Torque limiting flex plate assembly
AssigneeFca US LLC
InventorsAndrew R Lessley, Michael E Fingerman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A torque limiting flex plate assembly includes a flex plate configured to couple to a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine of a vehicle, and a torque limiting clutch assembly integrated with the flex plate. The torque limiting clutch assembly is in frictional engagement with the flex plate such that the torque limiting clutch assembly and the flex plate are coupled for common rotation during normal engine operation. Upon receiving a torque spike from a transmission input shaft, the torque limiting clutch assembly is configured to slip such that the flex plate and the torque limiting clutch assembly rotate independently at different speeds to thereby prevent the torque spike from being transferred through the flex plate to the internal combustion engine.
Claims16
A torque limiting flex plate assembly for a vehicle, comprising:
- a flex plate configured to couple to a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine of the vehicle;
- and
- a torque limiting clutch assembly integrated with the flex plate and including a housing plate, a mating plate, and a torque limiting clutch disposed between the housing plate and the mating plate, the torque limiting clutch in frictional engagement with the flex plate,
- wherein the torque limiting clutch includes a pair of opposed clutch discs disposed on either side of the flex plate,
- wherein the torque limiting clutch assembly is in frictional engagement with the flex plate such that the torque limiting clutch assembly and the flex plate are coupled for common rotation during normal engine operation, and
- wherein upon receiving a torque spike from a transmission input shaft, the torque limiting clutch assembly is configured to slip such that the flex plate and the torque limiting clutch assembly rotate independently at different speeds to thereby prevent the torque spike from being transferred through the flex plate to the internal combustion engine.
A drivetrain for a vehicle, comprising:
- an internal combustion engine having a crankshaft;
- a transmission having an input shaft;
- and
- a torque limiting flex plate assembly operably disposed between the crankshaft and the transmission input shaft, comprising:
- a flex plate coupled to the crankshaft;
- and
- a torque limiting clutch assembly integrated with the flex plate and including a housing plate, a mating plate, and a torque limiting clutch disposed between the housing plate and the mating plate, the torque limiting clutch in frictional engagement with the flex plate,
- wherein the torque limiting clutch includes a pair of opposed clutch discs disposed on either side of the flex plate,
- wherein the torque limiting clutch assembly is in frictional engagement with the flex plate such that the torque limiting clutch assembly and the flex plate are coupled for common rotation during normal engine operation, and
- wherein upon receiving a torque spike from the transmission input shaft, the torque limiting clutch assembly is configured to slip such that the flex plate and the torque limiting clutch assembly rotate independently at different speeds to thereby prevent the torque spike from being transferred through the flex plate to the internal combustion engine.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.