Abstract: A divided flywheel apparatus has a first centrifugal mass connected to a driving mechanism, a second centrifugal mass engaged with the first centrifugal mass my means of a torsional vibration damper, whereby the second centrifugal mass is capable of a limited relative rotation with respect to the first centrifugal mass, and a damping device which contains at least one vibration damper, by means of which, under specified operating conditions, a frictional connection can be established between the two centrifugal masses. The damping device has a sensor apparatus, by means of which the occurrence of at least one measurement corresponding to a specified operating condition can be measured, and by means of a signal transmitted to a switching apparatus, the actuation of the vibration damper can be triggered by means of an actuation device which can be actuated by means of the switching device, resulting in an effective action which is a function of the value measured.