Preloaded torque converter with plug-in flywheel mounting

A torque converter assembly including means for reducing the axial thrust loading transmitted to the crankshaft by which the torque converter is driven and to thereby reduce thrust wear of the crankshaft bearing. This means includes a thrust washer loosely retained in the turbine hub of the torque converter and a shaft bolt securing the thrust washer and turbine hub to the end of a transmission input shaft driven by the torque converter. Also, the torque converter is coupled to the engine flywheel by a plug-in mounting comprising a plurality of drive lugs secured to the torque converter housing and received in aligned bores formed in the face of the flywheel.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
In a conventional hydraulic torque converter, an internally splined turbine 
hub that receives the transmission input shaft tends to move axially 
relative to the shaft during operation to establish contact between an 
annular boss on the turbine hub and a thrust washer or a bearing in the 
end of the engine crankshaft. This end play results in a shock which is 
audible, such as a "clunk", and will tend to occur upon a reversal of 
torque as happens when the turbine goes from a drive condition of 
operation to a coast condition or from coast to drive. 
In order to eliminate or reduce the shock loading and consequent noise, 
means have been provided to preload the turbine hub axially in a direction 
away from the thrust washer and towards the reactor hub. Such means 
include a small Belleville spring or a wave washer spring acting between 
the thrust washer at the impeller drive cover and the turbine hub. The 
present invention provides a simplified mounting of the torque converter 
on a transmission input shaft and a coupling of the torque converter to 
the engine flywheel. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention comprehends the provision of a preloaded torque 
converter acting to reduce the axial thrust loading transmitted to the 
engine crankshaft driving the torque converter and thereby reduce the 
thrust wear of the crankshaft bearing. A thrust washer is loosely 
positioned in a recess in the end of the turbine hub and an access opening 
is provided in a cover pilot on the torque converter housing axially 
aligned with the washer, and the transmission input shaft has a tapped 
hole in the end thereof and a snap ring stop is mounted on the shaft 
spaced from the end. Once the torque converter is positioned on the shaft 
abutting the snap ring stop, a shaft bolt is inserted through the thrust 
washer into the tapped hole to secure the torque converter to the input 
shaft. 
The present invention also comprehends the provision of a novel coupling 
between the torque converter and the flywheel. This coupling includes a 
plurality of equally spaced drive lugs secured to the cover for the torque 
converter and extending axially toward the flywheel to be received in 
openings bored in the face of the flywheel, thus providing a plug-in 
coupling. 
Further objects are to provide a construction of maximum simplicity, 
efficiency, economy and ease of assembly, and such further objects, 
advantages and capabilities as will later more fully appear and are 
inherently possessed thereby.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring more particularly to the disclosure in the drawing wherein is 
shown an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 
discloses a conventional torque converter 10 to be used in an automatic 
transmission of a vehicle and having a torque converter housing 11 
suitably secured to an impeller shell 12 of an impeller and a turbine (not 
shown) having a hub 13 which is internally splined to receive the splined 
end 14 of a transmission input shaft 15 leading to the transmission pump 
assembly 16 of a transmission (not shown). 
The turbine hub 13 has an end recess 17 receiving a thrust washer 18 
loosely retained therein by rolling or staking an outer edge 19 defining 
the recess; the thrust washer 18 being free to float in the recess. The 
recess forms a shoulder 20 to be engaged by the thrust washer 18. The 
splined end of the shaft 15 is provided with a tapped hole 21 formed in 
the face axially aligned with the opening 22 in the thrust washer 18 to 
receive a shaft bolt 23 in threaded engagement. Also, spaced from the end 
face of the shaft, an annular groove 25 is machined in the splined end 
portion to receive a snap ring 26 to serve as a stop for the turbine hub 
13. 
The raised central portion 27 of the housing 11 has an opening 28 formed 
therein axially aligned with and of a diameter to permit the enlarged head 
24 of the shaft bolt 23 to pass therethrough. A cover pilot 29 is seal 
welded at 31 to the housing portion 27 and has a threaded opening 32 in 
the end of the pilot to permit access of the shaft bolt 23 to the input 
shaft 15. The tapped hole is sealed by an O-ring type plug 33. 
A flywheel 34 secured to the drive shaft of an internal combustion engine 
(not shown) has a central pilot recess 35 conformably receiving the cover 
pilot 29 therein. Also, a plurality of circumferentially equally spaced 
bores 37 are formed in the face 36 of the flywheel radially outwardly of 
the central recess and axially aligned with a series of equally spaced 
axially extending drive lugs 38 welded to the cover or housing 11. Each 
lug has an annular groove 39 machined therein to receive a round metallic 
snap ring 41; the snap ring creating a line bearing contact between the 
drive lug 38 and the flywheel bore 37 receiving the lug to take care of 
perpendicular misalignment. 
For the installation of a torque converter into the vehicle drive line, the 
torque converter 10 is mounted on the transmission input shaft 15 and 
mated to the transmission pump assembly 16. The pilot hub plug 33 is 
removed from the cover pilot 29 and the shaft bolt 23 is inserted through 
the access openings 32 and 28 into the thrust washer opening 22 and into 
the tapped hole 21 in the shaft 15. Tightening this bolt causes the 
enlarged head 24 to engage the thrust washer 18 and force the thrust 
washer against the shoulder 20, thus urging the turbine hub 13 against the 
snap ring 26; so as to clamp the turbine hub between the thrust washer and 
snap ring stop and couple the torque converter assembly with the 
transmission pump assembly 16. 
The plug 33 is re-installed in the opening 32 in the pilot cover 29, and 
the completed assembly is plugged into the engine flywheel 34; the cover 
pilot 29 being conformably received in the central flywheel recess 35 and 
the drive lugs 38 are received in the flywheel bores 37. The assembly is 
then secured to the vehicle engine by coupling a bell housing for the 
torque converter to the engine mounting face.