Torque converter with cross-flow pressure chambers

A torque converter, comprising:

• a cover arranged to receive rotational torque and including a first surface facing at least partly in a first radial direction orthogonal to an axis of rotation of the torque converter;
• an impeller including:
• an impeller shell fixed to the cover;
• and,
• at least one impeller blade fixed to the impeller shell;
• a turbine including:
• a turbine shell;
• and,
• at least one turbine blade fixed to the turbine shell;
• a stator including at least one stator blade axially disposed between the impeller shell and the turbine shell;
• and,
• a lock-up clutch including:
• a piston plate;
• and,
• a seal plate including a second surface in a press fit with the first surface, wherein:
• the cover and the piston plate define at least a portion of a first pressure chamber;
• the piston plate and the seal plate define at least a portion of a second pressure chamber;
• the first pressure chamber and the second pressure chamber are arranged to receive and expel a fluid to axially displace the piston plate to open and close the lock-up clutch;
• and,
• a portion of the cover and a portion of the seal plate completely define a groove with a first end:
• terminating at the first pressure chamber;
• or,
• terminating at the second pressure chamber.

A method of operating a torque converter including a cover, an impeller, a turbine, a stator, an output element, and a lock-up clutch including a piston plate and a seal plate non-rotatably connected to the cover, the method comprising:

• operating in a torque converter mode by:
• receiving a rotational torque with the cover;
• and,
• transmitting the rotational torque to the output element via the impeller and the turbine;
• and,
• shifting from the torque converter mode to a lock-up mode by:
• draining a first fluid from a release pressure chamber defined at least in part by the cover and the piston plate via a through-bore with a first end defined by an edge of the cover and a second end defined by an edge of the seal plate, pumping a second fluid into an apply pressure chamber defined at least in part by the piston plate and the seal plate via a groove defined by the cover and the seal plate, displacing the piston plate in a first axial direction with the second fluid, closing the lock-up clutch, and transmitting the rotational torque to the output element via the lock-up clutch;
• or,
• draining a first fluid from a release pressure chamber defined at least in part by the cover and the piston plate via a groove defined by the cover and the seal plate, pumping a second fluid into an apply pressure chamber defined at least in part by the piston plate and the seal plate via a through-bore with a first end defined by an edge of the cover and a second end defined by an edge of the seal plate, displacing the piston plate in a first axial direction with the second fluid, closing the lock-up clutch, and transmitting the rotational torque to the output element via the lock-up clutch.