Patent ID: 8776971

Claim:
A torque converter, comprising: a turbine; a first hub non-rotatably connected to the turbine; and, a stator and clutch assembly including: a one-way clutch with a plate connected to a second hub; a stator with: a plurality of blades; a first segment radially disposed between the plurality of blades and a longitudinal axis for said stator and forming a portion of said clutch and including a first plurality of axially extending protrusions; and a second segment, formed of a first piece of material different from material forming the plurality of blades, wherein the second segment is disposed radially beyond the plurality of blades, and wherein the first and second segments are formed from a single piece of material; and, a displacement element arranged to urge said stator in a first axial direction parallel to an axis of rotation for the torque converter, wherein: the plate is formed of one only single piece of material; the plate includes: a radial portion extending in a radial direction orthogonal to the axis of rotation; a first axial portion extending in the first axial direction from a radial end of the radial portion furthest from the axis of rotation and including a second plurality of axially extending indentations; and, a second axial portion, located between the first axial portion and the axis of rotation and extending in the first axial direction from a radial end of the radial portion closest to the axis of rotation; a portion of the first hub is disposed, in the radial direction between the first and second axial portions; said torque converter further comprises a fluid, said stator is arranged to move in a second axial direction, opposite said first axial direction, in response to pressure from said fluid; said one-way clutch is arranged to rotate when said stator is sufficiently displaced in said first direction; and said one-way clutch is arranged to lockingly engage the first and second pluralities of axially extending protrusions with each other when said stator is sufficiently displaced in said second direction.