Torque converter blade with self-locking blade tab

Abstract

The present invention broadly comprises a blade for a torque converter including an outer edge arranged to conform to an inner surface of a shell in the torque converter and a first tab extending from the outer edge. A portion of the first tab is rotated about an axis extending from the outer edge and arranged to compressively engage a first slot arranged proximate a first circumference of the shell. In some aspects, the first tab includes an integral extended portion and the extended portion is at least partially tangential to the outer edge and arranged to compressively engage the first slot. The first tab is arranged to prevent axial movement of the blade with respect to the inner surface. The present invention also broadly comprises a torque converter including a shell having a first circumference and a first slot arranged proximate the first circumference, a blade having an outer edge conforming to an inner surface of the shell and a first tab extending from the outer edge and compressively engaged in the first slot.

1 . A blade for a torque converter comprising:
 an outer edge arranged to conform to an inner surface of a shell in said torque converter; and,   a first tab extending from said outer edge, wherein a portion of said first tab is rotated about an axis extending from said outer edge and arranged to compressively engage a first slot arranged proximate a first circumference of said shell.   
   
   
       2 . The blade of  claim 1  wherein said first tab further comprises an integral extended portion, said extended portion at least partially tangential to said outer edge and arranged to compressively engage said first slot. 
   
   
       3 . The blade of  claim 1  wherein said first tab is arranged to prevent axial movement of said blade with respect to said inner surface. 
   
   
       4 . The blade of  claim 1  wherein said first tab is arranged to compressively engage said first slot in at least one substantially circumferential direction with respect to said torque converter. 
   
   
       5 . The blade of  claim 1  wherein said first slot comprises two parallel surfaces. 
   
   
       6 . The blade of  claim 5  wherein said first slot further comprises a chamfer. 
   
   
       7 . The blade of  claim 1  further comprising a second tab extending from said outer edge and wherein said inner surface further comprises a second circumference, different than said first circumference, and a second slot arranged proximate said second circumference and wherein said second tab is operatively arranged to engage said second slot. 
   
   
       8 . The blade of  claim 1  wherein said torque converter comprises an impeller with an impeller shell, and said shell is said impeller shell. 
   
   
       9 . The blade of  claim 1  wherein said torque converter comprises a pump with a pump shell, and said shell is said pump shell. 
   
   
       10 . A blade for a torque converter, said torque converter comprises a shell having an inner surface, said blade comprising:
 a body having a first surface and an outer edge; and,   a first tab extending from said outer edge and having a second surface, wherein said first and second surfaces are misaligned and arranged to compressively engage a first slot arranged proximate a first circumference of said shell.   
   
   
       11 . The blade of  claim 10  wherein said first tab further comprises an integral extended portion, said extended portion at least partially tangential to said outer edge and arranged to compressively engage said first slot. 
   
   
       12 . The blade of  claim 10  wherein said first tab is arranged to prevent axial movement of said blade with respect to said inner surface. 
   
   
       13 . The blade of  claim 10  wherein said first slot comprises two parallel surfaces. 
   
   
       14 . The blade of  claim 13  wherein said first slot further comprises a chamfer. 
   
   
       15 . The blade of  claim 12  further comprising a second tab extending from said outer edge and wherein said inner surface further comprises a second circumference, different than said first circumference, and a second slot arranged proximate said second circumference and wherein said second tab is operatively arranged to engage said second slot. 
   
   
       16 . The blade of  claim 10  wherein said torque converter comprises an impeller with an impeller shell, and said shell is said impeller shell. 
   
   
       17 . The blade of  claim 10  wherein said torque converter comprises a pump with a pump shell, and said shell is said pump shell. 
   
   
       18 . A blade for a torque converter comprising:
 an outer edge arranged to conform to an inner surface of a shell in said torque converter of said impeller; and,   a first tab extending from said outer edge, wherein said first tab further comprises an integral extended portion, said extended portion substantially tangential to said outer edge and arranged to compressively engage a first slot arranged proximate a first circumference of said shell.   
   
   
       19 . The blade of  claim 18  wherein said first tab is arranged to prevent axial movement of said blade with respect to said inner surface. 
   
