Variable-pitch stator for torque converter

A torque converter comprising:

• an impeller supported for rotation about an axis;
• a turbine supported for rotation about the axis;
• and
• a variable-pitch stator including:
• a hub including a radially extending first face,
• blades circumferentially arranged around the hub and each pivotal between open and closed positions, and
• an annular carrier disposed on the hub and having a radially extending second face engageable with the first face, the carrier being connected to the blades and configured to rotate relative to the hub about the axis in response to pivoting of the blades, wherein each of the blades are biased to the closed position and are configured to pivot to the open position in response to fluid exiting the turbine overcoming the bias, and wherein the first and second faces are configured to frictionally engage to resist rotation of the carrier relative to the hub in response to axial movement of the turbine towards the impeller.

A torque converter comprising:

• an impeller;
• a turbine;
• and
• a variable-pitch stator interposed between the impeller and the turbine, and including:
• an outer ring,
• a hub,
• a blade-crank assembly having an annular carrier disposed on the hub and a plurality of cranks circumferentially arranged around the hub, each crank including an arm attached to the carrier and a shaft extending radially through hub and the outer ring,
• blades disposed between the hub and the outer ring, each of the blades being fixed on a corresponding one of the shafts such that each shaft extends radially along a corresponding one of the blades at a location that is offset from a centerline of that blade to give that blade an off-axis pivot point extending through the corresponding shaft, wherein the cranks are rotatable relative to the hub and the outer ring to pivot the blades between open and closed positions, and wherein rotation of the cranks rotates the carrier about the hub between a first position corresponding to the blades being in the closed position and a second position corresponding to the blades being in the open position.