1. A flexible coupling comprising:
at least four spool members disposed at equal intervals on a circumference about a rotation axis; torque transmission lines wrapped around spool members of the at least four spool members which are next to each other in a circumferential direction;
and an annular elastic body in which the spool members and the torque transmission lines are embedded, wherein
the torque transmission lines include first torque transmission lines and second torque transmission lines that are arranged alternately in the circumferential direction, and characteristics of the first torque transmission lines and the second torque transmission lines are set so that torsional rigidity is lower when the second torque transmission lines transmit torque than when the first torque transmission lines transmit torque.
2. The flexible coupling according to claim 1, wherein
a total sum of cross-sectional area of the second torque transmission lines is made less than a total sum of cross-sectional area of the first torque transmission lines so that the torsional rigidity is lower when the second torque transmission lines transmit torque than when the first torque transmission lines transmit torque.
3. The flexible coupling according to claim 2, wherein
a diameter of the first torque transmission lines and a diameter of the second torque transmission lines are equal to each other, and a number of turns of the second torque transmission lines is less than a number of turns of the first torque transmission lines.
4. A motive power transmission apparatus comprising:
the flexible coupling according to claim 1;
a drive source-side rotary shaft and a driving wheel-side rotary shaft that are linked by the flexible coupling so as to rotate together; and
a gear device that is linked to a rotary shaft that is one of the drive source-side rotary shaft and the driving wheel-side rotary shaft so as to rotate together with the rotary shaft, wherein
the spool members are fixed alternately in the circumferential direction to the drive source-side rotary shaft and to the driving wheel-side rotary shaft so that the first torque transmission lines transmit positive torque and the second torque transmission lines transmit negative torque.
5. The motive power transmission apparatus according to claim 4, wherein
the gear device has a hypoid gear whose mesh transmission error is greater during transmission of the negative torque than during transmission of the positive torque.
6. The motive power transmission apparatus according to claim 5, wherein
the total sum of cross-sectional area of the second torque transmission lines is set so as to minimize a peak value of a frequency response characteristic of mesh-point-generated force of the hypoid gear.
7. The motive power transmission apparatus according to claim 4, wherein
the gear device is a transmission provided between a drive source and the drive source-side rotary shaft.
8. The motive power transmission apparatus according to claim 7, wherein
the flexible coupling is arranged so as to link the driving wheel-side rotary shaft and the drive source-side rotary shaft that is linked to the transmission.
9. The motive power transmission apparatus according to claim 4, wherein
the gear device is a differential gear device provided between the driving wheel-side rotary shaft and a driving wheel.
10. The motive power transmission apparatus according to claim 9, wherein
the flexible coupling is arranged so as to link the drive source-side rotary shaft and the driving wheel-side rotary shaft that is linked to the differential gear device.
11. The motive power transmission apparatus according to claim 10, wherein
the motive power transmission apparatus includes two flexible couplings that are: the flexible coupling arranged so as to link the drive source-side rotary shaft and the driving wheel-side rotary shaft that is linked to the differential gear device; and the flexible coupling arranged so as to link the driving wheel-side rotary shaft and the drive source-side rotary shaft that is linked to the a transmission.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A blade for a torque converter comprising:
a body comprising an outer edge;
at least two shell tabs integral to said outer edge and extending therefrom; and,
at least one flexible sealing flange adjacent to at least one of said at least two shell tabs, said at least one flexible sealing flange is integral to said outer edge and extending therefrom, wherein said outer edge is arranged to conform to an inner surface of a shell in said torque converter, said shell comprising at least two slots arranged therethrough, said at least one flexible sealing flange is arranged to conform to said inner surface of said shell to provide a fluid seal, said at least two shell tabs are disposed through said at least two slots and at least one of said at least two shell tabs is arranged to engage an outer surface of said shell.
2. The blade of claim 1 wherein said at least one flexible sealing flange is elevated relative to said at least two shell tabs.
3. The blade of claim 1 wherein said at least one flexible sealing flange is disposed between said at least two shell tabs.
4. The blade of claim 1 wherein said at least one flexible sealing flange comprises a first thickness and each of said at least two shell tabs comprises a second thickness greater than said first thickness.
5. The blade of claim 1 wherein each of said at least two slots has a depth and at least one of said at least two shell tabs has a length greater than said depth of at least one of said at least two slots.
6. The blade of claim 1 wherein said body further comprises an inner edge having at least one core tab arranged to engage a core ring.
