Interlocking stator assembly and torque converter including an interlocking stator assembly

A torque converter, comprising:

• a cover arranged to receive torque and supported for rotation around an axis of rotation;
• an impeller including:
• an impeller shell connected to the cover;
• and,
• at least one impeller blade;
• a turbine in fluid communication with the impeller and including:
• a turbine shell;
• and,
• at least one turbine blade;
• and,
• a stator assembly including:
• a stator including a plurality of stator blades;
• a side plate including a radially outer surface defining a slot;
• a one-way clutch axially disposed between the stator and the side plate;
• and,
• a washer including:
• an annular body portion in contact with the side plate;
• and,
• an axial protrusion extending past the annular body portion in a first axial direction parallel to the axis of rotation, the axial protrusion including a surface facing at least partly in a circumferential direction around the axis of rotation, and the surface is in contact with the stator or the side plate.

A method of limiting rotation of a side plate in a stator assembly of a torque converter during operation of the torque converter, the stator assembly including a stator supported for rotation around an axis of rotation and including a plurality of stator blades, a side plate defining a slot, a one-way clutch axially disposed between the stator and the side plate, and a washer including an annular body portion and an axial protrusion extending past the annular body portion in a first axial direction parallel to the axis of rotation, passing through the slot, and including a distal end disposed in a recess defined by the stator, the method comprising:

• rotating the stator in a first circumferential direction around the axis of rotation;
• contacting with a first surface of the side plate, a first surface of the axial protrusion facing in the first circumferential direction;
• contacting a surface of the stator, defining a recess in the stator, with a second surface of the axial protrusion facing in a second circumferential direction, opposite the first circumferential direction;
• urging, with a drag force, the side plate in the second circumferential direction;
• and,
• blocking, with the axial protrusion and the stator, rotation of the side plate, with respect to the stator, in the second circumferential direction.