Abstract: A vibration damper for a torque transmission device comprising a first element and a second element which are rotatable relative to each other around an axis of rotation X; and damping means for transmitting a torque and damping the rotational acyclisms between the first element and the second element. The damping means comprise an elastic blade mounted securely on the first element and provided with a cam surface; and the damper comprises a cam follower carried by the second element and arranged to cooperate with the cam surface. The cam surface is arranged such that, for an angular travel between the first element and the second element relative to an angular rest position, the cam follower exerts a flexion force on the elastic blade producing a reaction force able to return the first and second elements to the angular rest position.

Abstract: A negative stiffness torsional spring. A plurality of spokes secured between a hub and an outer cylinder assembly are preloaded in compression. As the hub is rotated, the stiffness of the torsional spring is negative over a range of angles.

Abstract: A carrier ring for an encoder assembly includes a suspension device with resilient members. The encoder assembly includes a sensing device, such as a sensor head, for scanning directly toward a rotatable encoding member positioned on the carrier ring. The carrier ring is intended to be installed on a shaft of a machine.

Abstract: The invention relates a torsional vibration damper, comprising the following features: a primary part with two lateral discs (1, 2) which are connected to each other for conjoint rotation; a secondary part with a central disc (3) which is arranged between the lateral discs; a primary part and secondary part are rotationally connected to each other via springs (5); damping chambers which are filled with a damping medium and each have at least one throttle opening; guide elements (7.1) are provided for supporting and guiding the springs. The invention is characterized by the following features: each spring is assigned two guide elements which are both arranged at mutual axial distance and form the supporting surfaces against a movement of the spring in the radial and in the axial direction.

Abstract: In the invention, a coupling device for interconnecting two substantially constant velocity systems or shafts (40, 41) includes two parallel plates (11, 12) united in their central region and forming a single part (10).

Abstract: A disengageable arrangement for connecting a windscreen-wiper arm to a drive shaft driven in rotation about its longitudinal axis has a device solidly attached to the arm and providing the connection of the arm, and the drive shaft in the normal operating position of the windscreen wiper. The device is deformable under an effect of a torque applied to the arm greater than that exerted by said drive shaft, and is capable of being placed back in the normal operating position by locked relative positioning of the arm and the drive shaft. There is a single locked relative position of the arm and the drive shaft. The deformable device has at least two stacked elastic blades. The ends of each stacked elastic blade solidly are attached to the arm. Each of the at least two stacked elastic blades has a locking part inserted in a stopping part solidly attached to the drive shaft.

Abstract: A coupling for connecting two components, in particular a clamping collar with a centering hub, whereby, between both components an axially deformable and radially centering element is arranged.

Abstract: A vacuum pump, in particular for brake booster systems in motor vehicles, with a drivable rotor via which a blade in a housing can be set in rotation is proposed. The vacuum pump is distinguished by the fact that the rotor consists of plastic and is formed as one piece.

Abstract: A torsional vibration damper or torsionally elastic coupling comprises an inner portion, an outer portion, and radial leaf spring assemblies extending between the inner and outer portions. Each leaf spring assembly is clamped in a clamping area between adapters at one end of the leaf spring assembly and includes two leaf springs fixed to the outer portion at the one end and having their opposite ends engage in axial grooves of the inner portion. The two leaf springs protrude radially inwards from the clamping area up to the opposite ends engaged in the axial grooves and, to reduce wear phenomena and to improve the load-bearing capacity of the leaf springs for torque transmission, they define a free clearance of movement from the clamping area to the axial grooves.

Abstract: A containment vessel (10) or retaining projected high energy material fragments produced during the catastrophic failure of a high energy rotary mechanism, such as a composite flywheel (20), includes a continuous outer ring (30) and a plurality of inner shaped elements (40) that produce an inner ring layer. The outer ring (30) is approximately circular in shape and is designed to be unyielding during a flywheel failure. The inner shaped elements (40) are juxtapositioned axially along the inner periphery of the outer ring (30) and are configured and positioned to produce hollow cells (60). These shaped inner elements (40) are adapted of a material and are configured and positioned in such a way as to possess sufficient ductility so that the elements adequately flatten through non-destructive plastic deformation and contain the high energy material fragments (50) of a failed flywheel (20).

