate; and wherein the pressure disc is mounted on an end face of the plate and the positioning clamp extends into the positioning notch in a mounted state, and the radial positioning section of the pressure disc and the radial positioning section of the plate are abutting each other or facing each other with a small interval, thereby defining a radial position of the pressure disc relative to the plate. In at least one embodiment, wherein the positioning groove further defines an axial positioning section of the plate and, in the assembled state, a part of the surface of the positioning projection rests against the axial positioning section of the plate, thereby preventing the pressure disc and the plate from being axially separated from each other. In at least one embodiment, wherein in the assembled state the washer body touches a first end surface of the plate, the plate further has a second end surface opposite the first end surface and the axial positioning section and the second end surface face the same direction. In at least one embodiment, wherein the positioning notch defines a circumferential positioning section of the plate and in the assembled state, part of the surface of the positioning clamp rests against the circumferential positioning section of the plate, thereby preventing the pressure disc from rotating relative to the plate. In at least one embodiment, wherein the positioning groove does not penetrate the plate in an axial direction and in the assembled state, radially extending edges are formed on both sides of the positioning clamp in the circumferential direction and opposite edges of the positioning groove in the circumferential direction essentially in the form of complementary steps. In at least one embodiment, wherein at least part of the surface of the positioning projection is curved. In at least one embodiment, wherein a central part of the positioning clamp is provided with a cutout in the circumferential direction. In at least one embodiment, wherein the two or more positioning clamps are arranged uniformly in the circumferential direction of the pressure plate. In at least one embodiment, the radially extending edges of both sides of each positioning clamp have the positioning projection in the circumferential direction, and the edges of both sides of each positioning notch have the positioning groove in the circumferential direction. In at least one embodiment, an end face of the washer body located away from the plate has a plurality of load-bearing sections spaced apart from each other by fluid guide grooves, and an axial height of the washer body at the fluid guide grooves is less than an axial height of the washer body at the load-bearing sections. In at least one embodiment, the axial height of the washer body at the load-bearing sections is greater than a maximum axial height of the positioning clamp. According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, a hydrodynamic torque converter is provided, comprising: an impeller; a stator; and the washer arrangement according to the first aspect of the present disclosure. In at least one embodiment, the plate of the washer assembly is located between the stator and the pressure plate, and an end face of the pressure plate located away from the plate rests against an inner wall of the impeller. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 shows half of an axial sectional view of a known hydrodynamic torque converter including a pressure plate. Fig. 2 shows a schematic view of a plate according to the present disclosure. Fig. 3 shows a schematic view of part of the plate according to the present disclosure. Fig. 4 shows a schematic view of the pressure plate according to the present disclosure. Fig. 5 shows a schematic view of a first side of the pressure plate according to the present disclosure. Figs. 6 and 7 are schematic views showing part of the assembled state of the pressure plate and the plate according to the present disclosure. Fig. 8 shows a cross-sectional view of half of the positioning clamp of the pressure plate according to the present disclosure. DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE MARKS 1. 100 Pressure washer; 101 Clip; 111 Positioning clamp; 1111 Positioning projection; 1112 Cutout; 1113, 1116, 2122, 2124 Circumferential positioning sections; 1114, 2121 Radial positioning sections; 1115, 2123 Axial positioning sections; 112 Washer body; 1121 Load carrier section; 1122 Fluid guide groove; 2. 201 Plate; 202 Curved section; 211 Positioning notch; 212 Positioning groove; 200 Stator; 300 Turbine; 400 Impeller; A, B, C, D Auxiliary points on the surface of positioning clamp 111. