WO2019117469A1 - Torque converter for vehicle, and control method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a torque converter for a vehicle, which has a simple structure, incurs low production and design costs, and can be applied to a structure not employing a fluid. The torque converter for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: a planetary gear which is connected to an input shaft via a first element (a ring gear), is connected to an output shaft via a second element (a carrier), and is variably connected to a fixed part via a third element (a sun gear); a first eddy current part for controlling the connection of the first element and the second element; and a second eddy current part and a one-way clutch which control the connection of the third element and the fixed part and are connected to each other.

Description

Vehicle torque converter and control method thereof

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a torque converter for a vehicle and a control method thereof, and more particularly, to a torque converter for a vehicle and a control method thereof for multiplying a torque input from an engine using an electromagnetic force and a planetary gear.

Generally, the torque converter is installed between the engine of the vehicle and the automatic transmission, and uses the fluid friction force to transmit the driving force of the engine to the automatic transmission. As one example, the torque converter includes a front cover that receives the driving force of the engine, an impeller that rotates integrally with the front cover, a turbine that is rotated by the fluid discharged from the impeller, and a flow of fluid returning from the turbine to the impeller, (Also referred to as "stator") that increases the rate of torque change.

As described above, since the torque converter used in the vehicle uses the method of multiplying the torque by using the fluid, the internal structure is complicated by the many wings provided in the impeller, the turbine and the reactor, and the manufacturing cost and the designing cost are increased. Also, torque converters using fluids have the disadvantage that they can not be applied to a fluid-free structure.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a torque converter for a vehicle that is simple in structure, low in manufacturing and design cost, and applicable to a structure not using a fluid. An object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle torque converter control method for controlling the vehicle torque converter.

A torque converter for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention is connected to an input shaft by a first element (e.g., a ring gear), connected to an output shaft by a second element (e.g., a carrier) A first eddy-current section for interrupting the connection between the first element and the second element, and a second eddy-current element interposed between the third element and the fixed section, And a one-way clutch.

The first eddy current unit may disconnect, partially connect, or synchronously connect the first element and the second element.

The second eddy current unit is connected to the third element, and the one-way clutch can connect the second eddy current unit and the fixing unit to each other.

The first element may be a ring gear, the second element may be a carrier, and the third element may be a sun gear.

A method for controlling a torque converter for an automobile according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a first element (e.g., a ring gear) connected to an input shaft, a second element (e.g., a carrier) connected to the output shaft, In a planetary gear having a third element (e.g., sun gear) and a speed ratio by a set gear ratio, an operation control of a first eddy current unit provided between the first element and the second element at a speed ratio by the gear ratio (Synchronizing) the torque output to the second element by synchronously controlling the first element and the second element, and a second step of increasing (synchronizing) the torque output to the second element by synchronizing the first element and the second element, And a second step of increasing the torque output to the second element by controlling the operation of the second eddy current unit connected to the one-way clutch in the reverse direction.

In the first step, due to the non-operation of the second eddy current unit, the one-way clutch provided between the second eddy current unit and the fixed unit can be inactivated.

In the second step, due to the operation of the second eddy current unit, the one-way clutch provided between the second eddy current unit and the fixed unit can be operated after non-operation.

The second step may transfer part of the output shaft torque to the second element due to partial operation of the first eddy current part.

The method for controlling a torque converter for an automotive vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention includes stopping the third element by controlling operation of the one-way clutch and the second eddy current unit within a speed ratio by the gear ratio, And a third step of outputting a normal torque.

The third step may transfer part of the output shaft torque to the second element due to partial operation of the first eddy current part.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the first and second elements of the planetary gear are synchronously connected to the first eddy current unit, the second eddy current unit is connected to the third element and the fixed unit, The output torque can be multiplied (synchronized) by controlling the speed ratio by the gear ratio, and the output torque can be multiplied by the speed ratio by the gear ratio.

Thus, one embodiment simplifies the structure of the torque converter, lowers manufacturing and design costs, and can be applied to structures that do not use fluids.

1 is a configuration diagram of a torque converter for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a table showing the operation of the first eddy current unit, the second eddy current unit, and the one-way clutch, which are controlled by the control method of the torque converter for a vehicle according to the embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a table showing the operation of the planetary gear elements controlled by the method for controlling a torque converter for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings so that those skilled in the art can easily carry out the present invention. The present invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. In order to clearly illustrate the present invention, parts not related to the description are omitted, and the same or similar components are denoted by the same reference numerals throughout the specification.

In general, when a planetary gear is fixed to one of three elements, the other two elements operate as input and output, and have a gear ratio set between the input and output. Under these conditions, the planetary gear has the characteristic that the torque sum of the input stage, the output stage and the fixed stage becomes zero, and the torque can be transmitted only within the speed ratio by the set gear ratio.

