Abstract: A viscous resistance generation mechanism includes a first flywheel, a plurality of sliders and a driven plate. The first flywheel includes an arcuate fluid filled chamber, with the plurality of sliders disposed within the fluid filling chamber and movable in the circumferential direction. The driven plate is formed with a plurality of protrusion which are inserted into each of the plurality of sliders. The plurality of sliders are connected to the driven plate, and the interior of each of said sliders is sealed from the fluid filled chamber. Small torsional vibrations are dampened by large gaps between the fluid filled chamber and the plurality of sliders, and large torsional vibrations are dampened by small gaps between the plurality of protrusions and the interior of each of the plurality of sliders.

Abstract: A power coupling mechanism having fluid dampening device with interfitting members which assist in the absorption and transmittance of stress due to torsion and thrust loads, thus reducing the size of a bearing supporting relatively rotatable parts.

Abstract: A flywheel with two centrifugal masses has a secondary centrifugal mass assembled from two individual parts, wherein the first part is actively connected to a torsion damping device, and the second part has a friction surface for a friction clutch. To increase the useful life of the flywheel system, the two parts of the secondary centrifugal mass are held at a distance from one another, and are connected to one another in their radially inner area essentially only by means of axially projecting spacer elements, which spacer elements are distributed circumferentially, and by means of rivets or screws. The rear side of the second part of the secondary centrifugal mass can thus be air cooled by the system of air cooling passages.

Abstract: The torsion damper comprises a first rotating element (12) delimiting the greater part of a sealed annular housing (30) which receives a resilient damper (32) and a lubricating agent for this damper. A second rotating element (14) Comprises a disc (36) which penetrates into the sealed housing (30). Sealing rings close the housing (30) sealingly. Each sealing ring is mounted in axial compression between two support surfaces, one of which consists of an annular ridge carried by the disc (36), while the other consists of a shoulder formed on the other rotating element.

Abstract: Described is a viscous damper for a hydraulic power transmission with a lockup clutch. The viscous damper is composed of at least one blade mounted on at least one element of the hydraulic power transmission so that said at least one blade is located in an oil filled in said hydraulic power transmission and controls occurrence of self-excited vibrations. Preferably, plural blades are mounted on a wall of at least one of mutually opposing two elements of the hydraulic transmission, said wall of said at least one element being locate opposite a wall of the other element.

Abstract: A bypass clutch for use in an hydrodynamic torque converter (10) includes a viscous coupling (30) driveably engaged with the torque converter input shell (12) and turbine (18), and a friction clutch (24) driveably engaged with said input shell (12) and turbine (18) in parallel to the viscous coupling (30).

Abstract: A power coupling mechanism having fluid dampening device with interfitting members which assist in the absorption and transmittance of stress due to torsion and thrust loads, thus reducing the size of a bearing supporting relatively rotatable parts.

Abstract: A torsional vibration dampening device 14 in a torque converter for dampening torsional vibration of torque transmitted from a piston to a driven plate includes an arc-shaped fluid chamber 26, a slider element 33, a seal element 30a and a choke C. The arc-shaped fluid chamber 26 is coupled to the piston and has an opening extending in circular directions. The slider element 33 sections the arc-shaped fluid chamber 26 in circular directions, are relatively movable in circular directions within the arc-shaped fluid chamber 26, and has a groove 30d corresponding to the opening. The seal element 30a is placed within the arc-shaped fluid chamber 26 and rotates along with the slider element 33 in unity to seal the opening. Fluid in the arc-shaped fluid chamber 26 pass the choke in accordance with the relative movement of the slider element 33.

Abstract: A torsion damping mechanism is disclosed of the type including a viscous damper in which a first sidewall defines a ramp surface. The clutch assembly includes a radially outer portion and a radially inner portion, the portions cooperating to define a plurality of windows or openings. The windows are located axially adjacent the ramp surface such that at least a portion of the fluid in the larger, first reservoir, under the influence of centrifugal force, flows radially outward, impinges the ramp surface, and is then deflected through one of the windows and into the opposite shear chamber. With the present invention, the amount of fluid flowing into the two shear chambers may be equalized, even though the reservoirs contain substantially different volumes of fluid. Thus, the shear chambers are filled faster, and the damper operates more smoothly.

Abstract: A flywheel assembly has a first flywheel which is detachably connected to the crankshaft of a combustion engine, a second flywheel which can be rotated relative to the first, and a torque transformer, such as a hub disc, which is located in a chamber between the two flywheels, which chamber is filled with a viscous medium and which torque transformer is equipped with a torsion damping unit. The chamber is defined on that side facing the second flywheel by a cover plate, which encloses an air channel between it and the second flywheel, which air channel extends radially outward from a ventilation opening in the second flywheel. The torque transformer is provided radially outward from the ventilation opening with an annular surface, which annular surface extends preferably in the axial direction.