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXECUTION FORMS Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described below with reference to the drawings. It is understood that these specific descriptions are intended only to teach those skilled in the art how to put the present disclosure into practice, and not to exhaustively describe all possible ways of carrying out the present disclosure or to limit the scope of protection of the present disclosure. The washer assembly comprises a pressure washer 1 and a plate 2, which can be mounted in a synchronized manner. The pressure washer 1 and the plate 2 both have a substantially annular shape, and their positioning sections, which are mounted in a synchronized manner, are each positioned on their inner circumferential sections. The specific assembly method of the pressure plate 1 and the plate 2 according to the present disclosure is described with reference to Fig. 2, Fig. 3, Fig. 4, Fig. 5, Fig. 6, Fig. 7 to Fig. 8. First, the plate 2 is described. Referring to Fig. 2, the inner circumferential section of the plate 2 projects axially relative to the outer circumferential section, particularly in the direction of the impeller (see the impeller 400 in Fig. 1). A curved section 202 connects the inner and outer circumferential sections of the plate 2. A positioning notch 211 is positioned on the inner circumferential section of the plate 2. It should be noted that Fig. 2 only schematically depicts the plate 2 with one positioning notch 211. Preferably, the plate 2 generally includes more than two positioning notches 211 distributed along the circumferential direction. Preferably, for the pressure plate 1 shown in Fig. 4, four positioning notches 211 are provided on the corresponding plate 2 according to the present disclosure. Referring to Fig.3. The two radial edges of each positioning notch 211 are each provided with a positioning groove 212. Preferably, the positioning grooves 212 do not penetrate the plate 2, but form steps on the two radial edges of the plate 2. Each positioning groove 212 has a radial positioning section 2121 and an axial positioning section 2123. The side walls on both sides of the positioning notch 211, which do not belong to the positioning groove 212, form the circumferential positioning section 2122. Next, the pressure plate 1 will be described. Referring to Fig. 4, the pressure plate 1 comprises a washer body 112 and four positioning clips 111 that project radially inward from the inner circumference of the washer body 112. Each positioning clip 111 has a circumferential cutout 1112 in its substantially central region, and the cutout 1112 defines two arms of the positioning clip 111. When the pressure plate 1 and the plate 2 are joined, each positioning clip 111 of the pressure plate 1 extends precisely into a positioning notch 211 of the plate 2; preferably, each positioning clip 111 forms a transition fit or interference fit with the positioning notch 211.The cutout 1112 provides a deformation tolerance to allow the two arms of the positioning clamp 111 to move closer together, thus facilitating the assembly of the pressure plate 1 and the plate 2. This is more easily understood in the following description of the assembly procedure for the pressure plate 1 and the plate 2. The radially extending edges on both sides of each positioning clamp 111 in the circumferential direction each project outwards with a positioning projection 1111. In the axial direction, the thickness of the positioning projection 1111 is less than the thickness of the main body section of the positioning clamp 111, so that the cross-section of the positioning clamp 111 is stepped at the positioning projection 1111 when the positioning clamp 111 is cut in a direction perpendicular to the radial direction.The non-protruding portion of the stepped side section of the positioning clamp 111 forms the circumferential positioning section 1113. The positioning projection 1111 embodies not only the projection in the circumferential direction but also the projection in the radial direction; that is, the positioning projection 1111 does not extend radially to the junction between the positioning clamp 111 and the washer body 112. The positioning projection 1111 forms a cross-section near the washer body 112 in the radial direction, and this cross-section forms the radial positioning section 1114. Preferably, the cross-sectional edge of the positioning projection 1111 is arcuate in a direction perpendicular to the radial direction, which facilitates the assembly of the pressure washer 1 and the plate 2. However, the present disclosure is not limited to this. Preferably, the end surface of the pressure plate 1 facing the plate 2 is a flat plane during assembly, as shown in Fig. 5. For the sake of simplicity, this end surface of the pressure plate 1 is referred to as a first surface of the pressure plate 1, and the end surface of the pressure plate 1 opposite the first surface of the pressure plate 1 is referred to as a second surface of the pressure plate 1. The end surface of the plate 2 facing the pressure plate 1 during assembly is referred to as a first surface of the plate 2, and the end surface of the plate 2 opposite the first surface of the plate 2 is referred to as a second surface of the plate 2. Preferably, the second surface of the pressure plate 1 is formed with projections and recesses at intervals in the circumferential direction of the washer body 112 when the pressure plate assembly is applied to the hydrodynamic torque converter.The projections form load-bearing sections 1121, which have at least partially flat surfaces for absorbing axial pressure. The recesses form fluid guide grooves 1122, which extend from the outer circumferential section to the inner circumferential section of the washer body 112 and provide a guide