A plurality of annular clutch disks (12) is manufactured by blanking or die-cutting a flat sheet metal strip (2) during which the flat sheet metal strip (2) is advanced relative to a blanking or cutting tool along a feed direction between individual blanking or cutting processes with the blanking or cutting tool in order to form the annular clutch disks (12) from the flat sheet metal strip (2). Each of the annular clutch disks (12) is asymmetric with respect to a center point of a respective ring and includes an axis of symmetry (18) which is not orthogonal to the feed direction of the flat sheet metal strip. Each of the annular clutch disks (12) is axially symmetric at least to such an extent that each of the annular clutch disks (12) is installable in a multi-disk clutch (26) in precisely one first installation position (A) and in one second installation position (B). The second installation position results from the first installation position via turning over about the axis of symmetry (18).

A plurality of annular clutch disks (12) is manufactured by blanking or die-cutting a flat sheet metal strip (2) during which the flat sheet metal strip (2) is advanced relative to a blanking or cutting tool along a feed direction between individual blanking or cutting processes with the blanking or cutting tool in order to form the annular clutch disks (12) from the flat sheet metal strip (2). Each of the annular clutch disks (12) is asymmetric with respect to a center point of a respective ring and includes an axis of symmetry (18) which is not orthogonal to the feed direction of the flat sheet metal strip. Each of the annular clutch disks (12) is axially symmetric at least to such an extent that each of the annular clutch disks (12) is installable in a multi-disk clutch (26) in precisely one first installation position (A) and in one second installation position (B). The second installation position results from the first installation position via turning over about the axis of symmetry (18).

A torque converter includes a lock-up device that directly connects a torque converter cover that rotates together with a pump impeller to a turbine runner connected to an output axis. The lock-up device includes a damper spring in a clutch piston that contacts with or moves away from the torque converter cover. In addition, an intermediate member is provided inside the damper spring. A center part of the damper spring is projected toward the inner side of the clutch piston in the radial direction by damper pressing portions and fixed to both ends of the damper spring and a connecting member and pushed onto the projecting part of the intermediate member.

A torque converter includes a lock-up device that directly connects a torque converter cover that rotates together with a pump impeller to a turbine runner connected to an output axis. The lock-up device includes a damper spring in a clutch piston that contacts with or moves away from the torque converter cover. In addition, an intermediate member is provided inside the damper spring. A center part of the damper spring is projected toward the inner side of the clutch piston in the radial direction by damper pressing portions and fixed to both ends of the damper spring and a connecting member and pushed onto the projecting part of the intermediate member.

A torque converter, including: a cover arranged to receive torque; an impeller including an impeller shell fixed to the cover; a turbine including a turbine shell; a stator including at least one stator blade axially disposed between the impeller shell and the turbine shell; and a lock-up clutch. The lock-up clutch includes: a piston plate non-rotatably connected to the cover; a dam plate; a centering plate axially disposed between the cover and the dam plate; a first chamber bounded at least in part by the cover and the piston plate; a second chamber bounded at least in part by the piston plate and the dam plate; a first channel connected to the first chamber and bounded at least in part by the cover and the centering plate; and a second channel connected to the second chamber and bounded at least in part by the centering plate and the dam plate.

A torque converter, including: a cover arranged to receive torque; an impeller including an impeller shell fixed to the cover; a turbine including a turbine shell; a stator including at least one stator blade axially disposed between the impeller shell and the turbine shell; and a lock-up clutch. The lock-up clutch includes: a piston plate non-rotatably connected to the cover; a dam plate; a centering plate axially disposed between the cover and the dam plate; a first chamber bounded at least in part by the cover and the piston plate; a second chamber bounded at least in part by the piston plate and the dam plate; a first channel connected to the first chamber and bounded at least in part by the cover and the centering plate; and a second channel connected to the second chamber and bounded at least in part by the centering plate and the dam plate.

A torque converter having a pump, a turbine, and a lockup clutch assembly with a piston and a clutch plate. The lockup clutch assembly is capable of balancing pressure on opposing sides of the lockup clutch assembly to facilitate application of the lockup clutch assembly, in particular during an overrun condition in which the turbine rotates faster than the pump.

A torque converter having a pump, a turbine, and a lockup clutch assembly with a piston and a clutch plate. The lockup clutch assembly is capable of balancing pressure on opposing sides of the lockup clutch assembly to facilitate application of the lockup clutch assembly, in particular during an overrun condition in which the turbine rotates faster than the pump.

A method of producing a friction material. The method includes mixing silica containing filler particles and a liquid binder to form a binder-filler liquid mixture. The method also includes saturating a fibrous base material with the binder-filler liquid mixture to form a saturated fibrous base material. The method further includes curing the saturated fibrous base material at a predetermined temperature for a predetermined time to cure the saturated fibrous base material to form the friction material.

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 selectable one-way clutch disposed outside of the casing. The selectable one-way clutch includes an outer race, torque transmitting elements, an inner race drivingly and non-rotatably connectable to the outer race through the torque transmitting elements, and a plurality of actuator members configured to circumferentially displace one of the torque transmitting elements in each pair of the torque transmitting elements. The dual piston assembly includes a main piston and at least one secondary piston having actuator rods. One torque transmitting element of each pair of the torque transmitting elements is moveable by axial movement of the actuator rods of the at least one second lockup piston acting to the actuator members.