Adjustable stator for torque converter
OwnerDavid J. Goerendinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A torque converter is provided with a stator having adjustable fluid flow holes for changing the K-factor of the torque converter, as needed. The stator includes a base plate with fluid flow openings and an adjustable plate with fluid flow openings. The plates matingly engage, such that the fluid openings are adjacent one another. The degree of overlap of the openings can be varied from fully aligned to substantially misaligned by rotating the adjustable plate relative to the base plate, and thereby controlling the fluid flow through the openings. In alternative embodiments the stator holes can be automatically opened and closed in response to changes in fluid pressure in the torque converter, via reed values or spring biased balls.
Claims21
An adjustable stator for a torque converter of a vehicle, comprising:
- a plate with a plurality of fluid openings;
- an automatic adjustment means to open and close the fluid openings to control fluid volume flowing through the openings in response to fluid pressure changes in the fluid openings as engine speed changes;
- and
- the automatic adjustment means initially closing the openings while the vehicle is stationary and then opening the openings after the vehicle is moving.
A method of adjusting K-factor for a torque converter, comprising:
- orienting fluid flow openings in a pair of mating plates of a stator in the torque converter so that the openings are adjacent on another;
- moving only one of the mating plates to adjust alignment of the openings from fully aligned for maximum fluid flow through the openings of the mating plates to fully misaligned to stop fluid flow through the openings of the mating plates.
A method of adjusting fluid flow through a stator of a torque converter, comprising:
- automatically opening and closing fluid flow openings in the stator in response to fluid pressure changes in the fluid flow openings;
- and
- the fluid flow openings being initially closed when fluid pressure in the fluid flow openings is below a predetermined value and being opened when the fluid pressure exceeds the predetermined value.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.