In one embodiment, the planetary gears can multiply the input torque in the sub-speed ratio by the gear ratio, and can increase the input torque by synchronizing the speed between the input element and the output element in the section over the speed ratio by the gear ratio .

1 is a configuration diagram of a torque converter for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to Fig. 1, a vehicle torque converter of an embodiment is configured to connect both the engine E and the automatic transmission TM to each other so as to convert the output torque of the engine E and transfer the output torque to the automatic transmission TM do.

The torque converter of one embodiment is connected to the engine E via the input shaft 1 and to the automatic transmission TM by the output shaft 2. The torque converter includes a first element 11, a second element 12 and a third element 13 and includes a planetary gear 10 connected to the input shaft 1 and the output shaft 2.

The first element 11 in the planetary gear 10 is the ring gear R and the second element 12 is the carrier C connecting the pinion gear P and the third element 13, Is the sun gear (S).

In addition, the torque converter of one embodiment includes a first eddy current section 21, a second eddy current section 22, and a one-way clutch 23. For example, the first eddy current unit 21 and the second eddy current unit 22 are composed of a noncontact coupling which is operated and partially operated by an electromagnetic force generated by an eddy current. The first and second eddy current portions 21 and 22 can transmit the torque synchronously or partially transmit the torque by operation and partial operation.

In the planetary gear 10, a first element (e.g., ring gear R) 11 is connected to the input shaft 1, and a second element (e.g., carrier C) And the third element (e.g., the sun gear S) 13 is variably connected to the fixed portion 14. As shown in Fig. The fixing portion 14 is fixed to the automatic transmission TM or the vehicle.

The first eddy current unit 21 is disposed between a first element 11 connected to the input shaft 1 and a second element 12 connected to the output shaft 2 and includes a first member 211 And a second member 212 so as to be connected to the first element 11 and the second element 12 by a first member 211 and a second member 212, respectively.

The first eddy current unit 21 separates and partially connects or connects the first and second members 211 and 212 to each other by the electromagnetic force formed between the first and second members 211 and 212 by the eddy current, The first element 11 and the second element 12 are separated, partially connected or synchronously connected to each other.

The second eddy current unit 22 and the one-way clutch 23 are connected to each other to interlock the connection of the third element 13 and the fixed portion 14. The second eddy current section 22 is connected to the third element 13 and the one-way clutch 23 is disposed between the second eddy current section 22 and the fixed section 14.

The second eddy current unit 22 is disposed between the third element 13 and the one-way clutch 23 and includes a first member 221 and a second member 222 facing each other on both sides, Way clutch 23 to the third element 13 and the one-way clutch 23 to the second member 221 and the second member 222, respectively.

The one-way clutch 23 connects the second member 222 of the second eddy current unit 22 and the fixing member 14 so as to be rotatable in one direction so that the second eddy- The second member 22 and the third element 13 of the second eddy current unit 22 are rotated in the reverse direction when the first eddy current unit 22 and the third eddy current unit 22 are not operated, It can be stopped.

The second eddy current unit 22 separates, partially connects, or synchronously connects the first and second members 221 and 222 to each other by the electromagnetic force formed between the first and second members 221 and 222 by the eddy current , The third element (13) and the one-way clutch (23) are disconnected, partially connected or synchronously connected to each other.

Way clutch 23 is operated to stop the second member 222 of the second eddy current unit 22 from moving toward the fixed portion 14 (see FIG. 14) when driven within the speed ratio by the gear ratio at which the second eddy current portion 22 operates. ). At this time, the first eddy current unit 21 partially operates to transmit a part of the torque of the output shaft 1 to the second element 12.

The one-way clutch 23 operates after the non-operation to stop the second member 222 after rotating in the reverse direction when the speed ratio is driven by the gear ratio at which the second eddy current unit 22 operates. At this time, the first eddy current unit 21 partially operates to transmit a part of the torque of the output shaft 1 to the second element 12. The ratio of the output speed to the input speed is less than 1 / gear ratio ((output speed / input speed) <(1 / gear ratio)).

When the speed ratio by the gear ratio is not more than the speed ratio, the operation of the second eddy current section 22 causes the third element 13 to rotate in the reverse direction and then stop, and the one-way clutch 23 operates after the non- maintain. At this time, the first member 221 connected to the third element 13 is reversely rotated, and the second member 222 connected to the one-way clutch 23 is stopped. Thus, an eddy current torque is generated in the second eddy current portion 22 between the third element 13 and the one-way clutch 23, and the output torque is increased until the speed ratio by the gear ratio becomes equal.

When the second eddy current section 22 is inoperative and the speed ratio by the gear ratio at which the first eddy current section 21 is operated is greater than the speed ratio, the one-way clutch 23 is inactivated, The rotation drive is not disturbed. The speed ratio error due to the gear ratio is greater than the output speed / input speed of 1 / gear ratio ((output speed / input speed)> (1 / gear ratio)).

