Torque converter with piston centered in clutch plate

1. A torque converter comprising:

a cover; and

a bridging clutch for selective connection to the cover, the bridging clutch including friction surfaces, the bridging clutch including a clutch plate fixed to the cover and having an inner radial surface and having a piston having an outer radial surface opposite the inner radial surface, the inner radial surface centering the outer radial surface, the piston being axially moveable relative to the cover and the clutch plate being directly engageable with at least one of the friction surfaces of the bridging clutch, the cover being engageable with at least one of the friction surfaces of the bridging clutch,

wherein the clutch plate is connected to the cover at a radial location inside the outer radial surface.

2. The torque converter as recited in claim 1 further comprising a cover flange fixed to the cover, and providing an axially extending surface opposite an inner radial surface of the piston, the piston extending radially between the cover flange and the clutch plate.

3. The torque converter as recited in claim 2 further comprising a stationary seal between the piston and the cover flange.

4. The torque converter as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

a stationary seal between the piston and the clutch plate.

5. The torque converter as recited in claim 4 further comprising leaf springs connecting the clutch plate to the cover.

6. The torque converter as recited in claim 1 further comprising a friction surface carrier positioned between the cover and the clutch plate.

7. The torque converter recited in claim 6 wherein a surface of the piston facing toward the cover forces the clutch plate against the friction surface carrier.

8. The torque converter recited in claim 6 wherein the friction surface carrier includes a first of the friction surfaces of the bridging clutch on a first side and a second of the friction surfaces of the bridging clutch on a second side, the clutch plate including a third friction surface directly engageable with the first friction surface, the cover including a fourth friction surface directly engageable with the second friction surface.

9. The torque converter as recited in claim 1 wherein the clutch plate is pot-shaped.

10. The torque converter as recited in claim 9 wherein the piston is an annular piston plate.

11. The torque converter recited in claim 1 wherein the piston includes a first surface facing towards the cover and the clutch plate includes a first surface facing towards the cover and a second surface facing away from the cover, the piston being axially movable such that a portion of the first surface of the piston is movable into contact with a portion of the second surface of the clutch plate so as to force a portion of the first surface of the clutch plate to contact the at least one of the friction surfaces.

12. The torque converter recited in claim 1 wherein the clutch plate is formed of one single plate.

13. The torque converter recited in claim 1 wherein the clutch plate is connected to the cover by a leaf spring, the piston overcoming a force of the leaf spring to cause a first surface of the clutch plate to directly engage with one of the friction surface of the bridging clutch.

14. The torque converter recited in claim 13 wherein the piston includes a first side facing the cover and a second side facing away from the cover, the piston overcoming a force of the leaf spring when a pressure on the second side exceeds the pressure on the first side.

15. A method for assembling a torque converter comprising:

providing a cover;

connecting a clutch plate to the cover with a leaf spring, the clutch plate having an inner radial surface;

pressing a piston into the inner radial surface such that the inner radial surface centers the piston, the piston being axially moveable relative to the cover; and

engaging the clutch plate directly with a friction surface of a bridging clutch by pressing the piston axially against the clutch plate and towards the cover.

16. The method as recited in claim 15 wherein the piston is an annular piston plate.

17. The method as recited in claim 15 wherein the connecting of the clutch plate to the cover includes riveting.

18. The method as recited in claim 15 wherein the piston includes a section at a same radial location as the connection between the clutch plate and the cover.

19. A torque converter comprising:

a cover; and

a bridging clutch for selective connection to the cover, the bridging clutch including friction surfaces, the bridging clutch including a clutch plate fixed to the cover and having an inner radial surface and having a piston having an outer radial surface opposite the inner radial surface, the piston being axially moveable relative to the cover and the clutch plate being directly engageable with at least one of the friction surfaces of the bridging clutch, the cover being engageable with at least one of the friction surfaces of the bridging clutch;

wherein the piston includes a first surface facing towards the cover and the clutch plate includes a first surface facing towards the cover and a second surface facing away from the cover, the piston being axially movable such that a portion of the first surface of the piston is movable into contact with a portion of the second surface of the clutch plate so as to force a portion of the first surface of the clutch plate to contact the at least one of the friction surfaces,

wherein the portion of the second surface of the clutch plate is radially inside of the portion of the first surface of the clutch plate.

20. A torque converter comprising:

a cover; and

a bridging clutch for selective connection to the cover, the bridging clutch including friction surfaces, the bridging clutch including a clutch plate fixed to the cover and having an inner radial surface and having a piston having an outer radial surface opposite the inner radial surface, the piston being axially moveable relative to the cover and the clutch plate being directly engageable with at least one of the friction surfaces of the bridging clutch, the cover being engageable with at least one of the friction surfaces of the bridging clutch;

a stationary seal between the piston and the clutch plate; and

leaf springs connecting the clutch plate to the cover.