Hydrodynamic torque converter having variable stator plate orifice

A torque converter for hydrodynamically connecting a power source and a transmission comprising:

• a pump wheel adapted for connection to the power source and mounted for rotation about the axis of the torque converter, having multiple blades spaced angularly about said axis;
• a turbine wheel adapted for connection to the input shaft of the transmission, mounted for rotation about the axis of the torque converter, having multiple blades spaced angularly about said axis, said blades adapted to be hydrodynamically driven by fluid circulating within the torque converter between the pump wheel and the turbine wheel;
• an overrunning clutch;
• a stator wheel mounted on the overrunning clutch for rotation about the axis of the torque converter, having multiple blades spaced angularly about said axis, said blades being located in the flow path of the fluid between the pump wheel and the turbine wheel,
• the blades arranged in a row defining an inlet region between successive blades, each blade having an airfoil cross section including
• a first member forming a trailing portion of the airfoil;
• a second member forming a nose portion of the airfoil, moveable into and from the inlet region relative to the first member;
• and
• spring means for biasing the second member away from the inlet region, the first member being moveable by the effect of the circulating fluid to reduce the size of the inlet region between the blade rows.