The present invention relates to a thrust force reduction device for torque converter comprising a pump rotor, a turbine rotor connected to a turbine shaft and disposed opposed to the pump rotor and at least one stator rotor and a fixed cylindrical shaft fitted to a boss of the pump rotor; characterized by that a seal element is fixed to the turbine shaft and produces a thrust reactional force so as to cancel a thrust force which occurs in the torque converter; the seal element facing a fluid chamber receiving pressurized hydraulic fluid exhausted from the turbine rotor, and the seal element being disposed liquid tight between the turbine shaft and a power input guide to the turbine from the engine, to which the turbine is connected.
A method for forming a torque converter flow path defined by an impeller, a turbine and a stator comprising initiating a meanline design path having an outer radius R1 and an inner radius R2 connected by a tangent line, wherein the outer radius is initially set equal to maximum meanline design offset so as to extend to a meanline design path point at a radius R3 equalling .sqroot.(R8).sup.2 -A/2.pi., and the inner radius is set equal to the outer radius so as to extend to a meanline design path point at R4 equaling .sqroot.(R7).sup.2 +A/2.pi., wherein (R8) and (R7) are the maximum and minimum radial distances, respectively, from the flow path to the torque axis. The method further comprises generating an outer dimensional representation of the flow path, reducing the outer radius R1 and inner radius R2 equally until a maximum offset of the outer contour of the flow path matches the maximum allowable offset, increasing the outer radius with respect to the inner radius to reach a second outer contour point corresponding to the maximum axial offset, and reducing the outer radius to provide a smooth taper inwardly from the maximum axial offset. Preferably, the area through the flow path is constant in accordance with conventional design practice, and the outer and inner contour points are determined along a plurality of element lines by a computer program. The method results in a torque converter design in which the meanline design path has an outer radius greater than the inner radius.
In an assembly including a diesel engine, a fluid coupling connected to the flywheel of the diesel engine, a comminuting machine and a conveyor for feeding the comminuting machine, a fluid coupling module is common to various output power train assemblies. Slip speed of the fluid coupling between impeller input and runner output shafts is measured, and modulates or regulates the process feed rate of the conveyer. An electrically actuated control valve acts as an oil flow diverter valve directing oil into the fluid coupling impeller when a signal to engage the coupling is given, and in response to a signal from an over-temperature sensor when the temperature of circuit oil leaving the element exceeds a preset set point value, diverts the oil to a reservoir, thereby permitting the impeller and runner cavity to evacuate, which separates the engine from the load.
