# US 10,309,509 B2 · Recessed hydrodynamic bearing for turbine damper riveting > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,309,509 B2 - Document ID: US10309509B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/092,536 - Filed: 2016-04-06 - Published: 2017-10-12 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2016-04-06 - Assignees: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG - Applicants: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG - Inventors: Shane Hague; David Burky, Jr. - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10309509B2 ## CPC - F16H 45/02: with mechanical clutches for bridging a fluid gearing of the hydrokinetic type (control of torque converter lock-up clutches F16H61/14) - F16C 17/045: {with grooves in the bearing surface to generate hydrodynamic pressure, e.g. spiral groove thrust bearings} - F16C 17/047: {with fixed wedges to generate hydrodynamic pressure} - F16D 33/18: Details (applicable also to fluid gearing F16H41/24) - F16H 41/24: Details - F16C 2361/65: Gear shifting, change speed gear, gear box - F16D 13/40: in which the or each axially-movable member is pressed exclusively against an axially-located member - F16H 2045/0205: {two chamber system, i.e. without a separated, closed chamber specially adapted for actuating a lock-up clutch} - F16H 2045/0221: {with damping means} - F16H 2045/0231: {arranged in series} - F16H 2045/0247: {having a turbine with hydrodynamic damping means} - F16H 2045/0263: {the damper comprising a pendulum} - F16H 2045/0294: {Single disk type lock-up clutch, i.e. using a single disc engaged between friction members} - F16H: GEARING - F16C: SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS - F16D: COUPLINGS FOR TRANSMITTING ROTATION; CLUTCHES; BRAKES ## Abstract A drive assembly for a torque converter is provided. The drive assembly includes a turbine; a damper assembly fixed to a first side of the turbine by connectors; and a hydrodynamic bearing fixed to a second side of the turbine opposite the first side. The hydrodynamic bearing includes at least one recess formed therein receiving ends of the connectors. A method of forming a drive assembly is also provided. The method includes fixing a damper assembly cover plate to a first side of a turbine via connectors; and fixing a hydrodynamic bearing to a second side of the turbine opposite the first side. The hydrodynamic bearing including at least one recess formed therein receiving an ends the connectors. A torque converter is also provided. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A drive assembly for a torque converter comprising: a turbine; a damper assembly fixed to a first side of the turbine by connectors; and a hydrodynamic bearing fixed to a second side of the turbine opposite the first side, the hydrodynamic bearing including at least one recess formed therein receiving ends of the connectors, the hydrodynamic bearing including an inner circumferential surface, an outer circumferential surface, a first radially extending surface extending from the inner circumferential surface to the outer circumferential surface and a second radially extending surface extending from the inner circumferential surface to the outer circumferential surface, the first radially extending surface configured for contacting a stator, the second radially extending surface contacting the turbine, the second radially extending surface including the at least one recess, the first radially extending surface including a plurality of circumferentially spaced grooves extending from the inner circumferential surface to the outer circumferential surface. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The drive assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein the at least one recess includes first and second axially extending walls extending from the second radially extending surface and a radially extending wall extending from the first axially extending wall to the second axially extending wall. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The drive assembly as recited in claim 2 wherein the first and second axially extending walls join together to form a cylindrical shape and the radially extending wall has a circular shape. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The drive assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein the connectors are rivets, each rivet including a head, each of the heads being received in the recess. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The drive assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein the hydrodynamic bearing includes bearing connectors passing through holes formed in the turbine to fix the hydrodynamic bearing to the turbine. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The drive assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein the damper assembly includes a first cover plate, the first cover plate receiving the connectors to fix the damper assembly to the turbine. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The drive assembly as recited in claim 6 wherein the damper assembly includes a second cover plate and fixed to the first cover plate and a drive flange axially between the first cover plate and the second cover plate, the drive flange including access holes radially aligned with the at least one recess. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A torque converter comprising: the drive assembly as recited in claim 1; and a stator contacting a radially extending surface of the hydrodynamic bearing. ### Claim 9 A method of forming a drive assembly comprising: fixing a damper assembly cover plate to a first side of a turbine via connectors; and fixing a hydrodynamic bearing to a second side of the turbine opposite the first side, the hydrodynamic bearing including at least one recess formed therein receiving ends of the connectors, the hydrodynamic bearing including an inner circumferential surface, an outer circumferential surface, a first radially extending surface extending from the inner circumferential surface to the outer circumferential surface and a second radially extending surface extending from the inner circumferential surface to the outer circumferential surface, the first radially extending surface configured for contacting a stator, the second radially extending surface contacting the turbine, the second radially extending surface including the at least one recess, the first radially extending surface including a plurality of circumferentially spaced grooves extending from the inner circumferential surface to the outer circumferential surface. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method as recited in claim 9 wherein the hydrodynamic bearing includes a first radially extending surface configured for contacting a stator and a second radially extending surface contacting the turbine. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method as recited in claim 10 wherein the at least one recess includes first and second axially extending walls extending from the second radially extending surface and a radially extending wall extending from the first axially extending wall to the second axially extending wall. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method as recited in claim 11 wherein the first and second axially extending walls join together to form a cylindrical shape and the radially extending wall has a circular shape. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The method as recited in claim 9 wherein the connectors are rivets, each rivet including a head, each of the heads being received in the at least one recess. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The method as recited in claim 9 wherein the fixing a hydrodynamic bearing to a second side of the turbine includes passing bearing connectors of the hydrodynamic bearing through holes formed in the turbine. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The method as recited in claim 9 further comprising, before the fixing the damper assembly cover plate to the first side of the turbine, coupling a drive flange to the damper assembly cover plate, the drive flange including access holes, the drive flange being coupled to the damper assembly cover plate such that the access holes are aligned with holes in the damper assembly cover plate. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method as recited in claim 15 wherein the fixing the damper assembly cover plate to the first side of the turbine includes passing a tool through each of the access holes to fix each of the connectors in the holes in the damper assembly cover plate and holes in the turbine. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The drive assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein the first radially extending surface of the hydrodynamic bearing includes a plurality of raised arc-shaped sections circumferentially spaced apart by the circumferentially spaced grooves, the plurality of raised arc-shaped sections extending from the inner circumferential surface to the outer circumferential surface. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The drive assembly as recited in claim 17 wherein the plurality of circumferentially spaced raised arc-shaped sections each include a flat surface and a tapered surface such that each of the plurality of circumferentially spaced raised arc-shaped sections gradually decreases in thickness as the tapered surface extends circumferentially from a corresponding one of the flat surfaces to a corresponding one of the grooves. ### Claim 19 A drive assembly for a torque converter comprising: a turbine; a damper assembly fixed to a first side of the turbine by connectors; and a hydrodynamic bearing fixed to a second side of the turbine opposite the first side, the hydrodynamic bearing including at least one recess formed therein receiving ends of the connectors, wherein the damper assembly includes a first cover plate, the first cover plate receiving the connectors to fix the damper assembly to the turbine, wherein the damper assembly includes a second cover plate and fixed to the first cover plate and a drive flange axially between the first cover plate and the second cover plate, the drive flange including access holes radially aligned with the at least one recess.