Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Ralph L Najmon

Arthur Hall, Iii

The apparatus of the present invention provides a torque converter that is looser at stall than it is at 0.8 speed ratio. The torque converter includes a stator having a plurality of stator blades. The stator blades each define a primary leading edge, a trailing edge, and preferably include a flange defining a secondary leading edge. The stator blade flange extends away from each blade such that the secondary leading edge points generally to the primary leading edge of a preceding stator blade. In this manner, the secondary leading edge is designed at stall to catch flow coming past the primary leading edge of the upstream blade and to redirect the flow back out of the front of the stator. The secondary leading edge is further designed to hide in the wake of the primary leading edge at higher speed ratios.

Reduced stall capacity torque converter

A power transmission for a vehicle which operates on land and in water has an engine driven torque converter, a planetary gear arrangement and a pair of output members. The water or sea-drive is connected with one output member which is connected to the planetary gear arrangement through a selectively engageable clutch. The land-drive is connected with the other output which is connected with the torque converter through a selectively engageable clutch. The torque converter turbine is connected with a member of the planetary gear arrangement and is selectively connectible with the impeller through a selectively engageable bypass or torque converter clutch.

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Avon, IN, United States of America

Ralph L Najmon