Abstract: A stator for a hydrodynamic torque converter which is produced by injection molding with axially drawn dies. The stator hub has stator blades produced by use of a thermoplastic material to fill the dies in the injection molding process. The stator blades are positioned relative to one another on the stator hub in such a way that the flow outlet of every stator blade is arranged at an offset of only the width of a gap relative to the flow inlet of the subsequent stator blade in the circumferential direction.

Abstract: A driving connection is provided for torque transfer in the drive line of a motor vehicle for releasable connection of a crankshaft with a pump wheel of a coaxially mounted hydrodynamic torque converter in which the pump wheel is mounted so that it is rotatably supported integrally with the housing by a radial bearing.

Abstract: Stator structure is provided which is capable of suppressing an increase in fluid sound while maintaining high driving force transmission efficiency. The stator structure is disposed between the turbine runner and pump impeller of a torque converter and is provided with a plurality of circumferential vane portions for increasing torque which is input to the automatic transmission by employing reaction force produced when a flow of oil within the torque converter is abutted in a stall state. Rib portions for rectifying a flow of abutted oil are formed on the exterior surface of the vane portion.

Abstract: The invention relates to a boss formed on a front cover. The boss is formed by deforming a portion of a front cover material, at a central portion thereof, such that the boss is formed unitarily with the front cover. The boss is further deformed to form a central indentation on an end surface thereof. Further, the cylindrical sides of the boss are machined to form an alignment surface.

Abstract: An impeller shell 40a of a torque converter includes a main portion 41, a connection portion 42 and a stepped portion 43. The main portion 41 has a curved inner peripheral surface 41a carrying impeller blades, and is opposed to a turbine 5. The connection portion 42 has a cylindrical form larger in diameter than an outer periphery of the inner peripheral surface 41a, and is fixed to a front cover 3. The stepped portion 43 couples an end of the main portion 41 near an engine to an end of the connection portion 42 near a transmission. A corner portion formed of the inner peripheral surface 41a and a surface 43a near the engine has a radius set to 4 mm or less by preliminary forming by a press and subsequent finish forming by a press.

Abstract: A stator blade 13 has a blade tip 14, a blade trailing edge 15, a back 16 and a face 17. The blade tip 14 is an edge of the peripheral surface of the stator blade 13 near the turbine. The blade trailing edge 15 is an edge of the peripheral surface of the stator blade 13 near the impeller. The back 16 is a portion of the peripheral surface of the stator blade 13 extending between the blade tip 14 and the blade trailing edge 15 and opposed to the impeller 4, and has a streamline section. The face 17 is a portion of the peripheral surface of the stator blade 13 extending between the blade tip 14 and the blade trailing edge 15 and opposed to the turbine 5, and is formed of a streamline portion 17a and a plane portion 17b located near the blade tip 14. The shape of the stator blade 13 is such that a capacity coefficient (Cf) of a torque converter is lower when a speed ratio (e) is 0, and thereby improving fuel consumption during idling.

Abstract: A torque converter comprises a converter housing that has a plurality of connection areas on one axial side. The converter housing is connectable in rotation-proof fashion relative to a crank shaft at connection points located in the connection areas. The converter housing has a plurality of radially extending hollows arranged in the circumferential direction at a distance from each other on the aforementioned axial side. A first distance between one of the hollows and the hollow directly adjacent to it in one circumferential direction is different from a second distance between the one of the hollows and the hollow directly adjacent to it in the other opposing circumferential direction.

Abstract: A pump impeller for a hydrodynamic torque converter with a flange and a hub located radially inside and extending in the axial direction. The hub has a seat for a bearing and a sleeve is connected by a pressure fit to the pump impeller. The sleeve extends in the direction of the hub and forms the seat of the bearing.

Abstract: A sleeve having a wear resistant surface is fitted over and secured to the outer surface of a hub for a bladed torque converter wheel. The sleeve may be secured by mechanical interference, bonding, or welding. The sleeve is adapted for use in transmissions for front-wheel drive and rear-wheel drive vehicles and is suitably formed for engagement with various drive connections.

Abstract: A torque converter for an automatic transmission includes a turbine having the vanes thereof retained by tabs which fit into fluid-tight recesses formed in the housing of the turbine.

