Cover hub with sealing ring

Abstract

A cover hub for a torque converter includes a radial wall arranged for axial alignment with a cover of the torque converter, a first circumferential surface including an opening for receiving a seal, and a second circumferential surface disposed radially inside of the first circumferential surface and arranged for sealing to a transmission input shaft. The hub has a first fluid passage exiting the hub at a first axial side of the opening and a second fluid passage, circumferentially offset from the first fluid passage and exiting the hub on a second axial side of the opening, opposite the first axial side, and a first circumferential protrusion for sealing the hub to the cover.

What we claim is: 
     
         1 . A cover hub for a torque converter comprising:
 a radial wall arranged for axial alignment with a cover of the torque converter;   a first circumferential surface including an opening for receiving a seal;   a second circumferential surface disposed radially inside of the first circumferential surface and arranged for sealing to a transmission input shaft;   a first fluid passage exiting the hub at a first axial side of the opening;   a second fluid passage, circumferentially offset from the first fluid passage and exiting the hub on a second axial side of the opening, opposite the first axial side; and,   a first circumferential protrusion for sealing the hub to the cover.   
     
     
         2 . The cover hub of  claim 1  wherein at least a portion of the first fluid passage intersects the radial wall or the second circumferential surface. 
     
     
         3 . The cover hub of  claim 1  wherein at least a portion of the first or second fluid passage intersects the first circumferential surface. 
     
     
         4 . The cover hub of  claim 1  wherein the hub includes a second circumferential protrusion, extending in a direction axially opposite of the first protrusion, for engaging a clutch seal plate. 
     
     
         5 . A cover assembly for a torque converter comprising:
 a cover including a first radial wall with a circumferential recess; and,   a cover hub including:
 a second radial wall with a first circumferential protrusion extending axially into the recess; 
 a first circumferential surface arranged for sealing to a piston plate for the torque converter; 
 a second circumferential surface disposed radially inside of the first circumferential surface and arranged for sealing to a transmission input shaft; and, 
 first and second fluid passages exiting the hub at the first circumferential surface. 
   
     
     
         6 . The cover assembly of  claim 5  wherein:
 the first circumferential surface includes an opening for receiving a seal; 
 at least a portion of the first fluid passage extends from the radial wall or the second circumferential surface and exits the hub at a first axial side of the opening; and, 
 at least a portion of the second fluid passage exits the hub on a second axial side of the opening, opposite the first axial side. 
 
     
     
         7 . The cover assembly of  claim 5  wherein the hub is fixed to the cover by a discontinuous weld. 
     
     
         8 . The cover assembly of  claim 5  further comprising:
 a piston plate with a third circumferential surface; and, 
 a seal disposed in the opening for sealing the third circumferential surface to the hub. 
 
     
     
         9 . The cover assembly of  claim 8  further comprising:
 a seal plate, wherein the hub includes a second circumferential protrusion, extending in an axially opposite direction from the first protrusion and fixed to the seal plate. 
 
     
     
         10 . A torque converter comprising:
 a cover assembly including a cover shell with a first continuous recess and a cover hub, fixed to the shell by a discontinuous weld and including a second continuous recess engaged with the first recess to seal the hub to the cover shell;   a piston plate sealed to the cover hub; and,   a seal plate fixed to the hub.   
     
     
         11 . The torque converter of  claim 10  wherein the hub further comprises:
 a circumferential surface arranged for sealing to a transmission input shaft; 
 a first passage extending from a first axial side of the circumferential surface, through the hub, to a chamber at least partially formed by the cover shell and the piston plate; and, 
 a second passage extending from a second axial side of the circumferential surface, opposite the first axial side, through the hub, to a chamber at least partially formed by the piston plate and the seal plate.