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. 23, 2004
Filed:
May. 14, 2002
Thorsten Krause, Bühl, DE;
Bruno Müller, Bühl, DE;
Abstract
A hydrodynamic torque converter has a rotary housing which carries a pump assembly and can be driven by the output element of a prime mover in the power train of a motor vehicle, a turbine which is rotatable in the housing and has a hub mounted on the input shaft of a change-speed transmission, and a lockup clutch which, when engaged, can transmit torque from the housing directly to the turbine. The axially movable piston of the clutch is rotatable with the housing; this piston defines a first chamber with the housing and a second chamber with the turbine. The first chamber can receive pressurized hydraulic fluid to cause the piston to disengage the clutch so that the turbine can be rotated by the pump assembly by way of the body of fluid in the housing between the pump assembly and the turbine. The second chamber can receive fluid along at least one first path to engage the clutch by moving the piston toward the housing, and along at least one second path when the clutch is at least partially engaged.