Hydrokinetic torque coupling device for motor vehicle

1. A hydrokinetic torque coupling device ( 1 ) for a motor vehicle, comprising:

an impeller wheel ( 2 ) intended to be coupled to a crankshaft; and

a turbine wheel ( 3 ) hydrokinetically driven by the impeller wheel ( 2 ), the turbine wheel ( 3 ) axially moveable between an engaged position in which the turbine wheel ( 3 ) and the impeller wheel ( 2 ) are non-rotatably coupled together, and a disengaged position, in which the turbine wheel ( 3 ) and the impeller wheel ( 2 ) are rotationally uncoupled;

a cover ( 5 ) non-rotatably attached to the impeller wheel ( 2 ) so as to define an internal volume ( 6 ) accommodating the turbine wheel ( 3 ); and

a seal ( 18 ) mounted to a radially external periphery of the turbine wheel ( 3 ), the seal ( 18 ) configured to engage a matching sealing surface ( 22 ) of one of the impeller wheel ( 2 ) and the cover ( 5 ) in the engaged position and to be disengaged from one of the matching sealing surface ( 22 ) the impeller wheel ( 2 ) and the cover ( 5 ) in the disengaged position,

the matching sealing surface ( 22 ) positioned radially outside the turbine wheel ( 3 ).

2. The hydrokinetic torque coupling device ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the seal ( 18 ) is moveable away from the sealing surface ( 22 ) in the disengaged position.

3. The hydrokinetic torque coupling device ( 1 ) according to claim 2 , wherein the turbine wheel ( 3 ) comprises a friction device ( 26 , 27 ) configured to cooperate with a matching friction surface of the impeller wheel ( 2 ) or the cover ( 5 ), and wherein the friction device ( 26 , 27 ) of the turbine wheel ( 3 ) is positioned in a zone away from the seal ( 18 ).

4. The hydrokinetic torque coupling device ( 1 ) according to claim 2 , wherein the impeller wheel ( 2 ) or the cover ( 5 ) comprises a cylindrical surface ( 22 ) defining the matching sealing surface ( 22 ) and an annular groove ( 20 ) arranged in the cylindrical surface ( 22 ), wherein the seal ( 18 ) of the turbine wheel ( 3 ) is annular and configured to engage the cylindrical surface ( 22 ) in the engaged position, and wherein the seal ( 18 ) is positioned axially opposite the groove ( 20 ) in the disengaged position.

5. The hydrokinetic torque coupling device ( 1 ) according to claim 2 , wherein the seal ( 18 ) is a lip seal ( 19 ).

6. The hydrokinetic torque coupling device ( 1 ) according to claim 2 , wherein one of the turbine wheel ( 3 ) and the seal ( 18 ) comprise a leakage opening ( 23 ) enabling fluid flow through one of the turbine wheel ( 3 ) and the seal ( 18 ).

7. The hydrokinetic torque coupling device ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the turbine wheel ( 3 ) comprises a friction device ( 26 , 27 ) configured to cooperate with a matching friction surface of the impeller wheel ( 2 ) or the cover ( 5 ), and wherein the friction device ( 26 , 27 ) of the turbine wheel ( 3 ) is positioned in a zone away from the seal ( 18 ).

8. The hydrokinetic torque coupling device ( 1 ) according to claim 7 , wherein the impeller wheel ( 2 ) or the cover ( 5 ) comprises a cylindrical surface ( 22 ) defining the matching sealing surface ( 22 ) and an annular groove ( 20 ) arranged in the cylindrical surface ( 22 ), wherein the seal ( 18 ) of the turbine wheel ( 3 ) is annular and configured to engage the cylindrical surface ( 22 ) in the engaged position, and wherein the seal ( 18 ) is positioned axially opposite the groove ( 20 ) in the disengaged position.

9. The hydrokinetic torque coupling device ( 1 ) according to claim 7 , wherein the seal ( 18 ) is a lip seal ( 19 ).

10. The hydrokinetic torque coupling device ( 1 ) according to claim 7 , wherein one of the turbine wheel ( 3 ) and the seal ( 18 ) comprise a leakage opening ( 23 ) enabling fluid flow through one of the turbine wheel ( 3 ) and the seal ( 18 ).

