Torque Converter Oil Guide Shell for Low Brake Drag Torque
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automatic transmissions face challenges in maintaining low drag torques in frictional shift elements, particularly due to rising oil levels, temperature changes, air proportion, oil quantity tolerance, driving modes, gear selection, and transmission speed.
Innovation Solution
The de-oiling of two brakes in an automatic transmission is achieved through targeted ducting within the transmission housing, intermediate plate, and torque converter oil collecting tray, forcing the cooling oil along the inner diameter of the torque converter oil guide shell to an oil ejector and back into the oil sump.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the brakes are de-oiled directly downward into the oil sump area via openings or ducting in the transmission housing and/or intermediate plate, then the de-oiling structure is simple, but the drag torque becomes unpredictable and increases with rising oil level
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a torque converter as an intermediary component to mediate the de-oiling process. Instead of direct de-oiling into the sump, oil from the brakes is directed to the torque converter, which uses its rotation to actively pump oil through the oil guide shell to the ejection opening. This intermediary mechanism ensures consistent drag torque by preventing direct contact between brake components and variable oil levels in the sump.
2Quantity of substance
If the oil level in the hybrid space rises due to temperature increase and volume expansion, then the oil quantity increases, but the drag torque of the brakes becomes unpredictable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the brake de-oiling process from the variable oil level environment in the sump. By directing brake oil to the torque converter's ejection opening (arranged above the sump bottom), the system removes brake components from direct exposure to rising oil levels, ensuring consistent drag torque regardless of oil quantity variations caused by temperature and expansion.
3Device complexity
If the brakes are de-oiled independently from the torque converter rotation, then the de-oiling system is simpler, but the drag torque cannot be kept low and reproducible under all operating conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the brake de-oiling function with the torque converter's rotational motion. The oil guide shell is arranged to be rotated along with the torque converter, and the ejection opening is positioned to utilize the converter's rotation to actively pump oil. This combination ensures that de-oiling effectiveness is coupled with torque converter operation, maintaining low and reproducible drag torque across all driving conditions.
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
This solution ensures reproducibly low drag torques for the brakes, independent of oil level changes, temperature, air proportion, oil quantity, driving modes, gear selection, and transmission speed.
Implementation Method 1
the cooling oil draining from the two brakes is then to be forced, due to the rotation of the hydrodynamic torque converter, which always takes place in the same direction of rotation, along an inner diameter of the torque converter oil guide shell
Implementation Method 2
the oil enters the gap between the oil guide shell and the oil supply system, from where the oil can then flow back into the oil sump of the oil pan in a targeted manner due to the force of gravity
Data Source
AI summary
An automatic transmission (1) includes a transmission housing, a hydrodynamic torque converter (5), a first brake, a second brake, an intermediate plate (6) fixedly connected to the transmission housing and with ducts for supplying the hydrodynamic torque converter (5) and the two brakes (A, B) with oil. An oil guide shell (7) is arranged between the hydrodynamic torque converter (5) and the intermediate plate (6). Oil coming from the two brakes sinks via oil ducts (39.1, 39.2, 39.3) in the transmission housing and the intermediate plate (6) via the inflow opening (40) in the oil guide shell (7). The hydrodynamic torque converter (5), via rotation, conveys the oil to the elevated oil ejection opening in the oil guide shell (7), from where the oil sinks into the tank (8) via a gap (52) delimited by the oil guide shell (7) and the intermediate plate (6).