   
       20 . The blade of  claim 19  wherein said first slot comprises two parallel surfaces. 
   
   
       21 . The blade of  claim 20  wherein said first slot further comprises a chamfer. 
   
   
       22 . The blade of  claim 19  further comprising a second tab extending from said outer edge and wherein said inner surface further comprises a second circumference, different than said first circumference, and a second slot arranged proximate said second circumference and wherein said second tab is operatively arranged to engage said second slot. 
   
   
       23 . The blade of  claim 18  wherein said first slot comprises a first wall substantially axial with respect to said torque converter and said first tab is arranged to compressively engage said first wall. 
   
   
       24 . The blade of  claim 18  wherein said first slot comprises first and second opposing walls substantially axial with respect to said torque converter and said first tab is arranged to compressively engage said first and second walls. 
   
   
       25 . A torque converter comprising:
 a shell comprising a first circumference and a first slot arranged proximate said first circumference;   a blade having an outer edge conforming to an inner surface of said shell; and,   a first tab extending from said outer edge and compressively engaged in said first slot.   
   
   
       26 . The blade of  claim 25  wherein a portion of said first tab is rotated substantially about an axis extending from said outer edge. 
   
   
       27 . The blade of  claim 25  wherein said first tab further comprises an integral extended portion, said extended portion is substantially tangential to said outer edge and compressively engaged in said first slot. 
   
   
       28 . The blade of  claim 25  wherein said first tab is arranged to prevent axial movement of said blade with respect to said inner surface. 
   
   
       29 . The blade of  claim 25  wherein said first slot comprises two parallel surfaces. 
   
   
       30 . The blade of  claim 29  wherein said first slot further comprises a chamfer. 
   
   
       31 . The blade of  claim 25  further comprising a second tab extending from said outer edge and wherein said inner surface further comprises a second circumference, different than said first circumference, and a second slot arranged proximate said second circumference and wherein said second tab is operatively arranged to engage said second slot. 
   
   
       32 . A torque converter comprising:
 a shell comprising an inner surface having first and second circumferences, said first circumference being different from said second circumference;   a first slot arranged proximate said first circumference;   a second slot arranged proximate said second circumference;   a blade having an outer edge conforming to said inner surface; and,   first and second tabs extending from said outer edge, inserted in said first and second slots, respectively, and compressively engaging said first and second slots, respectively.   
   
   
       33 . The blade of  claim 32  wherein said torque converter further comprises an impeller with an impeller shell, and said shell is said impeller shell. 
   
   
       34 . The blade of  claim 32  wherein said torque converter further comprises a pump with a pump shell, and said shell is said pump shell. 
   
   
       35 . A method for assembling a blade in a torque converter shell, said shell having an inner surface with first and second circumferences, said first circumferences being different than said second circumference, a first slot arranged proximate said first circumference and a second slot arranged proximate said second circumference and said blade comprising an outer edge arranged to conform to said inner surface and first and second tabs extending from said outer edge, comprising the steps of:
 a) rotating a portion of said first tab about an axis extending from said outer edge and through said first tab;   b) inserting said first tab in said first slot;   c) applying compressive force to said first slot by said first tab; and,   d) pushing said second tab toward said second slot.   
   
   
       36 . The method for assembling a blade in a torque converter shell of  claim 35  wherein applying compressive force further comprises twisting said first tab by contact with said shell proximate said first slot. 
   
   
       37 . The method for assembling a blade in a torque converter shell of  claim 35  wherein said first slot comprises a chamfer and applying compressive force further comprises twisting said first tab by contact with said chamfer. 
   
   
       38 . The method for assembling a blade in a torque converter impeller shell of  claim 35  wherein applying compressive force further comprises compressing said first tab by contact with said shell proximate said first slot. 
   
   
       39 . The blade of  claim 35  wherein said torque converter further comprises an impeller with an impeller shell, and said shell is said impeller shell. 
   
   
       40 . The blade of  claim 35  wherein said torque converter further comprises a pump with a pump shell, and said shell is said pump shell.