Abstract: An impeller for a motor vehicle torque converter is provided. The impeller includes an impeller shell including blade supporting portions and fluid flow receiving portions between the blade supporting portions, the blade supporting portions being thicker than the fluid flow receiving portions; and a plurality of impeller blades, each of the impeller blades being connected to one of the blade supporting portions at an inner surface of the impeller shell. A method for forming an impeller of a torque converter is also provided.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an impeller and turbine assembly of a transmission includes providing an impeller housing and a turbine housing. An impeller blade defining an impeller receptor and a turbine blade defining a turbine receptor are provided. The impeller blade is mated to the impeller housing by deforming a portion of said impeller housing into the impeller receptor. The turbine blade is mated to the turbine housing by deforming a portion of the turbine housing into the turbine receptor. In this manner, the impeller blade is secured to the impeller housing and the turbine blade is secured to the turbine housing.

Abstract: An assembly for centering components with respect to an axis of rotation of a torque converter during installation of the torque converter on a transmission input shaft, the assembly including a cover for receiving a torsional input, a piston housed within the cover, a damper housed within the cover, the damper including a damper cover plate and a damper flange, wherein the piston, the damper cover plate, or the damper flange includes an extension, wherein the extension is operatively arranged for providing a centering function of the piston, the damper cover plate, or the damper flange by limiting a maximum radial distance a second axis of the piston, the damper cover plate, or the damper flange can become misaligned from the axis of rotation of the torque converter.

Abstract: An impeller for a motor vehicle torque converter is provided. The impeller includes an impeller shell including blade supporting portions and fluid flow receiving portions between the blade supporting portions, the blade supporting portions being thicker than the fluid flow receiving portions; and a plurality of impeller blades, each of the impeller blades being connected to one of the blade supporting portions at an inner surface of the impeller shell. A method for forming an impeller of a torque converter is also provided.

Abstract: A seal assembly includes a seal carrier configured to be coupled to and rotate with a shaft. The seal carrier defines at least three annular recesses configured to receive annular seals. The seal assembly further includes at least three annular seals configured to provide a seal between the seal carrier and a non-rotating housing defining an inner surface having a circular cross-section. One of the at least three seals is received in each of the at least three annular recesses, and one of the at least three seals has a smaller cross-sectional area than a cross-sectional area of at least one of the other seals.

Abstract: A torque converter having a housing with an impeller wall section, and pump vanes brazed to the impeller wall section. The housing is connected to an output of an engine for rotation about a longitudinal axis. A turbine having turbine vanes that are connected to a hub is located about the longitudinal axis within the housing and is connected to an input shaft of a transmission. A stator is located between the pump vanes and the turbine vanes. In order to allow for a thinner housing wall, particularly an area of the impeller wall section, an annular retainer plate is brazed to the impeller wall section about the longitudinal axis and forms a reinforcement. A rolling bearing is located between the retainer plate and the stator, and is used in supporting the housing. An assembly method is also provided.

Abstract: A torque converter including a cover, a turbine pump in fluid contact with the turbine, and a pump shell connected to the cover. The torque converter includes a pump hub connected to the pump shell such that the pump shell and the pump hub are fixed with respect to rotation. The pump hub also includes a portion with a distal end having a plurality of indentations and a plurality of sloped surfaces in contact with the plurality of indentations. The plurality of sloped surfaces is arranged to receive a plurality of protrusions for a transmission pump gear and to urge the pump hub or the pump gear into rotational motion to urge the plurality of protrusions into mating engagement with the plurality of indentations.

Abstract: Among first and second stators of a torque converter supported on a fixed part by a one-way clutch corresponding to the stators, the number of second stator blades of the second stator on the downstream side in the direction of flow of oil is larger than the number of first blades of the first stator on the upstream side, and the maximum value t2 for blade thickness of the second stator blade is smaller than the minimum value t1 for blade thickness of the first stator blade. Therefore, it is possible to ensure that there is a sufficient gap (?) between a trailing edge of the first stator blade and a leading edge of the second stator blade, thus preventing the flow of oil from being stopped by the gap (?), and it is possible to align effectively the flow of oil by means of the second stator blades.

