TORQUE CONVERTER AND HYDROKINETIC TORQUE COUPLING DEVICE HAVING TURBINE-PISTON LOCKUP CLUTCH, AND RELATED METHODS

摘要

A torque converter is provided that includes an impeller having an impeller shell with a first surface, an axially displaceable turbine-piston hydrodynamically drivable by the impeller and including a turbine-piston shell and a turbine-piston flange with a second surface, and a clutch plate interposed between and axially displaceable relative to at least one of the first and second surfaces. The turbine-piston is axially movable relative to the impeller to move the second surface of the turbine-piston flange towards and away from the first surface for positioning the torque converter into and out of a lockup mode in which the first and second surfaces and the clutch plate surfaces frictionally interlock with one another so that the impeller is mechanically locked to and non-rotatable relative to the turbine-piston.

主权项

1. A torque converter, comprising:
an impeller rotatable about a rotational axis and comprising an impeller shell having a first surface; an axially displaceable turbine-piston coaxially aligned with and hydrodynamically drivable by the impeller to rotate about the rotational axis, the turbine-piston comprising a turbine-piston shell and a turbine-piston flange fixedly connected to the turbine-piston shell so as to be non-movable relative to the turbine-piston shell, the turbine-piston flange having a second surface; and a clutch plate having opposite clutch plate surfaces interposed between and axially movable relative to at least one of the first and second surfaces, wherein the turbine-piston is axially displaceable relative to the impeller to move the second surface towards and away from the first surface for positioning the torque converter into and out of a lockup mode in which the first and second surfaces and the clutch plate surfaces frictionally interlock with one another so that the impeller is mechanically locked to and non-rotatable relative to the turbine-piston.