Torque converter damper assembly

A torque converter, comprising:

• a front cover arranged to receive a torque;
• an impeller having an impeller shell non-rotatably connected to the cover;
• a turbine in fluid communication with the impeller and including a turbine shell;
• a damper assembly disposed axially between the front cover and the turbine shell, the damper assembly including:
• a first cover plate arranged to receive the torque from the front cover;
• a second cover plate non-rotatably connected to the first cover plate, the first cover plate and the second cover plate defining a spring window;
• a first spring and a second spring each disposed in the spring window and circumferentially spaced from each other;
• a hub flange disposed axially between the first cover plate and the second cover plate, the hub flange being directly engaged with the first and second springs and including a first travel stop;
• and
• an intermediate flange disposed axially between the hub flange and the first cover plate, the intermediate flange being directly engaged with the first and second springs and including a second travel stop having a tab extending axially towards the first cover plate;
• wherein the tab axially overlaps the first travel stop and is engageable with the first travel stop.

A method for operating a damper assembly, the damper assembly including a first cover plate, a second cover plate non-rotatably connected to the first cover plate, first and second springs each disposed in a spring window defined by the first and second cover plates, a hub flange disposed axially between the first and second cover plates and directly engaged with the first and second springs, an intermediate flange disposed axially between the hub flange and the first cover plate and directly engaged with the first and second springs, a first travel stop on the hub, and a second travel stop on the intermediate flange having a tab extending axially towards the first cover plate and being engageable with the first travel stop, the method comprising:

• providing a coast torque to the first cover plate;
• compressing the first spring against the intermediate flange via the first cover plate;
• rotating the intermediate flange via transmission of the coast torque through the first spring;
• and
• rotating, via an interface between the tab and the first travel stop, the hub flange relative to the first and second cover plates.