Blade structure for torque converter and manufacturing method of blade structure for torque converter

Abstract

A first connecting portion 16 that contacts an inner peripheral wall of an annular turbine shell 10 and connects blades 12, and a second connecting portion 14 that contacts the turbine shell 10 further toward an outside in a diametrical direction of the turbine shell 10 than the first connecting portion 16 and connects the blades 12 are provided, and a blade structure 11 in which the blades 12 are integrated by the first connecting portion 16 and the second connecting portion 14 is attached to the turbine shell 10.

1 . A blade structure for a torque converter, in which a plurality of blades are attached fixedly to an inner wall of an annular shell member at predetermined intervals in a circumferential direction of the shell member, comprising:
 a first connecting portion that contacts the inner wall of the shell member and connects the blades; and   a second connecting portion that contacts the inner wall of the shell member further toward an outside in a diametrical direction of the shell member than the first connecting portion and connects the blades, wherein   the plurality of blades are connected integrally by the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion, and by joining the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion to the shell member, the plurality of blades are attached fixedly to the shell member.   
   
   
       2 . The blade structure for a torque converter as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the blades each comprise a projecting portion that projects from a surface that contacts the shell member and fits into a groove provided in the shell member, thereby positioning the blade relative to the shell member. 
   
   
       3 . The blade structure for a torque converter as defined in  claim 2 , wherein the projecting portion is caulked to the groove provided in the shell member, and the first connecting portion or the second connecting portion is welded to the shell member. 
   
   
       4 . The blade structure for a torque converter as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the first connecting portion has an annular shape and the second connecting portion has an annular shape larger than that of the first connecting portion. 
   
   
       5 . The blade structure for a torque converter as defined in  claim 4 , wherein the first connecting portion comprises a first adjustment portion that adjusts a distance between adjacent blades. 
   
   
       6 . The blade structure for a torque converter as defined in  claim 5 , wherein the first adjustment portion projects in an axial direction of the first connecting portion so as to modify a diameter of the first connecting portion. 
   
   
       7 . The blade structure for a torque converter as defined in  claim 5 , wherein the first adjustment portion projects in a diametrical direction of the first connecting portion so as to modify the diameter of the first connecting portion. 
   
   
       8 . The blade structure for a torque converter as defined in  claim 5 , wherein the first adjustment portion is formed by die forming. 
   
   
       9 . The blade structure for a torque converter as defined in  claim 4 , wherein the second connecting portion comprises a second adjustment portion that adjusts a distance between adjacent blades. 
   
   
       10 . The blade structure for a torque converter as defined in  claim 9 , wherein the second adjustment portion projects in an axial direction of the second connecting portion so as to modify a diameter of the second connecting portion. 
   
   
       11 . The blade structure for a torque converter as defined in  claim 9 , wherein the second adjustment portion projects in a diametrical direction of the second connecting portion so as to modify the diameter of the second connecting portion. 
   
   
       12 . The blade structure for a torque converter as defined in  claim 9 , wherein the second adjustment portion is formed by die forming. 
   
   
       13 . The blade structure for a torque converter as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the second connecting portion is inclined relative to the first connecting portion. 
   
   
       14 . A manufacturing method of a blade structure for a torque converter which has a plurality of blades attached fixedly to an inner wall of an annular shell member at predetermined intervals in a circumferential direction of the shell member,
 the method comprising:   a step of punching for punching out, from a planar thin plate, respective shapes of the plurality of blades, a first connecting portion that contacts the inner wall of the shell member and connects the blades, and a second connecting portion that contacts the inner wall of the shell member further toward an outside in a diametrical direction of the shell member than the first connecting portion and connects the blades;   a step of a first bending for bending the blades between the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion;   a step of a second bending for tilting the blades at a predetermined angle relative to the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion; and   a step of a first narrowing for processing the first connecting portion to modify a distance between adjacent blades near the first connecting portion.   
   
   
       15 . The manufacturing method of a blade structure for a torque converter as defined in  claim 14 , further comprising a step of a second narrowing for processing the second connecting portion to modify a distance between adjacent blades near the second connecting portion.