3- 3-WAY TYPE TORQUE CONVERTER HAVING LOW STIFFNESS DAMPER

摘要

The present invention relates to a torque converter having a three-way channel structure for operating a lock-up clutch, and more particularly, to a three-way torque converter employing a low stiffness damper for improving fuel efficiency. The present invention includes a low stiffness damper coupled to a lockup clutch having a piston directly connecting a front cover and a turbine to absorb impact and vibration acting in a rotating direction and transmitting a driving force to the transmission through the turbine. The lockup clutch includes first and second clutch drums, in which the first clutch drum is coupled with the front cover and has a cylindrical shape disposed axially, and the second clutch drum is disposed at a position spaced apart from the first clutch drum by a predetermined distance. The second clutch drum is coupled to the low stiffness damper, and the low stiffness damper includes an outside damper, an inside damper and an intermediate plate arranged in series. The outside damper includes a plurality of outside springs for absorbing impact and vibration acting in the circumferential direction, and a retaining plate elastically retaining the outside spring. The retaining plate may include a first receiving portion configured to be bent to receive and elastically support the outside spring, and a first coupling portion extending from the first receiving portion and coupled with the second clutch drum.