Hydrodnamic clutch device

Abstract

A hydrodynamic clutch device, particularly a hydrodynamic torque converter or fluid coupling, comprises a housing arrangement, a turbine wheel which is arranged in the housing arrangement so as to be rotatable with respect to the housing arrangement about an axis of rotation, a lockup clutch arrangement by means of which a torque-transmitting connection can be selectively produced between the housing arrangement and the turbine wheel, wherein the lockup clutch arrangement comprises a clutch element which is connected by a connection arrangement to the housing arrangement so as to be substantially fixed with respect to rotation but axially displaceable relative to it, wherein the connection arrangement comprises at least one elastically deformable connection element which is fixedly connected with the housing arrangement on the one hand and with the clutch element on the other hand. It is provided that the at least one connection element is connected with the housing arrangement in an area between surfaces of a housing element and of a housing hub element which is fixedly connected with the housing element, wherein these surfaces face one another.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A hydrodynamic clutch device, comprising: 
 a housing, said housing having a cover;    a turbine wheel;    a hub for supporting the turbine wheel for rotation about an axis within said housing;    a lockup clutch for selectively effecting a torque-transmitting connection between the housing cover and the turbine wheel, the lockup clutch including a clutch element;    at least one elastically deformable connection element for connecting said clutch element to said housing cover such that said clutch element is fixed against rotation but axially displaceable relative to said housing cover; and    a housing hub at an inner side of said housing cover, said housing cover inner side having a surface facing a side surface of said housing hub, said connection element being connected with said housing cover inner side surface.    
     
     
         2 . A hydrodynamic clutch device according to    claim 1   , wherein said at least one connection element has first and second axial sides, said first axial side being in contact with said housing cover inner side and said second axial side being in contact with said housing hub side surface, the connection element being connected to the housing cover by one of a weld and riveting.  
     
     
         3 . A hydrodynamic clutch device according to    claim 2   , wherein the weld is a laser weld.  
     
     
         4 . A hydrodynamic clutch device according to    claim 1   , further comprising: 
 first circumferential drive means on said at least one connection element; and    second circumferential drive means on one of said housing hub and said housing cover, said second circumferential drive means being in positive locking drive connection with said first circumferential drive means, said housing cover being connected to said housing hub by one of a weld and riveting.    
     
     
         5 . A hydrodynamic clutch device according to    claim 4   , wherein the weld is a laser weld.  
     
     
         6 . A hydrodynamic clutch device according to    claim 4   , wherein the first circumferential drive means comprises at least one cutout in said at least one connection element, said second circumferential drive means comprising at least one protuberance engaged in said at least one cutout, the housing cover being connected with the housing hub in the area of engagement of said at least one protuberance in said at least one cutout.  
     
     
         7 . A hydrodynamic clutch device according to    claim 1   , wherein the housing hub has a surface region located at a distance axially from the housing cover, said at least on connection element being connected to the housing hub at said surface region.  
     
     
         8 . A hydrodynamic clutch device according to    claim 1   , wherein the connection element is connected with the housing hub by one of a weld and riveting.  
     
     
         9 . A hydrodynamic clutch device according to    claim 8   , wherein the weld is a laser weld.  
     
     
         10 . A hydrodynamic clutch device, comprising: 
 a housing, said housing having a cover;    a turbine wheel;    a hub for supporting the turbine wheel for rotation about an axis within said housing;    a lockup clutch for selectively effecting a torque-transmitting connection between the housing cover and the turbine wheel, the lockup clutch including a clutch element; and    an elastically deformable connection element for connecting said clutch element to said housing cover such that said clutch element is fixed against rotation but axially displaceable relative to said housing cover, said connection element including:    an annular shaped body area; and    connection arm portions extending from said body area and being fixed to at least one of said clutch element and said housing cover, said body area having body area portions at each of opposite radial sides of said connection arm portions.    
     
     
         11 . A hydrodynamic clutch device according to    claim 10   , wherein the connection arm portions extend generally tangential relative to a circumference of said annular shaped body area.  
     
     
         12 . A hydrodynamic clutch device according to    claim 10   , wherein the connection arm portions extend in a generally circular course in said annular shaped body area.  
     
     
         13 . A hydrodynamic clutch device, comprising: 
 a housing, said housing having a cover;    a turbine wheel;    a hub for supporting the turbine wheel for rotation about an axis within said housing;    a lockup clutch for selectively effecting a torque-transmitting connection between the housing cover and the turbine wheel, the lockup clutch including a clutch element;    at least one elastically deformable connection element for connecting said clutch element to said housing cover such that said clutch element is fixed against rotation but axially displaceable relative to said housing cover, said at least one connection element being connected to said housing cover by a material deformation projection on said housing cover which extends through at least one cutout in said at least one connection element; and    a coupling member, said coupling member being fixed to said housing cover against a relative rotation therewith with a deformed head like material portion of said coupling received in said housing cover deformation projection.    
     
     
         14 . A hydrodynamic clutch device according to    claim 13   , wherein said material deformation projection on said housing cover engages behind a side of said connection element remote from said housing cover.  
     
