Patent ID: 8397891

Claim:
A support ring for a torque converter comprising: a first lamination including: a first outer edge; at least one first surface facing in a first axial direction orthogonal to a radial direction; and, a second surface facing in a second axial direction, opposite the first axial direction; and, a second lamination including: a second outer edge; at least one third surface facing in the second axial direction; and, a fourth surface facing in the first axial direction, wherein: the first and second outer edges are aligned in the first or second axial direction; said at least one first and third surfaces are matingly engaged and affixed together by a metallurgical bond between the at least one first and third surfaces; said second and fourth surfaces form a pair of external surfaces of said support ring; said at least one first and third surfaces each further comprise: at least one alignment hole; and, at least one protrusion; said at least one protrusion of said first lamination is engaged in said at least one alignment hole of said second lamination; said at least one protrusion of said second lamination is engaged in said at least one alignment hole of said first lamination; each of said first and second laminations further comprise at least one bolt hole segment; and, said at least one bolt hole segment in said first lamination is operatively arranged to align with said at least one bolt hole segment in said second lamination when said first and second laminations are affixed together, for forming at least one bolt hole in said support ring for receiving bolts for securing said support ring inside said torque converter.