Torque converter with lock-up clutch having a split piston

1. A torque converter comprising:

a housing;

a lock-up clutch, the lock-up clutch having a split piston having a radial inner portion and a radial outer portion, each of the radial inner portion and radial outer portion of the piston being axially movable with respect to the housing, the radial inner portion axially movable with respect to the radial outer portion, the radial outer portion axially movable with respect to the radial inner portion;

a seal between the radial inner portion and the radial outer portion; and

a drive plate connecting the housing and the radial outer portion.

2. The torque converter as recited in claim 1 wherein the drive plate is connected to the housing via a rivet.

3. The torque converter as recited in claim 1 wherein the radial outer portion is connected to the drive plate with leaf springs.

4. The torque converter as recited in claim 1 wherein the drive plate is located between the radial outer portion and the housing.

5. The torque converter as recited in claim 1 wherein the radial outer portion has an axially extending flange connected to the radial inner portion with the seal, the seal being on a radial outer surface of the flange.

6. The torque converter as recited in claim 5 wherein the radial inner portion is C shaped and an inner radial surface of a first outer leg of the radial inner portion has a clearance from the outer radial surface of the axially extending flange.

7. The torque converter as recited in claim 5 wherein the radial inner portion has a second outer leg contacting a turbine hub.

8. The torque converter recited in claim 1 wherein a first axial side of the radial inner portion and a first axial side of the radial outer portion both face a first chamber formed between the piston, the drive plate and the housing, a second axial side of the radial inner portion and a second axial side of the radial outer portion both facing a second chamber formed between the piston and a turbine connected to the turbine hub.

9. The torque converter recited in claim 1 further comprising an additional seal between an inner radial surface of the radial inner portion and the turbine hub, the seal preventing fluid from flowing between the first chamber and the second chamber along the inner radial surface of the radial inner portion.

10. The torque converter recited in claim 1 wherein the radial inner portion is not connected to the housing.

11. A method for assembling a torque converter having a lock-up clutch comprising:

attaching a radial outer portion of a piston of the lock-up clutch to a drive plate; and

attaching a radial inner portion of the piston to the radial outer portion, each of the radial inner portion and radial outer portion of the piston being axially movable with respect to a housing, the radial inner portion axially movable with respect to the radial outer portion, the radial outer portion axially movable with respect to the radial inner portion, a seal being located between the radial inner portion and the radial outer portion.

12. The method recited in claim 11 further comprising attaching the drive plate to the housing, a first axial side of the radial inner portion and a first axial side of the radial outer portion both forming a first chamber between the piston, the drive plate and the housing.

13. The method recited in claim 12 further comprising placing a turbine hub adjacent to an inner radial surface of the radial inner portion and placing an additional seal between the inner radial surface of the radial inner portion and the turbine hub.

14. The method recited in claim 13 wherein a second axial side of the radial inner portion and a second axial side of the radial outer portion both face a second chamber formed between the piston and a turbine connected to the turbine hub.

15. The method recited in claim 14 wherein the seal prevents fluid from flowing between the first chamber and the second chamber along the inner radial surface of the radial inner portion.

16. A torque converter comprising:

a housing;

a lock-up clutch, the lock-up clutch having a split piston having a radial inner portion and a radial outer portion;

a drive plate connecting the housing and the radial outer portion;

a turbine hub; and

a seal between the radial inner portion and the radial outer portion, a radial outer end of the radial inner portion being radially outside of a radial inner end of the radial outer portion,

wherein the seal is between the radial outer end of the radial inner portion and the radial inner end of the radial outer portion such that the seal is radially outside of the radial inner end of the radial outer portion and radially inside of the radial outer end of the radial inner portion.

17. The torque converter recited in claim 16 wherein the inner radial portion is C shaped so as to include an outer radial leg, an inner radial leg and a portion connecting the outer radial leg and the inner radial leg, the radial inner end of the radial outer portion including an axially extending flange, the seal contacting an outer radial surface of the flange and an inner radial surface of the outer radial leg.

18. The torque converter recited in claim 17 wherein the inner radial leg and the outer radial leg extend axially towards the cover and the flange extends axially away from the cover.

19. The torque converter recited in claim 17 further comprising an additional seal contacting the inner radial leg and the turbine hub.