path for fluid circulation in the hydrodynamic torque converter. Since the positioning clip 111 arranged within the washer body 112 can collide with the fluid guide grooves 1122, it is preferred that the surface of the positioning clip 111 is positioned on the second surface of the pressure washer 1, which is no higher than the lowest position of the inner bottom surface of the fluid guide groove 1122. Preferably, the maximum thickness of the positioning clip 111 in the axial direction is equal to the minimum thickness of the washer body 112 at the fluid guide groove 1122.However, the present disclosure is not limited to that. Next, with reference to Figures 6, 7 to 8, it is described how the positioning projection 1111 is aligned with the positioning groove 212 to achieve the correct installation and positioning of the pressure plate 1 and the plate 2. The first surface of the pressure plate 1 is positioned on the first surface of the plate 2, so that the positioning clip 111 is embedded in the positioning groove 211. In this process, it is necessary to exert a certain pressure on the two arms of the positioning clip 111 in the direction of the cutout 1112, so that the two arms of the positioning clip 111 are elastically deformed in the direction of the cutout 1112, and the positioning projection 1111 extends over the plate 2 and contacts the second surface of the plate 2.The first surface of the assembled pressure washer 1 on the washer body 112 contacts the first surface of the plate 2, and the positioning projection 1111 contacts the axial positioning section 2123, which is positioned on the second surface of the plate 2, thus preventing the pressure washer 1 from separating axially from the plate 2. Due to the curved structure of the plate 2, i.e., the inner circumferential section of the plate 2 is closer to the pressure washer 1 (i.e., closer to the impeller side of the hydrodynamic torque converter) than the outer circumferential section, the positioning clamp 111 extends from the outer circumferential section of the plate 2 to the inner circumferential section of the plate 2, and there is no need or apparent need for the positioning clamp 111 to be curved in the axial direction.In the circumferential direction, the circumferential positioning sections 1113 on both sides of the positioning clamp 111 abut the circumferential positioning sections 2122 on the plate 2, so that the pressure plate 1 cannot rotate circumferentially relative to the plate 2. In the radial direction, the radial positioning sections 1114 of the positioning clamp 111 can abut the radial positioning sections 2121 on the plate 2, or the two can face each other at small intervals. Preferably, the pressure plate 1 has at least two positioning clamps 111, and if the number of positioning clamps 111 is two, the connecting line that links the centers of the two positioning clamps 111 passes through the center of the pressure plate 1, i.e.,The central angle of the two positioning clamps 111 is 180 degrees, which determines the position of the diameter of the pressure plate 1 and thus the position of the pressure plate 1 relative to the plate 2. If the number of positioning clamps 111 is more than three, the three or more positioning clamps 111 are distributed at any central angle in the circumferential direction on the inside of the washer body 112, which determines the position of the apex of the inscribed polygon of the pressure plate 1 and thus determines the position of the pressure plate 1 relative to the plate 2. In the axial direction, the first surface of the pressure plate 1 on the washer body 112 first contacts the first surface of the plate 2, thereby positioning the pressure plate 1 relative to the plate 2 in the axial direction. Secondly, a further axial positioning structure is described with reference to Fig. 8.Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of one of the two arms of the positioning clamp 111, which are separated by the cutout 1112 in a direction perpendicular to the radial direction. The positioning projection 1111 includes a planar section AB, a curved section BC, and a planar section CD, wherein the planar section AB forms an axial positioning section 1115 that abuts the axial positioning section 2123, thereby realizing the axial auxiliary positioning of the pressure plate 1. It is understood that the present disclosure does not limit the radial length of the positioning clamp 111 and, except for the implementation mode as shown in Figure 7, in which the positioning clamp 111 projects slightly from the inner circumference of the plate 2 in the radial direction, the length of the positioning clamp 111 in the radial direction may also be flush with or shorter than the inner circumference of the plate 2. It is understood that the circumferential positioning of the pressure plate 1 is not limited to the alignment between the circumferential positioning section 1113 on the pressure plate 1 and the circumferential positioning section 2122 on the plate 2. Another possible method for positioning the pressure plate 1 is described below. The circumferential side section of the positioning projection 1111 forms a circumferential positioning section 1116, and the circumferential side section of