Torque converter lock-up device

A torque converter for transmitting torque comprising:

• a front cover having an inside friction surface;
• an impeller fixed to said front cover and forming a hydraulic fluid chamber with said front cover;
• an output turbine located opposite said impeller;
• a stator disposed between said turbine and said impeller;
• a lock-up device including a piston connected to said turbine, a first annular friction member fixed to said piston and a second annular friction member fixed to said front cover, said first annular friction member being disposed between said second annular friction and said front cover inside friction surface so that said first and second friction members, said front cover and said piston are mutually engaged in a lock-up position of said piston;
• and
• when lock-up is released, flow of hydraulic fluid in said fluid chamber acts to maintain said first annular friction member in a first axially spaced position with respect to said piston and said second annular friction member in a second axially spaced position with respect to said front cover such that said friction members are separated, so that said piston and said front cover are maintained frictionally disengaged from each other whereby frictional drag between said first front cover and said piston is prevented,
• said first annular friction member being slidable in an axial direction and not rotatable relative to said piston, and said second annular friction member being slidable in an axial direction and not rotatable relative to said front cover;
• and,
• an elastic member located between said piston and said first annular friction member and setting a spacing therebetween in a lock-up released condition, and a snap ring retained in said front cover for limiting axial displacement of said second annular friction member toward said piston, whereby clearance between said front cover, said first and second annular friction members and said piston are effected when lock-up is released.