A torque converter assembly configured to be connected between an engine and a transmission in a vehicle. The torque converter assembly comprises a cover plate having a cover plate pilot portion, a pump, a turbine, a stator, and a clutch assembly operably connected between the cover plate and the turbine. The clutch assembly comprises a piston plate having a single clutch face and a piston pilot portion. The cover plate pilot portion and the piston pilot portion are both configured to be piloted by the engine. A pilot plate located between the cover plate and clutch assembly can help control the amount and/or velocity of fluid that hydrodynamically connects various portions of the torque converter assembly.

A torque converter including a cover arranged to receive torque; an impeller including an impeller shell non-rotatably connected to the cover; a turbine in fluid communication with the impeller and including a turbine shell; a first clutch axially displaceable to engage the cover; a second clutch axially displaceable to engage the impeller shell; and, a vibration damper including: a first input component non-rotatably connected to a component of the first clutch; a second input component non-rotatably connected to a component of the second clutch; and, an output flange arranged to non-rotatably connect to an input shaft for a transmission. For a first lock-up mode, the first and second clutches are arranged to close to transmit torque from the cover to the first and second input components, respectively.

A torsional vibration damper comprises an axially movable locking piston including a piston plate, a torque input member including a cover plate, a support plate disposed axially opposite the cover plate and a supporting member mounted to both the cover and support plates, and a unitary radially elastic output member pivotable relative to and elastically coupled to the torque input member. The output member is disposed axially between the cover plate and the piston plate. The output member includes an output hub and a curved elastic blade configured to elastically and radially engage the supporting member and to elastically bend in the radial direction upon rotation of the cover plate with respect to the output member. The cover plate at least partially covers an axially first outer surface of the output member. The support plate partially covers an axially second outer surface of the output member.

A torque converter assembly configured to be connected between an engine and a transmission in a vehicle. The torque converter assembly comprises a cover plate having a cover plate pilot portion, a pump, a turbine, a stator, and a clutch assembly operably connected between the cover plate and the turbine. The clutch assembly comprises a piston plate having a single clutch face and a piston pilot portion. The cover plate pilot portion and the piston pilot portion are both configured to be piloted by the engine. A pilot plate located between the cover plate and clutch assembly can help control the amount and/or velocity of fluid that hydrodynamically connects various portions of the torque converter assembly.

A hydrokinetic torque coupling device includes a casing having opposite sidewalls and an outer wall extending between and connecting the opposite sidewalls, an impeller coaxial aligned with the rotational axis, a piston engagement member extending substantially radially inward from and non-moveable relative to the outer wall of the casing, and a turbine-piston coaxially aligned with and hydrodynamically drivable by the impeller. The turbine-piston includes a turbine-piston shell having a turbine-piston flange with an engagement surface that is movable axially toward and away from an engagement surface of the piston engagement member to position the hydrokinetic torque coupling device into and out of a lockup mode in which the turbine-piston is mechanically locked to and non-rotatable relative to the piston engagement member.

Disclosed is a hydrokinetic torque converter (TC) with a TC housing. An impeller is disposed within the TC housing and connects to an engine output shaft. A turbine is disposed within the TC housing and connects to a transmission input shaft via a TC output shaft. A torque converter clutch (TCC), which is disposed within the TC housing and coupled to the TC output shaft, selectively locks the impeller to the TC output shaft. A damper, which is disposed within the TC housing and coupled to the TCC, dampens vibrations transmitted by the TCC. A disconnect device, which is disposed within the TC housing and coupled to the damper assembly and TC output shaft, connects the turbine to the TC output shaft or damper when positive torque is being transferred, and disconnects the turbine and TC output shaft or damper when negative torque is being transferred.

A torsional vibration damper comprises an axially moveable locking piston including a piston plate, a torque input member including a cover plate, a support plate disposed axially opposite the cover plate and a supporting member mounted to both the cover and support plates, and a unitary radially elastic output member pivotable relative to and elastically coupled to the torque input member. The output member is disposed axially between the cover plate and the piston plate. The output member includes an output hub and a curved elastic blade configured to elastically and radially engage the supporting member and to elastically bend in the radial direction upon rotation of the cover plate with respect to the output member. The cover plate at least partially covers an axially first outer surface of the output member. The support plate partially covers an axially second outer surface of the output member.

A torque converter including a cover arranged to receive torque; an impeller including an impeller shell non-rotatably connected to the cover; a turbine in fluid communication with the impeller and including a turbine shell; a first clutch axially displaceable to engage the cover; a second clutch axially displaceable to engage the impeller shell; and, a vibration damper including: a first input component non-rotatably connected to a component of the first clutch; a second input component non-rotatably connected to a component of the second clutch; and, an output flange arranged to non-rotatably connect to an input shaft for a transmission. For a first lock-up mode, the first and second clutches are arranged to close to transmit torque from the cover to the first and second input components, respectively.

An impeller for a torque converter comprising: an axis of rotation; an impeller shell comprising: a torus portion; a radial wall portion; an elbow portion; an interior portion; and, an axially extending necked portion, extending about the axis of rotation and into the interior portion, having: a first circumferential surface; and, a second circumferential surface.

A hydrodynamic starting element for a drive train of a motor vehicle, having a pump wheel and a turbine wheel, wherein the turbine wheel is arranged on a drive side of the hydrodynamic starting element and the pump wheel is arranged on an output side of the hydrodynamic starting element, wherein a housing is fastened to the turbine wheel and wherein the housing extends from the turbine wheel in the direction of the output side and the housing at least partially encloses the pump wheel in the direction of the output side.