Between Axially Spaced Plates Patents (Class 464/68.1)
  • Patent number: 8123011
    Abstract: A hydrokinetic coupling device (10), which comprises an axis of rotation (B) and a torque converter (12), comprising a turbine wheel (22) mounted rotationally around a rotary driven shaft, as well as a circumferential damping device (40), comprising a damper plate (42) with a radial flange (44), rotationally linked without play to the turbine wheel (22) by a connecting element (62) and which is linked with circumferential damping with the rotary driven shaft. A locking clutch (14) that comprises at least one annular friction disc (56A, 56B) sliding axially, which rotates together with the flange (44) of the damper plate (42). The friction disc (56A, 56B) is carried by the connecting element (62), which directly connects the turbine wheel (22) to the flange (44) of the damper plate (42).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Valeo Embrayages
    Inventors: Rabah Arhab, Norberto Termenon
  • Publication number: 20120028722
    Abstract: One embodiment may include a torsional vibration damper having a primary element, a secondary element and a spring device for torsionally elastic coupling of the primary and the secondary element in the circumferential direction, which spring device has at least one spring element, which is arranged between a first and a second sliding shoe, a spacing limitation device being provided to define a maximum spacing (Amax) between the first and the second sliding shoe in the circumferential direction. The spacing limitation device may extend through the at least one spring element in the circumferential direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2011
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Applicant: BORGWARNER INC.
    Inventor: Jochen Boelling
  • Patent number: 8096885
    Abstract: A vibration damper including a first spline having a plurality of first teeth, a second spline having a plurality of second teeth, a third spline having a plurality of third teeth and at least one spring interconnected between the first and second splines, wherein the plurality of third teeth are intermediate the plurality of first teeth and the plurality of second teeth, and the at least one spring biases the plurality of first teeth and the plurality of second teeth against the plurality of third teeth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Fraser MacDonald, Jens Schroeter, Steven Olsen, Craig Kneidel
  • Patent number: 8092266
    Abstract: A marine vessel propulsion unit includes an engine, a drive shaft, a propeller shaft, a propeller, an intermediate shaft, a forward-reverse switching mechanism, and a shock reduction mechanism. The intermediate shaft is arranged on a central rotation axis of the propeller shaft. The intermediate shaft is arranged to transmit rotation between the drive shaft and the propeller shaft. The forward-reverse switching mechanism is arranged to switch a rotational direction of the propeller shaft to a forward drive direction or a reverse drive direction. The shock reduction mechanism includes a plurality of spring members and a pair of stopper portions. The shock reduction mechanism is arranged on the central rotation axis of the propeller shaft. The plurality of spring members are arranged to absorb a force in the rotational direction by elastically deforming in the rotational direction when the force in the rotational direction is applied to the intermediate shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshihiko Okabe
  • Patent number: 8066574
    Abstract: A damper mechanism 4 has a clutch plate 21 and a retaining plate 22 disposed aligned in the axial direction, a hub flange 6 disposed relatively rotatably in the axial direction between the plates 21 and 22, and a second coil spring 8 for elastically linking the plates 21 and 22 to the hub flange 6 in the rotational direction. The plates 21 and 22 have a pair of first main body components 28, and a plurality of linking components 31 that are disposed in the rotational direction between first protrusions 49 and second protrusions 57 and that link the pair of first main body components 28. The plurality of linking components 31 is disposed such that adjacent pitches are different.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: EXEDY Corporation
    Inventors: Tomoki Hada, Hiroshi Uehara
  • Patent number: 8047344
    Abstract: A torsional vibration damper (10) and a hydrodynamic torque converter device (1). The converter device has a converter torus (18) which is configured by an impeller (12), a turbine wheel (14) and a stator (16), and a converter lockup clutch (20). The torsional vibration damper (10) has at least one first energy accumulating device (28) with one ere or more first energy accumulators (68) (e.g. coil spring or bow spring), at least one first wall (92) radially supporting the at least one first energy accumulator (68), where a rolling body device (98) (e.g. a rolling gear) is interposed between the at least one first wall (92) and the at least first energy accumulator (68) (e.g. coil spring or bow spring).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Mario Degler, Stephan Maienschein, Jan Loxtermann, Thorsten Krause
  • Patent number: 8006820
    Abstract: A torsional damper with a hub assembly and a disc assembly has coil springs disposed therebetween. The coil springs are disposed in pockets defined in part by apertures in opposed cover plates. The apertures have sharply angled end portions providing deflection relief near the ends of the coil springs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: Michael L. Bassett
  • Publication number: 20110143842
    Abstract: A vibration damper comprising at least two damper assemblies connectable in series, coupled with one another through a floating intermediary flange, and torque transmission devices and/or damping coupling devices and rotation angle limiting devices between the floating intermediary flange and a damper component of one of the damper assemblies, wherein the damper component is disposed in a force flow in front and/or behind the floating intermediary flange.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2010
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Applicant: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Stephan MAIENSCHEIN, Peter DROLL, Eugen KOMBOWSKI
  • Patent number: 7955178
    Abstract: A damper assembly has a torque input member configured to be connected to engine crankshaft through a torque limit clutch. An output member has a hub configured to be mounted to a transmission input shaft. Damping springs operatively interconnects the input member and output member, enabling the input member and output member to rotate relative to each other at some angular displacements before the input torque from engine crankshaft is completely transmitted to transmission input shaft. The damping springs includes a series of long springs and a series of relatively short spring. The long springs compress before the short compress as the input member rotates relative to the output member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: MAGNA Powertrain, Inc.