7. The blade of claim 1 wherein said shell is a turbine shell or a pump shell.
8. A torque converter comprising:
a shell comprising inner and outer surfaces and at least two slots arranged therethrough; and,
a blade comprising a body having an outer edge arranged to conform to said inner surface of said shell, at least two shell tabs integral to said outer edge and extending therefrom and at least one flexible sealing flange adjacent to at least one of said at least two shell tabs, said at least one flexible sealing flange is integral to said outer edge and extending therefrom, wherein said at least one flexible sealing flange is arranged to conform to said inner surface of said shell to provide a fluid seal, said at least two shell tabs are disposed through said at least two slots and at least one of said at least two shell tabs is arranged to engage said outer surface of said shell.
9. The blade of claim 8 wherein said at least one flexible sealing flange is elevated relative to said at least two shell tabs.
10. The blade of claim 8 wherein said at least one flexible sealing flange is disposed between said at least two shell tabs.
11. The blade of claim 8 wherein said at least one flexible sealing flange comprises a first thickness and each of said at least two shell tabs comprises a second thickness greater than said first thickness.
12. The blade of claim 8 wherein each of said at least two slots has a depth and at least one of said at least two shell tabs has a length greater than said depth of at least one of said at least two slots.
13. The blade of claim 8 wherein said body further comprises an inner edge having at least one core tab arranged to engage a core ring.
14. The blade of claim 8 wherein said shell is a turbine shell or a pump shell.
15. A torque converter comprising:
a shell comprising inner and outer surfaces and at least two slots arranged therethrough;
a blade comprising a body having an outer edge, at least two shell tabs integral to said outer edge and extending therefrom and at least one flexible sealing flange adjacent to at least one of said at least two shell tabs, said at least one flexible sealing flange is integral to said outer edge and extending therefrom, said outer edge and said at least one flexible sealing flange arranged to conform to said inner surface of said shell; and,
a fluid seal comprising at least one interface between said inner surface of said shell and said at least one flexible sealing flange, wherein said at least two shell tabs are disposed through said at least two slots and at least one of said at least two shell tabs is arranged to engage said outer surface of said shell.
16. The blade of claim 15 wherein said at least one flexible sealing flange is elevated relative to said at least two shell tabs.
17. The blade of claim 15 wherein said at least one flexible sealing flange is disposed between said at least two shell tabs.
18. The blade of claim 15 wherein said at least one flexible sealing flange comprises a first thickness and each of said at least two shell tabs comprises a second thickness greater than said first thickness.
19. The blade of claim 15 wherein each of said at least two slots has a depth and at least one of said at least two shell tabs has a length greater than said depth of at least one of said at least two slots.
20. The blade of claim 15 wherein said body further comprises an inner edge having at least one core tab arranged to engage a core ring.
21. The blade of claim 15 wherein said shell is a turbine shell or a pump shell.
22. A method of assembling a blade in a torque converter shell, said shell comprising inner and outer surfaces and at least two slots arranged therethrough; and, said blade comprising a body having an outer edge arranged to conform to said inner surface of said shell, at least two shell tabs integral to said outer edge and extending therefrom and at least one flexible sealing flange adjacent to at least one of said at least two shell tabs, said at least one flexible sealing flange is integral to said outer edge and extending therefrom, wherein said at least one flexible sealing flange is arranged to conform to said inner surface of said shell, said method comprising the steps of:
a) inserting said at least two tabs through said at least two slots;
b) bending at least one of said at least two tabs to engage said outer surface; and,
c) retaining said at least one flexible sealing flange against said inner surface of said shell.
23. The method of assembling a blade in a torque converter of claim 22 further comprising the step of:
d) providing a fluid seal between said at least one flexible sealing flange and said inner surface of said shell.
24. The method of assembling a blade in a torque converter of claim 22, wherein said at least one flexible sealing flange is elevated relative to said at least two shell tabs.
25. The method of assembling a blade in a torque converter of claim 22, wherein said at least one flexible sealing flange is disposed between said at least two shell tabs.
26. The blade of claim 22 wherein said at least one flexible sealing flange comprises a first thickness and each of said at least two shell tabs comprises a second thickness greater than said first thickness.
27. The method of assembling a blade in a torque converter of claim 22, wherein each of said at least two slots has a depth and at least one of said at least two shell tabs has a length greater than said depth of at least one of said at least two slots.
28. The method of assembling a blade in a torque converter of claim 22, wherein said body further comprises an inner edge having at least one core tab arranged to engage a core ring.
29. The method of assembling a blade in a torque converter of claim 22, wherein said shell is a turbine shell or a pump shell.