Torque converter with internally connected studs

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11434983-B2
Application number	US-201916670757-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 31, 2019
Priority date	Oct 31, 2019
Publication date	Sep 6, 2022
Grant date	Sep 6, 2022

Abstract

A torque converter includes an impeller and a cover rotationally fixed to the impeller. The cover has opposing inner and outer surfaces and a through hole extending from the inner surface to the outer surface. A stud is attached to the cover. The stud has a head and a shank extending from the head. The head defines an annular projection circumscribing the shank and raised from the head. The stud is disposed on the cover with the shank extending through the hole to project from the outer surface and with the head being connected to the cover by coalescence between the annular projection and the inner surface creating a hermetic seal around the hole.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A torque converter comprising:
an impeller;
a cover rotationally fixed to the impeller, the cover including opposing inner and outer surfaces, a through hole extending from the inner surface to the outer surface, a pressed-out portion circumferentially arranged around a front side of the cover, the pressed-out portion having a boss extending outwardly from the outer surface, the boss having a flat face, wherein the pressed-out portion is bean shaped; and
a stud including a head and a shank extending from the head, the head defining an annular projection circumscribing the shank and raised from the head, wherein the stud is disposed on the cover with the shank extending through the hole to project from the outer surface and with the head being connected to the cover by coalescence between the annular projection and the inner surface creating a hermetic seal around the hole.

2. The torque converter of claim 1 , wherein the cover further includes a pocket recessed into the inner surface, wherein the hole is defined in the pressed-out portion and the head is received in the pocket.

3. The torque converter of claim 2 , wherein the pocket includes a first wall and the boss includes a second wall that is opposite the first wall, and wherein a thickness between the first and second walls is constant.

4. The torque converter of claim 1 further comprising a turbine and a stator.

5. The torque converter of claim 1 , wherein the through hole is a plurality of through holes circumferentially arranged around the cover, and wherein the stud is a plurality of studs each extending though a corresponding one of the holes.

6. The torque converter of claim 5 , wherein the studs are threaded.

7. The torque converter of claim 1 , wherein the stud is resistance welded to the cover.

8. The torque converter of claim 1 further comprising a flex plate defining a hole, wherein the shank extends through the hole of the flex plate and a fastener is threadably attached to the shank to secure the flex plate to the cover.

9. The torque converter of claim 1 , wherein the projection is a raised ring.

10. A torque converter comprising:
an impeller;
a cover rotationally fixed to the impeller, the cover including a plurality of pressed-out portions circumferentially arranged around the cover, each of the pressed-out portions forming a boss projecting from an exterior side of the cover, the boss having a flat face, wherein the pressed-out portion is bean shaped;
a pocket recessed into an interior side of the cover, and a hole extending completely through the cover; and
a plurality of studs attached to the cover at the pressed-out portions, each stud including a head, a shank extending from the head, and an annular projection extending from the head and circumscribing the shank, wherein the studs are disposed on the cover with the shanks extending through corresponding ones of the holes and with the heads being disposed in corresponding ones of the pockets, and wherein the studs are connected to the cover by coalescence between the annular projections and walls of the pockets creating hermetic seals around the holes.

11. The torque converter of claim 10 , wherein the projections are raised rings.

12. The torque converter of claim 10 , wherein the shanks are threaded.

Assignees

• Schaeffler Technologies Ag

Inventors

• Persinger Justin
• Mcburney Craig

Classifications

• F16D3/78

  shaped as an elastic disc or flat ring, arranged perpendicular to the axis of the coupling parts, different sets of spots of the disc or ring being attached to each coupling part, e.g. Hardy couplings · CPC title

• F16H2045/0231

  arranged in series · CPC title

• F16H41/28

  with respect to manufacture, e.g. blade attachment · CPC title

• F16H41/24 Primary

  Details · CPC title

• B23K35/0288

  Welding studs · CPC title