Twin-clutch-type transmission

• US 5,711,409 A
• Filed: 06/15/1995
• Issued: 01/27/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Murata, Kiyohito
• Primary Examiner(s): Ta, Khoi Q.
• Application Number:
  US08/490,784
• Time in Patent Office: 957 Days
• Field of Search: 192/85 R, 192/87.1, 192/87.14, 192/85 A, 192/85 AA, 74/330, 74/336, 477/143
• US Class Current: 192/48.611
• 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 2021/0607 Double clutch with torque input plate in-between the two clutches, i.e. having a central input plate
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 25/0635 with flat friction surfaces, e.g. discs
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 25/10 Clutch systems with a plurality of fluid-actuated clutches arrangements or mounting of clutches in vehicles B60K17/00
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 25/12 Details not specific to one of the before-mentioned types
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2500/50239 Soft clutch engagement
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2500/50293 Reduction of vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2500/50684 Torque resume after shifting
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2500/70211 Force
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2500/70235 Displacement
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2500/7041 Position
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 48/062 of a clutch system with a plurality of fluid actuated clutches
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2306/44 Removing torque from current gears
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2306/52 Applying torque to new gears
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 3/006 power being selectively transmitted by either one of the parallel flow paths
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/688 with two inputs, e.g. selection of one of two torque-flow paths by clutches
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/1926 Speed responsive

Abstract

A twin-clutch-type transmission which can suitably change a power transmitting route, corresponding to the gear shifting conditions, without requiring complex a control, includes a first clutch mechanism, a second clutch mechanism, a first gear mechanism connected to the first output member of the first clutch mechanism, a second gear mechanism connected to the second output member of the second clutch mechanism, a control device, and an interlocking member.

The first clutch mechanism includes an input member, a first output member, a first pressure plate and a first thrust means which engages the first output member to the input member through the first pressure plate. The second clutch mechanism includes an input member, a second output member, a second pressure plate and a second thrust means which engages the second output member to the input member through the second pressure plate.

The first gear mechanism has gear sets to provide a first group of gear ratios, a second gear mechanism connected to the second output member of the second clutch mechanism. The second gear mechanism has gear sets to provide a second group of gear ratios. The control device controls thrust forces generated by the thrust means so as to change one of the two clutch mechanisms from an engaged condition to a disengaged condition and to change the other of the two clutch mechanism from a disengaged condition to an engaged condition. The interlocking member mechanically interlocks the first pressure plate of the first clutch mechanism and the second pressure plate of the second clutch mechanism.

Claims

1. A twin-clutch-type transmission comprising:

a first clutch mechanism including an input member, a first output member, a first pressure plate, and a first thrust means which selectively pushes said first output member to engage said first output member itself to one side of said input member through said first pressure plate;

a second clutch mechanism including an input member, a second output member, a second pressure plate, and a second thrust means which selectively pushes said second output member to engage said second output member to the other side of said input member through said second pressure plate;

a first gear mechanism connected to said first output member of said first clutch mechanism, said first gear mechanism having gear sets for providing a first group of gear ratios;

a second gear mechanism connected to said second output member of said second clutch mechanism, said second gear mechanism having gear sets for providing a second group of gear ratios;

a control means for controlling the thrust forces generated by said thrust means to change one of said two clutch mechanism from an engaged condition to a disengaged condition and to change the other of said two clutch mechanisms from a disengaged condition to an engaged condition; and

means for mechanically interlocking said first pressure plate of said first clutch mechanism and said second pressure plate of said second clutch mechanism such that movement of one of said pressure plates is interrelated to movement of the other of said pressure plates during gear changes of said transmission,

wherein said means for mechanically interlocking has an elastic element always biasing said first pressure plate and said second pressure plate against each other in a direction of disengaging, even when said first pressure plate is not pushed by said first piston and said second pressure plate is not pushed by said second piston,

wherein said control means changes one of said two clutch mechanisms from an engaged condition to a disengaged condition and changes the other of said two clutch mechanisms from a disengaged condition to an engaged condition, under an action of said interlocking means such that said two clutch mechanisms are both disengaged for some period during at least some of said gear changes.

2. A twin-clutch-type transmission according to claim 1,

wherein said interlocking member has a definite length in the direction of the thrust force.

3. A twin-clutch-type transmission according to claim 1,

wherein said means for mechanically interlocking always has an elastic force basing said first pressure plate and said second pressure plate in a direction of disengaging.

4. A twin-clutch-type transmission according to any one of claim 2 and 3,

wherein both of said first thrust means and said second thrust means are piston means driven by oil pressure.

5. A twin-clutch-type transmission according to any one of claim 2 and 3,

wherein one of said first thrust means and said second thrust means is piston means driven by oil pressure, and the other is an elastic member which always gives a thrust force in a direction of engaging.

6. A twin-clutch-type transmission according to claim 4,

wherein one of said first thrust means and said second thrust means has an additional elastic member which always gives a thrust force in a direction of engaging.

7. A twin-clutch-type transmission according to claim 1, wherein said interlocking member is composed of a sleeve connected at a center part thereof to the input member, wherein ends of the sleeve are loosely fitted in recesses which are respectively formed in said first and second pressure plates, and wherein said elastic element is accommodated within said sleeve.

8. The transmission of claim 1 wherein said control means changes one of said two clutch mechanisms from an engaged condition to a disengaged condition and changes the other of said two clutch mechanisms from a disengaged condition to an engaged condition such that said two clutch mechanisms are both disengaged for some period during certain of said gear changes which are selected based upon driving conditions.

9. The transmission of claim 1 wherein said control means changes one of said two clutch mechanisms from an engaged condition to a disengaged condition and changes the other of said two clutch mechanisms from a disengaged condition to an engaged condition such that said two clutch mechanisms are both engaged for some period during certain of said gear changes which are selected based upon driving conditions.

10. The transmission of claim 1 wherein said control means changes one of said two clutch mechanisms from an engaged condition to a disengaged condition and simultaneously changes the other of said two clutch mechanisms from a disengaged condition to an engaged condition during certain of said gear changes which are selected based upon driving conditions.