Torque converter with a clutch centering feature

1. A torque converter, comprising:

an axis of rotation;

a cover arranged to receive torque from an engine;

a pump shell fixedly attached to the cover;

a vibration damper with:

a first plurality of springs; and,

a first cover plate partially surrounding respective circumferences for the first plurality of springs; and,

a torque converter clutch including:

a piston plate; and,

a drive plate with:

a first portion axially disposed between the cover and the piston plate;

a plurality of second portions including respective first distal ends circumferentially aligned with the first plurality of springs and circumferentially disposed between respective pairs of adjacent springs in the first plurality of springs; and,

a plurality of centering protrusions at least partially radially aligned with the cover plate and:

extending radially outward beyond the respective first distal ends; or,

extending radially inward beyond the respective first distal ends, wherein:

 the plurality of second portions are arranged to engage the first plurality of springs to transmit the torque to the first plurality of springs;

 when the torque converter is not rotating, the plurality of centering protrusions is arranged to be free of contact with the first cover plate; and,

 when the torque converter rotates at a rate greater than a threshold speed, the plurality of centering protrusions is arranged to contact the first cover plate to limit the radial displacement of the drive plate with respect to the axis of rotation.

2. The torque converter of claim 1 , wherein:

each second portion is in the form a C-shape, opening radially inward; and,

each centering protrusion is formed by a respective radially outermost portion of a respective second portion.

3. The torque converter of claim 2 , wherein each first distal end is radially inward of the respective radially outermost portion.

4. The torque converter of claim 1 , wherein:

the drive plate includes a plurality of third portions extending radially outward from the first portion of the drive plate; and,

the plurality of third portions:

includes the plurality of centering protrusions;

includes respective second distal ends disposed radially outward from the respective first distal ends; and,

is arranged to contact the first cover plate to limit the radial displacement of the drive plate with respect to the axis of rotation.

5. The torque converter of claim 4 , wherein the respective second distal ends are axially aligned with the first plurality of springs and wholly free of circumferential alignment with the first plurality of springs.

6. The torque converter of claim 5 , wherein the plurality of third portions is circumferentially disposed between the plurality of second portions.

7. The torque converter of claim 4 , wherein the respective second distal ends are circumferentially aligned with the first plurality of springs.

8. The torque converter of claim 1 , wherein:

the drive plate includes a plurality of third portions, separate from the plurality of second portions; and,

the plurality of third portions:

includes the plurality of centering protrusions;

includes respective second distal ends disposed radially inward from the respective first distal ends; and,

is arranged to contact the first cover plate to limit the radial displacement of the drive plate with respect to the axis of rotation.

9. The torque converter of claim 8 , wherein the respective second distal ends are circumferentially aligned with the first plurality of springs.

10. The torque converter of claim 1 , wherein:

each spring in the first plurality of springs has a respective radius, from a longitudinal axis for the first plurality of springs to a respective outer circumference; and,

respective points for the plurality of centering protrusions, closest to the first cover plate in a radial direction, are separated at most from a circumferentially disposed edge of the first cover plate by a distance less than one quarter of the respective radius.

11. The torque converter of claim 1 , wherein:

each spring in the first plurality of springs has a respective radius, from a longitudinal axis for the first plurality of springs to a respective outer circumference, of a first distance; and,

when the torque converter rotates at a rate greater than the threshold speed, the plurality of centering protrusions is arranged to contact the first cover plate to limit the radial displacement of the drive plate with respect to the axis of rotation to a third distance less than one quarter of the first distance.

12. The torque converter of claim 1 , wherein:

the first plurality of springs is in compressive engagement with the respective first ends for the plurality of second portions; and,

the first portion of the drive plate is free of a fixed connection to the cover or the piston plate.

13. A torque converter, comprising:

an axis of rotation;

a cover arranged to receive torque from an engine;

a pump shell fixedly attached to the cover;

a vibration damper with:

a plurality of springs; and,

a cover plate partially surrounding respective circumferences for the plurality of springs; and,

a torque converter clutch including:

a piston plate; and,

a drive plate with:

a first portion axially disposed between the cover and the piston plate and free of a fixed connection to the cover or the piston plate; and,

a plurality of second portions arranged to transmit the torque to the first plurality of springs, each second portion:

including a respective first distal end circumferentially aligned with the plurality of springs and circumferentially disposed between a respective pairs of adjacent springs in the plurality of springs;

in the form of a C-shape, opening radially inward, connecting the first portion to the respective first distal end; and,

including a respective centering surface located radially outward of the respective first distal end, wherein:

 when the torque converter is not rotating, the respective centering surfaces are arranged to be free of contact with the first cover plate; and,

 when the torque converter rotates at a rate greater than a threshold speed, the respective centering surfaces are arranged to contact the first cover plate to limit radial displacement of the drive plate with respect to the axis of rotation.

14. A torque converter, comprising:

a cover arranged to receive torque from an engine;

a pump shell fixedly attached to the cover;

a vibration damper with:

a plurality of springs; and,

cover plate partially surrounding respective circumferences for the plurality of springs; and,

a torque converter clutch including:

a piston plate; and,

a drive plate with:

a first portion axially disposed between the cover and the piston plate;

a plurality of second portions, arranged to transmit the torque to the plurality of springs, including respective first distal ends circumferentially aligned with the plurality of springs and circumferentially disposed between respective pairs of adjacent springs in the plurality of springs; and,

a plurality of third portions:

at least partially radially aligned with the cover plate; and,

including respective second distal ends, wherein:

 respective entireties of the respective second distal ends are located radially outward of the respective first distal ends:

 contact between the respective second distal ends and the cover plate is arranged to limit radially outward displacement of the drive plate when the torque converter is rotating; and,

 the respective second distal ends are axially aligned with the first plurality of springs and wholly free of circumferential alignment with the first plurality of springs.