the positioning notch 211 of the plate 2 has a circumferential positioning section 2124; and the circumferential positioning section 1116 forms a transition fit or interference fit with the circumferential positioning section 2124, thereby achieving circumferential positioning of the pressure plate 1. It is understood that the alignment between the circumferential positioning section 1113 and the circumferential positioning section 2122, and the alignment between the circumferential positioning section 1116 and the circumferential positioning section 2124, can be used by selecting one or both of them. Additionally, the circumferential positioning of the pressure plate 1 can also be achieved without using the corresponding radial section of the positioning projection 1111; for example, the positioning can be achieved by aligning the two side walls of the positioning clamp 111 on the radial outside of the positioning projection 1111 with the corresponding side sections on the radial outside of the positioning notch 211 of the plate 2. It is understood that it is not necessary for one positioning notch 211 to correspond to two positioning grooves 212. For example, the positioning groove 212 can be provided on only one side section of the positioning notch 211. The positioning notch 211 does not have to be a left-right symmetrical structure. It is understood that it is not necessary to have a positioning projection 1111 on each side of the positioning bracket 111. For example, the positioning projection 1111 can be provided on only one side of the positioning bracket 111. The positioning bracket 111 does not have to be a left-right symmetrical structure. It is understood that the thickness of the positioning projection 1111 in the axial direction is not necessarily less than the thickness of the main body section of the positioning clamp 111, and that the thickness of the positioning projection 1111 may also be equal to the thickness of the main body section of the positioning clamp 111. In the case of the positioning clamp 111, whose main body section has a thickness equal to the thickness of the positioning projection 1111, the positioning of the pressure disk 1 in the circumferential direction of the plate 2 is achieved by aligning the circumferential positioning section 1116 and the circumferential positioning section 2124. It is understood that the cutout 1112 of the positioning clamp 111 is not necessary, and if no cutout 1112 is provided, the proper installation of the pressure plate 1 and the plate 2 can also be achieved by the elasticity of the material of the positioning clamp 111 and / or the deformation of the positioning clamp 111. If the cutout 1112 is provided, this disclosure does not limit the depth of the cutout 1112 in the radial direction. When attaching the pressure plate assembly to the hydrodynamic torque converter, it is preferred that the plate 2 is used as a stator side plate, wherein at this point the end face of the pressure plate 1 furthest from the stator side plate rests against the inner wall of the impeller of the hydrodynamic torque converter. It is understood, however, that the pressure plate assembly can also be used in other parts of the hydrodynamic torque converter. Furthermore, the pressure plate assembly according to the present disclosure can not only be used in hydrodynamic torque converters but can also be applied to other devices that require pressure plates. The present disclosure has at least one of the following advantages: (i) Transferring the matching structure of the pressure plate and the plate from the outer circumference of the plate to the radial inner region of the plate can free up space near the outer circumference of the plate, thereby making the interior of the hydrodynamic torque converter more compact and improving the space utilization rate; (ii) eliminating the clip 101, which is positioned on the outer circumferential section of the pressure plate 100, thereby saving the manufacturing material of the pressure plate 100; (iii) with regard to the annular pressure plate 1, compared to arranging the positioning clip 111 on the radial outer side of the washer body 112, arranging the positioning clip 111 on the radial inner side of the washer body 112 obviously reduces the size of the positioning clip 111 (resulting from a smaller radius) and thus saves material;(iv) the structure of the plate 2 is simpler, since only one positioning notch including a positioning groove needs to be formed on the inner circumferential section of the plate, and the present disclosure can be applied to the already designed and formed plate blank, and the plate blank only needs to undergo a material removal process to obtain the positioning notch; (v) the proper alignment of the positioning groove 212 and the positioning projection 1111 can simultaneously achieve the circumferential, radial, and axial positioning of the pressure disk 1 on the plate 2. Of course, the present disclosure is not limited to the foregoing embodiments, and various modifications can be made to the foregoing embodiments of the present disclosure by persons skilled in the art using the teaching of the present disclosure without deviating from the scope of protection of the present disclosure.

