Method for making turbine wheel of hydrokinetic torque converter

Abstract

A turbine wheel for a hydrokinetic torque converter. The turbine wheel is rotatable about a rotational axis and comprises a substantially annular turbine shell member coaxial with the rotational axis, and a plurality of turbine blade members axially extending from the turbine shell member. The turbine wheel is a single-piece component such that the turbine blade members are unitarily formed with the turbine shell member. The turbine wheel (22) is made by an additive manufacturing process from a polymeric material.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A turbine wheel ( 22 ) for a hydrokinetic torque converter ( 14 ), the turbine wheel ( 22 ) rotatable about a rotational axis (X) and comprising:
 a substantially annular turbine shell member ( 32 ) coaxial with the rotational axis (X); and   a plurality of turbine blade members ( 36 ) axially extending from the turbine shell member ( 32 );   the turbine blade members ( 36 ) and turbine shell members ( 32 ) are unitary, whereby the turbine wheel ( 22 ) is a single-piece component;   the turbine wheel ( 22 ) being made of polymeric material,   wherein the turbine wheel ( 22 ) includes an annular balance belt ( 46 ) configured for correcting mass imbalance of the turbine wheel ( 22 ), and wherein the balance belt ( 46 ) extends outwardly from the turbine shell member ( 32 ) of the turbine wheel ( 22 ).   
     
     
         2 . The turbine wheel ( 22 ) as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the balance belt ( 46 ) of the turbine wheel ( 22 ) has an outer peripheral surface ( 48 ) configured to be machined away in order to correct the mass imbalance of the turbine wheel ( 22 ). 
     
     
         3 . The turbine wheel ( 22 ) as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the balance belt ( 46 ) extends radially outwardly from the turbine shell member ( 32 ) of the turbine wheel ( 22 ). 
     
     
         4 . The turbine wheel ( 22 ) as defined in  claim 3 , wherein the balance belt ( 46 ) of the turbine wheel ( 22 ) has a radially outer peripheral surface ( 48 ) configured to be machined away in order to correct the mass imbalance of the turbine wheel ( 22 ). 
     
     
         5 . The turbine wheel ( 22 ) as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the turbine shell member ( 32 ) has a variable thickness. 
     
     
         6 . The turbine wheel ( 22 ) as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the turbine shell member ( 32 ) includes a substantially annular semi-toroidal turbine shell portion ( 38 ), a radially extending turbine flange portion ( 40 ), and a connecting portion ( 42 ) radically extending between the turbine shell portion ( 38 ) and the turbine flange portion ( 40 ). 
     
     
         7 . The turbine wheel ( 22 ) as defined in  claim 6 , wherein the connecting portion ( 42 ) of the turbine shell member ( 32 ) has a variable thickness. 
     
     
         8 . The turbine wheel ( 22 ) as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising a substantially annular turbine core ring member ( 34 ) coaxial with the turbine shell member ( 32 ), wherein the turbine blade members ( 36 ) are unitarily formed with both the turbine shell member ( 32 ) and the turbine core ring member ( 34 ). 
     
     
         9 . The turbine wheel ( 22 ) as defined in  claim 8 , wherein at least one of the turbine shell member ( 32 ) and the turbine core ring member ( 34 ) has a variable thickness. 
     
     
         10 . A hydrokinetic torque converter ( 14 ), comprising:
 an impeller wheel ( 20 ) rotatable about a rotational axis (X), the impeller wheel ( 20 ) including a impeller shell ( 21 ) and a plurality of impeller blades ( 26 ) outwardly extending from the impeller shell; and   a turbine wheel ( 22 ) rotatable about the rotational axis (X) and disposed axially opposite to the impeller wheel ( 20 ), the turbine wheel ( 22 ) coaxially aligned with and hydro-dynamically drivable by the impeller wheel ( 20 ), the turbine wheel ( 22 ) comprising:   a substantially annular turbine shell member ( 32 ) coaxial with the rotational axis (X); and   a plurality of turbine blade members ( 36 ) axially extending from the turbine shell member ( 32 );   the turbine blade members ( 36 ) are unitarily formed with the turbine shell member ( 32 ), whereby the turbine wheel ( 22 ) is a single-piece component, wherein the turbine wheel ( 22 ) being made of polymeric material,   wherein the turbine wheel ( 22 ) includes a substantially annular balance belt ( 46 ) configured for correcting mass imbalance of the turbine wheel ( 22 ), and wherein the balance belt ( 46 ) extends outwardly from the turbine shell member ( 32 ) of the turbine wheel ( 22 ).   
     
     
         11 . The hydrokinetic torque converter ( 14 ) as defined in  claim 10 , wherein the substantially annular balance belt ( 46 ) is configured for correcting a mass imbalance of the turbine wheel ( 22 ) by removing a portion of material of the turbine wheel ( 22 ) from the balance belt ( 46 ). 
     
     
         12 . The hydrokinetic torque converter ( 14 ) as defined in  claim 10 , wherein the balance belt ( 46 ) of the turbine wheel ( 22 ) has an outer peripheral surface ( 48 ) configured to be machined away in order to correct the mass imbalance of the turbine wheel ( 22 ). 
     
     
         13 . The hydrokinetic torque converter ( 14 ) as defined in  claim 10 , wherein the balance belt extends radially outwardly from the turbine shell member ( 32 ) of the turbine wheel ( 22 ). 
     
     
         14 . The hydrokinetic torque converter ( 14 ) as defined in  claim 10 , wherein the turbine shell member ( 32 ) has a variable thickness. 
     
     
         16 . The hydrokinetic torque converter ( 14 ) as defined in  claim 10 , wherein the turbine shell member ( 32 ) includes a substantially annular semi-toroidal turbine shell portion ( 38 ), a radially extending turbine flange portion ( 40 ), and a connecting portion ( 42 ) radically extending between the turbine shell portion ( 38 ) and the turbine flange portion ( 40 ). 
     
     
         17 . The hydrokinetic torque converter ( 14 ) as defined in  claim 10 , further comprising a substantially annular turbine core ring member ( 34 ) coaxial with the turbine shell member ( 32 ), wherein the turbine blade members ( 36 ) are unitarily formed with both the turbine shell member ( 32 ) and the turbine core ring member ( 34 ).