Abstract: A seal assembly includes a seal carrier configured to be coupled to and rotate with a shaft. The seal carrier defines at least three annular recesses configured to receive annular seals. The seal assembly further includes at least three annular seals configured to provide a seal between the seal carrier and a non-rotating housing defining an inner surface having a circular cross-section. One of the at least three seals is received in each of the at least three annular recesses, and one of the at least three seals has a smaller cross-sectional area than a cross-sectional area of at least one of the other seals.

Abstract: An impeller for a torque converter includes a rotating housing portion, a blade portion configured to create fluid flow for pumping fluid to a turbine of the torque converter, and an impeller hub portion configured to couple the impeller to the torque converter and rotate about an output shaft of the torque converter. The impeller hub portion defines an inner surface having an annular recess, and at least one inlet passage and at least one outlet passage to provide flow paths for fluid entering and exiting the impeller. The torque converter further includes a wear member at least partially received in the annular recess, the annular wear member being formed from a ferrous material. The rotating housing portion, the blade portion, and the impeller hub portion are integrally formed as a single piece casting.

Abstract: A torque converter, including: an impeller and a turbine with: a shell; and at least one blade including: a blade body with a first edge connected to the shell; and a portion extending from the blade body. The torque converter includes a stator including: a stator body, and at least one stator blade axially disposed between the impeller and the turbine and connected to the stator body. A circumferential space is formed between the turbine shell and the stator body. At least a portion of the circumferential space is radially aligned with the portion of the at least one blade.

Abstract: The invention relates to a hydrodynamic component, comprising at least two bladed shells forming a torus shaped operating cavity in combination, each comprising a blade array supported by a dish, wherein at least one of the bladed shells comprises no support of the blades through the dish in the radially inner end portion of the particular blades. The invention is characterized in that flow control means are provided in the radially inner end portion of the torus shaped operating cavity in the portion where the dish is missing. The invention furthermore relates to a force transmission device with a hydrodynamic component.

Abstract: A hybrid transmission system for providing a variable speed and torque output from a mechanical power source and a hydraulic power source. The hybrid transmission system includes a stationary housing, an input shaft and an output shaft. The input and the output shafts are mounted within the stationary housing for rotation about a central axis. The hybrid transmission system further includes a rotatable housing, a hydraulic rotor and an electric unit associated to the rotatable housing or the input shaft. The rotatable housing is connected to the input shaft to drive the output shaft. The hydraulic rotor is mounted within the rotatable housing and rotatably coupled to the output shaft. The hydraulic rotor is configured to be selectively engaged and disengaged to the rotatable housing. The hybrid transmission system provides an option to recover, store and discharge excess electrical energy.

Abstract: A drive train, including a hydrodynamic torque converter with a housing arranged to be rotationally driven by a drive unit for a motor vehicle and an output part. The drive train includes an input shaft for a transmission. The output part is non-rotatably connected to the input shaft. An internal circumference of the transmission input shaft is supported by the housing.

Abstract: A starting device for a motor vehicle includes a pump connected to a prime mover and a turbine connected to a turbine shaft. The pump and turbine are hydrodynamically connected. A stator assembly is disposed between the pump and the turbine. The stator assembly houses a slidable throttle plate. In a first position, the throttle plate partially blocks a return fluid flow from the stator assembly, thereby effectively reducing the capacity of the starting device. In a second position, the throttle plate does not reduce the capacity of the starting device. The throttle plate position is a function of a balance of forces acting on the throttle plate by a biasing member and a flow of hydraulic fluid contacting the throttle plate.

Abstract: An assembly for centering components with respect to an axis of rotation of a torque converter during installation of the torque converter on a transmission input shaft, the assembly including a cover for receiving a torsional input, a piston housed within the cover, a damper housed within the cover, the damper including a damper cover plate and a damper flange, wherein the piston, the damper cover plate, or the damper flange includes an extension, wherein the extension is operatively arranged for providing a centering function of the piston, the damper cover plate, or the damper flange by limiting a maximum radial distance a second axis of the piston, the damper cover plate, or the damper flange can become misaligned from the axis of rotation of the torque converter.

Abstract: A method of connecting plates in a torque converter including: forming a head of a rivet with an end surface that is curved or forms multiple planes; forming a portion of an interior surface of the cover to protrude or indent with respect to a surrounding portion of the interior surface; disposing the body of the rivet in respective holes in respective portions of the plates; and displacing the plates such that the end surface of the rivet head contacts the portion of the interior surface, the respective portions of the first and second plates are at an acute angle with respect to the surrounding portion of the interior surface, and a longitudinal axis of the rivet is at an acute angle with respect to a line orthogonal to the surrounding portion of the interior surface.

