Patent ID: 8499912

Claim:
A torque converter for an automatic transmission, the torque converter comprising: a housing rotatable about and concentric with a central axis; a pump attached to the housing for rotation with the housing about the central axis; a turbine concentric with and opposing the pump to define a pump cavity between the turbine and the pump, and rotatable about the central axis, wherein the turbine includes a turbine output shaft defining a stepped axial bore having a first portion at a first diameter and a second portion at a second diameter; a sleeve disposed within the first portion of the stepped axial bore and axially dividing the first portion of the stepped axial bore to define an outer stepped axial bore cavity and an inner stepped axial bore cavity; wherein the turbine output shaft defines a first turbine shaft radial bore in fluid communication with the inner stepped axial bore cavity and extending radially outward relative to the central axis; wherein the turbine output shaft defines a second turbine shaft radial bore and a third turbine shaft radial bore each in fluid communication with the outer stepped axial bore cavity and extending radially outward relative to the central axis, with the second turbine shaft radial bore disposed adjacent a second end of the first portion of the stepped axial bore and the third turbine shaft radial bore is disposed adjacent a first end of the first portion of the stepped axial bore; a lock-up clutch selectively interconnecting the turbine and the housing and actuated by a variable hydraulic signal between an engaged position and a disengaged position, wherein the lock-up clutch couples the turbine to the housing for rotation with the housing about the central axis when in the engaged position, and wherein the lock-up clutch decouples the turbine and the housing to allow independent rotation of the turbine relative to the housing when in the disengaged position; a first fluid flow path including the outer stepped axial bore cavity and configured to supply a fluid to the pump cavity; a second fluid flow path configured to remove the fluid from the pump cavity; and a third fluid flow path independent and distinct from the first fluid flow path and the second fluid flow path and configured to supply the variable hydraulic signal to the lock-up clutch to move the lock-up clutch between the engaged position and the disengaged position, wherein the third fluid flow path includes the inner stepped axial bore cavity.