The first and second elements 11 and 12 (and the third element 13) are synchronously rotated in the forward direction by the operation of the first eddy current unit 21 when the speed ratio is equal to or greater than the gear ratio. Therefore, an eddy current torque is generated in the first eddy current portion 21 between the first and second elements 11 and 12, and the output torque is multiplied until it becomes equal to the synchronous speed ratio by the gear ratio.

FIG. 2 is a table showing the operation of a first eddy current unit, a second eddy current unit, and a one-way clutch controlled by a control method of a torque converter for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention. And is a table showing the operation of the planetary gear elements controlled by the control method of the vehicle torque converter.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, a method for controlling a torque converter for a vehicle according to an embodiment includes a first step of multiplying a torque output to the second element 12 at a speed ratio exceeding a gear ratio, And a second step of multiplying the torque output to the second element 12 from the ratio below.

The first stage synchronously controls the first element (ring gear) 11 and the second element (carrier) 12 under the control of the operation of the first eddy current section 21 at a speed ratio exceeding the gear ratio, The torque output to the element 12 is multiplied. In the first step, the one-way clutch 23 provided between the second eddy current unit 22 and the fixed portion 14 is independent of the control due to the non-operation of the second eddy current unit 22 Non-operating control). At this time, the third element 13 rotates integrally with the first and second elements 11 and 12.

In the second step, the third element 13 is rotated in the reverse direction by the operation control of the second eddy current unit 22 under the speed ratio by the gear ratio, and is then stopped to control the torque output to the second element 12, Until the speed ratio is equal to the speed ratio. The one-way clutch 23 provided between the second eddy current unit 22 and the fixed portion 14 is operated after the non-operation due to the operation of the second eddy current unit 22 in the second step. At this time, the third element 13 is stopped after being rotated in the direction opposite to the rotation of the first and second elements 11 and 12.

Due to the partial operation of the first eddy current section 21 in the second stage, a part of the torque of the output shaft 1 is transmitted to the second element 12. That is, the torque of the output shaft 1 is the sum of the partial torque transmitted to the second element unit 12 through the first eddy current unit 21 and the partial torque transmitted to the first element 11.

In addition, the method for controlling a torque converter for a vehicle according to an embodiment further includes a third step of outputting a steady torque set to the second element 12 at a speed ratio by a gear ratio. In the third step, the third element 13 is stopped and controlled by the operation control of the one-way clutch 23 and the second eddy current unit 22 at the speed ratio by the gear ratio, and the normal torque is output to the second element 12 .

Due to the partial operation of the first eddy current unit 21 in the third stage, a part of the torque of the output shaft 1 is transmitted to the second element 12. That is, the torque of the output shaft 1 is the sum of the partial torque transmitted to the second element unit 12 through the first eddy current unit 21 and the partial torque transmitted to the first element 11.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments, but, on the contrary, And it goes without saying that the invention belongs to the scope of the invention.

Claims (10)

A planetary gear connected to the input shaft as a first element, connected to the output shaft as a second element, and variably connected to the fixed portion as a third element; A first eddy current unit for interrupting a connection between the first element and the second element; And A second eddy current unit which is connected to the third element and interlocks the connection of the third element and the fixed unit, And a torque converter for a vehicle. The method according to claim 1, The first eddy current unit Wherein the first element and the second element are separated, partially connected or synchronously connected. The method according to claim 1, The second eddy current unit Connected to the third element, The one- And the second eddy-current portion and the fixing portion are connected to each other Torque converters for automobiles. The method according to claim 1, Wherein the first element is a ring gear, the second element is a carrier, and the third element is a sun gear Torque converters for automobiles. In a planetary gear having a first element connected to the input shaft, a second element connected to the output shaft, a third element variably connected to the fixed portion, and a speed ratio by the set gear ratio, The first element and the second element are synchronously controlled by the operation control of the first eddy current unit provided between the first element and the second element at a speed ratio based on the gear ratio so that the torque output to the second element A first step of multiplying, and The torque is output to the second element by controlling the third element in the reverse direction by the operation control of the second eddy current portion connected to the one-way clutch between the third element and the fixed portion at a speed ratio based on the gear ratio Step 2 And a torque converter for controlling the torque converter. 6. The method of claim 5, The first step Due to the non-operation of the second eddy-current unit, And the one-way clutch provided between the second eddy current unit and the fixed portion. 6. The method of claim 5, The second step Due to the operation of the second eddy current unit, And controlling the operation of the one-way clutch provided between the second eddy current unit and the fixed portion after deactivation. 8. The method of claim 7, The second step comprises: And part of the output shaft torque is transmitted to the second element due to partial operation of the first eddy current unit. 6. The method of claim 5, A third step of stopping the third element by the operation control of the one-way clutch and the second eddy current section within a speed ratio by the gear ratio to output a steady torque set to the second element Further comprising the steps of: 10. The method of claim 9, In the third step, And part of the output shaft torque is transmitted to the second element due to partial operation of the first eddy current unit.

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