    Inventors: Cheng Mu, Jaroslaw Lutoslawski, Richard D. Muizelaar, Fuzheng Hu
  • Patent number: 7934997
    Abstract: The present invention broadly comprises a torque limiter including a sealed vessel with a damper assembly and a clutch arranged to receive torque from a drive unit and to transmit the torque to the damper assembly. The clutch is loaded independent of an engagement of the limiter with the drive unit. A reaction force between a resilient element in the clutch and the vessel preloads the clutch. The clutch is arranged to slip at a specified torque value. The resilient element is arranged to preload the clutch such that the clutch remains fully engaged up to the specified torque value. In some aspects, the limiter includes a drive unit connection plate and the clutch is disposed between the connection plate and the vessel. In some aspects, the vessel includes a housing connected to the connection plate and the clutch is disposed between the housing and the damper assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: David C. Avins, Mark Graf
  • Publication number: 20110028223
    Abstract: A dual-mass flywheel has a first mass body and a second mass body which can rotate relative to one another by way of a damping device disposed between the first mass body and the second mass body. The damping device includes, running in the shape of an arc, at least one helical compression spring, which introduces spring force into the mass bodies via contact surfaces formed on the first mass body and the second mass body. The helical compression spring is guided in the radial direction by a wall formed by a mass body. At least one friction-reducing sliding component in the form of a wire cushion body is provided between the wall and the helical compression spring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2010
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Applicant: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Michael LETZER, Ekkehard Gorski, Werner Kroeger
  • Publication number: 20100279778
    Abstract: A torsional vibration damper according to the invention is proposed, which has a hub and a flange disposed radially outside the hub. For axial fastening of the flange on the hub, a fixing element and a holding element attached to the hub are provided, which limit movements of the fixing element caused by radially oriented centrifugal force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2010
    Publication date: November 4, 2010
    Applicant: LUK LAMELLEN UND KUPPLUNGSBAU BETEILIGUNGS KG
    Inventor: Christian Dinger
  • Publication number: 20100210365
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a dual-mass flywheel for a drive train of a motor vehicle, having one primary flywheel mass and one secondary flywheel mass (13), which are coupled to one another in a rotationally elastic manner via at least one spring device (19, 39, 53). At least one gear device (21, 31, 51, 51?) is disposed between the spring device and at least one of the two flywheel masses, said gear device causing a deflection movement of the spring device relative (19, 39, 53) to a rotational movement of the two flywheel masses in relation to one another, wherein a characteristic curve of the spring device may be modified by the gear device (21, 31, 51, 51?).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2008
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Applicant: Magna Powertrain AG & Co KG
    Inventors: Martin Schober, Christian Benatzky, Gerd Schlager, Jaroslaw Lutoslawski
  • Publication number: 20100178991
    Abstract: A damper mechanism 4 has a clutch plate 21 and a retaining plate 22 disposed aligned in the axial direction, a hub flange 6 disposed relatively rotatably in the axial direction between the plates 21 and 22, and a second coil spring 8 for elastically linking the plates 21 and 22 to the hub flange 6 in the rotational direction. The plates 21 and 22 have a pair of first main body components 28, and a plurality of linking components 31 that are disposed in the rotational direction between first protrusions 49 and second protrusions 57 and that link the pair of first main body components 28. The plurality of linking components 31 is disposed such that adjacent pitches are different.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Publication date: July 15, 2010
    Applicant: EXEDY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomoki Hada, Hiroshi Uehara
  • Patent number: 7743900
    Abstract: A torsional vibration damper for a bridging clutch of a hydrodynamic clutch arrangement is provided with a drive-side transmission element and a takeoff-side transmission element, which can be deflected around a certain angle of rotation relative to the drive-side element against the action of energy storage devices, where at least one driver element with an actuating function is assigned to each energy storage device. To realize a multi-stage action of the energy storage device, at least some of these driver elements arrive in working connection with an assigned final turn of the corresponding energy storage device only after using up a predetermined clearance gap in the circumferential direction. For this purpose, at least one transmission element has openings to accommodate energy storage devices, and at least one circumferential boundary of each opening is provided as a driver element for the assigned energy storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Horst Breier
  • Patent number: 7717242
    Abstract: A torsional vibration damping disk with a base body which has a circumferential edge on the outside which is partially turned back in order to form receiver spaces for spring elements, in particular for bow spring elements. In order to create a torsional vibration damping disk which has a long service life at high rotational rates, a reinforcement strap, the free end of which is fastened to the base body, extends out from the circumferential edge in the area of at least one receiver space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: LuK Lamellen und Kupplungsbau Beteiligungs KG
