Hardened turbine plate

A torque converter, comprising:

• a turbine including at least one first blade and a shell including a portion disposed radially inward of the at least one blade, and a first plurality of openings in the portion;
• an impeller with at least one second blade;
• a stator with at least one third blade, the stator axially disposed between the turbine and the impeller;
• a damper assembly including a cover plate including a second plurality of openings, a flange, and at least one spring in contact with the flange and the cover plate;
• a turbine plate assembly including:
• a turbine plate with a third plurality of openings;
• a plurality of fasteners passing through the first, second, and third pluralities of openings and fixedly securing the portion of the turbine shell to the turbine plate;
• and,
• a radially inner circumference of the turbine plate is in contact with the flange to radially center the turbine with respect to the flange;
• torque from the turbine is transmitted from the portion of the turbine shell to the cover plate through the plurality of fasteners and from the cover plate to the flange of the damper through the at least one spring;
• the portion of the turbine shell and a radially outward portion of the turbine plate are aligned in an axial direction;
• for each fastener in the plurality of fasteners, a first portion of said each fastener passing through the cover plate has a first diameter;
• and,
• each opening in the first plurality of openings has a radial extent and a circumferential extent each greater than the diameter such that relative rotation of the cover plate and the plurality of fasteners is enabled.

A torque converter, comprising:

• a turbine including at least one first blade and a shell including a portion disposed radially inward of the at least one blade, and a first plurality of openings in the portion;
• an impeller with at least one second blade;
• a stator with at least one third blade, the stator connected to the turbine and the impeller;
• a damper assembly including a cover plate including a second plurality of openings, a flange, and at least one spring in contact with the flange and the cover plate;
• a turbine plate assembly including:
• a turbine plate with a third plurality of openings;
• and,
• a plurality of fasteners passing through the first, second, and third pluralities of openings and fixedly securing the portion of the turbine shell to the turbine plate, wherein:
• torque from the turbine is transmitted from the portion of the turbine shell through the turbine plate to the cover plate through the plurality of fasteners and from the cover plate to the flange of the damper through the at least one spring;
• and
• the portion of the turbine shell and a radially outward portion of the turbine plate are aligned in a radial direction, wherein:
• a radially inner circumference of the turbine plate is in contact with the flange to radially center the turbine with respect to the flange;
• or,
• the turbine plate assembly is arranged to seal against an input shaft for a transmission.