Thrust washer with enclosed channels

Abstract

The present invention broadly comprises a thrust washer for a torque converter, including a front surface and at least one first channel. The at least one channel is at least partially enclosed by the front surface and is in fluid communication with an inner circumference and an outer circumference for the thrust washer. The front surface is arranged to engage a cover for the torque converter. In some aspects, the at least one channel is fully enclosed by the front surface. The thrust washer also includes a back surface, oppositely disposed from the front surface. The at least one channel is at least partially enclosed by the back surface. In some aspects, the thrust washer includes a front piece and a back piece matingly engaged and configured to form the at least one channel. The front and back pieces are fixedly secured or removably secured.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The nature and mode of operation of the present invention will now be more fully described in the following detailed description of the invention taken with the accompanying drawing figures, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective front view of a present invention thrust washer;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the thrust washer shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the thrust washer shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the thrust washer shown in FIG. 2 along line 4-4;

FIG. 5 is a prospective back view of the front piece shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a back view of the front piece shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a front view of the back piece shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the back piece shown in FIG. 7 along line 8-8;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the front piece shown in FIG. 6 along line 9-9;

FIG. 10 is a back view of the back piece shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 11A is a front view of a present invention thrust washer with a channel partially enclosed by a front surface of the thrust washer;

FIG. 11B is a cross-sectional view of the washer in FIG. 11A along line 11B-11B;

FIG. 11C is a side view of the washer in FIG. 11 A showing the channel;

FIG. 12 is a partial cross-sectional view of a present invention thrust washer in a torque converter; and,

FIG. 13 is a front view of a prior art thrust washer.

Claims

1. A thrust washer for a torque converter, comprising: a front surface; and,at least one first channel, said at least one first channel at least partially enclosed by said front surface and in fluid communication with an inner circumference and an outer circumference for said thrust washer.

2. The thrust washer of claim 1 wherein said front surface is arranged to engage a cover for said torque converter.

3. The thrust washer of claim 1 wherein said at least one channel is fully enclosed by said front surface.

4. The thrust washer of claim 1 further comprising: a back surface, oppositely disposed from said front surface; and,wherein said at least one channel is at least partially enclosed by said back surface.

5. The thrust washer of claim 4 wherein said at least one channel is fully enclosed by said back surface.

6. The thrust washer of claim 1 wherein said thrust washer further comprises: a front piece; and,a back piece, wherein said front and back pieces are matingly engaged and said front and back pieces are configured to form said at least one channel.

7. The thrust washer of claim 6 wherein said front and back pieces are fixedly secured.

8. The thrust washer of claim 6 wherein said front and back pieces are removably secured.

9. The thrust washer of claim 6 wherein said front piece comprises said front surface.

10. The thrust washer of claim 6 wherein said front piece further comprises a first inside surface oppositely disposed from said front surface and configured to form at least a first portion of said at least one channel.

11. The thrust washer of claim 10 wherein said first inside surface further comprises a first plurality of raised segments.

12. The thrust washer of claim 10 wherein said back piece further comprises a second inside surface oppositely disposed from said back surface and configured to form at least a second portion of said at least one channel.

13. The thrust washer of claim 12 wherein said second inside surface further comprises a second plurality of raised segments.

14. The thrust washer of claim 12 wherein said first and second inside surfaces form at least one protrusion and at least one recess.

15. The thrust washer of claim 1 wherein said front surface further comprises at least one slot.

16. The thrust washer of claim 1 wherein said thrust washer is formed from a single piece of material.

17. A thrust washer for a torque converter, comprising: a front piece having a front surface, said front surface arranged to engage a cover for said torque converter;a back piece having a back surface; and,at least one channel in fluid communication with an inner circumference and an outer circumference for said thrust washer, where said at least one channel is fully enclosed by said first and second surfaces, said front and back piece are matingly engaged, and said front and back pieces are configured to form said at least one channel.

18. A method for cooling a thrust washer in a torque converter, comprising: forming at least one channel in a thrust washer;at least partially enclosing said at least one first channel with a front surface for said thrust washer, and,connecting an inner circumference and an outer circumference for said thrust washer through said at least one channel.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising: fully enclosing said at least one channel with said front surface.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein said thrust washer further comprises a back surface, oppositely disposed from said front surface; and,

21. The method of claim 18 wherein said thrust washer further comprises a front piece and a back piece; and,

22. The method of claim 21 further comprising: fixedly attaching said front and back pieces.

23. The method of claim 21 further comprising: removably attaching said front and back pieces.

24. The method of claim 21 wherein said front piece further comprises a first inside surface oppositely disposed from said front surface; and, said method further comprising:configuring said first inside surface to form at least a first portion of said at least one channel.

25. The method of claim 24 further comprising: configuring said first inside surface to form a first plurality of raised segments.

26. The method of claim 24 wherein said back piece further comprises a second inside surface oppositely disposed from said back surface; and,

27. The method of claim 26 further comprising: configuring said second inside surface to form a second plurality of raised segments.

28. The method of claim 26 further comprising: configuring said first and second inside surfaces to form at least one protrusion and at least one recess.

29. The method of claim 18 further comprising: forming at least one slot in said front surface.

30. The method of claim 18 further comprising: forming said thrust washer from a single piece of material.