Abstract: A torque converter structure having a plurality of high efficiency secure weld free connections between blades and the shells of the pump and turbine that reduces flow between the blades and the shells. At least one blade within the torque converter is securely mechanically attached to the shell of the pump or turbine in the absence of welding by providing a tab on the blade that is bent on a portion that passes through a slit in the shell to secure the blade to the shell and by inserting a major part (greater than 50%) of a portion of an edge of the blade, that runs coextensively with a surface of the shell into a depression in that shell until the edge of the blade diverges from the shell. The invention also includes the unique blade and shell and a method for using them to make a torque converter of the invention.

Abstract: A torque converter including a cover, a turbine pump in fluid contact with the turbine, and a pump shell connected to the cover. The torque converter includes a pump hub connected to the pump shell such that the pump shell and the pump hub are fixed with respect to rotation. The pump hub also includes a portion with a distal end having a plurality of indentations and a plurality of sloped surfaces in contact with the plurality of indentations. The plurality of sloped surfaces is arranged to receive a plurality of protrusions for a transmission pump gear and to urge the pump hub or the pump gear into rotational motion to urge the plurality of protrusions into mating engagement with the plurality of indentations.

Abstract: A blade for a torque converter including a body having an outer edge, the outer edge arranged to conform to an inner surface of a shell in the torque converter, the shell having at least two slots arranged therethrough, and a surface extending from the outer edge, the surface having at least two tabs, wherein the surface is arranged to conform to the inner surface of the shell to provide a fluid seal, the at least two tabs are disposed through the at least two slots and at least one of the at least two tabs is arranged to engage an outer surface of the shell. The invention further includes a torque converter including the present invention blades and a method of assembling the same.

Abstract: A drive train, including a hydrodynamic torque converter with a housing arranged to be rotationally driven by a drive unit for a motor vehicle and an output part. The drive train includes an input shaft for a transmission. The output part is non-rotatably connected to the input shaft. An internal circumference of the transmission input shaft is supported by the housing.

Abstract: A pump assembly for a torque converter including a shell arranged to receive a plurality of blades for the pump, a hub arranged to interface with a transmission, and a resilient member located axially between an annular portion of the shell and annular portion of the hub. In a preferred embodiment, the resilient member is an O-ring.

Abstract: A torque converter cover including a protrusion extending from an outer surface of the torque converter cover and symmetrical about an axis of rotation for the cover and a pilot boss including a body having a recessed portion matingly engaged with the protrusion. In some embodiments, the protrusion is generally cylindrical, while in other embodiments, the recessed portion is generally cylindrical. A method of fixedly securing a pilot boss to a torque converter cover, the torque converter cover including a protrusion from an outer surface of the cover and symmetrical about an axis of rotation for the cover and a pilot boss including a body having a recessed portion, the method including the step of matingly engaging said recessed portion to the protrusion.

Abstract: A method for welding components in a torque converter, including: overlapping first and second edge portions of first and second components in the torque converter, respectively; applying energy to the first portion; and melting, in the absence of filler material, at least a portion of the first portion to weld the first and second components. In some aspects, the converter includes a cover and pump and the first component is one of the cover and pump and the second component is the other of the cover and pump. The present invention also broadly comprises a torque converter, including first and second components with overlapping respective edge portions and an autogenous weld, formed from the first component edge portion and in the absence of a filler material, connecting the first and second components.

Abstract: A lockup device (7) of a torque converter (1) has a piston (75), a piston linking mechanism (76), a clutch plate (71), and a damper mechanism (9). The piston linking mechanism (76) links the piston (75) to a front cover (11) rotatably in the rotational direction and movably in the axial direction, and restricts movement of the piston (75) to a turbine (22) side to within a specific range.

Abstract: A hydrodynamic torque converter, having a housing arrangement is filled with fluid and an impeller with a plurality of impeller vanes successively arranged in circumferential direction around an axis of rotation, a turbine in a housing interior, the turbine has a plurality of turbine vanes successively arranged in circumferential direction around the axis of rotation, and a stator with stator vanes successively arranged in circumferential direction around the axis of rotation. The impeller, the turbine and the stator form a fluid circulation torus with a torus diameter Td considered radially with respect to the axis of rotation, an outer radius Ra with respect to the axis of rotation, and a torus width considered in direction of the axis of rotation.

