SPERRBARER DREHMOMENTWANDLER MIT EINER EINRICHTUNG ZUM STEUERN DES SCHLUPFES

摘要

A torque converter having an engine-driven pump impeller fastened to an input shell and a fluid-driven turbine runner mounted on an output shaft is equipped with a fluid-operated lockup clutch for providing a direct mechanical drive between the input shell and the output shell. The lockup clutch is maintained in a slipping engagement condition in an intermediate speed range. This slipping engagement is controlled by a variable fluid passage whose opening size is determined by an axial position of the turbine runner relative to the output shaft. The turbine runner is rotatable and axially movable relative to the output shaft. The turbine runner and the output shaft have, respectively, flanges which rotates side by side. There are formed, between the flanges, a plurality of pockets which are circumferentially arranged. Each pocket has contoured surfaces, and confines a ball. Each set of the ball and pocket is so formed as to control the opening size of the variable fluid passage by causing the turbine runner to move axially when the turbine runner rotate relative to the output shaft.