A hydrokinetic torque coupling device comprises a casing, a torque converter, a torsional vibration damper and a lockup clutch disposed within the casing. The torque converter comprises an impeller and a turbine-piston coaxially aligned with the impeller and axially movable toward and away from the casing to position the hydrokinetic torque coupling device into and out of a lockup mode in which the turbine-piston is non-rotatably frictionally coupled to the casing. The torsional vibration damper comprises an input member non-moveably secured to the turbine-piston, a first retainer plate and the elastic members elastically coupling the input member to the first retainer plate. The input member includes an actuating portion configured to actuate the lockup clutch. The lockup clutch is disposed within the casing between the actuating portion of the input member and a cover shell of the casing for frictionally coupling the casing and the turbine-piston.

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.

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 torque converter is provided. The torque converter includes an axially movable turbine piston and a damper assembly fixed to the turbine piston. The damper assembly includes a first cover plate, a second cover plate, a plurality of fasteners fixing the first cover plate and the second cover plate together such that the second cover plate is spaced from the first cover plate, a first drive flange axially between the first and second cover plates, a second drive flange axially between the first and second cover plates and an elastic element axially between the first and second cover plates. The first cover plate, the second cover plate, the second flange, the fasteners and the elastic element are axially movable with the piston turbine independently of the drive flange. The elastic element is configured to create a controlled rotational hysteresis between the second drive flange and the first and second cover plates during the axial movement of the first cover plate, the second cover plate, the second flange, the fasteners and the elastic element. A method of forming a torque converter is also provided.

A torque converter is provided. The torque converter includes a damper assembly and a turbine assembly connected to the damper assembly. The turbine assembly includes an axially movable turbine piston, a spacer plate fixed to the turbine piston and a bias spring. The spacer plate retains the bias spring on the turbine piston with a preload force. A method of forming a torque converter is also provided. The method includes providing a bias spring contacting a front cover side surface of a turbine piston; and fixing a spacer plate to the turbine piston such that the spacer plate holds the bias spring against the front cover side surface of the turbine piston.

A torque converter includes a housing, a turbine shell, and a spring. The housing includes an impeller shell and a cover. The turbine shell includes a clutch portion. The spring is disposed axially between the cover and the turbine shell, and is arranged for urging the turbine clutch portion into driving engagement with the impeller shell. In an example embodiment, the spring is a diaphragm spring. In an example embodiment, the turbine shell is arranged for sealing to and driving engagement with a transmission input shaft. In some example embodiments, the torque converter includes a bearing disposed axially between the cover and the turbine shell, and arranged for rotationally disconnecting the spring from the cover. In an example embodiment, the bearing is a ball bearing or a needle roller bearing.

A torque converter includes a front cover, an impeller, an output shaft member, a turbine and a clutch. The turbine includes a turbine shell, a turbine blade, a coupling portion and a piston portion. The turbine shell is supported by the output shaft member. Additionally, the turbine shell slides on the output shaft member in an axial direction. The turbine blade is attached to the turbine shell. The coupling portion extends from the turbine shell toward the front cover. The piston portion extends from the coupling portion in a radial direction. The clutch is disposed between the piston portion and the front cover.

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 hydrodynamic coupling arrangement has a housing connected to pressure medium lines for conducting pressure medium into or out of a pressure space sealed by a piston of a clutch device relative to a toroidal space of a hydrodynamic circuit provided in the housing. A rotatable area is provided for axially displaceably receiving a radially inner piston hub of the piston of the clutch device, and at least one through-opening which is rotatable relative to the housing is provided in a through-opening area for producing at least one flow connection between at least one pressure medium line and the pressure space. The receiving area and the through-opening area are in rotational communication with a retarding device influencing a flow of pressure medium in the pressure space, this flow of pressure medium arriving in the pressure space after passing through the through-opening area.

A drive assembly for a torque converter is provided. The drive assembly includes a turbine; a damper assembly fixed to a first side of the turbine by connectors; and a hydrodynamic bearing fixed to a second side of the turbine opposite the first side. The hydrodynamic bearing includes at least one recess formed therein receiving ends of the connectors. A method of forming a drive assembly is also provided. The method includes fixing a damper assembly cover plate to a first side of a turbine via connectors; and fixing a hydrodynamic bearing to a second side of the turbine opposite the first side. The hydrodynamic bearing including at least one recess formed therein receiving an ends the connectors. A torque converter is also provided.