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 torsional vibration damper of a hydrokinetic torque-coupling device. The torsional vibration damper comprises an input member including a first side plate and a supporting member mounted to the first side plate, and a radially elastic member elastically coupled to the input member. The radially elastic member includes a central part and an elastic blade formed separately from the central part. The central part has a mounting portion. The elastic blade has a connection portion, a free distal end and a curved raceway portion disposed between the connection portion and the distal end. The connection portion of the elastic blade is non-rotatably connected to the mounting portion of the central part. The curved raceway portion of the elastic blade is configured to elastically engage the supporting member and to elastically bend in the radial direction upon rotation of the input member with respect to the radially elastic member.

A torque converter transmits a torque from a drive source to an input shaft of a transmission. The torque converter includes a front cover, an impeller, a turbine and a lock-up device. The torque is inputted to the front cover. The impeller is fixed to the front cover. The turbine is disposed in opposition to the impeller, and is coupled to the input shaft of the transmission. The lock-up device mechanically transmits the torque from the front cover to the turbine. The lock-up device includes a piston, a damper mechanism and a friction generating mechanism. The piston is disposed between the front cover and the turbine so as to be axially movable, and is capable of being engaged by friction with the turbine. The damper mechanism transmits the torque from the front cover to the piston. The friction generating mechanism generates a hysteresis torque on the piston by frictional resistance.

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 coupling driving and driven shafts. The torque-coupling device includes a casing having a locking surface, an impeller wheel and a turbine wheel hydrodynamically drivable by the impeller wheel, a lockup piston axially movable toward and away from the locking surface, a friction disc including a generally radially orientated friction ring and at least one driving tab, and a torsional vibration damper comprising the friction disc, elastic members and an engagement member elastically coupled to the friction disc through the elastic members. The friction ring has a radially outer peripheral surface defining a centering surface of the friction disc. The engagement member includes at least one centering tab extending toward the friction ring and having a centering surface disposed adjacent to and facing the centering surface of the friction disc to center the friction disc with respect to the engagement member of the torsional vibration damper.

A vehicle drive unit to prevent a single phase lock of a motor as a prime mover to limit damage is provided. The drive unit includes: a first transmission route to deliver drive force of an engine to drive wheels; and a second transmission route to deliver drive force of a motor to the drive wheels. The second transmission route comprises an intermediate shaft that transmits the drive force of the motor to the first transmission route. A fluid coupling is disposed between the motor and the intermediate shaft. A lockup clutch is arranged parallel to the fluid coupling between the motor and the intermediate shaft.

A torque converter assembly includes a pump and a turbine fluidly connected to the pump. The torque converter assembly also includes a damper operable upstream from the turbine. The damper is configured to reduce oscillation from the pump toward the turbine. The torque converter assembly further includes a clutch operable between the pump and the turbine. The clutch is operable in a slip condition in which the clutch is adjustable to allow the pump and the turbine to slip relative to each other to control oscillation through the clutch to the turbine. The damper is operable upstream from the clutch such that oscillation from the pump is reduced by the damper before oscillation reaches the clutch.

Additionally, a vehicle includes the torque converter assembly operable between an output shaft of an engine and an input member of a transmission.

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.

The present invention relates to a vehicle comprising: an internal combustion engine operable to rotate a crank shaft of the internal combustion engine; a transmission; at least one driving wheel rotationally connected to the transmission; a damping system arranged between the internal combustion engine and the transmission for dampening irregularity motions of the crank shaft, the damping system comprising an output splined portion; wherein the transmission is arranged for controllably rotationally connecting the output splined portion of the damping system to provide torque from the internal combustion engine to the at least one driving wheel via the transmission, wherein the output splined portion of the damping system is adapted to mate with a splined portion of a coupling shaft of the transmission for connecting the crank shaft to the transmission via the damping system.

The present disclosure relates to a torque converter for vehicle. The torque converter includes a front cover, an impeller configured to rotate and being coupled to the front cover, a turbine disposed to face the impeller, a turbine shell provided in the turbine, a stator disposed between the impeller and the turbine, and a lockup clutch provided with a drive hub connected to the front cover. The lock-up clutch has a drive disc provided in the drive hub, a driven disc coaxially disposed to the drive disc, and a driven hub provided with the driven disc, and a torsional damper comprising a retaining plate disposed between the lock-up clutch and the turbine. Engine torque is transmitted to the retaining plate through the front cover by a frictional contact between the drive disc and the driven disc.