Torque Converter Impeller Deflector for Fluid Overshoot Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current torque converter designs suffer from fluid leakage between the impeller and turbine, leading to increased heat generation, delayed lock-up, and reduced fuel efficiency due to centrifugal forces causing fluid to overshoot turbine vanes and enter the lock-up clutch, resulting in energy loss and lower transmission performance.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a deflector on the impeller to direct fluid efficiently from the impeller to the turbine, minimizing fluid loss and ensuring proper fluid flow, which includes a weld bead or rod extending around the impeller wall to prevent fluid overshoot and enhance fluid transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the impeller and turbine rotate independently with separate vanes, then the torque converter can operate with flexible speed variation, but fluid leaks into the lock-up clutch causing delayed lock-up and energy loss
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the problematic fluid flow path by introducing a deflector that redirects fluid away from the lock-up clutch area. The deflector removes the harmful fluid leakage into the clutch cavity, separating the fluid flow path from the clutch engagement zone, thereby eliminating the energy loss caused by fluid intrusion while preserving independent impeller-turbine rotation capability
Solution Approach 2:
The deflector acts as an intermediary element between the impeller and lock-up clutch. It intercepts the fluid flow that would otherwise enter the clutch cavity and redirects it along a different path. This intermediary structure prevents direct interaction between the fluid and clutch components, resolving the contradiction by mediating the fluid flow while maintaining speed variation flexibility
2Power
If the impeller rotates at much greater speed than the turbine, then the torque converter provides torque multiplication, but heat is generated reducing power transfer efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful effect of high-speed impeller rotation (which generates heat and fluid turbulence) into a beneficial flow pattern. The deflector captures the high-velocity fluid from the impeller and redirects it to efficiently drive the turbine, converting the potentially harmful kinetic energy and turbulence into useful torque transfer, thereby reducing heat generation while maintaining torque multiplication capability
3Productivity
If fluid is directed outward toward the turbine by centrifugal force, then the turbine receives fluid to rotate, but fluid overshoots the turbine vanes and enters the lock-up clutch
Solution Approach 1:
The deflector serves as an intermediary that intercepts the centrifugal fluid flow before it can overshoot the turbine vanes. It redirects the fluid along a controlled path that ensures complete transfer to the turbine while preventing intrusion into the lock-up clutch cavity, thereby maintaining turbine rotation efficiency while ensuring reliable clutch engagement
Solution Approach 2:
The deflector applies preliminary anti-action by preemptively redirecting the fluid flow away from the lock-up clutch path. Before the fluid can overshoot and cause problems, the deflector intercepts and redirects it, preventing the harmful effect from occurring in the first place and ensuring reliable clutch engagement
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The deflector improves torque converter efficiency by reducing energy loss, accelerating lock-up time, and enhancing fuel economy by ensuring 100% power transfer and reducing heat generation, thereby extending the life of the lock-up clutch and improving overall transmission performance.
Implementation Method 1
When the engine shaft rotates the impeller, the fluid starts rotating as well. As the rotation speeds up, centrifugal forces cause the fluid to flow outward toward the impeller vanes.
Data Source
AI summary
A torque converter impeller has a hemispherical wall with a plurality of vanes attached thereto. An improvement comprises a deflector adjacent the ends of the vanes to deflect fluid during rotation of the impeller such that the fluid is directed to the turbine vanes of the torque converter without overshooting the turbine. The deflector is preferably mounted to the inside surface of the impeller wall and extends 360°.