CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2020-095657, filed Jun. 1, 2020. The entire contents of that application are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a lock-up device, particularly to a lock-up device for a torque converter transmitting a torque from a front cover to a transmission side member through a turbine.

BACKGROUND ART

A lockup device for a torque converter generally has a damper part to absorb and reduce torsional vibration. The damper part has an input side plate and an output side plate that can rotate relative to each other, and a plurality of coil springs as elastic members provided between the two plates. Torque is input to the input side plate from the clutch part. Further, the output side plate is connected to the turbine of the torque converter.

In a damper part as described above, a stopper mechanism is provided for regulating the relative rotation angle (twisting angle) between the input side plate and the output side plate within a predetermined angle range. With this stopper mechanism, it is possible to prevent an excessive torque from being input to a coil spring, and it is possible to regulate an operating amount of the coil spring and control the twisting angle.

Here, the stopper mechanism shown in Japan Laid-open Patent Application Publication No. 2020-37982 is provided between the elastic member and the outer peripheral part of the turbine shell in the axial direction, and is composed of engaging part that regulates the relative rotation angle range between the first rotating member and the second rotating member. Further, the stopper mechanism shown in Japan Laid-open Patent Application Publication No. 2004-156692 is composed of a stopper claw provided on one of the input side plate and the output side plate, and a hole provided on the other side of both plates into which the stopper claw is inserted. Then, when the stopper claw contacts on the hole, the twisting angle between the input side plate and the output side plate is regulated.

BRIEF SUMMARY

In the lock-up devices of Japan Laid-open Patent Application Publication No. 2020-37982 and Japan Laid-open Patent Application Publication No. 2004-156692, the stopper mechanism may come off when the input member and the output member are relatively separated in the axial direction.

It is an object of the present invention to prevent a stopper mechanism from coming off in a lock-up device.

(1) A lock-up device according to the present invention is a lock-up device for a torque converter transmitting a torque from a front cover to a transmission-side member through a turbine. The lock-up device is comprised a clutch part and a damper part. The clutch part is disposed between the front cover and the turbine, and transmit or block torque. The damper part transmits torque from the clutch part to the turbine, and absorbs and damps torsional vibration. The damper part includes an input member, an output member, a plurality of elastic members, and a support member. The input member is connected to the clutch part. The output member is rotatable relative to the input member and connected to the turbine. The elastic members elastically connect the input member and the output member in a rotational direction. The support member has a connecting part, a regulating part, and a stopper part. The connecting part is connected to the input member. The regulating part is provided to axially sandwich the output member between the regulating part and a part of the input member. The stopper part is contactable with the output member and prohibits the input member and the output member from rotating relative to each other by a predetermined angle or more.

In this lock-up device, an output member is sandwiched between a pair of input side members (input member and support member), and they are made relatively immovable in an axial direction. In this lock-up device, the support member and the output member are brought into contact with each other in a circumferential direction to form a stopper mechanism for regulating twisting angle. That is, since the input member and the output member are made relatively immovable in an axial direction and the stopper mechanism is formed by these members, it is possible to prevent the stopper mechanism from coming off.

(2) Preferably, the support member has a plurality of support parts, an annular part, and a contact part. The support part is provided on an outer peripheral part and supports the elastic member. The annular part is provided on inner peripheral part and functions as the regulating part. The contact part is provided between the plurality of support parts and the annular part in a radial direction, and functions as the stopper part.

In this case, since the support member has an annular part, the support member can be positioned (centered) in a radial direction by bringing the inner peripheral surface of the annular part into contact with another member. Therefore, a configuration for special positioning is not required, and the configuration of the entire device is simplified.

(3) Preferably, the circumferential length of each of the plurality of support parts is longer than the circumferential length of the contact part. In this case, the elastic member can be supported more reliably.

(4) Preferably, the output member has an output side support part having a predetermined width in an axial direction. An inner peripheral end surface of the annular part of the support member is supported by the output side support part. In this case, centering of the support member becomes easier.

(5) Preferably, the output member includes a disk part and a plurality of engaging parts. The disk part has its inner peripheral part connected to the turbine, and the disk part has its outer peripheral part facing the regulating part of the support member in an axial direction. The plurality of engaging parts are formed to extend radially outward from the disk part, and the plurality of engaging parts have their outer peripheral part engaging with the circumferential end part of the elastic member. The plurality of engaging parts have their inner peripheral part contactable the stopper part of the support member.

(6) Preferably, the input member includes an input side connecting part, an accommodating part, and a facing part. The input side connects part connected to the clutch part. The accommodating part accommodates the plurality of elastic members. The facing part faces the regulating part of the support member in an axial direction.

(7) Preferably, facing part of the input member is formed at an inner peripheral end part of the input member to extend toward the output member side, and the facing part of the input member has tip thereof contactable with the output member.

Overall, according to the present invention described above, it is possible to reliably prevent the stopper mechanism from coming off in a lock-up device.