    Inventors: Scott Schrader, Steven Olsen
  • Patent number: 7662043
    Abstract: The torsional vibration damper acting between a drive and a housing of a hydrodynamic clutch arrangement includes a flywheel mass element, a drive-side damping element having a first side connected nonrotatably to the flywheel mass element, a takeoff-side damping element, the second side of the drive-side damping element being connected by elastic elements to the takeoff-side damping element for rotation in common, the elastic elements also allowing a small rotation of the drive-side damping element relative to the takeoff-side damping element, and an axially flexible drive plate. The takeoff-side damping element can be connected to the housing of the hydrodynamic clutch arrangement nonrotatably but with a certain freedom of axial movement by means of the drive plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Herbert Schmid, Herbert Johann, Georg Ender
  • Patent number: 7658679
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for damping torque output from a torque converter turbine to input to a transmission. The damper includes: (a) an input device for connection to an engine; (b) a first spring set having drive springs; (c) a second spring set having secondary springs; (d) a third spring set having parallel springs; (e) a floating apparatus; and (f) an output device. Springs of the first spring set are compressible in a forward direction toward the output device as a result of torque applied to the input device and compressible in a reverse direction toward the input device as a result of torque applied by the output device. The first and second spring sets are in series between the input device and output device during a first forward compression of the first spring set, and the series is in parallel with the third spring set between the input apparatus and output device during a second compression of the first spring set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: LuK Lamellen und Kupplungsbau Beteiligungs KG
    Inventors: David Avins, Fraser Macdonald, Matthew Frary
  • Publication number: 20090088261
    Abstract: A damper assembly for absorbing and attenuating torsionals and vibrations transmitted from an engine to a transmission is provided. The damper assembly includes a damper flange with a plurality of spring-mass damper systems operatively attached thereto and elongated circumferentially about its outer periphery. Each spring-mass damper systems include an inner spring nestably positioned inside an outer spring, a first spring retainer having a base portion defining a first interface surface with a first pilot portion extending therefrom to define a second interface surface with a second pilot portion extending therefrom, and a second spring retainer having a base portion defining an interface surface with a pilot portion extending therefrom to define a fourth interface surface. The first and third pilot portions engage with and thereby restrict axial and radial movement of the outer spring. The second pilot portion is attached to the inner spring thereby restricting relative movement therebetween.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2007
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Steven L. Clark, Jeffrey R. Lee, Peter W. Mack
  • Patent number: 7425181
    Abstract: A torque fluctuation absorbing device includes a first rotational member which transmits a torque from a driving power source, a damping mechanism connected with an input shaft of a transmission, the damping mechanism having a pair of frictional members of approximately annular-shaped fixed at both surfaces of a disc, and a limiter portion for frictionally engaging the pair of frictional members with the first rotational member in a substantially direct manner or in a substantially indirect manner via a pair of frictional plates. An actual length of at least one of the pair of frictional members ranges substantially between 1 percent and 6 percent of a major diameter of the at least one of the pair of frictional members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2008
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satoshi Nakagaito, Masaru Ebata, Makoto Takeuchi, Hiroshi Ichikawa
  • Publication number: 20080207338
    Abstract: A dual-mass flywheel including a primary mass that can be connected to the drive shaft of an internal combustion engine, and a secondary mass that can be connected to the input shaft of a transmission. The masses are positioned in an axial manner in relation to each other, and concentrically by means of at least one positioning device. The masses can be rotated at least in a defining manner counter to the effects of a damping device including energy accumulators. The energy accumulators are arranged in an annular, ring-like chamber that is formed by components of the primary mass and that also contains a viscous medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2008
    Publication date: August 28, 2008
    Applicant: LuK Lamellen und Kupplungsbau Beteiligungs KG
    Inventors: Hartmut Mende, Bin Zhou, Reiner Kistner
  • Patent number: 7357721
    Abstract: In a damper apparatus including springs, a holder for holding the springs, and a plate having pawls engaged by the springs, splines are provided on an inner peripheral portion and an outer peripheral portion of the damper apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: NSK-Warner K.K.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Yabe, Dai Okamura
  • Patent number: 7341524
    Abstract: A torsional vibration damper, particularly for use between the engine and the transmission of the power train in a motor vehicle, including two flywheels rotatable relative to each other against the opposition of a first energy storing device employing, for example, one or more coil springs and a second energy storing device, which is carried by one of the flywheels, which operates in parallel with the first energy storing device and which opposes rotation of the two flywheels relative to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Assignee: Luk Lamellen und Kupplungsbau Beteiligungs KG
