Patent ID: 6024195
Filing Date: 2000-02-15
Classification: F16H

Abstract:
A hydrodynamic torque converter, comprising: a housing; a converter circuit including at least one pump wheel and at least one turbine wheel, each of the at least one pump wheel and each of the at least one turbine wheel having a respective plurality of blades configured to form a respective blade arrangement so as to define flow chambers; an outer torus arranged to maintain the respective plurality of blades at a predetermined angular distance from one another; a driven element being operatively connectable with the at least one turbine wheel; a lockup clutch having a piston in rotational connection with the at least one turbine wheel and having at least one friction zone in connection with the converter housing; means for rotationally connecting the piston and the turbine wheel, the connecting means including a respective link arranged at each of a predetermined number of the plurality of turbine blades so as to project over the outer torus and extend substantially in a direction of the piston, and a driver arranged at the piston so that the link engages the driver; an energy accumulator extending in a circumferential direction; and a control mechanism provided at the piston for controlling the energy accumulator, one circumferential end of the energy accumulator being supported at the link of an associated one of the turbine blades, each link having a contact face arranged so as to contact the energy accumulator, the contact face being configured to extend at least along a portion of the link projecting over the outer torus in the direction of the piston and at an angle to the turbine wheel so as to produce a pre-curvature of the energy accumulator in a direction facing away from the turbine wheel.