Claims

Washer arrangement comprising a pressure washer (1, 100) and a plate (2, 201); wherein the pressure washer (1, 100) has a substantially annular shape and comprises a washer body (112) and two or more positioning clips (111) projecting radially inward from an inner circumference of the washer body (112), wherein at least one side of the positioning clip has a positioning projection (1111) projecting in a circumferential direction, and the positioning projection (1111) defines a radial positioning section (1114) of the pressure washer (1, 100); wherein the plate (2, 201) has a substantially annular shape, with an inner circumferential section of the plate (2, 201) being provided with two or more positioning notches (211);an edge of at least one side of the positioning notch (211) is provided in the circumferential direction with a positioning groove (212) and the positioning groove (212) defines a radial positioning section (2121) of the plate (2, 201); and wherein the pressure disc (1, 100) is mounted on an end face of the plate (2, 201) and the positioning clamp (111) extends into the positioning notch (211) in a mounted state and the radial positioning section (1114) of the pressure disc (1, 100) and the radial positioning section (2121) of the plate (2, 201) are in contact with each other or are facing each other with a small interval, thereby defining a radial position of the pressure disc (1, 100) relative to the plate (2, 201). Washer arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the positioning groove (212) further defines an axial positioning section (2123) of the plate (2, 201) and, in the assembled state, a part of the surface of the positioning projection (1111) rests against the axial positioning section (2123) of the plate (2, 201), thereby preventing the pressure washer (1, 100) and the plate (2, 201) from being axially separated from each other. Washer arrangement according to claim 2, wherein in the assembled state the washer body (112) contacts a first end surface of the plate (2, 201), the plate (2, 201) further has a second end surface opposite the first end surface and the axial positioning section (2123) and the second end surface are oriented in the same direction. Washer arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the positioning notch (211) defines a circumferential positioning section (2122) of the plate (2, 201) and, in the assembled state, a part of the surface of the positioning clamp (111) rests against the circumferential positioning section (2122) of the plate (2, 201), thereby preventing the pressure washer (1, 100) from rotating relative to the plate (2, 201). Washer arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the positioning groove (212) does not penetrate the plate (2, 201) in an axial direction and, in the assembled state, radially extending edges on both sides of the positioning clamp (111) in the circumferential direction and opposite edges of the positioning groove (212) in the circumferential direction essentially form complementary steps. Washer arrangement according to claim 1, wherein at least a part of the surface of the positioning projection (1111) is curved. Washer arrangement according to claim 1, wherein a central part of the positioning clamp (111) is provided in the circumferential direction with a cutout (1112). Washer arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the two or more positioning clamps (111) are arranged uniformly in the circumferential direction of the pressure washer (1, 100). Washer arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the radially extending edges of both sides of each positioning clamp (111) have the positioning projection (1111) in the circumferential direction and the edges of both sides of each positioning notch (211) have the positioning groove (212) in the circumferential direction. Washer arrangement according to claim 1, wherein an end face of the washer body (112) located away from the plate (2, 201) has a plurality of load-bearing sections (1121) spaced apart from each other by fluid guide grooves (1122) and an axial height of the washer body (112) at the fluid guide grooves (1122) is less than an axial height of the washer body (112) at the load-bearing sections (1121). Washer arrangement according to claim 10, wherein the axial height of the washer body (112) on the load carrier sections (1121) is greater than a maximum axial height of the positioning clamp (111). Hydrodynamic torque converter comprising: an impeller (400); a stator (200); and the washer arrangement according to any one of claims 1 to 11. Hydrodynamic torque converter according to claim 12, wherein the plate (2, 201) of the washer arrangement is located between the stator (200) and the pressure plate (1, 100) and an end face of the pressure plate (1, 100) located away from the plate (2, 201) rests against an inner wall of the impeller (400).

Images