Abstract: A fluid viscous damper mechanism (4) used in a flywheel assembly includes a first flywheel (1) and a second flywheel (3) which are connected for limited rotary displacement therebetween. The displacement of the two flywheels is defined within a first displacement range and a second displacement range, where the second range is greater than the first range. The flywheels form therebetween a plurality of fluid flow chambers. Disposed between a first and a second of the flow chambers is a sub-choke (S1). Disposed between a third and a fourth of the flow chambers is a main choke (S2). In one embodiment, the sub-choke (S1) produces a predetermined fluid flow resistance force in response to displacement between the flywheels in the first displacement range. The main choke (S2) produces a gradually increasing fluid flow resistance force in response to displacement between the flywheels in the second displacement range.

Abstract: A clutch disc assembly interposed between an input side rotary member and an output side member has a hub, disc-like plates, a friction member, an elastic member and a viscous damper mechanism. The hub is connectable for co-rotation with the output side member. The hub has a flange on its outer circumference. The dlsc-like plates are rotatably mounted on the hub. The friction member is connected to said disc-like plates, for frictional engagement with the input side rotary member. The elastic member is for elastically connecting the flange and the dlsc-like plates whereby the flange and the disc-like plates are rotatable with respect to each other. The viscous damper mechanism includes a fluid medium, for displacing the fluid medium through restrictions in response to angular movements of the dlsc-like plates and the flange with respect to each other.

Abstract: A flywheel assembly having a clutch disk and at least one flywheel includes the use of at least one undulated ribbon spring formed of an elongated metallic strip, folded in accordion fashion, having an arcuate shape and having a plurality of flat-spring loop sections symmetrically staggered along the arcuate shape. The spring is disposed in a fluid filled chamber within the flywheel assembly. The spring is compressed and expands in response to relative rotary displacement between adjacent parts within the flywheel assembly. The spring absorbs vibration from the adjacent parts within the flywheel assembly. Further, the spring further inhibits the flow of fluid within the fluid filled chamber further absorbing vibrations in response to rotary displacement between adjacent parts within the flywheel assembly. The spring may be disposed in a fluid filled chamber formed within the clutch disk or in other portions of the flywheel assembly.

Abstract: A vehicle power train flywheel assembly having an input-side flexible coupling and power transmission damping mechanism whereby power is transmitted from the crankshaft of an engine to a main body of the flywheel assembly via a combination viscous fluid and elastic damping device. The power trans-mission damping mechanism includes a flexible annular input plate formed from sheet metal, and a rimmed sub-plate that together with the input plate forms a viscous fluid chamber, in which an undulated ribbon spring, as the elastic damping device, is installed. During power transmission the ribbon spring is compressed between an input-side sub-plate and an output side stop plate of the flywheel assembly, and torsional fluctuations meanwhile expanding and contracting the ribbon spring are damped as the narrow duct surrounding the ribbon spring chokes the flow of viscous fluid, developing viscous damping resistance.

Abstract: A composite flywheel having coaxial primary and secondary flywheels, which can turn relative to each other against the opposition of one or more friction generating devices and/or dampers, employs a substantially cup-shaped carrier with one or more signal generators in the form of notches, recesses, grooves, holes, projections or the like. The carrier includes a radially inwardly extending washer-like portion and a sleeve-like portion, which sleeve-like portion is in one piece with the radially outermost part of the washer-like portion. The signal generator(s) is (are) provided in or on that part of the sleeve-like portion which projects outwardly beyond a sleeve-like part of the radially outer end portion of the primary flywheel. The sleeve-like part of the end portion of the primary flywheel surrounds and confines the washer-like portion and is welded to the sleeve-like portion of the carrier.

Abstract: A torsional vibration damping device is disposed between an input front cover and a torque converter body for damping torsional vibration transmitted to an output member from an input member. The device includes a pair of side plates 20 and 21, a pair of cases 22 and 23. and a slider 25. The pair of side plates 20 and 21 are coupled together but spaced apart from one another and define an annular chamber therebetween. A piston 11 is coupled to the plates for axial movement but restricted from movement in a radial direction with respect to the plates. The pair of cases 22 and 23 is disposed between the side plates 20 and 21 within the annular chamber defining an arcuate chamber 24. The slider 25 is connectable to a driven plate 12 and is slidably disposed in the fluid chamber 24. Thee outer surfaces of the slider and tile inner surfaces of the fluid chamber 24 define a choke which restricts tile flow of fluid around the slider as it moves within the chamber.