Patent ID: 6286648
Filing Date: 2001-09-11
Classification: F16H

Abstract:
A lockup device adapted to be used in a torque converter having a front cover with a friction surface on its inner side, an impeller and a turbine, said lockup device being adapted to be disposed in a space between the turbine and the front cover for mechanically engaging and disengaging the front cover to the turbine, said lockup device comprising:a plate disposed near the friction surface of the front cover;a piston disposed on a side of said plate that faces away from the friction surface of the front cover, said piston being arranged to push said plate toward the friction surface of the front cover in accordance with pressure changes in the space; anda damper mechanism including a drive member, a driven member and at least one torsion spring elastically coupling said drive member and said driven member together in a rotating direction, said drive member being arranged to receive a torque from said plate, said driven member being adapted to rotate together with the turbine by first and second engagement portions, said second engagement portion being movably coupled with said first engagement portion in an axial direction but non-rotatably coupled with said first engagement portion in a circumferential direction, said driven member being adapted to be radially supported within the torque converter,said first engagement portion being formed of a plurality of first claw portions arranged to be coupled to the turbine and said second engagement portion being formed of a plurality of second claw portions coupled to said driven member, andsaid plate having an inner portion located radially inwardly of said driven member to radially support said plate.