US5996340A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Torque converter
Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
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Filing: 1998-11-04
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Granted: 1999-12-07
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Expires: 2018-11-04
Abstract
Abstract A torque converter comprises a converter housing that has a plurality of connection areas on one axial side. The converter housing is connectable in rotation-proof fashion relative to a crank shaft at connection points located in the connection areas. The converter housing has a plurality of radially extending hollows arranged in the circumferential direction at a distance from each other on the aforementioned axial side. A first distance between one of the hollows and the hollow directly adjacent to it in one circumferential direction is different from a second distance between the one of the hollows and the hollow directly adjacent to it in the other opposing circumferential direction.
Inventors
- 👤 Detlev Weichel
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 21:35
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16H; F16H41/00; F16H41/24; F16H45/00; F16H45/02; F16H2045/0273; F16H2045/0284
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
184 words
A torque converter for arrangement between an engine and a transmission of a motor vehicle, comprising: a pump wheel rotatable about an axis of rotation; a turbine wheel rotatable relative to said pump wheel about said axis of rotation; and a converter housing connected to said pump wheel and defining an interior space for receiving a working fluid used for transferring torsional forces between said pump wheel and said turbine wheel; wherein said converter housing includes a plurality of radially extending hollows arranged at circumferential distances from one another on one axial side of said converter housing and a plurality of connection areas on said one axial side, said converter housing being rotatably fixedly connectable relative to a crankshaft of the engine at said plural connection areas, and wherein a first circumferential distance from one of said plural hollows to an adjacent one of said plural hollows in a first circumferential direction is greater than a second circumferential distance from said one of said plural hollows to another adjacent one of said plural hollows in a second circumferential direction opposite said first circumferential direction.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
184 words
A torque converter for arrangement between an engine and a transmission of a motor vehicle, comprising: a pump wheel rotatable about an axis of rotation; a turbine wheel rotatable relative to said pump wheel about said axis of rotation; and a converter housing connected to said pump wheel and defining an interior space for receiving a working fluid used for transferring torsional forces between said pump wheel and said turbine wheel; wherein said converter housing includes a plurality of radially extending hollows arranged at circumferential distances from one another on one axial side of said converter housing and a plurality of connection areas on said one axial side, said converter housing being rotatably fixedly connectable relative to a crankshaft of the engine at said plural connection areas, and wherein a first circumferential distance from one of said plural hollows to an adjacent one of said plural hollows in a first circumferential direction is greater than a second circumferential distance from said one of said plural hollows to another adjacent one of said plural hollows in a second circumferential direction opposite said first circumferential direction.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The torque converter of claim 1, wherein said plural hollows are positioned substantially mirror-symmetrically relative to a mirror line located orthogonal to said axis of rotational.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The torque converter of claim 1, wherein said first circumferential distance is approximately a whole-number multiple of said second circumferential distance.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The torque converter of claim 3, wherein said first circumferential distance comprises approximately 120° and said second circumferential distance to comprises approximately 60°.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
59 words
The torque converter of claim 1, wherein said plural hollows comprise four hollows, said first circumferential distance of each of said four hollows comprising approximately 120° to an adjacent one of the four hollows in one circumferential direction and said second circumferential distance of each of said four hollows comprising approximately 60° to another adjacent hollow another circumferential direction.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
The torque converter of claim 1, wherein said first circumferential distance and said second circumferential distance comprise angular distances between substantially radially extending center lines of respective ones of said plural hollows.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The torque converter of claim 1, wherein said plural hollows are arranged on a radially outer area of said one axial side.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The torque converter of claim 1, wherein each said plural connection areas is operatively arranged between a circumferentially adjacent pair of said plurality of hollows.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
77 words
The torque converter of claim 8, further comprising at least one coupling section operatively arranged in at least one of said plural connection areas between two said plural hollows at said first circumferential distance from each other and at least another coupling section operatively arranged in at least one of said plural connection areas between two said plural hollows at said second circumferential distance from each other for connecting said converter housing relative to said crank shaft.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
