Patent ID: 6736247
Filing Date: 2004-05-18
Classification: F16H

Abstract:
A fluid coupling apparatus (10), especially for a motor vehicle, of the type comprising:a casing (12) having a generally radially oriented wall (14) adapted to be coupled in rotation to a driving shaft; a turbine wheel (104) coupled in rotation to a hub (54) which is adapted to be coupled in rotation to a driven shaft; a lock-up clutch, operatively interposed between the turbine wheel (104) and the radial wall (14), and comprising, disposed axially between the turbine wheel and the radial wall, and going from front to rear in this order: a generally radially oriented piston (40) which is movable axially and coupled in rotation to the casing; a generally radially orientated annular friction disc (152), coupied in rotation to the assembly of the turbine wheel (104) and hub (54), and carrying on a first face a first counteracting face (210) which is in cooperation with a first friction face (200) fixed to the piston for defining a first annular friction zone (Z1), the friction disc carrying on its second face, opposed to the first face, a second counteracting face (230) which is in cooperation with a second friction face (220) fixed to the radial wall (14) for defining a second annular friction zone (Z2), characterised in that the first and second friction zones (Z1, Z2) are offset radially from each other.