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

• US 5,997,402 A
• Filed: 08/18/1997
• Issued: 12/07/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Exedy Corporation
• Original Assignee: Exedy Corporation
• Inventors: Kajitani, Koji, Tsuruta, Hiroyoshi, Fukushima, Hirotaka, Fukamachi, Masanobu
• Primary Examiner(s): Lillis, Eileen Dunn
• Application Number:
  US08/912,668
• Time in Patent Office: 841 Days
• Field of Search: 464/24, 464/68, 464/98, 192/55.4, 192/208, 74/574
• US Class Current: 464/24
• 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 damper disk assembly adapted to transmit torque between an input member and an output member, the damper disk assembly comprising

a first plate member configured to be connection to the power input member,

a hub adapted for connection to the output member,

a second plate member having an inner circumferential portion thereof fixed to an outer circumference of said hub,

a bearing supported between said first plate member and said second plate, said bearing being adapted to allow relative rotation between said first and second plate members, and

a dampening portion elastically coupling said first plate member and said second plate member in a circular direction for dampening torsional vibration between said first plate member and said hub.

2. The damper disk assembly according to claim 1, wherein said bearing has an outer race and an inner race, the outer race is attached to said second plate member and said inner race is attached to said first plate member.

3. The damper disk assembly according to claim 2, wherein said first plate member comprises:

a disk-like plate formed from sheet metal material; and

a supporting element fixed to said disk-like plate for supporting said inner race.

4. The damper disk assembly according to claim 3, wherein said supporting element is an annular member having an L-shaped when viewed in cross section.

5. The damper disk assembly according to claim 3, wherein said second plate member is formed of a sheet metal material shaped with an annular projection engaged with said outer race.

6. The damper disk assembly according to claim 1, wherein said dampening portion includes:

a single sheet metal disk-like drive plate connected to said first plate member, said disk-like drive plate formed with an arcuate shaped first wall extending in a circular direction, said disk-like drive plate formed with a radially extending second wall, said first and second walls at least partially defining a chamber;

an elastic element disposed in said chamber, said elastic member being supported by said second wall;

a sheet metal disk-like driven plate connected to said second plate member, said driven plate extending into said chamber contacting said elastic element such that said elastic element elastically couples said first plate member and said driven plate in the circular direction; and

a hysteresis resistance generating device for producing hysteresis resistance to relative rotary displacement between said first plate member and said hub.

7. The damper disk assembly according to claim 6 wherein said first plate member, said drive plate and said driven plate define said chamber, said chamber being fluid filed.

8. The damper disk assembly according to claim 7, further comprising:

at least one annular housing having two co-axial spaced apart circumferentially extending walls and an annular wall extending in a radial direction therebetween, said annular housing being open in an axial direction toward said first plate member;

a slider member disposed in said annular housing, said slider member having an arcuate shape having two co-axial circumferentially extending walls and a wall extending in a radial direction therebetween and two circumferential end walls extending between said co-axial circumferentially extending walls of said slider member, said slider member being open in an axial direction toward said first plate; and

wherein said driven plate is formed with a radially outward extending projection that extends into said slider, said projection extending radially outward adjacent to said first plate member such that in response to relative rotary displacement between said hub and said first plate member, said projection moves in a circumferential direction within said slider member within a first range of relative rotary displacement, and within a second range of relative rotary displacement said projection engages one of said end walls of said slider member such that said slider member moves in a circumferential direction within said annular housing thereby generating fluid resistance to movement.

9. A power coupling mechanism, comprising:

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

a driven plate assembly rigidly connected to said hub;

a bearing contacting a portion of said driven plate assembly;

a drive plate assembly a portion of said drive plate assembly contacting said bearing to allow for relative rotation between said driven plate assembly and said drive plate assembly, at least a portion of said drive plate assembly defining an annular chamber, said drive plate assembly being configured for connection to a crankshaft of a rotary power device; and

a vibration dampening mechanism disposed within said annular chamber of said drive plate assembly elastically coupling said drive plate assembly and said driven plate assembly limiting relative rotary displacement between said drive plate assembly and said driven plate assembly.

10. The power coupling mechanism as in claim 9 wherein said driven plate assembly 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 assembly.

11. The power coupling mechanism as in claim 9 wherein said drive plate assembly comprises a flexible plate, a first input plate and a second input plate, said flexible plate fixed at a radial outer portion thereof to said first and second input plate, said flexible plate being configured for connection to the crankshaft, and substantially all of said annular chamber is located between portions of said first input plate and said second input plate.

12. The power coupling mechanism as in claim 11, wherein said first input plate of said drive plate assembly supports said bearing.

13. The power coupling mechanism as in claim 11, wherein said driven plate assembly comprises a driven plate and a disk-like inertia plate fixed to said driven plate, wherein portions of said driven plate assembly that contacts said bearing is said has said disk-like inertia plate which is fixed to said hub and is supported on said bearing.

14. The power coupling mechanism as in claim 13, wherein an annular housing is disposed in a radially outward portion of said annular chamber and said driven plate is formed with a radially outwardly extending protrusion that extends into a portion of said annular housing.

15. The power coupling mechanism as in claim 14, further comprising:

a slider disposed in said annular housing, said protrusion of said driven plate extending into said slider; and

wherein,

in response to relative rotation between said driven plate assembly and said drive plate assembly in a first angular displacement range, said protrusion is circumferentially displaced within said slider, and

in response to relative rotation between said driven plate assembly and said drive plate assembly in a second angular displacement range greater than said first angular displacement range, said protrusion is engagable with said slider causing circumferential displacement of said slider with said protrusion.

16. The power coupling mechanism as in claim 15, further comprising:

at least one coil spring disposed in said annular chamber radially inward from said annular housing, said coil spring being disposed between portions of said first and second drive plates and said driven plate, said coil spring being compressible in response to relative rotation between said driven plate assembly and said drive plate assembly.