US 12,241,531 B1
Torque converter impeller with weld groove
Ricardo Humberto Garcia, Puebla (MX); and Juan Silva, San Pedro Cholula (MX)
Assigned to Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG, Herzogenaurach (DE)
Filed by Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG, Herzogenaurach (DE)
Filed on Oct. 5, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/376,858.
Int. Cl. F16H 41/28 (2006.01)
CPC F16H 41/28 (2013.01) 6 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A torque converter, comprising:
a front cover arranged to receive a torque;
an impeller non-rotatably connected to the front cover, the impeller including:
a rounded blade supporting portion;
an inner radial portion having an inner radial end disposed radially inwardly of the rounded blade supporting portion and an outer surface extending from the rounded blade supporting portion to the inner radial end; and
an impeller hub fixed to the outer surface of the inner radial portion via a weld;
wherein the outer surface includes a groove arranged to, at least partially, axially overlap the impeller hub;
wherein the weld is formed, at least partially, in the groove;
wherein the impeller hub includes a radially inner surface and a radially outer surface disposed radially outside of the radially inner surface, the groove being disposed radially outside of the radially inner surface; and
wherein the groove includes two ends radially spaced from each other, one of the ends being disposed radially between the radially inner surface and the radially outer surface.