Patent ID: 6898931

Claim:
A fluid coupling, comprising: a pump, comprising a pump shell, an annular core ring, and a plurality of impellers, said pump core ring and said impellers being arranged in said pump shell; a turbine disposed opposite said pump and comprising a turbine shell, an annular core ring, and a plurality of runners, said turbine core ring and said runners being arranged in said turbine shell, said pump shell and said turbine shell forming a fluid circulatory passage; and a baffle mechanism retractably protruding into the fluid circulatory passage, said baffle mechanism protruding into the fluid circulatory passage by a first amount when the rotational speed is low, and protruding into the fluid circulatory passage by a second amount, less than the first amount, when the rotational speed is high. wherein said baffle mechanism comprises a plurality of baffle plates arranged between the core ring of said pump shell and the core ring of said turbine shell so as to move in the radial direction, a guide device mounted on the core ring of said turbine shell so as to guide the movement of said plurality of baffle plates, and a limiting device for limiting the movement of said plurality of baffle plates until the rotational speed of said turbine reaches a predetermined value.