Patent ID: 6631795
Filing Date: 2003-10-14
Classification: F16D,F16H

Abstract:
A fluid coupling with a baffle plate, comprising a pump impeller connected to an input shaft, a turbine impeller connected to an output shaft, said pump impeller and said turbine impeller being opposed to each other to define a circulating circuit therebetween, and a baffle plate mounted to at least one of said impellers to protrude on the side of an inner periphery of said circulating circuit,wherein said turbine and pump impellers include a turbine core ring and a pump core ring, respectively, disposed opposite each other and in a central portion of said circulating circuit above said baffle plate, wherein a clutch chamber is defined between a back of said turbine impeller and a side cover which is connected to said pump impeller to cover the back of said turbine impeller, said clutch chamber communicating with an outer periphery of said circulating circuit and being divided by a clutch piston into an inner chamber portion on the side of said turbine impeller and an outer chamber portion on the side of said side cover, said clutch piston being axially movably connected to said turbine impeller, to define a lock-up clutch, wherein a first oil passage leading to said outer chamber portion and a second oil passage leading to an inner periphery of said circulating circuit are alternately put into communication with a discharge portion of an oil pump and with an oil reservoir, and wherein said pump impeller has a hub disposed to surround a hub of said turbine impeller; a ball bearing is interposed between said hubs to axially connect said hubs to each other; and said circulating circuit and said second oil passage are put into communication with each other through said bearing.