     
         15 . A hydrodynamic clutch device according to    claim 14   , wherein said material deformation projection on said housing cover has a rivet head portion which engages behind said remote side of said connection element.  
     
     
         16 . A hydrodynamic clutch device according to    claim 14   , wherein said deformed head like material portion of said coupling received in said housing cover deformation projection has a head like portion received in an undercut in said cover deformation projection.  
     
     
         17 . A hydrodynamic clutch device according to    claim 1   , wherein said at least one connection element has at least one connection arm portion, said at least one connection arm portion being connected to said clutch element.  
     
     
         18 . A hydrodynamic clutch device according to    claim 17   , wherein said at least one connection arm portion is connected to said clutch element with a rivet.  
     
     
         19 . A hydrodynamic clutch device according to    claim 13   , wherein said at least one connection element has at least one connection arm portion, said at least one connection arm portion being connected to said clutch element.  
     
     
         20 . A hydrodynamic clutch device according to    claim 19   , wherein said at least one connection arm portion is connected to said clutch element with a rivet.  
     
     
         21 . A hydrodynamic clutch device, comprising 
 a housing, said housing having a cover;    a turbine wheel;    a hub for supporting the turbine wheel for rotation about an axis within said housing;    a lockup clutch for selectively effecting a torque-transmitting connection between the housing cover and the turbine wheel, the lockup clutch including a clutch element;    at least one elastically deformable friction surface carrier;    a friction surface on said at least one friction surface carrier; and    a counter-friction surface on an inner side of said housing cover, the friction surface on said at least one friction surface carrier being located opposite said counter-friction surface, said friction surface carrier being connected to the housing cover, the friction surface carrier be moveable in the direction of said counter-friction surface by said clutch element.    
     
     
         22 . A hydrodynamic clutch device according to    claim 21   , wherein said at least one friction surface carrier is connected with the housing cover at a radial inner part of said friction surface carrier, the friction surface being carried on a radial outer part of said friction surface carrier.  
     
     
         23 . A hydrodynamic clutch device according to    claim 22   , wherein said at least one friction surface carrier is connected with said housing cover with a rivet.  
     
     
         24 . A hydrodynamic clutch device according to    claim 22   , wherein said at least one friction surface carrier has at least one fluid through opening therein located between said radial inner and radial outer parts of said friction surface carrier.  
     
     
         25 . A hydrodynamic clutch device according to    claim 21   , wherein said at least one friction surface carrier is fixed one of axially and against rotation relative to said clutch element.  
     
     
         26 . A hydrodynamic clutch device according to    claim 21   , wherein said at least one friction surface carrier is fixed axially and against rotation relative to said clutch element.  
     
     
         27 . A hydrodynamic clutch device according to    claim 26   , wherein said at least one friction surface carrier is connected with the clutch element in an area of said carrier which is radially outside of the friction surface carried thereon.  
     
     
         28 . A hydrodynamic clutch device according to    claim 27   , wherein said at least one friction surface carrier is of annular disc shape.  
     
     
         29 . A hydrodynamic clutch according to    claim 28   , wherein said friction surface carrier is of sheet metal material.  
     
     
         30 . A hydrodynamic clutch device, comprising: 
 a housing, said housing having a cover;    a turbine wheel;    a hub for supporting the turbine wheel for rotation abiut an axis within said housing;    a lockup clutch for selectively effecting a torque-transmitting connection between the housing cover and the turbine wheel, the lockup clutch including a clutch element; and    at least one elastically deformable counter-friction surface carrier;    a counter friction surface on said counter-friction surface carrier; and    said clutch element having a friction surface, said counter friction surface of said counter-friction surface carrier being located opposite said clutch element friction surface, said counter-friction surface carrier being connected to said clutch element and being supported by said housing cover when acted upon said clutch element.    
     
     
         31 . A hydrodynamic clutch device according to    claim 30   , wherein said counter-friction surface carrier is held by the housing cover to be fixed with respect to rotation relative to said housing cover.  
     
     
         32 . A hydrodynamic clutch device according to    claim 31   , composing: 
 a first drive means carried by said counter-friction surface carrier; and    second drive means carried by said housing cover, said first drive means being in circumferential driving connection with said second drive means.    
     
     
         33 . A hydrodynamic clutch device according to    claim 31   , wherein said counter-friction surface carrier is held by said housing cover in an area of said carrier which is radially outside of the counter-friction surface thereon.  
     
     
         34 . An elastic connector element for connecting a clutch element of a lockup clutch with a housing of a hydrodynamic clutch device such that the clutch element is fixed against rotation but axially displaceable relative to said housing, said elastic connector element comprising an annular body portion; and curved connection arm portions which extend radially outward and in a circumferentail direction from the annular body portion.  
     
     
         35 . An elastic connector element according to    claim 34   , wherein the connection arm portions decrease in width as said connection arm portions extend outward from said annular body portion.  
     
     
         36 . An elastic connector element according to    claim 25   , wherein a curvature of the connection arm portions decreases as said connection arm portions extend outward from said annular body portion.