Abstract: A torsional vibration damper or a torsionally elastic and vibration damping coupling (1) has radial spring elements (4) inserted between an inner portion (3) and an outer portion (2) for torque transmission and liquid-filled chambers (8, 9) communicating with each other via throttle gaps for damping purposes, where at the one end the spring elements (4) are clamped between adapters (5) in the outer portion (2) and at the other end engage in axial grooves (6) of the inner portion (3), and the chambers (8, 9) are separated from each other by the spring elements (4) on the one hand, and on the other hand by additional radial divisions (7) between adjacent spring elements (4), which divisions spare the throttle gaps (10).

Abstract: A viscous damper mechanism 5 includes first and second input plates 18 and 19, a driven member 30, a spring chamber 17 and a undulated plate spring 23. The spring chamber is formed between the first and second input plates 18 and 19 and the driven member 30. The undulated plate spring 23 is disposed in the spring chamber, and is operable to connect elastically the first and second input plates 18 and 19 to the driven member 30 in the rotation direction and damp a torsional vibration. The spring chamber 17 is filled and sealed with powder solid lubricant.

Abstract: A cam assembly for a hoist mechanism includes a cam member, a pair of springs and an input shaft. The cam member has a cavity defined by an inner periphery of a side wall and floor. Cutout portions extend radially outwardly from the inner periphery of the cavity. The springs include a bow-shaped body portion positioned between first and second connection end members. The body portion further includes an outwardly extending detent, each detent extends into a cutout of the cam member to operatively connect the cam member to the springs. The input shaft has a through hole. The first connection end members of each spring are inserted into the through holes of the input shaft, thereby operatively connecting the springs to the input shaft with a reduced number of components.

Abstract: A torsional pre-damping device for damping the impact between a hub and a hub disc. A crown insert (20) made of absorbent material is arranged between the engaging teeth (18) and the engaged teeth (19) of the loose meshing portions (16) defined between the disc and the hub.

Abstract: A fuel pump drive gear assembly is provided which includes torsional absorption elements positioned between a drive gear and a fuel pump hub. The drive gear includes a plurality of apertures for receiving a plurality of projections formed on the fuel pump hub. The torsional absorption elements are positioned in the apertures between the projections and the drive gear so as to frictionally engage a surface of both the projection and the drive gear, thus creating a mechanical driving connection between the rotating drive gear and the fuel pump hub. The torsional absorption elements have adequate stiffness to provide the necessary torque to drive the fuel pump, while retaining sufficient flexibility to permit relative rotational movement between the driving gear and the fuel pump hub for absorbing the vibratory loads imposed upon the gear assembly by the fuel pump without compromising the timing between the fuel pump and engine.

Abstract: To reduce a frictional resistance generated between undulated ribbon-like springs and outer circumferential walls, a flywheel assembly is composed of a first flywheel 1, a second flywheel 3 and ribbon-like springs 18. A fluid chamber 17 is formed between the second flywheel 3 and the first flywheel 1. The undulated ribbon-like spring 18 is disposed within the fluid chamber 17. In one embodiment, a projecting ring portion 20a that projects beyond the other ring portions 20 is provided so as to contact with an outer circumferential portion 7a of the fluid chamber 17 in order to prevent the remainder of the spring from contacting the portion 7a of the chamber 17. In another embodiment, a mid-portion of the undulated ribbon-like spring is confined to restrict radially outward movement by a plate and axially aligned pins which prevent radial movement of portions of the spring.

Abstract: A vacuum pump, particularly adapted for use with a power assisted brake system of a motor vehicle, includes a pump housing with a small diameter section and a larger section. A rotor in the housing with a smaller diameter coupling section and with a larger diameter pump section in the larger section of the housing. A rotor wing in the larger section of the housing is received in a slot in the rotor for being rotated by the rotor. A drive element passing along the axis of the rotor is connectable with a coupling to drive the drive element and is positioned between the two half bodies of the rotor for rotating the rotor and the wing of the rotor. The drive element has a coupling section of elastic resilient material which is received in a slot in the rotor and has wing sections above and below the plane of the coupling section which define a slot in the rotor in which the rotor wing is received, such that the drive element can absorb torque and oscillations.

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 mechanical rotary coupler for first and second coral shafts having slotted ends proximate one another, the coupler being formed of an elongated blade of resilient material longitudinally slit and folded on itself transverse to the slit to provide first and second resilient V-shaped strips connected by bridging portions at the ends of the blade, the strips respectively being adapted to engage the slots in the ends of the first and second shafts at regions on the strips spaced from the bridging portions.

Abstract: A compensating coupler uses spring coupling legs and tabs to connect a rotary (reciprocating) input drive to a rotary (reciprocating) output drive. The coupler exhibits very low backlash and compensates for misalignment between the input and output drives.

