US 12,253,147 B2
Low inertia hydrodynamic launch device
Daniel Leschuk, Chelsea, MI (US)
Assigned to Exedy GlobalParts Corporation, Belleville, MI (US)
Filed by EXEDY GLOBALPARTS CORPORATION, Belleville, MI (US)
Filed on May 4, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/312,403.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/338,209, filed on May 4, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2023/0358283 A1, Nov. 9, 2023
Int. Cl. F16H 45/02 (2006.01); F16H 41/24 (2006.01); F16H 45/00 (2006.01)
CPC F16H 45/02 (2013.01) [F16D 2300/26 (2013.01); F16H 2041/246 (2013.01); F16H 2045/002 (2013.01)] 12 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A launch device for coupling a rotary output of a prime mover to a rotary input of a driven device, the launch device comprising:
a non-rotating containment vessel including a front cover and a rear cover, the front and rear covers cooperating to define a fluid tight chamber for a hydrodynamic circuit;
a driving element configured to be coupled to the rotary output of the prime mover, the driving element located within the fluid tight chamber and being rotatable relative to the containment vessel;
a driven element configured to be coupled to the rotary input of the device to be driven, the driven element located within the fluid tight chamber and being rotatable relative to the containment vessel;
wherein the driven element is fluidly coupled to the driving element, forming the hydrodynamic circuit, and is rotationally driven thereby during rotation of the driving element by the prime mover; and
a stator, the stator being located between the driving element and the driven element and being grounded off of the containment vessel at a location outboard of the driving element and the driven element.