A shifting device for a motor vehicle transmission has a first coupling component, a second coupling component rotatable about a transmission axis (A), an inner friction ring which has a conical surface on a radially outer face, an outer friction ring which has a conical surface on a radially inner face, and an intermediate friction ring having a C-shaped ring cross section, including a friction cone connected to the second coupling component for joint rotation with and for axial displacement with respect to the second coupling component, while the inner friction ring and the outer friction ring are connected to the first coupling component for joint rotation with and for axial displacement with respect to the first coupling component. The friction cone extends between the conical surfaces of the inner friction ring and outer friction ring.

A clutch assembly comprising: an axis of rotation; first and second spherical centers positioned along the axis of rotation; a first member having a first spherical surface including: a radius defining a first curvature; the first spherical center; and a first frictional surface; a second member having a second spherical surface including: said radius defining a second curvature about same or equal to the first curvature; the second spherical center; and a second frictional surface. A torque converter comprising a spherical clutch assembly is also disclosed.

A clutch that has a synchronizer for matching a rotational velocity of a drive input with a rotational velocity of a driven output prior to engagement of a locking mechanism.

A coupling comprises at least two inter-connected torque couplings. Each torque coupling includes a pair of clutch end members, a clutch centre member disposed between the clutch end members, and an actuator coupled to one of the end members. The end members and the centre member each includes a set of concentric V-grooves each disposed on a respective face thereof. The centre member is axially movable between the end members. The actuator is configured to simultaneously couple the end members to the centre member by engaging the V-grooves of both of the respective end members with the V-grooves of the centre member. The centre member of one of the torque couplings comprises one of the opposing surfaces of the one torque coupling, another of the opposing surfaces of the one torque coupling and one of the end members of another of the torque couplings.

A coupling comprises at least two inter-connected torque couplings. Each torque coupling includes a pair of clutch end members, a clutch centre member disposed between the clutch end members, and an actuator coupled to one of the end members. The end members and the centre member each includes a set of concentric V-grooves each disposed on a respective face thereof. The centre member is axially movable between the end members. The actuator is configured to simultaneously couple the end members to the centre member by engaging the V-grooves of both of the respective end members with the V-grooves of the centre member. The centre member of one of the torque couplings comprises one of the opposing surfaces of the one torque coupling, another of the opposing surfaces of the one torque coupling and one of the end members of another of the torque couplings.

A friction surface clutch having two conical friction surface pairs each with an inner friction surface element and an outer friction surface element, wherein the inner friction surface element is mounted axially displaceable with respect to a rotational axis, and wherein a frictionally locking connection is set up and canceled in a manner which is dependent on the axial displacement position of the inner friction surface element. The inner friction surface element is coupled to a separate transmission element such that the inner friction surface element and the transmission element can be rotated jointly about the rotational axis, with the coupling being set up via a bearing contact between a guide surface on the inner friction surface element and a countersurface on the transmission element.

A torque converter, including: a cover arranged to receive torque; an impeller including an impeller shell non-rotatably connected to the cover and at least one impeller blade connected to the impeller shell; a turbine including a turbine shell and at least one turbine blade connected to the turbine shell; an output hub connected to the turbine shell and arranged to non-rotatably connect to an input shaft for a transmission; and a turbine clutch including a piston non-rotatably connected to the turbine shell, and for a lock-up mode, axially displaceable to non-rotatably connect the piston and the impeller shell.

A torque converter, including: a cover arranged to receive torque; an impeller including an impeller shell non-rotatably connected to the cover and at least one impeller blade connected to the impeller shell; a turbine including a turbine shell and at least one turbine blade connected to the turbine shell; an output hub connected to the turbine shell and arranged to non-rotatably connect to an input shaft for a transmission; and a turbine clutch including a piston non-rotatably connected to the turbine shell, and for a lock-up mode, axially displaceable to non-rotatably connect the piston and the impeller shell.

An engine assembly may include an internal combustion engine and an expander couplable to the internal combustion engine in a force transmitting manner. The engine assembly may also include a pulley mounted rotatably on a shaft of the expander. The pulley may be coupled to the internal combustion engine in a force-transmitting manner via a belt drive. The engine assembly may further include a first driver plate connected non-rotatably to the pulley and a second driver plate arranged adjacent thereto and connected non-rotatably to the shaft. The engine assembly may additionally include a clutch device including at least one actuating device and a coupling wheel. The coupling wheel may contact the first driver plate and the second driver plate when the clutch device is closed such that the pulley is connected with the shaft of the expander in a driving manner.

An engine assembly may include an internal combustion engine and an expander couplable to the internal combustion engine in a force transmitting manner. The engine assembly may also include a pulley mounted rotatably on a shaft of the expander. The pulley may be coupled to the internal combustion engine in a force-transmitting manner via a belt drive. The engine assembly may further include a first driver plate connected non-rotatably to the pulley and a second driver plate arranged adjacent thereto and connected non-rotatably to the shaft. The engine assembly may additionally include a clutch device including at least one actuating device and a coupling wheel. The coupling wheel may contact the first driver plate and the second driver plate when the clutch device is closed such that the pulley is connected with the shaft of the expander in a driving manner.