Abstract: A torque converter for translating kinetic energy between a prime mover and a transmission including a turbine assembly rotatable about an axis and which includes a shell, a core and a plurality of turbine blades mounted therebetween. The turbine blades have flat working surfaces such that each of the turbine blades is contained in a single plane and such that each of the turbine blades is positioned spatially so as to define an angle Alpha of between -5.degree. and 65.degree. relative to the axis of rotation of the turbine assembly.

Abstract: A turbine wheel for a torque converter for an automatic transmission is formed of fiber-reinforced plastic resin molded about a powder metal hub having a disc formed with corrugations extending radially from a central axis, and slots extending through the thickness of the disc at angularly spaced intervals. The plastic resin of the turbine wheel fills the spaces between the tabs, extends through the slots formed through the disc, and forms a bond to the surfaces of the disc on which it is molded.

Abstract: A hydrokinetic torque converter which includes pump wheels and/or turbine wheels in particular of a Fottinger coupling, wherein all the required blades are stamped in the form of blade blanks, out of a round stamping blank in a single operating process, in such a manner that each blade blank remains connected, by means of a connecting web, to a ring-shaped area of the stamping blank which remains intact during the stamping. The blade blanks are then subjected to a shaping process, in which they are reshaped into the final three-dimensional shape of the blade, whereby the connection with the ring-shaped area remains intact, and, in a shaping process, the ring-shaped area is adapted to the contour of the housing that delimits the pump wheel or turbine wheel. A blade carrier is thereby produced which makes it possible to install all the blades, in their three-dimensional position with respect to the pump or turbine wheel, in a single process.

Abstract: A rotor disposed in a fluid retarder which includes a annular shell having a semicircular cross section and a plurality of blades, each blade being composed of a semicircular blade body and a rib bent from an arcuate edge of the blade body and fixed to an inside of the shell. The annular shell and the blades are composed of sheet metal. The blades are arranged at regular intervals in the circumferential direction of the shell and are welded into place. Because the annular shell and the blades are composed of sheet metal and are brazed together, the cost of manufacturing the rotor can be reduced without reducing its performance.

Abstract: A vaned element of a fluid coupler such as a torque converter includes vanes having a depression extending from a leading surface area to a trailing edge of the vane. The depression avoids multiple surface layer changes which introduce turbulence to flow of fluid past the vane. The depression also forms reinforcing ribs in the form of raised walls which dimensionally stabilize the mounting tabs for the vane. In addition the vane construction is light weight since it permits the use of simple cross-sectionally shaped vanes while improving the speed capability of the torque converter and the strength of the vaned elements. The blade construction permits automated assembly techniques for the vaned elements.

Abstract: A turbine wheel and a method of manufacturing the same for a hydrodynamic transformer, having an injection molded outer shell, and an integrally formed injection molded blade insert. The blade insert includes one of a hub element and an inner ring, and a plurality of blades. The injection molded blade insert is received within the injection molded outer shell.

Abstract: A turbine wheel of a torque converter for an automatic transmission is formed of fiber-reinforced plastic resin molded about a powder metal hub having a disc formed with tabs extending radially from a central flange, and openings extending through the thickness of the disc at angularly spaced intervals. The plastic resin of the turbine wheel fills the spaces between the tabs, extends through the holes formed through the disc, and forms a bond to the surface of the disc on which it is molded.

Abstract: A three element, three phase hydrodynamic torque converter having improved structural and hydrodynamic characteristics, and automatic transmissions that use a plurality of such hydrodynamic torque converters as replacements for multiple disc wet clutches or the like to effect transmission ratio changes. The hydrodynamic torque converters use a centrifugal impeller and a centrifugal turbine on the forward axial side of the torque converter, and a centripetal stator mounted to the converter shell on the rearward axial side. Three phase operation results when using the specified geometries: [1] torque multiplication, where the speed ratio i=n.sub.t /n.sub.p is greater than one; [2] coupling phase, where the speed ratio approaches one; [3] extension phase, where the speed ratio equals one and then exceeds one. For operation with speed ratio i=n.sub.t /n.sub.p in the range 0.6 .ltoreq.i .ltoreq.1.3, operational efficiency .eta. is found to be between 82 and 88 percent.

