Thrust washer and torque converter containing the same

Abstract

A thrust washer for a torque converter, the thrust washer having a curved front surface with a plurality of grooves for increasing fluid flow between the inner diameter and the outer diameter of the thrust washer. This increased fluid flow reduces the buildup of back pressure within the torque converter enabling better operation thereof.

Description

technical field [0001] The present disclosure relates to thrust washers for torque converters, and more particularly, the present disclosure relates to thrust washers designed to maximize fluid flow and reduce the build-up of back pressure within the torque converter. Background technique [0002] A torque converter is a fluid-filled component typically used in automatic and powershift transmissions. A torque converter uses fluid to transfer energy from an input (usually an engine) to an output (usually a transmission) and consists of three main components: a turbine, an impeller, and a stator. During operation of the torque converter, the torque produced by the engine drives the impeller. The cover is attached to the impeller so the cover and impeller rotate at the same speed as the engine. The turbine is connected to the output shaft and the stator is connected to the non-rotating support shaft. The turbine and impeller have blades oriented such that as the impeller rot...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

However, once the velocity of the fluid reaches a certain value, a significant build-up of back pressure can occur within the torque converter due to the failure of the fluid to pass between the outer and inner diameters of the thrust washer at a sufficient rate

The build-up of this back pressure can lead to reduced performance and possible failure of the torque converter

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