Turbine assembly, hydrokinetic torque converter, and methods for making the same

A turbine assembly having a rotational axis for a hydrokinetic torque converter, the turbine assembly comprising:

• a first turbine component comprising a polymeric first turbine shell element and first turbine blades connected to the first turbine shell element;
• and
• a second turbine component comprising a second turbine shell element and second turbine blades connected to the second turbine shell element, the first turbine blades and the second turbine blades being arranged to face toward the same axial direction,
• wherein the second turbine component has an outer radius that is larger than an outer radius of the first turbine component, and wherein each of the second turbine blades has an inner radius that is not smaller than an outer radius of each of the first turbine blades,
• wherein the first turbine shell element is fixedly secured by a connection to the second turbine shell element in a coaxial relationship about the rotational axis so that the first and second turbine shell elements collectively provide a turbine shell of the turbine assembly,
• wherein the connection comprises a weld, an adhesive bond, or a combination comprising a weld and an adhesive bond.

A method of making a hydrokinetic torque converter, the method comprising:

• providing a first turbine component comprising a polymeric first turbine shell element and first turbine blades connected to the first turbine shell element;
• providing a second turbine component comprising a second turbine shell element and second turbine blades connected to the second turbine shell element, the first turbine blades and the second turbine blades being arranged to face toward the same axial direction;
• connecting the first turbine shell element to the second turbine shell element to fixedly secure the first and second turbine components to one another in a coaxial relationship about the rotational axis so that the first and second turbine shell elements collectively provide a turbine shell of a turbine assembly, the connecting comprising welding, adhesive bonding, or a combination comprising welding and adhesive bonding of the first turbine shell element to the second turbine shell element;
• operatively securing the turbine assembly to an impeller assembly comprising an impeller shell whereby the turbine assembly is coaxially aligned with and hydro-dynamically drivable by the impeller assembly;
• operatively connecting the turbine assembly to a turbine hub;
• operatively connecting a torsional vibration damper to the turbine hub;
• and
• operatively connecting the torsional vibration damper to a lockup clutch that is movable into an out of locking engagement with a casing of the hydrokinetic torque converter, the casing being non-rotatable relative to the impeller shell,
• wherein the second turbine component has an outer radius that is larger than an outer radius of the first turbine component, and wherein each of the second turbine blades has an inner radius that is not smaller than an outer radius of each of the first turbine blades.