A torque converter comprising: a damper assembly including a spring retainer; and, a turbine assembly connected to the damper assembly, the turbine assembly including: a turbine shell including an axially movable turbine piston; a drive plate fixed to the turbine piston; and a diaphragm spring, the drive plate having openings for receiving the diaphragm spring; the diaphragm spring acting on the turbine piston with a preload force. In an example aspect, the diaphragm spring includes a plurality of radially inward tabs and the drive plate includes a plurality of openings for receiving the radially inward tabs.

Disclosed are engine flexplates with integrated engine disconnects, methods for making and for using such flexplates, and motor vehicles with an engine flexplate having an integrated engine disconnect device. An engine flexplate assembly is disclosed for operatively coupling an engine to a hydrokinetic torque converter. The flexplate assembly includes a disk-shaped body with a central hub that rigidly attaches on the fore side thereof to the engine output shaft for common rotation therewith. A disconnect device, which is positioned on the aft side of the disk-shaped body, includes concentric inner and outer races. The outer race is rigidly attached to the disk-shaped body for common rotation therewith. The inner race rigidly attaches to the front cover of the TC housing for common rotation therewith. The disconnect device operatively disconnects the engine output shaft from the TC housing front cover when a torque transmitted therebetween reverses direction.

Disclosed are engine flexplates with integrated engine disconnects, methods for making and for using such flexplates, and motor vehicles with an engine flexplate having an integrated engine disconnect device. An engine flexplate assembly is disclosed for operatively coupling an engine to a hydrokinetic torque converter. The flexplate assembly includes a disk-shaped body with a central hub that rigidly attaches on the fore side thereof to the engine output shaft for common rotation therewith. A disconnect device, which is positioned on the aft side of the disk-shaped body, includes concentric inner and outer races. The outer race is rigidly attached to the disk-shaped body for common rotation therewith. The inner race rigidly attaches to the front cover of the TC housing for common rotation therewith. The disconnect device operatively disconnects the engine output shaft from the TC housing front cover when a torque transmitted therebetween reverses direction.

A lock-up device for a torque converter transmits a torque from a front cover to an input shaft of a transmission. The lock-up device includes a clutch portion, a piston and hydraulic oil leading-out portion. The clutch portion is disposed between the front cover and a turbine, and includes at least one clutch plate. The piston is disposed to be axially movable and presses the at least one clutch plate toward the front cover so as to turn the clutch portion into a torque transmitting state. The hydraulic oil leading-out portion is mounted to a piston-side lateral surface of the front cover, and leads a hydraulic oil residing between the front cover and the piston to an oil discharge channel provided in the input shaft of the transmission by utilizing rotation of the front cover.

A lock-up device for a torque converter transmits a torque from a front cover to an input shaft of a transmission. The lock-up device includes a clutch portion, a piston and hydraulic oil leading-out portion. The clutch portion is disposed between the front cover and a turbine, and includes at least one clutch plate. The piston is disposed to be axially movable and presses the at least one clutch plate toward the front cover so as to turn the clutch portion into a torque transmitting state. The hydraulic oil leading-out portion is mounted to a piston-side lateral surface of the front cover, and leads a hydraulic oil residing between the front cover and the piston to an oil discharge channel provided in the input shaft of the transmission by utilizing rotation of the front cover.

A torque converter comprising: an axis of rotation; a stator including a side plate having a first radial surface; one of an impeller shell or a turbine shell having a second tapered surface facing the stator side plate first radial surface; a hydrodynamic thrust bearing disposed between the stator side plate and the one of an impeller shell or a turbine shell, and comprising: a thrust surface facing one of the first radial surface or the second tapered surface with a fluid pathway therebetween; a supporting surface opposite the thrust surface and facing the other of the first radial surface or the second tapered surface; and an opening concentric with the axis of rotation; and, a gap between the supporting surface and the other of the first radial surface or the second tapered surface such that the bearing thrust surface is alignable to be parallel with the one of the first radial surface or the second tapered surface.

A gas turbine engine comprises a relatively high pressure compressor coupled to a relatively high pressure turbine by a relatively high pressure shaft; a relatively low pressure compressor coupled to a relatively low pressure turbine by a relatively low pressure shaft rotatable independently of the high pressure shaft; a first combustor located downstream of the high pressure compressor and upstream of the high pressure turbine; and a second combustor located downstream of the high pressure turbine, and upstream of the low pressure turbine. The engine further comprises a coupling arrangement configured to selectively transfer torque between the high pressure shaft and the low pressure shaft.

A gas turbine engine comprises a relatively high pressure compressor coupled to a relatively high pressure turbine by a relatively high pressure shaft; a relatively low pressure compressor coupled to a relatively low pressure turbine by a relatively low pressure shaft rotatable independently of the high pressure shaft; a first combustor located downstream of the high pressure compressor and upstream of the high pressure turbine; and a second combustor located downstream of the high pressure turbine, and upstream of the low pressure turbine. The engine further comprises a coupling arrangement configured to selectively transfer torque between the high pressure shaft and the low pressure shaft.

A torque converter includes a front cover, an output shaft member, a piston, a clutch, an impeller, and a turbine. The piston is supported by the output shaft member. The piston slides on the output shaft member in an axial direction. The piston extends in a radial direction. The clutch is disposed between the front cover and the piston. The impeller includes an impeller shell and an impeller blade. The impeller shell is fixed to the front cover. The impeller blade is attached to the impeller shell. The turbine includes a turbine shell, a turbine blade and a connecting portion. The turbine shell is disposed in opposition to the impeller. The turbine blade is attached to the turbine shell. The connecting portion connects the piston and the turbine shell so as to make the piston and the turbine shell unitarily rotatable.

A torque converter includes a front cover, an output shaft member, a piston, a clutch, an impeller, and a turbine. The piston is supported by the output shaft member. The piston slides on the output shaft member in an axial direction. The piston extends in a radial direction. The clutch is disposed between the front cover and the piston. The impeller includes an impeller shell and an impeller blade. The impeller shell is fixed to the front cover. The impeller blade is attached to the impeller shell. The turbine includes a turbine shell, a turbine blade and a connecting portion. The turbine shell is disposed in opposition to the impeller. The turbine blade is attached to the turbine shell. The connecting portion connects the piston and the turbine shell so as to make the piston and the turbine shell unitarily rotatable.