ENGAGING MECHANISM

A speed-responsive engaging mechanism adapted for use in a hydrodynamic device to couple turbine and impeller members including a disc secured to the turbine member having a series of cam surfaces thereon formed in apertures in the discs with a series of friction shoe assemblies mounted in the apertures in engagement with the cam surfaces. The friction shoe assemblies engage with the impeller at a predetermined speed of rotation of the turbine member, and the cam means induces a wedging engagement of the shoes with the impeller member. Spring means are provided to retain the shoe assemblies in the apertures, and a roller mechanism is provided in each shoe assembly to provide relatively frictionless relative movement between the cam surfaces and the shoe assemblies. Each shoe in the assembly is made of a sintered metal material and has a spring retaining structure cast in the shoe.