Torque converter impeller including impeller shell having thinned section
AssigneeSchaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
InventorsMichael Resh, David Burky, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An impeller for a torque converter is provided. The impeller includes an impeller shell including an inner circumference, an outer circumference and a radial extension extending radially outward from the inner circumference. The radial extension includes an axially extending groove formed therein. The impeller also includes an impeller hub welded to the impeller shell by a weld. The weld is radially inside of the axially extending groove. A method of forming an impeller for a torque converter is also provided.
Claims18
A method of forming an impeller for a torque converter comprising:
- providing an impeller shell including an inner circumference, an outer circumference, a rounded portion configured for supporting a plurality of impeller blades and a radial extension extending radially inward from the rounded portion to the inner circumference;
- forming an axially extending groove in a back surface of a first portion of the radial extension, the axially extending groove extending from the back surface toward a front surface of the first portion;
- and
- welding an impeller hub to the impeller shell so as to form a weld on a back surface of a second portion of the radial extension, the second portion being radially inward of the first portion, the second portion being thicker at a location of the weld than the first portion, the first portion having a thickness measured from the front surface to the back surface.
A method of forming an impeller for a torque converter comprising:
- providing an impeller shell including an inner circumference, an outer circumference, a rounded portion configured for supporting a plurality of impeller blades and a radial extension extending radially inward from the rounded portion to the inner circumference;
- forming an axially extending groove in a back surface of a first portion of the radial extension, the forming the axially extending groove including stamping the axially extending groove into the radial extension, the stamping the axially extending groove into the radial extension resulting in an axial protrusion on a front surface of the radial extension;
- welding an impeller hub to the impeller shell so as to form a weld on a back surface of a second portion of the radial extension, the second portion being radially inward of the first portion, the second portion being thicker than the first portion, wherein thickness of the first portion is measured from the front surface to the back surface;
- and
- machining the front surface of the radial extension to thin the radial extension and form the first portion, the thinning of the radial extension removing the axial protrusion.
A method of forming an impeller for a torque converter comprising:
- providing an impeller shell including an inner circumference, an outer circumference, a rounded portion configured for supporting a plurality of impeller blades and a radial extension extending radially inward from the rounded portion to the inner circumference;
- forming an axially extending groove in a back surface of a first portion of the radial extension, the axially extending groove extending from the back surface toward a front surface of the first portion;
- and
- welding an impeller hub to the impeller shell so as to form a weld on a back surface of a second portion of the radial extension, the second portion being radially inward of the first portion, the front surface of the first portion being offset in a frontward direction from the back surface of the first portion, the front surface of the first portion being axially offset in the frontward direction from a front surface of the second portion at the location of the weld.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.