Abstract: A seal arrangement is provided having a first part with a seal gland, and a seal located in the seal gland. The seal has an outer sealing surface and an inner support surface that is supported on a bottom support surface of the seal gland. A second part having a sealing surface is provided against which the outer sealing surface of the seal is pressed. A relief area is formed in a portion of the bottom support surface of the seal gland, with the relief area being configured to receive a resiliently deflected portion of the inner support surface of the seal during assembly. A method of assembling a sealing arrangement is also provided.

Abstract: A hybrid module includes a torque converter and a clutch assembly. The torque converter includes a front cover. The clutch assembly includes a piston axially spaced from the front cover. The piston is axially slidable to engage the clutch assembly. The clutch assembly further includes a seal plate non-rotatably connected to the front cover and sealed to the piston. A seal is compressed between the seal plate and the front cover.

Abstract: A torque converter, including: a cover; an impeller including an impeller shell connected to the cover and at least one impeller blade; a turbine in fluid communication with the impeder and including a turbine shell and at least one turbine blade; stator including at least one stator blade; and a vibration damper including a first cover plate, a second cover plate non-rotatably connected to the first cover plate, an intermediate flange axially disposed between the first cover plate and the second cover plate, at least one spring directly engaged with the first cover plate, the second cover plate, and the intermediate flange, and a resilient element directly engaged with the first cover plate and the intermediate flange and urging the intermediate flange in an axial direction, parallel to an axis of rotation of the torque converter, away from the first cover plate and into contact with the second cover plate.

Abstract: An apparatus and methods for a double coast engagement diaphragm spring for a torque converter are provided. The double coast engagement diaphragm spring includes first and second coast engagement diaphragm springs. The first coast engagement diaphragm spring exerts a first, continuous axial thrust onto a turbine comprising the torque converter. The second coast engagement diaphragm spring applies a second axial thrust onto the turbine only during coasting conditions. A drive flange includes ramps for engaging the second coast engagement diaphragm spring during coasting conditions and causing the second coast engagement diaphragm spring to apply the second axial thrust onto the turbine. A retainer plate disengages the second coast engagement diaphragm spring during drive conditions. A spacer ring between the first coast engagement diaphragm spring and the second coast engagement diaphragm spring causes the first and second coast engagement diaphragm springs to operate in series.

Abstract: A clutch plate assembly includes a central axis, a clutch plate with a first friction surface and a radially outer depressed portion, and a friction material ring. The friction material ring is bonded to the first friction surface and extends radially outside of the first friction surface such that an outer portion of the friction material ring is axially aligned with the clutch plate radially outer depressed portion. In an example embodiment, the first friction surface is disposed at an acute angle to a plane orthogonal to the central axis. In some example embodiments, the first friction surface is conical. In an example embodiment, the radially outer depressed portion is conical and axially offset from the first friction surface. In an example embodiment, the radially outer depressed portion is manufactured by machining, stamping, or coining.

Abstract: A drive assembly for a torque converter includes an axially movable turbine defining a piston of a lockup clutch; and a damper assembly including a first component including a plurality of first ramps and a second component including a plurality of second ramps, the first ramps configured for interacting with the second ramps to generate an axial force on the turbine during a coast condition of the torque converter, the damper assembly being arranged and configured to limit the axial force to prevent the piston from self-locking during the coast condition.

Abstract: A torque converter is provided. The torque converter includes an axially movable turbine piston and a damper assembly fixed to the turbine piston. The damper assembly includes a first cover plate, a second cover plate, a plurality of fasteners fixing the first cover plate and the second cover plate together such that the second cover plate is spaced from the first cover plate, a first drive flange axially between the first and second cover plates, a second drive flange axially between the first and second cover plates and an elastic element axially between the first and second cover plates. The first cover plate, the second cover plate, the second flange, the fasteners and the elastic element are axially movable with the piston turbine independently of the drive flange.

Abstract: A clutch plate assembly includes a central axis, a clutch plate with a first friction surface and a radially outer depressed portion, and a friction material ring. The friction material ring is bonded to the first friction surface and extends radially outside of the first friction surface such that an outer portion of the friction material ring is axially aligned with the clutch plate radially outer depressed portion. In an example embodiment, the first friction surface is disposed at an acute angle to a plane orthogonal to the central axis. In some example embodiments, the first friction surface is conical. In an example embodiment, the radially outer depressed portion is conical and axially offset from the first friction surface. In an example embodiment, the radially outer depressed portion is manufactured by machining, stamping, or coining.

Abstract: A torque converter includes a cover assembly, an impeller assembly, a turbine assembly and a damper assembly. The impeller assembly includes an impeller shell drivingly connected with the cover assembly. The turbine assembly includes a shell with a clutch portion for selective driving engagement with the impeller shell. The damper assembly includes at least one cover plate, a flange for driving engagement with a transmission input shaft, and a first resilient element drivingly engaged with the at least one cover plate and the flange. The torque converter has a second resilient element for urging the turbine assembly away from the cover assembly.

Abstract: A drive assembly for a torque converter is provided. The drive assembly includes a turbine including a turbine shell and a plurality of turbine blades; and a spring retainer riveted to the turbine shell by at least one rivet. A torque converter for a motor vehicle drive train is also provided that includes the drive assembly and an impeller, with the turbine shell being axially slidable against the impeller to operate as a piston of a lock-up clutch of the torque converter. Further, a method of forming a drive assembly for a torque converter is provided that includes riveting a spring retainer to a turbine shell.

