Patent ID: 7000747
Filing Date: 2006-02-21
Classification: F16H

Abstract:
1. A hydrokinetic torque converter, comprising: a housing rotatable about a predetermined axis; a pump rotatable by said housing about said axis; a turbine rotatable in said housing about said axis by and relative to said pump; means for rotating said housing; an output element rotatable about said axis and arranged to receive torque from said turbine; a fluid-operated bypass clutch disposed in said housing and arranged to transmit variable torque between said housing and said output element, said clutch including a driving component rotatable with said housing and a driven component rotatable with said output element and movable axially of said housing into and from frictional engagement—with and without slip—with said driving component; means for moving said driven component, including first and second plenum chambers containing bodies of hydraulic fluid at variable pressure with the provision for fluid flow between said chambers through said clutch; and at least one active means for regulating the fluid flow between said chambers in dependency upon the magnitude of torque being transmitted by the clutch, wherein the at least one active means permits the hydraulic fluid to intermittently flow through grooves formed in a friction lining associated with one of the components so as to regulate fluid flow between said chambers.