Abstract: A fluid coupling including a pump impeller rotatable about a rotation axis and having several pump blades, and a turbine runner disposed downstream of the pump impeller and including several turbine blades arranged about the rotation axis. When the pump impeller rotates, a fluid circulates between the pump impeller and the turbine runner such that the turbine runner rotates about the rotation axis. Each of the turbine blades includes an intermediate part, an outer part and an inner part, and in at least one of the turbine blades, the outer part is formed so as to be positioned on the downstream side of the intermediate part in the rotation direction.

Abstract: The present invention broadly includes a hub assembly for a torque converter having a hub arranged to rotationally connect to a transmission input shaft and includes first and second radial surfaces, a first plate rotationally connected to a turbine, rotationally connected to the hub, and fixed in a first axial direction by the first surface and a second plate rotationally connected to the first plate and fixed in a second axial direction, opposite the first direction, by the second surface. The hub assembly may include a hub having at least one radially disposed protrusion, the protrusion includes the second radial surface, and the first plate is rotationally connected to the protrusion. The hub may further include a body with a first diameter and the protrusion with a second diameter greater than the first diameter. The first and second radial surfaces may be arranged to axially fix a turbine with respect to the hub, or the first and second radial surfaces may be coplanar.

Abstract: In an automatic transmission, a lip portion of an oil seal can be prevented from riding up reliably when an impeller hub is inserted into the oil seal so as to be attached thereto, even when the lip portion is provided with a tightening margin. The impeller hub is attached to the oil seal from the lip portion side of the oil seal , with an end portion thereof in which a notch is formed. The impeller hub has a first chamfer portion formed in a bottom portion outer peripheral edge portion of the notch as an inclined surface that decreases radially in an axial direction of the impeller hub toward the end portion of the impeller hub, and an axial distance of the first chamfer portion from the bottom portion outer peripheral edge portion increases from both end sides of a circumferential direction of the notch toward a circumferential direction central portion of the notch.

Abstract: A blade for a torque converter including a body having an outer edge, at least two shell tabs integral to the outer edge and extending therefrom and at least one flexible sealing flange adjacent to at least one of the at least two shell tabs, the at least one flexible sealing flange is integral to the outer edge and extending therefrom, wherein the outer edge is arranged to conform to an inner surface of a shell in a torque converter, the shell having at least two slots arranged therethrough, the at least one flexible sealing flange is arranged to conform to the inner surface of the shell to provide a fluid seal, the at least two shell tabs are disposed through the at least two slots and at least one of the at least two shell tabs is arranged to engage an outer surface of the shell.

Abstract: A torque converter 1 transmits torque from the engine to an output shaft. The torque converter 1 includes a front cover 2, impeller 3, and turbine 4. The turbine 4 includes a turbine shell 11 located opposite the impeller 3 and provided with a plurality of blades, and a turbine hub 13 located at a radially inner end of the turbine shell 11 to couple the turbine shell 11 with the output shaft. The torque converter 1 further includes an annular slide member 80 located between the front cover 2 and the turbine hub 13 in the axial direction to receive the axial load, and a support member 70 fixed to one of the front cover 2 and the turbine hub 13 to support the slide member 80 by urging the slide member 80 against one of the front cover 2 and the turbine hub 13 in the axial direction.

Abstract: A torque converter including a turbine, a vibration damper, a cover, the cover having blades, and a clutch pack, the blades increasing a fluid flow toward or away from the clutch pack.

Abstract: A ring portion of a torque converter shell having a first segment at a distal end of the ring portion, a second segment at a second end of the ring portion adjacent an annular portion of the shell, and a ribbed portion located axially between the first segment and the second segment, and extending in a radial direction beyond the first and second segments.

Abstract: A blade with first and second blade tabs extending outwardly from an edge of the blade; and a shell with a first indent and a first slot. The first blade tab is arranged to engage the first indent and the second blade tab is arranged to engage the first slot. In one embodiment, the first indent is arranged radially inward on the shell relative to the first slot. In one embodiment, the first blade tab is affixed to the first indent. In one embodiment, the second blade tab is bent over an outside surface of the turbine shell. In one embodiment, the shell includes a second indent and the blade includes a third blade tab extending outwardly from the edge and at least partially disposed in the second indent.

