Power transfer apparatus having a vibration dampening mechanism which provides structural support for the apparatus

• US 5,695,035 A
• Filed: 12/18/1996
• Issued: 12/09/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Exedy Corporation
• Original Assignee: Exedy Corporation
• Inventors: Tsuruta, Hiroyoshi, Fukushima, Hirotaka, Fukamachi, Masanobu, Kajitani, Koji
• Primary Examiner(s): Pitts, Andrea L.
• Application Number:
  US08/768,564
• Time in Patent Office: 356 Days
• Field of Search: 192/70.17, 192/208, 74/574, 74/573 F, 74/572, 464/24, 464/68
• US Class Current: 192/70.17
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 15/13107 for damping of axial or radial, i.e. non-torsional vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 15/13142 characterised by the method of assembly, production or treatment F16F15/13114 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 15/1315 Multi-part primary or secondary masses, e.g. assembled from pieces of sheet steel
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 15/13438 End-caps for springs
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 15/13461 Set of springs, e.g. springs within springs
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 15/161 characterised by the fluid damping devices, e.g. passages, orifices F16F15/162 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 15/165 Sealing arrangements

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.

Claims

1. A power coupling mechanism, comprising:

a hub being connectable with an input shaft of a transmission;

a driven plate rigidly connected to said hub;

a bearing supported on said hub;

a drive plate supported on said bearing to allow for relative rotation between said driven plate and said drive plate, said driven plate and said drive plate at least partially defining an annular housing;

a vibration dampening mechanism disposed within said annular housing between said drive plate and said driven plate elastically coupling said drive plate and said driven plate limiting relative rotary displacement between said drive plate and said driven plate; and

an inertia element rigidly connected to said hub.

2. The power coupling mechanism as in claim 1 wherein said driven plate is rigidly connected to said hub by a plurality of axially extending rivets which extend through a portion of said hub and a portion of said driven plate.

3. The power coupling mechanism as in claim 1 wherein said driven plate and said inertia element are rigidly connected to said hub by a plurality of axially extending rivets which extend through a portion of said hub and a portion of said driven plate.

4. The power coupling mechanism as set forth in claim 1, wherein said hub is formed with a radially extending flange and said inertia element is connected to said flange.

5. The power coupling mechanism as set forth in claim 1, wherein said hub is formed with a radially extending flange and said driven plate is connected to said flange.

6. The power coupling mechanism as set forth in claim 1, further comprising an annulus fixing element fixed to said drive plate, and wherein an inner race of said bearing is supported on a portion of said hub and an outer race of said bearing is mounted on said annulus fixing element.

7. The power coupling mechanism as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a ring gear rigidly connected to said inertia element.

8. The power coupling mechanism as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a second annular inertial element rigidly fixed to said drive plate proximate an outer peripheral portion thereof.

9. The power coupling mechanism as set forth in claim 1, wherein said vibration dampening mechanism comprises a spring member.

10. The power coupling mechanism as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said drive plate being formed with at least one axially extending annular protrusion which extends into said vibration dampening mechanism;

said driven plate being formed with at least one annular groove engaging and inter-fitting with said annular protrusion such that engagement between said annular protrusion and said annular groove confines said driven plate against axial movement with respect to said drive plate and provides structural support against thrust and radial forces experienced by the power coupling mechanism.

11. The power coupling mechanism, as in claim 1, wherein said vibration dampening mechanism comprises a coil spring and a viscous fluid dampening mechanism.

12. The power coupling mechanism, as in claim 1 wherein said vibration damper mechanism comprises a viscous fluid dampening mechanism.

13. The power coupling mechanism as set forth in claim 12 wherein said drive plate is formed with at least one axially extending annular protrusion;

said driven plate being formed with at least one annular groove engaging and inter-fitting with said annular protrusion such that engagement between said annular protrusion and said annular groove confines said driven plate against axial movement and provides structural support against thrust and radial forces.

14. The power coupling mechanism as set forth in claim 1, wherein said hub is rigidly fixed to said driven plate, said bearing is supported on a portion of said hub such that an inner race of said bearing is mounted on a portion of said hub, an outer race of said bearing supports a portion of said drive plate.

15. The power coupling mechanism as set forth in claim 1, wherein said inertia element has an annular disc shape.

16. The power coupling mechanism as set forth in claim 1, wherein a portion of said inertia element has an annular disc shape and includes an annular portion at a radially outer portion thereof which protrudes in an axial direction at least partially encircling said annular housing.

17. The power coupling mechanism as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

a flex plate formed with a plurality of bolt holes for connection to a crankshaft, said flex plate formed from a sheet-metal material, said drive plate being connected to said flex plate.

18. The power coupling mechanism as set forth in claim 17, wherein said bolt holes define a pitch circle and said bearing has an outer diameter smaller that said pitch circle.

19. The power coupling mechanism as set forth in claim 17, wherein said drive plate is connected to an outer peripheral portion of said flex plate.

20. The power coupling mechanism as set forth in claim 17, wherein said inertia element is connected to said driven plate radially outward from said pitch circle.

21. A power coupling mechanism as set forth in claim 17, wherein said annular housing is formed with two opposing annular protrusions, both of said opposing annular protrusions extending in axial directions toward one another, and said driven plate is formed with two annular grooves, each of said grooves on opposite axial faces thereof, said annular protrusions extending into said grooves radially and axially confining said driven plate with respect to said housing.

22. A power coupling mechanism as set forth in claim 21 further comprising a power input plate, said drive plate and power input plate attached to one another and defining a fluid filled chamber therebetween.

23. A power coupling mechanism as set forth in claim 1 further comprising at least one cup-like slider slidably disposed within said annular housing, said driven plate being formed with at least one radially extending protrusion which extends into said cup-like slider, said slider defining two large cells within said annular housing and said protrusion defining two small cells within said cup-like slider, said housing and said large and small cells filled with viscous fluid such that fluid flows between adjacent cells in response to relative rotary displacement of said driven plate with respect to said drive plate.

24. A power coupling mechanism for transmitting torque from a rotary input shaft to a transmission shaft, comprising:

a hub being connectable with a transmission shaft;

a bearing supported on said hub;

a pair of drive plates supported on said bearing to allow for relative rotation between said hub and said drive plates, said drive plates forming an annular housing therebetween;

a driven plate connected to said hub, a portion of said driven plate extending into said annular housing;

a spring disposed within said annular housing elastically coupling said drive plate and said driven plate limiting relative rotary displacement between said drive plate and said driven plate; and

an inertia element rigidly connected to said hub.

25. The power coupling mechanism as in claim 24, further comprising:

a second inertia member attached to one of said drive plates;

a flex plate connectable to a rotary input shaft and to said second inertia member.

26. The power coupling mechanism as in claim 24, wherein said inertia element has an annular disc shape, said annular inertia element is disposed adjacent to said annular housing and said annular inertia element is rigidly connected to said hub.

27. The power coupling mechanism as in claim 24, wherein said annular housing is fluid filled and a damper mechanism is disposed in said annular housing, said damper mechanism includes a slider mechanism that dampens vibration in response to relative rotary displacement between said drive plates and said driven plate.