Abstract: A torque converter is provided. The torque converter includes a damper assembly and a turbine assembly connected to the damper assembly. The turbine assembly includes an axially movable turbine piston, a spacer plate fixed to the turbine piston and a bias spring. The spacer plate retains the bias spring on the turbine piston with a preload force. A method of forming a torque converter is also provided. The method includes providing a bias spring contacting a front cover side surface of a turbine piston; and fixing a spacer plate to the turbine piston such that the spacer plate holds the bias spring against the front cover side surface of the turbine piston.

Abstract: A spring retainer for a damper for use in a torque converter is provided. The spring retainer includes a ring including a radially extending base and a spring retaining portion radially outside of the base. The spring retaining portion includes rounded sections spaced circumferentially from each other and shoulders circumferentially between the rounded sections. Each rounded section is configured for receiving an arc spring. The spring retainer also includes rivets fixed to the shoulders. The rivets protrude axially from the shoulders into an interior of the spring receiving portion and are arranged for contacting ends of the springs. A method of forming a spring retainer is also provided.

Abstract: A torque converter is provided. The torque converter includes a damper assembly and a turbine assembly connected to the damper assembly. The turbine assembly includes an axially movable turbine piston, a spacer plate fixed to the turbine piston and a bias spring. The spacer plate retains the bias spring on the turbine piston with a preload force. A method of forming a torque converter is also provided. The method includes providing a bias spring contacting a front cover side surface of a turbine piston; and fixing a spacer plate to the turbine piston such that the spacer plate holds the bias spring against the front cover side surface of the turbine piston.

Abstract: A torque converter is provided. The torque converter includes an axially movable turbine piston and a damper assembly fixed to the turbine piston. The damper assembly includes a first cover plate, a second cover plate, a plurality of fasteners fixing the first cover plate and the second cover plate together such that the second cover plate is spaced from the first cover plate, a first drive flange axially between the first and second cover plates, a second drive flange axially between the first and second cover plates and an elastic element axially between the first and second cover plates. The first cover plate, the second cover plate, the second flange, the fasteners and the elastic element are axially movable with the piston turbine independently of the drive flange.

Abstract: A drive assembly for a torque converter is provided. The drive assembly includes an axially movable turbine defining a piston of a lockup clutch; and a damper assembly including a first component including a plurality of first ramps and a second component including a plurality of second ramps, the first ramps configured for interacting with the second ramps to generate an axial force on the turbine during a coast condition of the torque converter, the damper assembly being arranged and configured to limit the axial force to prevent the piston from self-locking during the coast condition. A torque converter and a method of forming a drive assembly for a torque converter are also provided.

Abstract: A torque converter includes an impeller shell and a backing plate defining at least a portion of a first hydraulic chamber, a cover and a piston plate defining at least a portion of a second hydraulic chamber, and a third hydraulic chamber. The third chamber is sealed from the first and second hydraulic chambers such that a hydraulic flow between the third chamber and the other chambers is at least restricted. In some example embodiments, the torque converter includes a turbine, a stator, and an impeller disposed within the first hydraulic chamber, and a lockup clutch including a piston plate. The first chamber is for being pressurized to prevent cavitation in the turbine, stator, or impeller, the second or third chamber is for being pressurized to engage the lockup clutch, and the other of the second or third chamber is for being de-pressurized to reduce a back pressure on the lockup clutch piston plate.

Abstract: A torque converter includes an impeller shell and a backing plate defining at least a portion of a first hydraulic chamber, a cover and a piston plate defining at least a portion of a second hydraulic chamber, and a third hydraulic chamber. The third chamber is sealed from the first and second hydraulic chambers such that a hydraulic flow between the third chamber and the other chambers is at least restricted. In some example embodiments, the torque converter includes a turbine, a stator, and an impeller disposed within the first hydraulic chamber, and a lockup clutch including a piston plate. The first chamber is for being pressurized to prevent cavitation in the turbine, stator, or impeller, the second or third chamber is for being pressurized to engage the lockup clutch, and the other of the second or third chamber is for being de-pressurized to reduce a back pressure on the lockup clutch piston plate.

Abstract: A spring retainer for a damper for use in a torque converter is provided. The spring retainer includes a ring including a radially extending base and a spring retaining portion radially outside of the base. The spring retaining portion includes rounded sections spaced circumferentially from each other and shoulders circumferentially between the rounded sections. Each rounded section is configured for receiving an arc spring. The spring retainer also includes rivets fixed to the shoulders. The rivets protrude axially from the shoulders into an interior of the spring receiving portion and are arranged for contacting ends of the springs. A method of forming a spring retainer is also provided.

Abstract: A torque converter includes an impeller shell and a backing plate defining at least a portion of a first hydraulic chamber, a cover and a piston plate defining at least a portion of a second hydraulic chamber, and a third hydraulic chamber. The third chamber is sealed from the first and second hydraulic chambers such that a hydraulic flow between the third chamber and the other chambers is at least restricted. In an example embodiment, the first chamber is for being pressurized to prevent cavitation in the turbine, stator, or impeller, the second or third chamber is for being pressurized to engage the lockup clutch, and the other of the second or third chamber is for being de-pressurized to reduce a back pressure on the lockup clutch piston plate.

Abstract: A torque converter is provided. The torque converter includes a front cover for connecting to an engine crankshaft; a clutch plate; a clutch backing plate limiting axial movement of the clutch plate away from the front cover; and a connector rigidly connected to the front cover and including a rivet portion for fixing the clutch backing plate to the front cover. A method of forming a torque converter is also provided.