Patent ID: 7357233

Claim:
A torque converter having a lock-up clutch for translating torque between a prime mover and a transmission, said torque converter comprising: a torque input member and an impeller assembly operatively coupled for rotation with said torque input member; a turbine assembly fluidly connected in driven relationship with said impeller assembly; a torsional vibration damper operatively coupled for rotation with said turbine assembly; and a lock-up clutch assembly interposed between said torsional vibration damper and said torque input member, said lock-up clutch assembly adapted to provide torque translation between said torque input member and said torsional vibration damper, said lock-up clutch assembly including an annular piston mounted to said torsional vibration damper, a friction plate movably supported relative to said annular piston and operatively disposed between said annular piston and said torque input member, said friction plate including a flat annular ring having an open center with an axial ridge formed at the inner circumference of said annular ring, said axial ridge adapted to fit over the outer diameter of said vibration damper so that said friction plate is axially supported and rotatably unrestrained with respect to said vibration damper, a first friction member operatively disposed between said friction plate and said torque input member, and a second friction member operatively disposed between said friction plate and said annular piston such that the torque provided by said torque input member is translated from said torque input member through said first friction member, said friction plate, said second friction member, said annular piston, and said torsional vibration damper to said turbine assembly.