Abstract: In a bladed rotor of the kind in which each blade has curved side surfaces and having fingers fitted in depressions of a shell and an opening of a core, the depressions of the shell and the opening of the core for receiving therein corresponding fingers of the blades are shaped and arranged so as to have, with respect to an elevational view of the rotor, longitudinal axes which coincide with straight lines extending radially through the center of the rotor, respectively. A die assembly for forming such depressions or openings in the shell or core is also provided. In such a die assembly, first and second die sections are adjustable in relative circumferential position for thereby adjusting the relative circumferential position relationship between the first and second groups of depressions or openings in the shell or core to be produced.

Abstract: A coreless torque converter includes a pump impeller provided with coreless blades each having a first leading edge directed forward; a turbine runner provided with coreless blades each having a second leading edge directed rearward; and a stator provided with coreless blades each having front and rear edges which face the second and first leading edges respectively. Each of the first and second leading edges extends generally straight connecting radially outward and inward terminal ends thereof.

Abstract: A torque converter is provided for transmitting torque from an engine output shaft to an input shaft of a transmission. The torque converter includes a pump, connected with the engine output shaft, which includes a shell portion disposed at an outer portion thereof, a core portion disposed at an inner portion thereof and a plurality of blades disposed between the shell portion and the core portion. A turbine is disposed facing the pump and is driven by the pump through hydraulic fluid. The turbine includes a shell portion disposed at an outer portion thereof, a core portion disposed at an inner portion thereof and a plurality of blades disposed between the shell portion and the core portion. A stator is disposed between the pump and the turbine for torque amplification.

Abstract: An impeller for a torque converter embodying the concepts of the present invention utilizes a substantially semi-toroidal shell. The shell has a radially inner periphery which defines an inlet portion and a radially outer periphery which defines an outlet portion. The shell is radially curved between the inlet portion and the outlet portion to define a concave annular recess. A plurality of full vanes and a plurality of splitter vanes are presented from the shell within the annular recess. The impeller vanes are disposed circumferentially about the concave recess at spaced intervals. Each vane has a leading head portion, an intermediate body portion and a trailing end portion. The leading head portions of both vanes are disposed in opposition to the inlet portion--the leading head portion of the full vanes being disposed in proximity to the inlet portion. The leading head portions of the splitter vanes are disposed in radially outwardly spaced relation to the inlet portion.

Abstract: A securing structure and method of a blade for torque converter for use mainly in industrial construction vehicles to provide its rigid and easy-to-manufacture construction. The structure includes plural circular blades which are secured to a concave surface of a shell with some space in the circumferential direction, a core ring which extends along the circumferential direction of the shell and is secured to concave peripheries of the blades. A tab fitting in slot of the shell is formed integrally on the convex periphery of the blade. A tab fitting in a slot of the core ring is formed integrally on the concave periphery of the blade. Ribs extending in the circumferential direction of the shell are only formed on both ends of the convex periphery and concave periphery of the blade. The convex periphery and the concave periphery are brazed to the shell and the core ring respectively.

Abstract: A structural arrangement for detecting improper positioning between a hub. The structural arrangements utilize a bore which axially penetrates a stepped-down end portion of the shaft to receive a fastening means by which the hub may be secured to the shaft. A blocking bore extends radially through the stepped-down end portion of the shaft to communicate between the bore and the exterior of the shaft. A blocking member is received within the blocking bore and is movable radially therealong. A cam flange extends radially inwardly from the hub member and presents a blocking surface and a releasing surface on the radially inner extent thereof. The blocking surface is disposed in radial opposition to the blocking bore when the hub member is improperly positioned with respect to the shaft and the releasing surface is disposed in radial opposition to the blocking bore when the hub member is properly disposed with respect to the shaft.

Abstract: A torque converter turbine has a plurality of blades integrally molded or cast with a shell or core to form a substantially semi-toroidal structure. Each blade has a rounded leading edge and trailing edge joined by hydrofoil blade surfaces. The flow space between adjacent blades provides the optimum distributed flow area from the leading edge to the trailing edge.

Abstract: A pump wheel for a hydrodynamic unit, especially for a torque converter or a hydrodynamic coupling of motor vehicles, with a pump wheel outer shell that consists of cold-deformed sheet metal material with a welded-in hub member and which receives the pump wheel blades; the pump wheel blades are thereby cast together with a shell member matched to the inner surface of the pump wheel outer shell, whereby the shell member is so inserted into the pump wheel outer shell that entrainment members cast integral therewith engage in corresponding apertures of the pump wheel outer shell.