Abstract: An hydrokinetic torque converter (10) which has a clutch for driveably releasing and locking the cover (12) and turbine (26). The clutch is comprised of a first annular member (74) having a first friction surface (80) driveably connected to the turbine (26) and a second annular member (60) having a second friction surface (61) resiliently connected (69) to the cover (12). The second friction surface (61) frictionally engages the first friction surface (80) to provide a driving engagement therebetween.

Abstract: In a positive displacement hydraulic pump (68), a system for preventing cavitation includes a regulator valve, a valve spool (74) formed with control lands (76,78) moveable within a bore (72) communicating with control pressure taken at an inlet port (100) and control pressure at a reservoir inlet port (62). The spool opens and closes a connection between the inlet port (96) and outlet port (90) in accordance with changes in differential pressure between the reservoir (atmospheric pressure) and pressure in the inlet port (100). When the differential pressure is low, the valve closes the connection; when the differential pressure is large, the valve opens the connection.

Abstract: A damper assembly for cushioning the application of a torque delivery clutch in a torque converter transmission wherein the converter provides a complementary hydrokinetic torque delivery path, the damper assembly including a pair of cushioning springs acting in parallel and a third spring arranged in series relationship with respect to the paired cushioning springs, the spring rates being chosen to provide dampening forces that vary nonlinearly with the magnitude of the torque delivered through the damper.

Abstract: A hydrokinetic torque converter with an internal friction clutch wherein provision is made for actuating the clutch in response to changes in hydrokinetic torus circuit pressure and wherein provision also is made for engaging and disengaging the clutch by controlling the direction of fluid flow to and from the torus circuit of the converter.