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:
Aug. 14, 2001
Filed:
Jan. 11, 2000
Rudolf Hönemann, 7833 Ottersweier, DE;
Thomas Heck, Wooster, OH (US);
Steven Olsen, Wooster, OH (US);
Other;
Abstract
An improved apparatus and method for assembly of a hydrokinetic torque converter which comprises a hydraulic pump, a turbine, a stator, a driven hub, and a housing that is driven by the output element of an engine of a motor vehicle, and which functions to transmit torque to the hydraulic pump is disclosed. In such a torque converter the housing is coaxial with the pump and the turbine, and further defines an interior chamber, which encloses the turbine as well as a bypass or lockup clutch cooperating with a torsion damper having an input member and an output member. The present invention provides a positive interlocking connection between the output member of the torsion damper and the driven hub of the turbine by forming a circumferential array of staked protuberances in the driven hub to compressively engage a mating circumferential serration formed in the output member to prevent axial rotation thereof Thus, the inherently complex manufacturing processes required to form the internal and external splines conventionally utilized to interlock such components are eliminated thereby reducing the manufacturing costs of the torque converter. In addition, other components of the torque converter cooperating with the torsion damper are integrated into a single component to reduce space requirements of the torque converter.