Abstract: A cooling system is provided for automatic transmission torque converter assemblies having a housing shell and flex plate. The cooling system includes a housing cover having opposing exterior and interior surfaces that define a wall portion and a preferably circular base portion. The base portion is configured to attach to the flex plate, preferably by one or more stud members, to be rotated thereby. The wall portion extends from a periphery of the base portion and is configured to attach to the housing shell. The cooling system also includes a plurality of vane members positioned along the outer periphery of the base portion. The vane members are configured to increase convective dissipation of heat from the torque converter assembly to surrounding ambient air by increasing the heat transfer coefficient and surface area. Optimally, the vanes have a turbine fin configuration, but may alternatively have curved fin or a straight-fin configuration.

Abstract: A cooling system is provided for automatic transmission torque converter assemblies having a housing shell and flex plate. The cooling system includes a housing cover having opposing exterior and interior surfaces that define a wall portion and a preferably circular base portion. The base portion is configured to attach to the flex plate, preferably by one or more stud members, to be rotated thereby. The wall portion extends from a periphery of the base portion and is configured to attach to the housing shell. The cooling system also includes a plurality of vane members positioned along the outer periphery of the base portion. The vane members are configured to increase convective dissipation of heat from the torque converter assembly to surrounding ambient air by increasing the heat transfer coefficient and surface area. Optimally, the vanes have a turbine fin configuration, but may alternatively have curved fin or a straight-fin configuration.