Fluid type torque converter apparatus

In a fluid type torque converter apparatus including an input shaft, an output shaft, a fluid type torque converter provided between said input and output shafts, and a lockup clutch provided in parallel with said fluid type torque converter for directly connecting said input and output shafts, said lockup clutch comprising:

• (a) first and second disc elements disposed in axially spaced, opposed relation to each other, said first and second disc elements having a plurality of circumferentially elongated, complementary protrusions defining cavities spaced about the circumference thereof, one of said first and second disc elements being drivingly connected to said output shaft;
• (b) a third disc element being selectively connected in driving relation to said input shaft and being axially disposed between for relative rotation with respect to said first and second disc elements, said third disc element having a plurality of first elongated slots circumferentially spaced for cooperation with said cavities and a plurality of second elongated slots of a given length circumferentially spaced and located between adjacent first elongated slots;
• (c) a compression coil spring disposed in each said cavity and cooperating first elongated slot, said springs acting as shock absorbers for relative rotation between said first and second disc elements and said third disc element;
• (d) a plurality of elongated fasteners axially interconnecting and preventing relative rotation between said first and second disc elements, one said fastener being disposed in each said second elongated slot of said third disc element;
• and
• (e) a plurality of heat-hardened spacers for axial spacing said first disc element relative to said second disc element, said spacers being forced independently of said fasteners, one said spacer being disposed on an intermediate portion of each said fastener and being received in a respective second elongated slot, each said spacer slidably engaging one longitudinal edge of its respective second elongated slot for centering said third disc element relative to said interconnected first and second disc elements.