Abstract: A hydrodynamic torque converter which has at least a hydrodynamic circuit including at least one pump wheel and one turbine wheel, wherein each of these wheels is provided with an outer shell to accept a set of vanes which form flow chambers, the inner edges of the vanes away from the outer shell being connected to an inner shell, which acts as part of an internal torus. At least the vanes of the turbine wheel have connecting elements both on the inner edges and on the outer edges, which connecting elements pass through openings in the shells to fasten the vanes to the shells, being provided for this purpose with a predetermined minimum overhang with respect to the edge of the associated vane, this minimum overhang making it possible for the connecting elements to be plastically deformed in such a way that they can grip the rear surfaces of the shells, i.e., the surfaces facing away from the vanes, and thus fasten the vanes to the shells.

Abstract: A front cover 5 of a converter cover 4 is formed with a punched hole 12, a thrust bearing 13 having the same outer shape as that of the punched hole 12 is fitted to the punched hole 12, a bearing housing 14 is fitted to the outside, thereby tightly closing the converter cover 4 to support the thrust bearing 13. A thrust applied from a turbine hub 9 to the thrust bearing 13 is received by a flange 14b of the bearing housing 14.

Abstract: In a transmitting system for a small-sized vehicle, a centrifugal clutch, and a torque converter including a pump impeller connected to an output drum of the centrifugal clutch and a turbine impeller connected to an output gear, are placed between a crankshaft of an engine and the output gear. The pump impeller and the output drum adjacent to the pump impeller are integrally coupled, with an open surface of the output drum facing to an opposite side to the pump impeller, to be constructed as a single component. Thus, occurrence of rotation vibrations and unusual noises can be prevented without requiring machining with high precision, and the numbers of components and assembling steps can be reduced while providing favorable maintainability.

Abstract: A hydrodynamic torque converter which has at least a hydrodynamic circuit including at least one pump wheel and one turbine wheel, wherein each of these wheels is provided with an outer shell to accept a set of vanes which form flow chambers, the inner edges of the vanes away from the outer shell being connected to an inner shell, which acts as part of an internal torus. At least the vanes of the turbine wheel have connecting elements both on the inner edges and on the outer edges, which connecting elements pass through openings in the shells to fasten the vanes to the shells, being provided for this purpose with a predetermined minimum overhang with respect to the edge of the associated vane, this minimum overhang making it possible for the connecting elements to be plastically deformed in such a way that they can grip the rear surfaces of the shells, i.e., the surfaces facing away from the vanes, and thus fasten the vanes to the shells.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a torque converter fluid coupling member includes forming a plurality of hollow tubes having first and second ends and connecting the plurality of tubes together side-by-side in an annular array. Fluid may be carried through each tube from the first end to the second end, thereby forming the fluid coupling member. The fluid coupling member may be a turbine or a pump of a torque converter.

Abstract: In a torque converter comprised of three major rotating elements, namely a pump impeller, a turbine runner to which a driving power is transmitted through a working fluid from the pump impeller, and a stator disposed between the pump impeller and the turbine runner, a flattening ratio L/D of a sum L of an pump-impeller axial length and a turbine-runner axial length to a torque-converter nominal diameter D is set to be less than or equal to 0.21. In order to balance contradictory requirements, namely reduced curvature loss, i.e., enhanced converter efficiency, proper rate-of-change in working-fluid flow passage area, and proper breakaway of working fluid from each turbine blade, a ratio r/R of a radius of curvature r of a turbine-core outer peripheral curved surface to a radius of curvature R of a turbine-shell outer peripheral curved surface being set to satisfy a predetermined inequality 0.3≦r/R≦0.5.

Abstract: A non-grounded hydraulic transmission apparatus (16) is provided for transferring power from a power source to a work unit, Transmission apparatus (16) includes an input device (20) having an input shaft (26) coupled to the power source and a plurality of pumps (30) configured to rotate with input shaft (26). Pumps (30) are configured to transfer energy received from the power source into a fluid (22). Transmission apparatus (16) further includes an output device (24) having an output shaft (38) coupled to the work unit and a plurality of turbines (34) configured to rotate output shaft (38). Turbines (34) are configured to remove energy from fluid (22) and transfer said energy to the work unit through output shaft (38).

