The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 13, 2001
Filed:
Aug. 24, 1999
Shinji Fujimoto, Hirakata, JP;
Hiroshi Kimura, Hirakata, JP;
Exedy Corporation, Osaka, JP;
Abstract
A piston (,) is disposed between a front cover and a turbine of a torque converter and is adapted to move in an axial direction in response to changes in the hydraulic fluid pressure. The piston (,) includes a disc-shaped plate portion (,), a flat annular portion (,), and an annular rim portion (,). The flat annular portion (,) is formed at an outer periphery of the disc-shaped plate (,), and is adapted to frictionally engage a portion of the front cover. The annular rim portion (,) is formed on an outer peripheral edge of the flat annular portion (,) and extends axially toward the turbine. The annular rim portion (,) supports the radial outer side of torsion springs disposed on an inner periphery thereof. By forming notches (,) in the annular rim portion (,), the rigidity of the flat annular portion (,) is reduced. Reducing the rigidity of the flat annular portion (,) makes the flat annular portion (,) more flexible so that upon engagement with the front cover, the flat annular portion (,) may more readily conform to the shape of the front cover in the event that the front cover is formed with irregularities or slightly undulating surfaces.