Friction member for disk assembly, especially for torque converter

A friction disk assembly adapted to be arranged in a fluid chamber filled with a fluid, comprising:

• a friction plate adapted to rotate around a central axis within the fluid chamber, and said friction plate having a hub portion and an annular frictional coupling portion;
• and
• a first wet friction member fixedly coupled to an outer peripheral portion of said frictional coupling portion, said first wet friction member including
• a first annular surface,
• a second annular surface facing in an opposite direction of said first annular surface such that said first and second annular surfaces define an annular and flat one piece main body with a center opening, and
• a plurality of first grooves formed on said second annular surface, said first grooves extending from a first inner periphery of said second annular surface to a first outer periphery of said second annular surface, each of said first grooves having a first groove portion extending inwardly from said first outer periphery, a second groove portion extending outwardly from said first inner periphery and a bent portion arranged between said first and second groove portions at a radially middle area of said second annular surface each of said first grooves being configured such that a straight radial flow path is not formed between said first inner periphery and said first outer periphery.

A clutch disk assembly adapted to be arranged in a fluid chamber filled with a fluid for transmitting a torque from an input rotary member to an output rotary member, comprising:

• a pinching mechanism adapted to be coupled to one of the input and output rotary members;
• a friction plate adapted to be coupled to the other one of said input and output rotary members to rotate around a central axis within the fluid chamber, and said friction plate having a hub portion, an annular frictional coupling portion and a first wet friction member, said first wet friction member including
• a first annular surface fixedly coupled to said annular frictional coupling portion,
• a second annular surface facing in an opposite direction of said first annular surface such that said first and second annular surfaces define an annular and flat one piece main body with a center opening, and
• a plurality of first grooves formed on said second annular surface, said first grooves extending from a first inner periphery of said second annular surface to a first outer periphery of said second annular surface, each of said first grooves having a first groove portion extending inwardly from said first outer periphery, a second groove portion extending outwardly from said first inner periphery and a bent portion arranged between said first and second groove portions at a radially middle area of said second annular surface, each of said first grooves being configured such that a straight radial flow path is not formed between said first inner periphery and said first outer periphery;
• and
• a control mechanism operatively coupled to said pinching mechanism for frictional coupling.

A torque converter for transmitting a torque from an input rotary member to an output rotary member, comprising:

• a front cover supplied with a torque from said input rotary member;
• an impeller arranged on said output rotary member side of said front cover, and forming a fluid chamber together with said front cover;
• a turbine arranged opposite said impeller within said fluid chamber, said turbine forming a fluid operation chamber together with said impeller;
• a stator arranged radially inside with respect to said impeller and said turbine for regulating a flow of fluid from said turbine to said impeller;
• and
• a disk assembly axially arranged in said fluid chamber between said front cover and said turbine, said disk assembly being coupled between said turbine and one of said front cover and the output rotary member, said disk assembly comprising a pinching mechanism and a friction plate,
• said friction plate having a hub portion, an annular frictional coupling portion and a first wet friction member, said first wet friction member including
• a first annular surface fixedly coupled to said annular frictional coupling portion,
• a second annular surface facing in an opposite direction of said first annular surface such that said first and second annular surfaces define an annular and flat one piece main body with a center opening, and
• a plurality of first grooves formed on said second annular surface, said first grooves extending from a first inner periphery of said second annular surface to a first outer periphery of said second annular surface, each of said first grooves having a first groove portion extending inwardly from said first outer periphery, a second groove portion extending outwardly from said first inner periphery and a bent portion arranged between said first and second groove portions at a radially middle area of said second annular surface, each of said first grooves being configured such that a straight radial flow path is not formed between said first inner periphery and said first outer periphery;
• and
• a control mechanism operatively coupled to said pinching mechanism for frictional coupling.

A wet friction member adapted to be fixedly coupled to a friction plate of a wet clutch, comprising:

• a first annular surface facing in a first direction and adapted to be fixedly coupled to the friction plate;
• a second annular surface facing in a second direction that is opposite said first direction such that said first and second annular surfaces define an annular and flat one piece main body with a center opening;
• and
• a plurality of grooves formed on said second annular surface, each of said grooves having first and second walls extending from an inner periphery of said second annular surface to an outer periphery of said second annular surface, each of said first walls being formed with a first radially inner end and a first radially outer end with a first apex therebetween, each of said second walls being formed with a second radially inner end and a second radially outer end with a second apex therebetween, said first radially inner and outer ends being circumferentially spaced in a first circumferential direction from said first apex, said second radially inner and outer ends being circumferentially spaced in said first circumferential direction from said second apex to form a bent groove portion at a radially middle area of said wet friction member.