TORQUE CONVERTER CLEANING PROCESS AND APPARATUS

1,232,294. Cleaning torque converters. OWATONNA TOOL CO. 13 Sept., 1968 [15 Sept., 1967], No. 43685/68. Heading A4T. A torque converter is cleaned by continuously circulating cleaning fluid therethrough and simulteaneously rotating the converter about a central axis. The converter 25 is releasably mounted by bolts and nuts 30, 31 on a plate 28, a hub 29 of which is locked to a drive shaft 32 of a motor 17. Cleaning fluid is continuously supplied to the converter by a stand pipe 53 mounted in a collar 52 of a splash guard 50 provided with a bearing 51 and supported by an adjustable bracket 60. A hollow cap 55 threaded on to the pipe end is biased into abutment with the converter runner hub 43 by a compression spring 54. Cleaning fluid is supplied to pipe 53 through a fitting 70 connected to a line 71 that is connected to a motor driven pump (73). The fluid flows as shown through pipe 53, cap 55 and hub 43, through the converter, and out in the space between pipe 53 and converter drive coupling 40. It then falls through a filter 11 into a reservoir 12, from where it flows to the pump inlet via a line (75), filter (76), and a line (77). The rotation of the converter causes its curved elements 45, 46 to lift cleaning fluid above the central axis and allow it to drain downwardly towards said axis. Air pulses are introduced into the fluid by a line 90 with a timed solenoid-controlled valve (91). A drain hole may be drilled in the converter. Cap 55 may be replaced by a larger diameter cap (100, Fig. 4) that abuts the converter stator hub 41. To clean an oil cooler (C, Fig. 1), line 71 is disconnected from fitting 70 and connected to a hose (110) connected to the cooler. A second hose (111) connected to the cooler overlies filter 11.