Single stage, twin valve, variable torque converter

A torque converter comprising

• a. a housing for containing a fluid medium and having a generally torroid-shaped chamber formed therein for providing a defined fluid flow path;
• b. an input shaft mounted in the housing with a vaned impeller attached thereto for rotation therewith, the impeller having its vanes disposed within the fluid flow path of the torroid-shaped chamber,
• c. an output shaft mounted in the housing with a vaned turbine attached thereto for rotation therewith, the turbine having a single set of vanes disposed within the fluid flow path of the torroid-shaped chamber so that the turbine and impeller are coupled by means of the fluid medium;
• and
• d. means for regulating fluid flow from the impeller to the turbine within the torroid-shaped chamber and for completely sealing off the turbine from the fluid medium in the torroid-shaped chamber including a twin valve arrangement including a first cylindrical sleeve portion and a second cylindrical sleeve portion that are radially joined together in concentric relation and positioned for simultaneous axial movement into and out of the torroid-shaped chamber with the first sleeve portion movable axially into and out of a space between the vaned impeller and the vaned turbine and the second sleeve portion movable axially into and out of an area adjacent to and radially outward from the vaned turbine, the second sleeve portion in its outer axial position extending across the outside of the turbine vanes and abutting the housing whereby the turbine vanes are essentially sealed off from the oil flow in the torroid-shaped chamber so that for a constant input shaft speed a variable forward direction output torque is provided and a reduced reverse direction output torque is achieved depending on the axial position of the twin valve arrangement.