Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Dennis C Dull

William H Roth

James P Poorman

A torque converter and clutch assembly has a friction ring secured to the turbine which provides a friction interface for the clutch. The clutch has a spline input connection between the input shell and a clutch damper input. The pressure plate provides the damper output and supports an annular friction pad which cooperates, during engagement, with the friction ring on the turbine to complete the friction interface.

Torque converter and clutch with a turbine ring friction interface

A torque converter turbine, clutch and output shaft are interconnected by a planetary gear arrangement. The gear arrangement combines the output of the turbine and clutch, when engaged, at the torque converter output shaft. The turbine provides a reaction for the gear set so that transient torque spikes, or torsional vibrations, are effectively dampened by permitting the turbine to decrease in speed, and thereby absorb the torque spike energy. A clutch, between the turbine and output shaft, prevents the turbine from overrunning the output shaft when the torque converter clutch is disengaged. The clutch transmits torque from the turbine to the output shaft when the torque converter clutch is disengaged.

Damping assembly for a torque converter clutch

A clutch damper assembly has a friction lag device which is energized in only one direction of torque variance. During the occurrence of torque transients, a torque increase in the forward direction is resisted by the springs in the damper, while a torque decrease is absorbed by a friction lag device. The friction lag device is comprised of a wedge-shaped pads which are disposed in pockets on one portion of the clutch damper. The pads frictionally engage another portion of the clutch damper which is rotatable relative to the portion having the pockets. Relative motion in one direction releases the pads from frictional engagement while relative motion in the opposite direction urges frictional engagement.

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Arcanum, OH, United States of America

Dennis C Dull