    Inventor: Oswald Friedmann
  • Patent number: 7267211
    Abstract: In a damper device of a lock-up clutch-equipped torque converter which has at least two rotating members that have a common rotation axis and are rotatable relatively to each other via an elastic member, an axial-direction support portion that supports the at least two rotating members in the direction of the rotation axis with respect to each other, and a radial-direction support portion that supports the rotating members in a radial direction with respect to each other are disposed on circumferences that are substantially equidistant from the rotation axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshiya Yamashita, Ryuji Ibaraki, Hiroyuki Shioiri, Hiroaki Kimura, Yasunori Nakawaki
  • Publication number: 20070191120
    Abstract: A torque fluctuation absorber includes a disc fixed to a flywheel, a hub fixed to a transmission, first and second side plates fixed to the disc, a damper member, first and second control plates provided at axial both sides of the hub, the first and second control plates being riveted by a stopper pin, a first hysteresis mechanism including first and second low friction members and generating a small hysteresis, and a second hysteresis mechanism including first and second high friction members and generating a large hysteresis. The hub includes a flange portion having a through-hole into which the stopper pin is inserted. A relative rotational angle between the control plates and the hub is defined by a clearance formed between the through-hole and the hub. The first hysteresis mechanism is activated when the relative rotational angle is defined within the clearance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2007
    Publication date: August 16, 2007
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomohiro Saeki, Satoshi Nakagaito, Makoto Takeuchi, Masanori Suzuki, Masaru Ebata
  • Patent number: 7241224
    Abstract: A torsional vibration damper includes a primary mass defining a ring-shaped chamber, a secondary mass relatively rotatably connected to the primary mass, and a damping unit for coupling the primary and secondary masses to each other in a rotationally elastic manner. The damping unit comprises a plurality of coil springs, a pair of end guides, and a friction member slidably disposed between neighboring coil springs. The friction member is configured to be rubbed against at least one of an inner wall and an outer wall of the ring-shaped chamber in response to compressions of the coil springs such that a friction force is generated in proportion to a relative rotation between the primary and secondary masses as well as to a rotational speed thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Young Rae Song, Tae Han Jee, Jae Hoon Jung
  • Patent number: 7229357
    Abstract: A flywheel assembly that transmits torque from a crankshaft of an engine is provided. The flywheel assembly has a flywheel with a friction surface and an elastic coupling mechanism. The elastic coupling mechanism elastically couples the flywheel and the crankshaft in a rotating direction, and has a pair of first disk-shaped members axially spaced from each other and fixed together, a second disk-shaped member that is arranged between the pair of first disk-shaped members, and an elastic member that elastically couples the first disk-shaped members to the second disk-shaped member in the rotating direction. Further, a plate-like coupling portion extending between outer peripheries of the paired first disk-shaped members fixes the pair of first disk-shaped members together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: Exedy Corporation
    Inventors: Hirotaka Fukushima, Hiroyoshi Tsuruta, Hiroshi Uehara
  • Patent number: 7207887
    Abstract: A torque fluctuation absorbing device includes a first rotational member transmitted with a torque from a driving power source, a damping mechanism connected with an input shaft of a transmission, the damping mechanism having a pair of frictional members of approximately annular-shaped fixed at both surfaces of a disc, and a limiter portion for frictionally engaging the pair of frictional members with the first rotational member in a substantially direct manner or in a substantially indirect manner via a pair of frictional plates. An actual length of at least one of the pair of frictional members ranges substantially between 1 percent and 6 percents of a major diameter of the at least one of the pair of frictional members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2007
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satoshi Nakagaito, Masaru Ebata, Makoto Takeuchi, Hiroshi Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 7108112
    Abstract: A damper mechanism for a lockup device 7 is a device for mechanically transmitting a torque in a torque converter 1. A coil spring 58 is arranged in first and second windows 61 and 62 overlapping with each other, and is compressed in accordance with the relative rotation of drive and driven members 52 and 53. A maximum torsion angle ? m is defined when the coil springs 58 are compressed to a maximum extent by relative rotation between the drive and driven members 52 and 53. Each of the first and second windows 61 and 62 has an outer periphery longer than an inner periphery. Each ends 61a and 62a on the circumferential ends of the first and second windows 61 and 62 form an angle ? with respect to a center line extending through a center O of the damper mechanism and a circumferential center C1 or C2 of the first or second window 61 or 62, and this angle ? is in a range between 0.05 and 0.60 times as large as the maximum torsion angle ? m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: Exedy Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroshi Mizukami