Stator for a hydrodynamic torque converter

Abstract

A stamped and formed stator for a hydrodynamic torque converter includes a hub with at least one hub section, wherein each hub section has a plurality of hub segments formed from a common blank; a plurality of vanes formed as one piece with respective hub segments; and a rim including a plurality of rim segments formed as one piece with each other and with respective vanes. The stator may be made in three sections which are fitted to a hub base body and connected together by welding.

1 - 24 . (canceled)  
   
   
       25 . A stator for a hydrodynamic torque converter, said stator comprising: 
 a hub comprising at least one hub section, each said hub section comprising a plurality of hub segments formed from a common blank;    a plurality of vanes formed as one piece with respective said hub segments; and    a rim comprising a plurality of rim segments formed as one piece with each other and with respective said vanes.    
   
   
       26 . The stator of  claim 25  wherein each said blank is formed so that said hub segments are aligned along a curve having a first radius of curvature with respect to a center axis of the stator, and said rim segments are aligned along a curve having a second radius of curvature with respect to the center axis.  
   
   
       27 . The stator of  claim 25  wherein each hub segment has a pair of circumferentially opposed ends, each said end of each said hub segment abutting a respective said end of an adjacent hub segment.  
   
   
       28 . The stator of  claim 27  wherein the abutting ends are connected by welds.  
   
   
       29 . The stator of  claim 27  comprising a plurality of hub sections, wherein each said hub section has a pair of circumferentially opposed ends which abut respective opposed ends of at least one other said hub section.  
   
   
       30 . The stator of  claim 29  wherein the rim segments of each said blank are connected as a single piece to form a shroud, each said shroud having a pair of circumferentially opposed ends which abut respective opposed ends of at least one other said shroud.  
   
   
       31 . The stator of  claim 25  further comprising a hub base body located radially inside of said hub segments, at least one of said hub segments being connected to said hub base body.  
   
   
       32 . The stator of  claim 31  further comprising a retaining device which prevents circumferential and axial movement of said hub segments with respect to said hub base body.  
   
   
       33 . The stator of  claim 32  wherein said retaining device comprises a channel in said hub base body, said hub segments being received in said channel.  
   
   
       34 . The stator of  claim 30  wherein the circumferentially opposed ends of each said hub section are welded to respective said circumferentially opposed ends of at least one other said hub section, and the circumferentially opposed ends of each said shroud are welded to respective said circumferentially opposed ends of at least one other said shroud.  
   
   
       35 . The stator of  claim 25  wherein each said vane overlaps a hub segment which is formed as one piece with an adjacent said vane.  
   
   
       36 . The stator of  claim 25  wherein each said hub segment is stamped from said blank with a compensating opening and an engaging projection, said compensating openings compensating for a difference between the circumferential length of the rim and the circumferential length of the hub, each said compensating opening receiving an engaging projection of an adjacent said hub segment.  
   
   
       37 . The stator of  claim 36  wherein each said vane is connected to a respective said hub segment along a first bending line which extends from said compensating opening to an axial edge of the hub segment.  
   
   
       38 . The stator of  claim 37  wherein each said vane is connected to a respective said rim segment along a second bending line and is separated from an adjacent said rim segment along a separation line.  
   
   
       39 . The stator of  claim 38  wherein each said vane has a flow inlet edge and a flow outlet edge, the flow inlet edge of one said vane being separated from the flow outlet edge of the adjacent said rim segment by said separation line.  
   
   
       40 . The stator of  claim 38  wherein each said hub segment is bent in a pivot direction around said first bending line with respect to said connected vane, and each said rim segment is bent in an opposite pivot direction around said second bending line with respect to said connected vane.  
   
   
       41 . A method of manufacturing a stator for a hydrodynamic torque converter comprising at least one circumferential section, said method comprising: 
 providing a sheet metal blank;    stamping said blank to form a plurality of adjacent hub segments, a plurality of adjacent vanes which are connected to respective said hub segments, and a plurality of adjacent rim segments which are connected to each other and to respective said vanes;    forming said hub segments to extend along a curve having a first radius of curvature with respect to a center axis of the stator;    forming said rim segments to extend along a curve having a second radius of curvature with respect to a center axis of the stator; and    forming said vanes to extend perpendicular to respective said hub segments and respective said rim segments.    
   
   
       42 . The method of  claim 41  wherein said stator comprises a plurality of said circumferential sections, each said section being made from a respective said blank.  
   
   
       43 . The method of  claim 42  wherein said sections are fixed together by welding.