A torque converter is provided. The torque converter includes an impeller including an impeller shell, a turbine including a turbine shell and a stator axially between the turbine and the impeller. A first fluid flow is generated between the impeller and the stator and a second fluid flow is generated between the turbine and the stator. The torque converter further includes a thrust bearing axially between the impeller and the stator or axially between the turbine and the stator. The thrust bearing includes a bearing surface arranged for maintaining a hydrodynamic film thereon in a region of the first fluid flow or the second fluid flow during operation of the torque converter. A method of forming a torque converter is also provided.

A friction material for a clutch pad comprising: a plurality of fibers; and, a filler material including at least 0.1% and at most 100% silica rich carrier particles by weight based on total weight of the filler; the silica rich carrier particles having: a median particle size of at least 0.1 μm and at most 50 μm; and, a median pore diameter of at least 0.1 and at most 10 μm.

A torque converter comprises a cover configured to receive an input torque and an impeller having an impeller shell non-rotatably connected to the cover. A piston is disposed axially between the cover and the impeller. The piston is configured to axially displace to selectively engage a clutch and a seal plate is disposed axially between the piston and the cover. The seal plate is sealed to the cover. A first chamber is formed at least in part by the cover, the seal plate, and the piston. A second chamber is formed at least in part by the piston and the impeller shell.

A hydrokinetic torque coupling device includes an impeller, a casing having a first engagement surface, a damper assembly, a turbine-piston and a drive-clutch component non-moveably attached to the turbine-piston and having a second engagement surface. The turbine-piston is axially displaceable relative to the casing to move the second engagement surface axially towards and away from the first engagement surface for positioning the hydrokinetic torque coupling device respectively into and out of a lockup mode in which the first and second engagement surfaces frictionally interlock with one another to mechanically lock the casing non-rotatably relative to the input part of the damper assembly. The drive-clutch component is configured to engage and rotationally drive a torsional vibration damper.

A lock-up device for a torque converter is disclosed. The lock-up device includes a clutch part, first and second rotary members, a plurality of elastic members and a stopper mechanism. The clutch part is provided between a front cover and a turbine, and transmits the torque inputted to the front cover to the turbine. The first rotary member is disposed between the clutch part and the turbine. The second rotary member is rotatable relative to the first rotary member. The elastic members elastically couple an outer peripheral part of the first rotary member and an outer peripheral part of the second rotary member in a rotational direction. The stopper mechanism is disposed axially between the elastic members and an outer peripheral part of a turbine shell. The stopper mechanism includes an engaging portion restricting an angular range of relative rotation between the first rotary member and the second rotary member.

A method of etching a surface of a metal clutch part for bonding of friction includes etching, by a laser, a plurality of craters into a specified etching area of the surface of the metal clutch part. The specified etching area is defined by an outer circumference and an inner circumference. The craters define an etch pattern on the surface. The laser follows a predefined path during the etching to generate the etch pattern. The path is one of a plurality of radially aligned and circumferentially overlapping figure eights, each of the figure eights extending from the outer circumference of the specified etching area to the inner circumference of the specified etching area; a plurality of rows of circumferentially aligned and radially overlapping figure eights extending from the outer circumference of the specified etching area to the inner circumference of the specified etching area; or a plurality of circumferentially spaced radially extending lines extending from the outer circumference of the specified etching area to the inner circumference of the specified etching area. The method also includes bonding the friction material to the metal clutch part on the etch pattern.

A friction part includes a friction surface with a first friction zone, a second friction zone, and a first circumferentially extending groove band separating the first friction zone from the second friction zone in a radial direction. At least one dimension of the first friction zone, the second friction zone, or the first circumferentially extending groove band is optimized with respect to a cooling behavior of the frictionally operating device. In an example embodiment, the friction surface has a third friction zone and a second circumferentially extending groove band separating the second friction zone from the third friction zone. The first friction zone is a radially innermost friction zone and a first radial dimension of the first friction zone is approximately 1 to 2 times a sum of a second radial dimension of the second friction zone and a third radial dimension of the third friction zone.

A torque converter (10) translates torque between an internal combustion engine and an automatic transmission. The torque converter (10) includes a rotatable torque input member (20) adapted to be operatively coupled to a crankshaft of the internal combustion engine, and an impeller assembly (12) operatively coupled to rotate with the torque input member (20). The torque converter (10) further includes a turbine assembly (14) and a one-way clutch assembly (62). The turbine assembly (14) is fluidly connected in driven relationship with the impeller assembly (12) and adapted to be coupled to a rotatable transmission input shaft (56). The one-way clutch assembly (62) is disposed radially between the turbine assembly (14) and the transmission input shaft (56).

A torque converter comprises a cover configured to receive an input torque and an impeller having an impeller shell non-rotatably connected to the cover. A piston is disposed axially between the cover and the impeller. The piston is configured to axially displace to selectively engage a clutch and a seal plate is disposed axially between the piston and the cover. The seal plate is sealed to the cover. A first chamber is formed at least in part by the cover, the seal plate, and the piston. A second chamber is formed at least in part by the piston and the impeller shell.

A clutch assembly and a torque converter assembly having a clutch assembly, for an automotive transmission, are provided. The clutch assembly includes a clutch plate and a piston or pressure plate configured to selectively engage the clutch plate, the piston being movable between an applied position and a released position. An annular seal is disposed adjacent to the piston, wherein movement of the piston and hydraulic pressure causes the annular seal to move between a sealed position and an open position.