Automatic Transmission Pump Drive Converter Hub Integration
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Automatic transmissions with hydrodynamic torque converters require an optimized pump drive connection that is cost-effective and easy to assemble, as existing solutions involve complex and costly components like slide bearings and finger drives.
Innovation Solution
A pump drive design where the pump wheel of the torque converter is connected to a converter hub extending radially from the pump wheel, mounted on the transmission housing, with a driving profile that centers and positively connects the pump drive shaft, eliminating the need for separate slide bearings and reducing component tolerance, allowing for a simpler and cheaper connection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a chain drive with separate slide bearings is used to connect the pump wheel to the pump drive shaft, then the connection is mechanically robust, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functions of the slide bearing and the driving profile into a single integrated converter hub structure. The converter hub includes both the bearing surface for radial mounting and the positive connection profile, eliminating the need for separate slide bearing components and reducing assembly complexity while maintaining mechanical robustness.
Solution Approach 2:
The converter hub is designed as a multi-functional component that simultaneously serves as the mounting structure for the pump wheel, provides radial support through integrated bearing surfaces, and delivers positive connection through the driving profile. This universal component replaces multiple specialized parts, simplifying the overall device while maintaining reliability.
2Stability of the object's composition
If separate slide bearings and finger drives are used for connecting the pump wheel to the drive shaft, then the connection is mechanically stable, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions into the converter hub: the pump wheel mounting interface, the radial bearing surface, and the positive connection driving profile are all integrated into this single component. This eliminates the need for separate slide bearings and finger drive elements, reducing manufacturing cost while maintaining connection stability through the unified design.
3Strength
If multiple separate components (slide bearings, finger drives, check-rings) are used for the pump drive connection, then the mechanical strength is sufficient, but the number of parts and assembly steps increase
Solution Approach 1:
The converter hub integrates the radial bearing function and the positive connection driving profile into a single monolithic component. The pump wheel is radially mounted on the converter hub which provides both support and torque transmission through its integrated profile, eliminating the need for separate slide bearings, finger drives, and check-rings, thus reducing the total component count while maintaining mechanical strength.
4Reliability
If a complex connection system with multiple components is used, then the mechanical robustness is ensured, but the tolerance chain increases affecting acoustic performance
Solution Approach 1:
By integrating the bearing surface and driving profile into the single converter hub component, the patent reduces the number of mating interfaces and eliminates the cumulative tolerance chain that would exist between multiple separate components. This reduces sensitivity to manufacturing tolerances and improves acoustic performance while maintaining mechanical robustness through the unified structure.
Data Source
AI summary
A pump drive of an automatic transmission with a hydrodynamic torque converter driven by a drive motor and with an oil pump driven by a pump wheel of the torque converter. The pump wheel of the torque converter is connected to a converter hub that extends from the pump wheel in the direction opposite the drive motor and is mounted radially by way of a converter hub bearing in or on a wall of the automatic transmission fixed with respect to the transmission housing and radially encloses a section of a pump drive shaft of the oil pump. The pump drive shaft is radially centered in the converter hub and, on its side facing toward the drive motor, is connected to the converter hub by a driving profile.