Piston seal with centering washer
View Patent ↗A torque converter, including: a piston plate for a lock-up clutch, the piston plate including a circumferential surface forming an opening axially aligned with an axis of rotation for the torque converter; a ring-shaped element fixedly secured to the piston plate; and a seal in compressive engagement with the circumferential surface, axially aligned with the ring-shaped element, and including a surface facing radially inward for forming a seal with an input shaft inserted into the torque converter.
1. A torque converter, comprising:
a piston plate for a lock-up clutch, the piston plate including a circumferential surface forming an opening axially aligned with an axis of rotation for the torque converter;
a ring-shaped element for centering the piston plate with respect to the axis of rotation fixedly secured to the piston plate; and,
a seal in compressive engagement with the circumferential surface, axially aligned with the ring-shaped element, and including a surface facing radially inward for forming a seal with an input shaft inserted into the torque converter.
2. The torque converter of claim 1 wherein the ring-shaped element is fixedly secured to a radially disposed surface of the piston plate.
3. The torque converter of claim 1 wherein:
the piston plate includes an edge formed by a radially disposed surface of the piston plate and the circumferential surface of the piston plate;
the seal includes an outer circumferential surface at a first radial distance from the axis; and,
at least a portion of the edge is at a second radial distance, less than the first radial distance, from the axis.
4. The torque converter of claim 1 wherein:
the ring-shaped element includes a portion axially aligned with the opening; and,
the seal is axially aligned with the portion of the ring-shaped element.
5. The torque converter of claim 1 wherein:
the seal includes an outer circumferential surface at a first radial distance from the axis;
the piston plate includes an edge formed by a radially disposed surface of the piston plate and the circumferential surface of the piston plate;
a portion of the edge is at a second radial distance, less than the first radial distance, from the axis;
the ring-shaped element includes a portion axially aligned with the opening; and,
a position of the seal with respect to the piston plate is axially fixed by the portion of the ring-shaped element and is axially offset from the portion of the edge.
6. The torque converter of claim 1 wherein the ring-shaped element is for centering the piston plate with respect to the input shaft.
7. The torque converter of claim 1 further comprising a damper assembly with a flange axially disposed between first and second cover plates and having a radially inwardly facing surface for engaging the input shaft.
8. A torque converter, comprising:
a piston plate for a lock-up clutch including a circumferential surface forming an opening axially aligned with an axis of rotation for the torque converter;
a ring-shaped element fixedly secured to the piston plate and including a portion axially aligned with the opening; and,
a seal sealed with respect to the piston plate, axially fixed with respect to the piston plate by a portion of the piston plate, in compressive engagement with the circumferential surface, and including a surface facing radially inward for forming a seal with an input shaft inserted into the torque converter.
9. The torque converter of claim 8 wherein:
the circumferential surface is at a first radial distance from the axis of rotation for the torque converter
the piston plate includes an edge formed by a radially disposed surface of the piston plate and the circumferential surface of the piston plate;
the respective portion of the piston plate includes a portion of the edge at a second radial distance, less than the first radial distance, from the axis; and,
a portion of the ring-shaped element is axially aligned with the opening.
10. A torque converter comprising:
an axis of rotation;
a piston plate including:
a first circumferential surface at a first radial distance from the axis of rotation; and,
a second circumferential surface at a second radial distance from the axis of rotation greater than the first radial distance;
a ring-shaped element:
in contact with the first, circumferential surface;
forming an opening through which the axis of rotation passes; and,
arranged to contact an input shaft inserted into the torque converter; and,
a seal including:
a cover fixedly secured to the second circumferential surface, and
material:
separate from the cover;
connected to the cover; and,
including a surface facing radially inward for forming a seal with the input shaft.
11. The torque converter of claim 10 wherein the ring-shaped element is separately formed from the piston plate.
12. The torque converter of claim 10 , wherein. the ring-shaped element includes:
a first surface facing radially outward and in compressive engagement with the first circumferential surface; and,
a second surface facing radially inward and arranged to compressively engage the input Shaft.
13. The torque converter of claim 10 , wherein the ring-shaped element is a washer, a piston hub, a bushing, or combination thereof.
14. The torque converter of claim 10 , wherein the ring-shaped element is a hushing.
15. The torque converter of claim 10 , wherein the ring-shaped element is arranged to radially center the piston with respect to the input shaft.
16. The torque converter of claim 10 , wherein the piston plate, comprises a neck.
17. The torque converter of claim 16 , where the neck connects the first circumferential surface to the second circumferential surface.
18. The torque converter of claim 10 , wherein:
the ring-shaped element includes an outer circumferential surface at a third radial distance from the axis;
the piston plate includes an edge formed by a radially disposed surface of the piston plate and the first circumferential surface of the piston plate; and,
a portion of the edge is at a fourth radial distance, less than the third radial distance, from the axis.