Abstract: A flexible coupling for coupling a drive member with a driven member has a supporting plate to which a first pair of flexible plates and a second pair of flexible plates are fixed in such a way that the former extends in parallel in one direction and the latter extends in parallel in a direction opposite the one direction. To free end portions of the flexible plates, a first and second joint members for connecting the drive and driven members to the flexible coupling, respectively, are connected. When there is a dis-alignment between the axes of the drive and driven members, a bending force is applied to the flexible plates to flex the same, thus absorbing the axial offset therebetween. In this case, since the rotational force to be transmitted is applied in the width direction of the respective plate members, they can be rigid against the rotational force to be transmitted and are hardly distorted thereby.

Abstract: A coupler to connect spaced apart ends of a pair of aligned shafts of an odometer assembly, for example, a shaft supporting permanent or total mileage indicating wheels and another shaft supporting trip indicating wheels. The coupler has a generally tubular body with spaced side walls, each side wall having a slot to receive an adjacent shaft end which is configured with a pair of ground flats. The coupler also has an integral catch portion with a movable end portion adopted to pass between the spaced shaft ends when the coupler is inserted over the shaft ends and subsequently to expand outward for preventing removal of the coupler.

Abstract: A fuel supply assembly including carburetors with separate throttle shafts in general axially alignment, and a U-shaped coupling for flexibly connecting the carburetor throttle shafts. The coupling includes a bight connected to a pair of legs each having a free end including a U-shaped member having a pair of arms with apertures for receiving one of the carburetor throttle shafts, each of the U-shaped members also including an arcuate bight having arcuate side portions separated by a centrally located slot communicating with the arm apertures, and also including a nut and bolt arrangement extending through the U-shaped member transverse to the throttle shaft for squeezing the arcuate side portions to reduce the opening size of the slot and arm apertures, whereby the pair of arms in each of the U-shaped members engages a separate one of the carburetor throttle shafts so that the pair of carburetor throttle shafts are flexibly coupled for common rotation.

Abstract: The universal joint (10) comprises a first shaft (12) having a head (14) with an annular cavity (16) therein in communication with an opening (18) in face (20) of head (14). A second shaft (30) has a pair of spaced arms (32) each terminating in an ear (34). The ears (34) are captured within the recesses (44) of a plastic cage member (40) mounted within cavity (16) by a pin (26). Resilient inserts (50) exert biasing force against the ears (34) to preload the universal joint (10) and eliminate free lash.

Abstract: A coupling for connecting the end of the camshaft of an internal combustion engine to the drive shaft of an ignition distributor. The coupling comprises a drive coupling member that is fixed to the drive shaft of the ignition distributor. The coupling member has a pair of axially extending lugs that have surfaces that engage surfaces formed on a pair of lugs that extend axially from the end of the camshaft. A spring member is fixed to the coupling member which has a pair of curved spring portions that engage other surfaces on the camshaft lugs and which serve to prevent backlash between the shafts.

Abstract: A coupling arrangement for rotating shafts using a leaf spring as a coupler. The arrangement includes a first and a second shaft disposed in alignment with each other. The first shaft has formed therein at one end face thereof a slit extending at right angles with the axis thereof and the second shaft has formed thereon at one end face thereof a tongue which is adapted to be inserted into the slit when mounted in place. The leaf spring is inserted into the slit for clamping the tongue against rotation.

Abstract: A disc clutch, having a hub flange of a spline hub is divided into an internal flange with hub and an external flange which are meshed each other through teeth provided on adjoining circumferences of both with circumferential clearances kept between the teeth, a pair of sub plates formed solidly with the external flange, leaf springs between the sub plates and the internal flange interconnecting the internal and external flanges. Second and third springs function in between the external flange and a clutch plate and retaining plate provided on both sides thereof.

Abstract: A hydraulic control apparatus includes rotatable input and output members (32, 36), relative rotation of which supplies presurized fluid from a fluid pressure source (16) to a working chamber of a hydraulic actuator (44). The members are arranged coaxially end-to-end and each member defines a transverse slot (74, 76) confronting a similar slot on the other member. A resilient member (80, 82) is received in the transverse slots and engages both input and output members to substantially prevent rotational slack therebetween.

Abstract: A flexible and backlash free coupling to connect adjustably between two separate rotary shafts for the purpose of transmitting rotary power and torque, whereby said coupling is able to slip on loosely over either of two separate stem configurations and whereby one end of said coupling will conform elastically to the one stem configuration while, in a second mode of elastic or plastic deformation, the opposite portion of the coupling attaches tightly to a second stem configuration within a certain range of dimensional width.