Hydrokinetic torque converter

A hydrokinetic torque converter comprising:

• a housing rotatable about a predetermined axis by an output element of an engine in a vehicle and defining a chamber for a pressurizable hydraulic fluid which circulates in response to rotation of the output element, said housing having a wall extending substantially radially of said axis between a rotary turbine of the torque converter and the output element;
• an engageable and disengageable lockup clutch disposed between said wall and said turbine and including at least one friction disc rotatable with said housing and a piston disposed between said wall and said turbine, said at least one friction disc being rotatable relative to said piston at least in the disengaged condition of said lockup clutch and said piston dividing said chamber into a first compartment adjacent said wall and a further compartment adjacent said turbine, said piston being movable in the direction of said axis in response to the establishment of pressure differentials between the fluids in said compartments, said clutch being at least partially engaged in response to a rise of fluid pressure in said first compartment and resulting movement of the piston away from said wall and being disengaged in response to a rise of fluid pressure in said further compartment entailing a movement of said piston toward said wall;
• and mechanical means provided in said further compartment for conforming the speed of circulation of hydraulic fluid in said further compartment to the rotational speed of said housing when the clutch is at least partially disengaged.

A hydrokinetic torque converter comprising:

• a housing rotatable about a predetermined axis by an output element of an engine in a vehicle and defining a chamber for a pressurizable hydraulic fluid which circulates in response to rotation of the output element, said housing having a wall extending substantially radially of said axis between a rotary turbine of the torque converter and the output element;
• an engageable and disengageable lockup clutch disposed in said chamber between said wall and said turbine and including at least one friction disc rotatable with said housing and a piston disposed between said wall and said turbine, said at least one friction disc being rotatable relative to said piston at least in the disengaged condition of said lockup clutch and said piston dividing said chamber into a first compartment adjacent said wall and a further compartment adjacent said turbine, said piston being movable in the direction of said axis in response to the establishment of pressure differentials between the fluids in said compartments, said clutch being at least partially engaged in response to a rise of fluid pressure in said first compartment and a resulting move said wall and being way from said wall and being disengaged in response to a rise of fluid pressure in said further compartment entailing a movement of said piston toward said wall;
• and mechanical means provided in said further compartment for reducing a difference developing between the speeds of circulation of fluids in said compartments when the clutch is at least partially disengaged.

A hydrokinetic torque converter comprising:

• a housing rotatable about a predetermined axis by an output element of an engine in a vehicle and defining a chamber for a pressurizable hydraulic fluid which circulates in response to rotation of the output element, said housing having a wall extending substantially radially of said axis between a rotary turbine of the torque converter and the output element;
• an engageable and disengageable lockup clutch disposed in said chamber between said wall and said turbine and including at least one friction disc rotatable with said housing and a piston disposed between said wall and said turbine, said at least one friction disc being rotatable relative to said piston at least in the disengaged condition of said lockup clutch and said piston dividing said chamber into a first compartment adjacent said wall and a further compartment adjacent said turbine, said piston being movable in the direction of said axis in response to the establishment of pressure differentials between the fluids in said compartments, said clutch being at least partially engaged in response to a rise of fluid pressure in said first compartment and a resulting movement of the piston away from said wall and being disengaged in response to a rise of fluid pressure in said further compartment entailing a movement of the piston toward said wall;
• and mechanical means provided between said piston and said turbine for reducing a difference between the speeds of circulation of fluids in said compartments when the clutch is at least partially disengaged.

A hydrokinetic torque converter comprising:

• a housing rotatable about a predetermined axis by an output element of and engine in a vehicle and defining a chamber for a pressurizable hydraulic fluid which circulates in response to rotation of the output element, said housing having a wall extending substantially radially of said axis between a rotary turbine of the torque converter and the output element;
• an engageable and disengageable lockup clutch disposed in said chamber between said wall and said turbine and including at least one friction disc rotatable with said housing and a piston disposed between said wall and said turbine, said at least one friction disc being rotatable relative to said piston at least in the disengaged condition of said lockup clutch and said piston dividing said chamber into a first compartment adjacent said wall and a further compartment adjacent said turbine, said piston being movable in the direction of said axis in response to the establishment of pressure differentials between the fluids in said compartments, said clutch being at least partially engaged in response to a rise of fluid pressure in said first compartment and a resulting movement of the piston away from said wall and being disengaged in response to a rise of fluid pressure in said further compartment entailing a movement of said piston toward said wall;
• and mechanical means provided in said first and further compartments for reducing a difference between the speeds of circulation of fluids in said compartments when the clutch is at least partially disengaged.

A hydrokinetic torque converter comprising:

• a housing rotatable about a predetermined axis by an output element of an engine in a vehicle and defining a chamber for a pressurizable hydraulic fluid which circulates in response to rotation of the output element, said housing having a wall extending substantially radially of said axis between a rotary turbine of the torque converter and the output element;
• an engageable and disengageable lockup clutch disposed in said chamber between said wall and said turbine and including at least one friction disc rotatable with said housing and a piston disposed between said wall and said turbine, said at least one friction disc being rotatable relative to said piston at least in the disengaged condition of said lockup clutch and said piston dividing said chamber into a first compartment adjacent said wall and a further compartment adjacent said turbine, said piston being movable in the direction of said axis in response to the establishment of pressure differentials between the fluids in said compartments, said clutch being at least partially engaged in response to a rise of fluid pressure in said first compartment and a resulting movement of the piston away from said wall and being disengaged in response to a rise of fluid pressure in said further chamber entailing a movement of the piston toward said wall;
• and means provided in at least one of said compartments for influencing the fluids in the respective compartments to reduce differences arising between forces acting upon opposite sides of said piston in the direction of said axis while the clutch is at least partially disengaged.

A hydrokinetic torque converter comprising:

• a housing rotatable about a predetermined axis by an output element of an engine in a vehicle and defining a chamber for a pressurizable hydraulic fluid which circulates in response to rotation of the output element, said housing having a wall extending substantially radially of said axis between a rotary turbine of the torque converter and the output element;
• an engageable and disengageable lockup clutch disposed in said chamber between said wall and said turbine and including at least one friction disc rotatable with one of said turbine and said housing and a piston disposed between said wall and said turbine, said at least one friction disc being rotatable relative to said piston at least in the disengaged condition of said lockup clutch and said piston dividing said chamber into a first compartment adjacent said turbine and a further compartment adjacent said wall, said piston being movable in the direction of said axis in response to the establishment of pressure differentials between the fluids in said compartments, said clutch being at least partially engaged in response to a rise of fluid pressure in one of said compartments and a resulting movement of the piston toward one of said wall and said turbine and being disengaged in response to a rise of fluid pressure in the other of said compartments entailing a movement of said piston away from the other of said wall and said turbine;
• and means for influencing at least one of a plurality of variable parameters including the speed of circulation of fluid in at least one of said compartments and the magnitude of forces acting upon said piston while the clutch is at least partially disengaged, said piston having a side confronting said wall and being provided with profiles forming part of said influencing means and arranged to increase the speed of circulation of hydraulic fluid about said axis when the engine is coasting.