Centrifugal lock up clutch for fluid couplings

A speed responsive clutch mechanism for use in a hydraulic torque converter having impeller and turbine elements comprising a series of ramps formed in said turbine, a plurality of friction devices mounted in said ramps, cam means on said ramps in engagement with said devices, said devices having a frictional surface thereon, centrifugal force acting to urge said devices to move radially into engagement with said impeller at a given speed of rotation to lock said members for rotation together, said cam means acting after initial engagement to wedge said devices between said turbine and said impeller, thereby increasing the torque capacity of said clutch, said turbine including an annular shaped shell, and said series of ramps are formed by deforming said shell to provide portions thereof extending outwardly from said annular shape and forming said ramps radially inwardly in the area of said outwardly extending portions.

A clutch mechanism for use in a hydrodynamic device having fluid driving and driven rotating elements comprising a series of ramps formed in one of said elements, a plurality of friction devices mounted in said ramps, cam means on said ramps in engagement with said devices, said devices having a frictional surface thereon, centrifugal force acting to urge said devices to move radially into engagement with said other element at a given speed of rotation to lock said members for rotation together, said cam means acting after initial engagement to wedge said devices between said elements thereby increasing the torque capacity of said clutch, said one element including an annular shaped shell, and said series of ramps being defined by forming said shell to provide a ramp area extending from said annular shape and forming said ramps radially inwardly in said ramp area.