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

• US 6,149,525 A
• Filed: 08/02/1999
• Issued: 11/21/2000
• 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): Browne, Lynne H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BINDA, GREGORY JOHN
• Application Number:
  US09/365,399
• Time in Patent Office: 477 Days
• Field of Search: 192/208, 74/574, 464/24, 464/68
• 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 power coupling mechanism disposed between a crankshaft of a rotary power producing device and a transmission comprising:

a flexible disk-like plate having a plurality of bolt holes radially spaced apart from one another defining a pitch circle, said flexible disk-like plate boltable to a crankshaft of a rotary power producing device via said bolt holes;

a ring element connected to an outer radial portion of said flexible disk-like plate;

first and second power input plates fixed to said ring element, said first and second power input plates at least partially defining a fluid filled chamber that encloses a dampening mechanism, said dampening mechanism including an annular housing formed with a pair of opposing axially extending annular protrusions that extend toward one another, said annular housing being disposed within said fluid filled chamber and fixed to said first and second power input plates;

a driven plate at least partially extending into said annular housing, said dampening mechanism coupling said first and second power input plates to said driven plate together for limited relative rotary displacement therebetween, said driven plate being formed with a pair of annular grooves engaging and inter-fitting with said annular protrusions such that engagement between said annular protrusions and said annular grooves confines said driven plate against axial and radial movement with respect to said first and second power input plates and provides structural support against thrust and radial forces experienced by the power coupling mechanism; and

an annular metallic seal fixed to said driven plate and biased to engage said second power input plate to seal said fluid filled chamber.

2. A power coupling mechanism disposed between a crankshaft of a rotary power producing device and a transmission comprising:

a flexible disk-like plate having a plurality of bolt holes radially spaced apart from one another defining a pitch circle, said flexible disk-like plate boltable to a crankshaft of a rotary power producing device via said bolt holes;

a ring element connected to an outer radial portion of said flexible disk-like plate;

first and second power input plates fixed to said ring element, said first and second power input plates at least partially defining a fluid filled chamber that encloses a dampening mechanism, said dampening mechanism including an annular housing formed with a pair of opposing axially extending annular protrusions that extend toward one another and at least one cup-like slider slidably disposed within said annular housing, said annular housing being disposed within said fluid filled chamber and fixed to said first and second power input plates;

a driven plate at least partially extending into said annular housing, said dampening mechanism coupling said first and second power input plates to said driven plate together for limited relative rotary displacement therebetween, said driven plate being formed with at least one radially extending protrusion which extends into said cup-like slider and a pair of annular grooves engaging and inter-fitting with said annular protrusions such that engagement between said annular protrusions and said annular grooves confines said driven plate against axial and radial movement with respect to said first and second power input plates and provides structural support against thrust and radial forces experienced by the power coupling mechanism, said slider defining two large cells within said annular housing and said protrusion defining two small cells within said cup-like slider, said annular housing and said large and small cells being 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 annular housing.

3. A power coupling mechanism disposed between a crankshaft of a rotary power producing device and a transmission comprising:

a flexible disk-like plate having a plurality of bolt holes radially spaced apart from one another defining a pitch circle, said flexible disk-like plate boltable to a crankshaft of a rotary power producing device via said bolt holes;

a ring element connected to an outer radial portion of said flexible disk-like plate;

first and second power input plates fixed to said ring element, said first and second power input plates at least partially defining a fluid filled chamber that encloses a dampening mechanism, said dampening mechanism including an annular housing formed with a pair of opposing axially extending annular protrusions that extend toward one another, said annular housing being disposed within said fluid filled chamber and fixed to said first and second power input plates;

a center hub coupled to and supporting said first power input plate, said center hub extending through a center hole formed in said flexible disk-like plate;

a driven plate at least partially extending into said annular housing, said dampening mechanism coupling said first and second power input plates to said driven plate together for limited relative rotary displacement therebetween, said driven plate being formed with a pair of annular grooves engaging and inter-fitting with said annular protrusions such that engagement between said annular protrusions and said annular grooves confines said driven plate against axial and radial movement with respect to said first and second power input plates and provides structural support against thrust and radial forces experienced by the power coupling mechanism; and

a bearing having inner and outer races, said inner race being mounted on a portion of said center hub and said driven plate being rigidly coupled to said outer race, said bearing having a diameter smaller than said pitch circle.

4. A power coupling mechanism disposed between a crankshaft of a rotary power producing device and a transmission comprising:

a flexible disk-like plate having a plurality of bolt holes radially spaced apart from one another defining a pitch circle, said flexible disk-like plate boltable to a crankshaft of a rotary power producing device via said bolt holes;

a ring element connected to an outer radial portion of said flexible disk-like plate;

first and second power input plates fixed to said ring element, said first and second power input plates at least partially defining a fluid filled chamber that encloses a dampening mechanism, said first power input plate being formed with a center hub that extends through a center hole formed in said flexible disk-like plate and said dampening mechanism including an annular housing formed with a pair of opposing axially extending annular protrusions that extend toward one another, said annular housing being disposed within said fluid filled chamber and fixed to said first and second power input plates;

a driven plate at least partially extending into said annular housing, said dampening mechanism coupling said first and second power input plates to said driven plate together for limited relative rotary displacement therebetween, said driven plate being formed with a pair of annular grooves engaging and inter-fitting with said annular protrusions such that engagement between said annular protrusions and said annular grooves confines said driven plate against axial and radial movement with respect to said first and second power input plates and provides structural support against thrust and radial forces experienced by the power coupling mechanism.