A hydrodynamic thrust bearing for a torque converter comprising: an axis of rotation; a first radial thrust surface; a second radial surface, opposite the first radial thrust surface, including at least two axially protruding anti-rotation pins for preventing relative motion with one of either a stator assembly or an impeller once assembled; an inner circumferential surface defining an opening concentric with the axis of rotation; an outer circumferential surface; and, an axial retention means for attaching to the one of either a stator assembly or an impeller and including at least two resilient tabs, each tab comprising: a deflectable portion; a lockable portion; and, an axial portion having a first width and connecting the deflectable portion and the lockable portion. A torque converter having a hydrodynamic thrust bearing as described is also provided.

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 device for transmitting torque comprising a pump wheel and a turbine wheel arranged axially offset from each other on a rotation axis is disclosed. The pump wheel and the turbine wheel can be hydrodynamically coupled to each other by a fluid. The device may also include a first friction element attached to the pump wheel and configured to transmit torque and a second friction element attached to the turbine wheel and configured to transmit torque. The friction elements are configured to be pressed against each other axially to produce a frictional engagement. The first friction element or the second friction element may be attached to the pump wheel or the turbine wheel, respectively, in an axially movable manner.

A lock-up device transmits a torque and includes a clutch disc, a piston, a cover plate and a support boss. The clutch disc is disposed between a front cover and a turbine. The piston is disposed between the front cover and the turbine. The piston is movable in an axial direction. The cover plate is disposed between the piston and the turbine, and includes a torque transmission part in an outer peripheral part thereof so as to transmit the torque to the clutch disc. The support boss has an annular shape. The support boss is fixed to an inner peripheral part of the front cover and includes a piston support part and a coupling part. The piston support part supports an inner peripheral end surface of the piston such that the piston is slidable thereon. The coupling part receives an inner peripheral part of the cover plate coupled thereto.

Disclosed are damper assemblies for engine disconnect devices, methods for making such damper assemblies, and motor vehicles with a disconnect device for coupling/decoupling an engine with a torque converter (TC). A disconnect clutch for selectively connecting an engine with a TC includes a pocket plate that movably mounts to the TC. The pocket plate includes pockets movably seating therein engaging elements that engage input structure of the TC and thereby lock the pocket plate to the TC. A selector plate moves between engaged and disengaged positions such that the engaging elements shift into and out of engagement with the TC input structure, respectively. A flex plate is attached to the engine's output shaft for common rotation therewith. A damper plate is attached to the pocket plate for common rotation therewith. Spring elements mate the damper and flex plates such that the damper plate is movably attached to the flex plate.

A hydrokinetic torque-coupling device for a hybrid electric vehicle, comprising a casing rotatable about a rotational axis, a torque converter including an impeller wheel and a turbine wheel, a lockup clutch including a dual piston assembly, and a selective clutch disposed outside of the casing. The selective clutch includes an input member and an output member non-rotatably mounted to the casing. The dual piston assembly includes a main piston and at least one secondary piston mounted to the main piston and axially moveable relative thereto. The main piston is selectively axially moveable relative to the casing and the at least one secondary piston between a lockup position and a non-lockup position. The output member is selectively axially moveable relative to the input member between an engaged position and a disengaged position. The output member selectively is axially moveable by action of the at least one secondary piston.

A hydrodynamic torque converter comprising a pump wheel and a turbine wheel mounted to be rotatable about an axis of rotation is disclosed. A fluid in a region between the pump wheel and the turbine wheel is provided wherein a first axial contact surface is formed on the pump wheel and a second axial contact surface is formed on the turbine wheel. A frictional connection between the pump wheel and the turbine wheel can be produced when the pump wheel and the turbine wheel are pressed axially against one another. Moreover, one of the contact surfaces is configured to be flexible in order to lie against the other contact surface under an axial pressure load.

A torque converter having a hydraulically-actuated stator clutch therein is provided. In particular, the torque converter includes a stator, and a hub axially aligned with at least a portion of the stator and located radially inward of at least a portion of the stator. The hydraulically-actuated stator clutch is disposed within the stator and is configured to selectively couple the stator to the hub. The hub defines a dedicated fluid passageway extending therethrough to fluidly couple a transmission fluid source to the hydraulically-actuated clutch. Slipping of the clutch is therefore controlled via hydraulic fluid. This allows for modification of characteristics of the torque converter that are not otherwise possible with standard one-way clutches in torque converter stators.

A disk assembly of a torque converter bypass clutch includes a disk defining a circular spring cavity and a plurality of arc springs circumferentially arranged in the cavity with gaps defined between adjacent ones of the arc springs. Each of the springs includes an end cap fitted on an end of the spring. Spring connectors are each disposed in one of the gaps and include an end received within a corresponding one of the end caps.

A hydrokinetic torque coupling device for coupling together driving and driven shafts, comprises a casing, impeller and turbine wheels, a torsional vibration damper, a turbine hub non-rotatably connected to the turbine wheel, and first and second vibration absorbers. Each of the first and second vibration absorbers is one of a dynamic absorber and a pendulum oscillator. The turbine hub is non-rotatably coupled to a driven member of the torsional vibration damper. The first vibration absorber is mounted to the turbine hub and the second vibration absorber is mounted to one of the turbine hub and the casing. The first vibration absorber and the second vibration absorber are tuned to address different orders of vibrations. The dynamic absorber includes an inertial member and a connecting plate coupled to the inertial member. The pendulum oscillator includes a support member and flyweights configured to oscillate relative to the support member.