Patent ID: 7850426

Claim:
A torque converter, comprising: a lock up clutch; a cover arranged to accept torque from a drive unit; and, an impeller, wherein: said cover and said impeller are joined by a crimped connection; the cover includes a radially outwardly facing surface in contact with the impeller and including a groove; an axial end of the impeller is disposed in the groove; the axial end of the impeller is at a uniform distance from an axis of rotation for the torque converter; the impeller exerts a force radially inwardly on the cover; the cover and impeller are free of a weld connecting the cover and the impeller; the cover includes a segment disposed radially inward of the crimped connection and extending axially away from the impeller and axially beyond the crimped connection; the cover includes a plurality of connection points for connecting the cover to the drive unit; the plurality of connection points are at least partially disposed, in a radial direction, between the lock up clutch and the groove; and, the cover, the segment, and the connection points are formed of a single piece of material.