TORQUE CONVERTER LOCKUP CLUTCH BACKING PLATE

• US 20160238085A1
• Filed: 02/15/2016
• Published: 08/18/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Allison Transmission Incorporated (Allison Transmission Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Allison Transmission Incorporated (Allison Transmission Holdings Incorporated)
• Inventors: HOREN, JEZRAH, Rietdorf, Michael, Nguyen, Thinh
• Granted Patent: US 9,897,149 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 13/70 Pressure members, e.g. pressure plates, for clutch-plates or lamellae; Guiding arrangements for pressure members clutch flywheels comprising two or more masses with a rotational damper F16F15/12
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2001/103 the torque is transmitted via splined connections
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 25/0635 with flat friction surfaces, e.g. discs
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 3/06 specially adapted to allow axial displacement
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2045/021 three chamber system, i.e. comprising a separated, closed chamber specially adapted for actuating a lock-up clutch
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2045/0221 with damping means
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2045/0294 Single disk type lock-up clutch, i.e. using a single disc engaged between friction members
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 45/02 with mechanical clutches for bridging a fluid gearing of the hydrokinetic type control of torque converter lock-up clutches F16H61/14

Abstract

A backing plate assembly includes a front cover and a rear cover. The front cover defines an inner surface and a front plane, and the rear cover terminates at a lip. A backing plate forms a body having an outer surface that terminates at a base portion. When the outer surface is coupled to the inner surface, the backing plate is rotationally but not axially coupled to the front cover. The lip contacts the base portion to define a maximum axial distance between the backing plate and the front plane.

Claims

1. A backing plate assembly comprising:

a front cover and a rear cover, the front cover defining an inner surface and a front plane, and the rear cover terminating at a lip; and

a backing plate forming a body having an outer surface that terminates at a base portion;

wherein, when the outer surface is coupled to the inner surface, the backing plate is rotationally but not axially coupled to the front cover;

further wherein, the lip contacts the base portion to define a maximum axial distance between the backing plate and the front plane.

2. The backing plate assembly of claim 1, wherein the outer surface and the inner surface include splines.

3. The backing plate assembly of claim 2, wherein the splines allow the backing plate to move axially relative to the front cover.

4. The backing plate assembly of claim 1, wherein the front cover can be coupled to the rear cover at more than one axial distance from the front plane.

5. The backing plate assembly of claim 1, further comprising a clutch assembly located between the front cover and the rear cover;

wherein the location of the backing plate affects the engagement of the clutch assembly.

6. The backing plate assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one bearing disposed between the front cover and the rear cover;

wherein the rear cover can be spaced axially from the front plane to set clearances for the bearing.

7. A torque converter lockup clutch backing plate comprising:

a backing plate assembly having a backing plate surface coupled to a splined outer wall;

a front cover having a splined inner wall;

a back cover having a lip;

a damper having an outer surface; and

a clutch assembly that mechanically couples the backing plate surface to the damper when the clutch assembly is in an engaged position;

wherein, the splined outer wall rotationally couples the backing plate assembly to the splined inner wall;

further wherein the backing plate assembly can move axially when the splined outer wall rotationally couples the backing plate assembly to the splined inner wall of the front cover.

8. The torque converter assembly of claim 7, wherein the lip contacts a portion of the backing plate assembly to set a maximum axial distance the backing plate assembly can move from the front cover.

9. The torque converter assembly of claim 7, wherein the back cover and the front cover can be coupled to one another at a plurality of different axial distances from one another.

10. The torque converter assembly of claim 9, wherein the axial alignment of the front cover and the back cover changes the axial alignment of the backing plate assembly relative to the front cover.

11. The torque converter assembly of claim 7, wherein tolerances of the clutch assembly are set by changing the axial alignment of the lip.

12. The torque converter assembly of claim 7, further comprising a piston that is actuated to selectively engage the clutch assembly.

13. The torque converter assembly of claim 12, wherein the piston applies force to the clutch assembly that is resisted by the backing plate through the lip.

14. A method of assembling a torque converter assembly, comprising:

placing a nose hub on a build table so an axis of rotation is perpendicular to a level surface of the build table;

axially aligning a front cover with the nose hub and placing the front cover onto the nose hub;

coupling the front cover to the nose hub;

placing a piston and at least one clutch plate or reaction plate into the front cover;

placing a damper in the front cover in alignment with the clutch plate or reaction plate;

aligning a backing plate with splines in the front cover and placing the backing plate into the front cover;

placing a first bearing onto a back portion of the nose hub;

axially aligning a turbine assembly with the nose hub and placing the turbine assembly against the first bearing;

placing a second bearing onto a hub of the turbine assembly;

axially aligning a stator assembly with the nose hub and placing the stator assembly on the second bearing;

placing a third bearing onto a hub of the stator assembly;

axially aligning a rear cover with the nose hub and placing the rear cover onto the third bearing; and

setting clearances for a clutch assembly by lifting the rear cover a desired distance away from the front cover before coupling the rear cover to the front cover.

15. The method of assembling a torque converter of claim 14, wherein the desired distance is a distance that allows the clutch assembly to mechanically transfer torsional force when in an engaged position.

16. The method of manufacturing a torque converter of claim 15, wherein the desired distance is also a distance that allows the clutch assembly to be oriented in a disengaged state where torsional force will not be transferred through the clutch assembly.

17. The method of manufacturing a torque converter of claim 14, wherein the setting clearances for a clutch assembly step also includes setting clearances for the first, second, and third bearing.

18. The method of manufacturing a torque converter of claim 14, wherein the coupling the rear cover to the front cover step involves welding the rear cover to the front cover.

19. The method of manufacturing a torque converter step of claim 14, wherein after the coupling the rear cover to the front cover step the torque converter is mounted to a transmission.