Variable capacity torque converter and method
First Claim
1. A method of varying the power absorption capacity of a torque converter having an impeller and a turbine, comprising the steps of:
- driving the impeller to induce a primary flow of fluid therefrom to said turbine to drive the latter;
returning said primary fluid flow from said turbine to the impeller;
introducing a secondary flow of fluid into said primary fluid flow to alter the direction of the latter; and
varying the rate of said secondary fluid flow to vary the power absorption capacity of the converter.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A fixed geometry torque converter having variable power absorption capacity by provision of a secondary fluid flow path which introduces fluid at the trailing edge region of the stator vane adjacent the impeller and at a direction normal to the primary flow of fluid from the turbine passing across the stator to return to the impeller. The rate of this secondary fluid flow is selectively varied to alter the direction of the primary flow of fluid and thereby selectively vary the power absorption capacity of the torque converter. In combination with a fluid turbomachine as utilized in aircraft systems, the variable capacity torque converter is arranged in the power drive train so as to load the turbomachine. By selectively varying the power absorption capacity of the torque converter in relation to prevailing ambient conditions, a greater amount of the power output capacity of the turbine machine may be utilized at various ambient conditions without causing stalling of the turbine machine.
7 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of varying the power absorption capacity of a torque converter having an impeller and a turbine, comprising the steps of:
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driving the impeller to induce a primary flow of fluid therefrom to said turbine to drive the latter; returning said primary fluid flow from said turbine to the impeller; introducing a secondary flow of fluid into said primary fluid flow to alter the direction of the latter; and varying the rate of said secondary fluid flow to vary the power absorption capacity of the converter.
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2. A method of varying the power absorption capacity of a fluid coupling having a mechanically-driven fluid impeller, a fluid driven turbine, and stator means between the impeller and turbine;
- comprising the steps of;
driving the impeller to produce a primary flow of fluid from the impeller to the turbine to drive the latter; returning the primary flow of fluid from the turbine across said stator means to the impeller; and selectively altering the direction of the returning primary flow of fluid prior to reaching the impeller by selectively varying the rate of flow of a secondary flow of fluid introduced into the primary flow of fluid.
- comprising the steps of;
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3. A method of operating a fluid turbomachine in varying ambient conditions which alter the power output capacity of the turbomachine, said turbomachine being subject to stalling whenever the load imposed thereon exceeds the power output capacity of the turbomachine, said method comprising:
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providing a fluid coupling at the output shaft of said turbomachine to impose loads on the turbomachine in relation to the power absorption capacity of the fluid coupling, said coupling including an impeller driven by said turbomachine, and a fluid driven turbine; operating said turbomachine to rotate the impeller and produce a primary flow of fluid therefrom to said turbine to drive the latter; returning the primary flow of fluid from the turbine to said impeller; selectively introducing a secondary flow of fluid into the primary flow of fluid to alter the direction of the latter; and selectively varying the rate of flow of said secondary flow of fluid in relation to prevailing ambient conditions to vary the power absorption capacity of the fluid coupling, whereby the load imposed upon said turbomachine does not exceed said power output capacity of the turbomachine at said prevailing conditions to thereby avoid stalling of said turbomachine.
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4. A fluid coupling comprising:
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an impeller for producing a primary flow of fluid; a turbine operably driven by said primary flow of fluid and arranged relative to said impeller whereby said primary flow of fluid returns from said turbine back to said impeller; means for introducing a secondary flow of fluid into said primary flow of fluid to change the direction of the latter; and means for selectively varying the rate of flow of said secondary flow of fluid to vary the power absorption capacity of said fluid coupling.
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5. In combination with a fluid turbomachine having a power output shaft and a power output capacity which varies in relation to prevailing ambient conditions, said turbomachine being subject to stalling whenever the load imposed upon said power output shaft exceeds the power output capacity of said turbomachine;
- a fluid dynamic torque transfer device operably coupled to said output shaft of the turbomachine for imposing loads thereon in relation to the power absorption capacity of said device, said device comprising;
a casing having a closed loop flow path for carrying a primary flow of fluid; an impeller disposed in said flow path and rotatable to produce said primary flow, said impeller being operably coupled to said output shaft of the turbomachine to be rotated by the latter; a rotatable turbine disposed in said flow path whereby said primary flow dynamically transmits torque to rotate said turbine; stator means disposed in said flow path between said impeller and said turbine for changing the direction of said primary flow; means for introducing a secondary flow of fluid into said flow path through said stator means for varying said direction of primary flow and said power absorption capacity of the device in relation to the rate of said secondary flow; and means for varying said rate of secondary flow in relation to prevailing ambient conditions to allow said turbomachine to transmit its maximum power output to said device at different prevailing ambient conditions while avoiding stalling of said turbomachine during operation at said different ambient conditions.
- a fluid dynamic torque transfer device operably coupled to said output shaft of the turbomachine for imposing loads thereon in relation to the power absorption capacity of said device, said device comprising;
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6. A fluid dyanmic torque transmitting device comprising:
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a casing defining a closed loop flow path therein for carrying a primary flow of fluid; power input and output shafts rotatably carried by said casing; an impeller operably coupled to said input shaft and disposed in said flow path to produce said primary flow upon rotation of the input shaft; a turbine disposed in said flow path and operably coupled to said output shaft whereby said primary flow dynamically transmits torque to rotate said turbine and said output shaft; a plurality of reactionary, stationary, stator vanes disposed in said flow path between said impeller and turbine whereby said primary flow passes across said vanes upon returning from said turbine to said impeller, each of said vanes having passages therewithin and openings allowing fluid communication between said passages and said flow path; means operably communicating with said passages for delivering a secondary flow of fluid through said openings into said flow path to change the direction of said primary flow therein; and means for varying the rate of said secondary flow of fluid delivered through said passages into said flow path. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A fluid dynamic torque transmitting device comprising:
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a casing defining a closed loop flow path therein for carrying a primary flow of fluid; power input and output shafts rotatably carried by said casing; an impeller operably coupled to said input shaft and disposed in said flow path to produce said primary flow upon rotation of the input shaft; a turbine diposed in said flow path and operably coupled to said output shaft whereby said primary flow dynamically transmits torque to rotate said trubine and said output shaft; a plurality of reactionary, stationary, stator vanes disposed in said flow path between said impeller and turbine whereby said primary flow passes across said vanes upon returning from said turbine to said impeller and has a tangential velocity component extending tangentially to the direction of rotation of said impeller, each of said vanes having an internal passage, a radially extending trailing edge located adjacent said impeller, and an opening extending substantially radially along said trailing edge to allow fluid communication between said internal passage and said flow path; means operably communicating with said internal passages for delivering a secondary flow of fluid through said openings into said flow path in a direction substantially normal to the direction of said primary flow to alter the magnitude of said tangential velocity component of the primary flow in relation to the rate of said secondary flow; and means for varying said rate of secondary flow whereby increase and decrease of said secondary flow respectively increases and decreases said magnitude of the tangential velocity component to thereby respectively decrease and increase the power absorption capacity of said device.
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Specification