11. The hydrokinetic torque coupling device ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein one of the impeller wheel ( 2 ) and the cover ( 5 ) comprises a cylindrical surface ( 22 ) defining the matching sealing surface ( 22 ) and an annular groove ( 20 ) arranged in the cylindrical surface ( 22 ), wherein the seal ( 18 ) of the turbine wheel ( 3 ) is annular and configured to engage the cylindrical surface ( 22 ) in the engaged position, and wherein the seal ( 18 ) is positioned axially opposite the groove ( 20 ) in the disengaged position.

12. The hydrokinetic torque coupling device ( 1 ) according to claim 11 , wherein the seal ( 18 ) is a lip seal ( 19 ).

13. The hydrokinetic torque coupling device ( 1 ) according to claim 11 , wherein one of the turbine wheel ( 3 ) and the seal ( 18 ) comprise a leakage opening ( 23 ) enabling fluid flow through one of the turbine wheel ( 3 ) and the seal ( 18 ).

14. The hydrokinetic torque coupling device ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the seal ( 18 ) is a lip seal ( 19 ).

15. The hydrokinetic torque coupling device ( 1 ) according to claim 14 , wherein one of the turbine wheel ( 3 ) and the seal ( 18 ) comprise a leakage opening ( 23 ) enabling fluid flow through one of the turbine wheel ( 3 ) and the seal ( 18 ).

16. The hydrokinetic torque coupling device ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein one of the turbine wheel ( 3 ) and the seal ( 18 ) comprise a leakage opening ( 23 ) enabling fluid flow through one of the turbine wheel ( 3 ) and the seal ( 18 ).

17. The hydrokinetic torque coupling device ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , further comprising a bracing member ( 24 ) axially extending between the turbine wheel ( 3 ) and the cover ( 5 ), wherein the bracing member ( 24 ) is configured to limit axial motion of the turbine wheel ( 3 ) towards the cover ( 5 ), disposed axially opposite the turbine wheel ( 3 ).

18. The hydrokinetic torque coupling device ( 1 ) according to claim 17 , wherein one end of the bracing member ( 24 ) is attached to one of the turbine wheel ( 3 ) and the cover ( 5 ) and wherein another end of the bracing member ( 24 ) is configured to engage the other one of the turbine wheel ( 3 ) or the cover ( 5 ) in the engaged position.

19. The hydrokinetic torque coupling device ( 1 ) according to claim 17 , wherein the bracing member ( 24 ) is provided with at least one friction lining ( 27 ) configured to engage a matching friction surface ( 9 ) of the cover ( 5 ) or the turbine wheel ( 3 ) in the engaged position, so as to non-rotatably couple together the turbine wheel ( 3 ) and the cover ( 5 ).

20. The hydrokinetic torque coupling device ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , further comprising a damping device ( 28 ) mounted between the turbine wheel ( 3 ) and a hub ( 11 ) intended to be coupled with a transmission input shaft.

21. The hydrokinetic torque coupling device ( 1 ) according to claim 20 , wherein the damping device ( 28 ) comprises an annular wheel disc ( 12 ) connected to the hub ( 11 ), a least one guiding washer ( 29 , 30 ) connected to the turbine wheel ( 3 ), and at least a first elastic member ( 31 ) mounted circumferentially between the annular wheel disc ( 12 ) and the guiding washer ( 29 , 30 ), and wherein the at least one first elastic member ( 31 ) is configured to oppose the rotation of the annular wheel disc ( 12 ) relative to the at least one guiding washer ( 29 , 30 ).

22. The hydrokinetic torque coupling device ( 1 ) according to claim 21 , wherein the damping device ( 28 ) further comprises at least one second elastic member ( 32 ) mounted between the at least one guiding washer ( 29 , 30 ) and the turbine wheel ( 3 ), and wherein the at least one second elastic member ( 32 ) is configured to oppose the rotation of the turbine wheel ( 3 ) relative to the at least one guiding washer ( 29 , 30 ).