Abstract: A constant velocity transmission which provides maximum torque and speed from a power source such as an internal combustion engine to an output shaft of the transmission while maintaining the engine at optimum operational speed. The transmission takes advantage of the principle of fluid friction to transmit rotational forces from drive blades mounted on an input shaft to stater blades positioned on the inside of a drum encompassing one end of the input shaft and the drive blades. The drive blades slidably mounted on a slanted surface of a drive drum on the input shaft and move closer to and away from the stater blades when laterally translated. Fluid driven by the drive blades imparts varied force and torque to the stater blades depending on their distance therefrom thereby transmitting variable speed and torque to the output shaft attached to the drum.

Abstract: A hydrodynamic converter coupling member for a torque converter has a simplified structure that can include plastic materials and permit a reduction in components with simplified assembly processes which may result in lighter components and reduced assembly costs. For a turbine, the coupling is made with an outer shell and a plurality of channel inserts. The inserts form the curved channels or fluid passages of the turbine and include generally concentric curved inner and outer sides integrally connected to one another along one edge by a connecting wall that acts as a blade or vane. The inserts are secured in the outer shell with their outer sides against the outer shell. The inner sides are supported at both edges by the connecting walls, which are integral with one edge and include grooves for receiving the opposite free edges. Thus, the inner sides close the channels inwardly and avoid the need for a separate inner shell in the improved assembly.

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 technique is disclosed for optimizing performance of a pump-turbine unit while operating normally in the pumping mode by identifying gate positions resulting in optimization of certain parameters of interest. Influences of gate positions on the optimized parameters is determined and used to evaluate the combined effect of the gate position on the parameters. Weighting coefficients may be used to alter the relative importance of each parameter in the gate position ultimately selected. Gate positions are optimized for each location in a multi-dimensional virtual cam matrix as conditions defining the locations are encountered. A parameter error or evaluation routine is provided for evaluating the consistency of monitored parameter values and for identifying trends that may require reconfiguration of the virtual cam matrix or alterations in the optimization routine, such as changes in the weighting of various parameters.

Abstract: Hydrodynamic torque converter which comprises blade wheels in the form of a reactor, a pump wheel and a turbine wheel with individual blades which are connected to an outer wall, whereby a torque can be transmitted from the pump wheel to the turbine wheel by means of pressure medium which flows along a flow path from the pump wheel to the turbine wheel, and is transported via the reactor back to the pump wheel, whereby at least one blade wheel comprises at least one stabilizer ring which creates a connection of the individual blades on their exposed sides, and by means of which stabilizer ring the flow path of the pressure medium can be influenced to reduce the flow losses.

Abstract: A method and system for optimizing performance of a Kaplan turbine power generating unit are provided wherein an optimal "N-dimensional" virtual cam is populated with gate and blade positional settings producing maximum power output for a set of N operating parameters. The preferred parameters include head, flow, power generation level, physical situation of the unit, operating state of neighboring units, trash rack loss and a parameter indicative of cavitation (such as relative submersion level). When the system detects a unique set of operating conditions for which optimization is needed, an iterative optimization search is performed for the best gate and blade positional settings, which are then saved in memory (populating the cam matrix) for subsequent use when the same operating conditions are encountered. The optimal matrix divides parameters having ranges into range segments and treats other parameters as having discrete states.

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 method and device for simulating properties of a fluid torque converter such as torque ratio, capacity factor and efficiency includes involving the execution of the steps of finding a plurality of parameters including a fluid passage angle and a fluid passage resistance from a vane profile of a vane wheel of a fluid torque converter, and simulating the properties of the fluid torque converter according to the parameters and an input and output torque relationship based on an angular momentum theory. The fluid passage angle is corrected according to a slip ratio between rotational speeds of input and output ends of the fluid torque converter for the purpose of accounting for the influences of the occurrence of flow separation. Good results can be obtained by correcting the outflow angle of a stator vane array by using a correction value given as a mathematical function of the slip ratio. Thus, the accuracy of simulation can be substantially improved with a minimum increase in the computer time.

Abstract: A coreless torque converter has a unique layout or arrangement of stator, pump impeller and turbine runner, in which at least one of these elements has a portion formed to have an axial dimension which is reduced to minimize an offset amount of a center of swirl generated by working fluid recirculating through the converter to provide a high torque ratio and improved efficiency.