The torque converter of claim 9, wherein at least two coupling sections are operatively arranged in said at least one connection area between two said plural hollows at said first circumferential distance from each other.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
The torque converter of claim 9, wherein each said at least one coupling section comprises a coupling element securely attachable to said converter housing.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
The torque converter of claim 9, wherein said at least one coupling section comprises a coupling ring designed for secure connection to the crank shaft attached to each said at least one coupling section.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
The torque converter of claim 1, wherein each said plural hollows comprises a concave recess relative to an exterior side of said converter housing.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
124 words
A cover for a torque converter mountable about an axis of rotation of the torque converter, comprising: a plurality of radially extending hollows arranged at circumferential distances from one another on one axial side of said cover and a plurality of connection areas located on said one axial side, said cover being rotatably fixedly connectable relative to a crankshaft of the engine at said plural connection areas, and wherein a first circumferential distance from one of said plural hollows to an adjacent one of said plural hollows in a first circumferential direction is greater than a second circumferential distance from said one of said plural hollows to another adjacent one of said plural hollows in a second circumferential direction opposite said first circumferential direction.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
124 words
A cover for a torque converter mountable about an axis of rotation of the torque converter, comprising: a plurality of radially extending hollows arranged at circumferential distances from one another on one axial side of said cover and a plurality of connection areas located on said one axial side, said cover being rotatably fixedly connectable relative to a crankshaft of the engine at said plural connection areas, and wherein a first circumferential distance from one of said plural hollows to an adjacent one of said plural hollows in a first circumferential direction is greater than a second circumferential distance from said one of said plural hollows to another adjacent one of said plural hollows in a second circumferential direction opposite said first circumferential direction.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
The cover of claim 14, wherein said plural hollows are positioned substantially mirror-symmetrically relative to a mirror line located orthogonal to said axis of rotation.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
The cover of claim 14, wherein said first circumferential distance is approximately a whole-number multiple of said second circumferential distance.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
The cover of claim 16, wherein said first circumferential distance comprises approximately 120° and said second circumferential distance to comprises approximately 60°.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
60 words
The cover of claim 14, wherein said plural hollows comprise four hollows, said first circumferential distance of each of said four hollows comprising approximately 120° to an adjacent one of the four hollows in one circumferential direction and said second circumferential distance of each of said four hollows comprising approximately 60° to another adjacent hollow in another second circumferential direction.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
31 words
The cover of claim 14, wherein said first circumferential distance and said second circumferential distance comprise angular distances between substantially radially extending center lines of respective ones of said plural hollows.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
21 words
The cover of claim 14, wherein said plural hollows are arranged on a radially outer area of said one axial side.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
24 words
The cover of claim 14, wherein each said plural connection areas is operatively arranged between a circumferentially adjacent pair of said plurality of hollows.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
76 words
The cover of claim 21, further comprising at least one coupling section operatively arranged in at least one of said plural connection areas between two said plural hollows at said first circumferential distance from each other and at least another coupling section operatively arranged in at least one of said plural connection areas between two said plural hollows at said second circumferential distance from each other for connecting said converter housing relative to said crank shaft.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
33 words
The cover of claim 22, wherein at least two coupling sections are operatively arranged in said at least one connection area between two said plural hollows at said first circumferential distance from each.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
23 words
The cover of claim 22, wherein each said at least one coupling section comprises a coupling element securely attachable to said converter housing.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
33 words
The cover of claim 22, wherein said at least one coupling section comprises a coupling ring designed for secure connection to the crank shaft attached to each said at least one coupling section.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
23 words
The cover of claim 14, wherein each said plural hollows comprises a concave recess relative to an exterior side of said converter housing.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-12-06 | 2003-06-07 | 2003-12-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-12-06 | 2007-06-07 | 2007-12-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-12-06 | 2011-06-07 | 2011-12-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |