Damper system for controlled engagement of a torque transfer mechanism
OwnerGarrett Patrick Leachinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Apparatus and method for selectively controlling the response characteristics of a torque transfer mechanism such as an automobile clutch. A damper has an outer housing and an extendable piston rod connected between a linear bearing cartridge and a clutch arm. A retention pin is selectively extended to hold the bearing cartridge while the rod is extended as the clutch arm is moved from an engaged position to a disengaged position. Upon release of the clutch arm, the pin is retracted and the damper applies a damping force upon the clutch arm as the rod is retracted into the housing. The system is particularly suited for engagement of first gear in a drag racing car to provide optimum initial acceleration of the car.
Claims20
An apparatus, comprising:
- a damper comprising an outer housing and a piston rod configured to be extended from the outer housing and retracted into the outer housing in opposition to a damping force, the damper having opposing first and second ends;
- a rail system comprising a stationary track along which a moveable bearing block is configured to rollably advance and retract, the bearing block mechanically coupled to the first end of the damper, the second end of the damper configured to be coupled to a torque transfer element;
- and
- a retention pin configured to be selectively extended to secure the bearing block to the track in a fixed position while the piston rod is extended from the outer housing responsive to transition, by a user, of the torque transfer element between an engaged position to a disengaged position, wherein the retention pin is further configured to be maintained in mechanical engagement, via a friction interface, with the bearing block while the torque transfer element remains in the disengaged position, and wherein the retention pin is further configured to be retracted, via a pin biasing force, responsive to release by the user of the torque transfer element, the damper controlling a rate at which the torque transfer element returns to the engaged position.
A method, comprising:
- securing a damping system to a moveable torque transfer element, the damping system having a damper, a rail system and a retention pin, the damper comprising an outer housing and a piston rod configured to be extended from the outer housing and retracted into the outer housing in opposition to a damping force, the rail system comprising a stationary track along which a moveable bearing block is configured to rollably advance and retract, the bearing block mechanically coupled to a first end of the damper, the torque transfer element mechanically coupled to an opposing second end of the damper;
- extending a retention pin to secure the bearing block to the track in a fixed position;
- transitioning, by a user, the torque transfer element from an engaged position to a disengaged position to extend the piston rod from the outer housing, the retention pin maintaining mechanical engagement, via a friction interface, with the bearing block while the torque transfer element remains in the disengaged position;
- releasing, by the user, the torque transfer element from the disengaged position, thereby facilitating retraction of the retention pin by a pin biasing force responsive to release of the friction interface and transition of the torque transfer element to the engaged position at a rate determined by the damping force of the damper as the piston rod is retracted, by the torque transfer element, into the outer cylinder.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.