Torque converter with rivet connected stacked plates for a lock-up clutch

A torque converter, comprising:

• a cover arranged to receive torque;
• an impeller including an impeller shell fixed to the cover, and at least one impeller blade fixed to the impeller shell;
• a turbine including a turbine shell, and at least one turbine blade fixed to the turbine shell;
• a stator including at least one stator blade axially disposed between the impeller shell and the turbine shell;
• and,
• a lock-up clutch including:
• a piston plate;
• a first plate;
• a second plate axially disposed between the cover and the first plate;
• and,
• a rivet non-rotatably connecting the first plate to the second plate, the rivet being integral to one of the first plate and the second plate, wherein:
• the cover and the piston plate define, at least in part, a first pressure chamber;
• and,
• the piston plate and the first plate define, at least in part, a second pressure chamber;
• and
• the rivet does not define a through-bore open to the first pressure chamber.

A method of operating a torque converter including a cover, an impeller shell, a turbine shell, an output element arranged to non-rotatably connect to a transmission input shaft, and a lock-up clutch including a piston plate, a first plate, a second plate free of contact with the first plate, and a rivet non-rotatably connecting the first plate and the second plate, the rivet being a component distinct from the first plate and the second plate, the method comprising:

• in a lock-up mode of the torque converter:
• receiving, with the cover, a rotational torque;
• transmitting the rotational torque to the output element via the lock-up clutch;
• and,
• flowing a first pressurized fluid through a first pressure chamber defined at least in part by the second plate and the cover;
• to transition to a torque converter mode of the torque converter:
• flowing a second pressurized fluid into a second pressure chamber at least partly defined by the cover and the piston plate;
• flowing, between the second plate and the first plate, a third pressurized fluid out of a third pressure chamber at least partly defined by the first plate, the second plate, and the piston plate;
• displacing, with the second pressurized fluid, the piston plate in a first axial direction parallel to an axis of rotation of the torque converter;
• opening the lock-up clutch;
• and,
• transmitting the torque to the output element via the impeller and the turbine;
• and,
• to transition to the lock-up mode of the torque converter:
• flowing the second pressurized fluid out of the second pressure chamber;
• flowing, between the first plate and the second plate, the third pressurized fluid into the third pressure chamber;
• displacing, with the third pressurized fluid, the piston plate in a second axial direction opposite the first axial direction;
• closing the lock-up clutch;
• and,
• transmitting the torque to the output element via the lock-up clutch.