Torque converter and method for producing the same
AssigneeNelson Metal Products Corporation
InventorDennis S. Shimmell
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A torque converter having an impeller, turbine, and stator each formed of interconnecting upper and lower members, and a method for producing the same. The upper and lower members each include a number of spaced apart blades disposed about a central axis. Preferably, the corresponding upper and lower members are die cast with blades spaced apart at twice the distance desired in the completed assembly. When the upper and lower members are interconnected, their blades nest such that each member provides every other blade of the assembled component.
Claims21
A torque converter, comprising:
- an impeller;
- a turbine;
- a die cast stator having blades with inner and outer ends, and an integral, die cast outer ring connected to said outer ends of said blades;
- and
- a housing for enclosing said impeller, turbine, and stator,
- at least one of said impeller, turbine, and stator having interconnected upper and lower members, each of said upper and lower members being die cast and including a plurality of integral blades whereby said upper and lower members cooperate to define a desired blade configuration, said blades each including a notch, said upper and lower members including an integral, die cast guide ring, said guide ring extending concentrically around said one member within said notches and being integrally connected to said blades of said one member.
A fluid clutch device, comprising:
- a housing;
- a fluid contained within said housing;
- and
- first and second components disposed within said housing for rotational movement about a common axis, said first and second components each having interlocking die cast upper and lower members, said upper and lower members each including a plurality of integral blades extending substantially radially outward from said axis whereby rotational movement of one of said components causes said fluid to circulate in turn causing the other of said components to rotate, said blades each including a notch, at least one of said upper and lower members including an integral, die cast guide ring extending concentrically around said one member within said notches and being integrally connected to said blades of said one member.
A method for producing a fluid clutch device, comprising:
- die casting upper and lower first component members each having a plurality of integral blades, the blades each including a notch, the upper member of the first component including an integral, die cast guide ring extending concentrically around the upper member within the notches;
- interlocking the upper and lower first component members with the blades of each in nesting disposition;
- die casting upper and lower second component members each having a plurality of integral blades, the blades each including a notch, the upper member of the second component including an integral, die cast guide ring extending concentrically around the upper member within the notches;
- interlocking the upper and lower second component members with the blades of each in nesting disposition;
- concentrically mounting the first and second components within a sealed housing filled with a fluid.
A method for producing a die cast component having closely spaced radially extending blades, comprising the steps of:
- die casting an upper member having a plurality of integral radially symmetric blades extending outwardly from an integral central ring and an integral, die cast guide ring extending concentrically around said upper member;
- die casting a lower member having a plurality of radially symmetric blades extending outwardly from a central ring;
- and
- interconnecting said upper and lower members such that said blades of said upper and lower members nest to form the bladed component.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.