Abstract: A torque converter is provided with a stator having adjustable fluid flow holes for changing the K-factor of the torque converter, as needed. The stator includes a base plate with fluid flow openings and an adjustable plate with fluid flow openings. The plates matingly engage, such that the fluid openings are adjacent one another. The degree of overlap of the openings can be varied from fully aligned to substantially misaligned by rotating the adjustable plate relative to the base plate, and thereby controlling the fluid flow through the openings. In alternative embodiments the stator holes can be automatically opened and closed in response to changes in fluid pressure in the torque converter, via reed values or spring biased balls.

Abstract: A torque converter is provided with a stator having adjustable fluid flow holes for changing the K-factor of the torque converter, as needed. The stator includes a base plate with fluid flow openings and an adjustable plate with fluid flow openings. The plates matingly engage, such that the fluid openings are adjacent one another. The degree of overlap of the openings can be varied from fully aligned to substantially misaligned by rotating the adjustable plate relative to the base plate, and thereby controlling the fluid flow through the openings. In alternative embodiments the stator holes can be automatically opened and closed in response to changes in fluid pressure in the torque converter, via reed values or spring biased balls.

Abstract: The invention relates to a hydrodynamic torque converter comprising a driving pump wheel, a driven turbine wheel, and a guide wheel, which has guide wheel blades. In order to create a hydrodynamic torque converter, which requires less installation space than conventional torque converters and is producible cost-effectively, the guide wheel blades are attached to the guide wheel such that they can move between a throughflow position and a guide position.

Abstract: A drive arrangement for driving, or for being driven by, a fluid is disclosed. The drive arrangement comprises a rotatable member (40) for receiving the fluid, and having mounted thereon a plurality of drive members (56). The drive members (56) are movable between a drive position, in which the drive members can drive, or be driven by, the fluid, and a non-drive position in which the drive members (56) are substantially prevented from driving or being driven by a fluid received in the rotatable member (40).

Abstract: A fluid coupling comprising a pump having a pump shell and a plurality of impellers arranged in the pump shell, a turbine having a turbine shell arranged to be opposed to the pump and a plurality of runners arranged in the turbine shell, and a baffle mechanism arranged in a fluid circulation passage formed by the pump shell and the turbine shell, wherein the baffle mechanism comprises a first baffle plate having a plurality of first openings, a second baffle plate that has a plurality of second openings and is disposed in such a manner as to overlap with the first baffle plate and as to be allowed to rotate relative thereto, and a centrifugal operation means for turning the second baffle plate relative to the first baffle plate in response to the rotational speed of the first baffle plate.

Abstract: A continuously variable transmission (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9) is provided with a torque converter (2) having an ingoing shaft (1), whereby the torque converter has such torque converting factors at various speeds of the ingoing shaft that the torque characteristic of the torque converter approximates the characteristic of the maximum torque to be transmitted by means of the transmission and the control system for a substantial part of the speed range. This results in an increased torque at low speeds of the ingoing shaft, especially at driving off in a motor vehicle. Furthermore a loss of power is reduced because an overdimensioning of the control system which controls the pressure in control cylinders (18, 19) of the transmission is no longer needed.

Abstract: A hydrodynamic torque converter for vehicles, particularly for passenger motor vehicles, with at least one pump wheel, one turbine wheel and one guide wheel supported on a free-wheeling device, in which the guide blades are automatically adjustable, when the guide wheel rotates, in dependence on the centrifugal force in the sense of a cascade opening with an increasing rotational speed.