Wet clutch break-in method and apparatus

• US 6,044,697 A
• Filed: 05/13/1997
• Issued: 04/04/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Imano, Kenichi
• Primary Examiner(s): MCCALL, ERIC SCOTT
• Application Number:
  US08/855,528
• Time in Patent Office: 1,057 Days
• Field of Search: 73/118.1, 73/112, 73/116, 73/117.1, 73/117.2, 73/117.3, 73/119 R
• US Class Current: 73/115.04
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 13/022 Power-transmitting couplings or clutches

Abstract

In a wet-clutch break-in method, a torque converter assembly 1 incorporating a wet-type lockup clutch 8 is clamped between a lower-jig work receiving member 31 and an upper jig face plate 51, and the torque converter assembly 1 is filled with torque converter fluid supplied through a passage 34 extending inside an output shaft 26. Then a lockup-on pressure is supplied through a passage 36 extending between the output shaft 26 and a stator shaft 30 to bring a clutch disc 13 and a front cover 2 of the torque converter assembly into friction contact. The friction contact surfaces of the clutch disc and the front cover are made in the break-in process by rotating the upper jig face plate 51 by rotation of a motor transmitted by an input shaft 50 while stopping the output shaft 26 from rotating. Vibration occurring during the break-in is monitored by a vibration pickup disposed on the output shaft, and the motor rotation number or the lockup-on pressure is accordingly controlled, to avoid resonance of the break-in apparatus.

Claims

1. A wet-clutch break-in method comprising the steps of:

filling an assembly incorporating a wet clutch with a liquid;

bringing a friction member of the wet clutch into direct contact with a counter member by a given pressure; and

rotating the friction member and the counter member relative to each other to break in the friction member and the counter member.

2. A wet-clutch break-in method according to claim 1, wherein said given pressure for friction contact between the friction member and the counter member is regulated to a given pressure optimal for the break-in.

3. A wet-clutch break-in method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of measuring vibration occurring in friction contact surfaces of the friction member and the counter member while carrying out the break-in process.

4. A wet-clutch break-in method according to claim 3, further comprising the steps of:

obtaining a vibration frequency based on a measurement of vibration; and

controlling a rotation number difference between the friction member and the counter member so that the vibration frequency does not accord with the natural frequency of a break-in apparatus.

5. A wet-clutch break-in method according to claim 3, further comprising the steps of:

obtaining a vibration frequency based an the measured result of the vibration; and

controlling the pressure for friction contact between the friction member and the counter member so that the vibration frequency does not accord with the natural frequency of the break-in apparatus.

6. A wet-clutch break-in method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of measuring a friction torque.

13. A wet-clutch break-in method according to claim 2, further comprising the step of measuring vibration occurring in friction contact surfaces of the friction member and the counter member while carrying out the break-in process.

14. A wet-clutch break-in method according to claim 13, further comprising the steps of:

obtaining a vibration frequency based on a measurement of vibration; and

controlling a rotation number difference between the friction member and the counter member so that the vibration frequency does not accord with the natural frequency of a break-in apparatus.

15. A wet-clutch break-in method according to claim 13, further comprising the steps of:

obtaining a vibration frequency based on the measured result of the vibration; and

controlling the pressure for friction contact between the friction member and the counter member so that the vibration frequency does not accord with the natural frequency of the break-in apparatus.

16. A wet-clutch break-in method according to claim 2, further comprising the step of measuring a friction torque.

17. A wet-clutch break-in method according to claim 3, further comprising the step of measuring a friction torque.

18. A wet-clutch break-in method according to claim 4, further comprising the step of measuring a friction torque.

19. A wet-clutch break-in method according to claim 5, further comprising the step of measuring a friction torque.

20. A wet-clutch break-in method according to claim 13, further comprising the step of measuring a friction torque.

21. A wet-clutch break-in method according to claim 14, further comprising the step of measuring a friction torque.

22. A wet-clutch break-in method according to claim 15, further comprising the step of measuring a friction torque.

7. A break-in apparatus comprising:

supporting means for supporting an assembly incorporating a wet clutch;

means for supplying a liquid into the assembly supported by the supporting means and for applying a pressure for effecting direct contact between a friction member and a counter member of the wet clutch; and

means for rotating the friction member and the counter member relative to each other to break in the friction member and the counter member.

8. A break-in apparatus according to claim 7, wherein means for supplying liquid comprises liquid pressure regulating means for regulating the pressure of the liquid to be supplied into the assembly.

9. A break-in apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising a vibration sensor for measuring vibration occurring in friction contact surfaces of the friction member and the counter member.

10. A break-in apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising rotation control means for controlling the rotating means on the basis of the signal from the vibration sensor.

11. A break-in apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising friction contact pressure control means for controlling the means for supplying a liquid on the basis of the signal from the vibration sensor.

12. A break-in apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising means for measuring a friction torque.

23. A break-in apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising a vibration sensor for measuring vibration occurring in friction contact surfaces of the friction member and the counter member.

24. A break-in apparatus according to claim 23, further comprising rotation control means for controlling the rotating means on the basis of the signal from the vibration sensor.

25. A break-in apparatus according to claim 23, further comprising friction contact pressure control means for controlling the means for supplying a liquid on the basis of the signal from the vibration sensor.

26. A break-in apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising means for measuring a friction torque.

27. A break-in apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising means for measuring a friction torque.

28. A break-in apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising means for measuring a friction torque.

29. A break-in apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising means for measuring a friction torque.

30. A break-in apparatus according to claim 23, further comprising means for measuring a friction torque.

31. A break-in apparatus according to claim 24, further comprising means for measuring a friction torque.

32. A break-in apparatus according to claim 25, further comprising means for measuring a friction torque.