Turbine blade tab attachment means for a torque converter dampening spring retainer and a method of manufacturing said attachment means

Abstract

In a turbine assembly, arranged for disposition in a torque converter, having a turbine blade, a turbine shell, and a spring retainer, an attachment means for securing the turbine blade to the turbine shell and the spring retainer, including at least one first blade tab extending outwardly from the turbine blade arranged to engage at least one first slot within the turbine shell and at least one second slot within the spring retainer. The at least one first blade tab is arranged to fix the at least one blade with respect to the spring retainer. In general, the retainer shell comprises an interior surface and an exterior surface, the exterior surface is arranged to contact the turbine shell, and in some aspects, the at least one first blade tab is arranged to be bent to contact the interior surface.

1 . In a turbine assembly, arranged for disposition in a torque converter, having a turbine blade, a turbine shell, and a spring retainer, an attachment means for securing said turbine blade to said turbine shell and said spring retainer, comprising:
 at least one first blade tab extending outwardly from said turbine blade and arranged to engage at least one first slot within said turbine shell and at least one second slot within said spring retainer.   
   
   
       2 . The attachment means of  claim 1  wherein said at least one first blade tab is arranged to fix said at least one blade with respect to said spring retainer. 
   
   
       3 . The attachment means of  claim 2  wherein said retainer shell comprises an interior surface and an exterior surface, wherein said exterior surface is arranged to contact said turbine shell, and wherein said at least one first blade tab is arranged to be bent to contact said interior surface. 
   
   
       4 . The attachment means of  claim 1  further comprising at least one second blade tab extending outwardly from said turbine blade and wherein said turbine shell further comprises at least one third slot, said at least one second blade tab is arranged to engage said at least one third slot, and said at least one second blade tab is arranged to fix said at least one blade with respect to said turbine shell. 
   
   
       5 . The attachment means of  claim 1  further comprising at least one third blade tab extending outwardly from said turbine blade and wherein said turbine assembly further comprises a core with at least one fourth slot and wherein said at least one third tab is arranged to engage said at least one fourth slot. 
   
   
       6 . In a turbine assembly, arranged for disposition in a torque converter, having a turbine blade, a turbine shell, and a spring retainer, an attachment means for securing said turbine blade, to said turbine shell and said spring retainer, comprising:
 at least one first blade tab extending outwardly from said turbine blade and at least partially disposed in at least one first slot within said turbine shell and in at least one second slot, within said spring retainer.   
   
   
       7 . The attachment means of  claim 6  wherein said at least one first blade tab is configured to fix said at least one blade with respect to said spring retainer. 
   
   
       8 . The attachment means of  claim 7  wherein said retainer shell comprises an interior surface and an exterior surface, wherein said exterior surface is in contact with said turbine shell, and wherein said at least one first blade tab is bent to contact said interior surface. 
   
   
       9 . The attachment means of  claim 6  further comprising at least one second blade tab extending outwardly from said turbine blade and wherein said turbine shell further comprises at least one third slot, said at least one second blade tab is at least partially disposed within said at least one third slot, and said at least one second blade tab is configured to fix said at least one blade with respect to said turbine shell. 
   
   
       10 . The attachment means of  claim 6  further comprising at least one third blade tab extending outwardly from said turbine blade and wherein said turbine assembly further comprises a core with at least one fourth slot and wherein said at least one third tab is at least partially disposed within said at least one fourth slot. 
   
   
       11 . In a turbine assembly, arranged for disposition in a torque converter, having a turbine blade, a turbine shell, and a spring retainer, an attachment means for securing said turbine blade to said turbine shell and said spring retainer, comprising:
 a first blade tab extending outwardly from said turbine blade and arranged to engage a first slot within said turbine shell; and,   a second blade tab extending outwardly from said turbine blade and arranged to engage a second slot within said turbine shell and a slot within said spring retainer.   
   
   
       12 . The attachment means of  claim 11  wherein said first blade tab is arranged to fix said at least one blade with respect to said turbine shell and said second blade tab is arranged to fix said blade with respect to said spring retainer. 
   
   
       13 . The attachment means of  claim 12  wherein said spring retainer comprises an interior surface and an exterior surface, said turbine shell comprises an exterior surface, said retainer exterior surface is arranged to contact said turbine shell exterior surface, said first tab is arranged to be bent to contact said turbine shell exterior surface, and said second blade tab is arranged to be bent to contact said retainer interior surface. 
   
   
       14 . In a turbine assembly for insertion in a torque converter having a turbine blade having a first blade tab and a second blade tab, a turbine shell having a first shell slot and a second shell slot, and a spring retainer having a retainer slot, a method for manufacturing an attachment means for securing said turbine blade to said turbine shell and said spring retainer, comprising the steps of:
 inserting said first tab through said first shell slot;   inserting said first tab through said retainer slot; and,   manipulating said first tab to fix said blade with respect to said spring retainer.   
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein said spring retainer comprises a surface and wherein manipulating said first tab further comprises bending said first tab to contact said surface. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising inserting said second tab through said second shell slot and manipulating said second tab to fix said blade with respect to said turbine shell. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein said turbine shell comprises an exterior surface and wherein manipulating said second tab further comprises bending said second tab to contact said exterior surface. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising brazing said blade to said turbine shell after inserting said second tab and prior to inserting said first tab. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising welding said blade to said turbine shell after inserting said second tab and prior to inserting said first tab. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 14  wherein said turbine assembly further comprises a core with a core slot and said blade further comprises a third tab; and, said method further comprising inserting said third tab through said core slot and manipulating said third tab to secure said blade to said core. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20  wherein said core further comprises an interior surface and wherein manipulating said third tab further comprises bending said third tab to contact said interior surface.