Turbine assembly for a torque converter including a tab plate and turbine shell brazed together and method of forming

Abstract

A turbine assembly is provided. The turbine assembly includes a turbine shell and a tab plate connected to the turbine shell, the turbine shell and the tab plate being brazed together. A method of forming a turbine assembly impeller is also provided. The method includes aligning a tab plate with a turbine shell with a braze material therebetween and brazing the tab plate and turbine shell together by melting the braze material.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A turbine assembly comprising:
 a turbine shell; and   a tab plate connected to the turbine shell, the turbine shell and the tab plate being brazed together.   
     
     
         2 . The turbine assembly as recited in  claim 1  further comprising elastic dampers, the tab plate arranged for driving the elastic dampers. 
     
     
         3 . The turbine assembly as recited in  claim 2  wherein the elastic dampers are arc springs. 
     
     
         4 . The turbine assembly as recited in  claim 2  further comprising a retainer supporting the elastic dampers. 
     
     
         5 . The turbine assembly as recited in  claim 1  wherein the turbine shell and tab plate are brazed together by a braze material, the braze material extending between an outer surface of the turbine shell and an inner surface of the tab plate. 
     
     
         6 . The turbine assembly as recited in  claim 5  wherein the turbine shell includes at least one hole passing therethrough, the braze material surrounding the hole. 
     
     
         7 . The turbine assembly as recited in  claim 6  further comprising a turbine core ring, the at least one hole being radially outside of the turbine core ring. 
     
     
         8 . The turbine assembly as recited in  claim 1  further comprising a driven component, the tab plate arranged for circumferentially driving the driven component. 
     
     
         9 . A torque converter comprising the turbine assembly as recited in  claim 1 . 
     
     
         10 . A method of forming a turbine assembly impeller comprising:
 aligning a tab plate with a turbine shell with a braze material therebetween; and   brazing the tab plate and the turbine shell together by melting the braze material.   
     
     
         11 . The method as recited in  claim 10  wherein the turbine shell includes a hole extending between an inner surface and an outer surface thereof, the brazing including applying the braze material into the hole. 
     
     
         12 . The method as recited in  claim 11  wherein the brazing further includes heating the braze material such that a capillary action pulls the braze material away from the hole and in between an inner surface of the tab plate and the outer surface of the turbine shell. 
     
     
         13 . The method as recited in  claim 12  wherein the capillary actions causes the braze material to flow radially outward with respect to an axis of the hole. 
     
     
         14 . The method as recited in  claim 10  further comprising arranging tabs of the tab plate circumferentially between elastic dampers. 
     
     
         15 . The method as recited in  claim 14  wherein the elastic dampers are arc springs. 
     
     
         16 . The method as recited in  claim 15  wherein the arc spring are supported by a spring retainer. 
     
     
         17 . The method as recited in  claim 10  further comprising brazing the turbine shell and turbine blades together as the tab plate and the turbine shell are brazed together.