Torque fluctuation absorbing apparatus having structure for reducing misalignment of torque limiter during assembling thereof, and method for assembling the same

A torque fluctuation absorbing apparatus provided between a crankshaft of an engine and a driven-side input shaft, comprising:

• a flywheel coupled to the crankshaft;
• a damper assembly disposed in a torque transmission path between the flywheel and the driven-side input shaft, the damper assembly including a pair of drive plates, a driven plate and at least one spring damper;
• and
• torque limiter disposed in a torque transmission path between the flywheel and the damper assembly, the torque limiter including a pair of linings that are adapted to slip when receiving at least a predetermined amount of torque,
• wherein the linings of the torque limiter are fixed to one of the drive plates of the damper assembly, and the torque limiter includes a pair of damper covers between which the linings are interposed, and
• wherein the drive plates and the damper covers are centered with each other and assembled into a damper-torque limiter assembly, while the damper covers are centered with respect to the flywheel, such that the damper-torque limiter assembly is fixed at the damper covers to the flywheel.

A torque fluctuation absorbing apparatus provided between a crankshaft of an engine and a driven-side input shaft, comprising:

• a flywheel coupled to the crankshaft;
• a damper assembly disposed in a torque transmission path between the flywheel and the driven-side input shaft, the damper assembly including a pair of drive plates, a driven plate and at least one spring damper;
• and
• a torque limiter disposed in a torque transmission path between the flywheel and the damper assembly, the torque limiter including a pair of linings that are adapted to slip when receiving at least a predetermined amount of torque,
• wherein the linings of the torque limiter are fixed to one of the drive plates, and the linings are interposed between the flywheel and a damper cover that forms a part of the torque limiter, while the flywheel includes a flywheel main body and a flywheel plate that are fastened to each other;
• wherein the drive plates, the linings and the damper cover are centered with respect to the flywheel main body, and are assembled together to provide an assembly of the flywheel main body, the damper assembly and the torque limiter;
• wherein, after the engine is assembled with the drive-side input shaft, the assembly of the flywheel main body, the damper assembly and the torque limiter is fastened to the flywheel plate that is fixed to the crankshaft.

A torque fluctuation absorbing apparatus provided between a crankshaft of an engine and a driven-side input shaft, comprising:

• a flywheel coupled to the crankshaft;
• a damper assembly disposed in a torque transmission path between the flywheel and the driven-side input shaft, the damper assembly including a pair of drive plates, a driven plate and at least one spring damper;
• and
• a torque limiter disposed in a torque transmission path between the flywheel and the damper assembly, the torque limiter including a pair of linings that are adapted to slip when receiving at least a predetermined amount of torque,
• wherein the driven-side input shaft includes an axially protruding portion at a distal end thereof, and the crankshaft has a recess formed in a distal end portion thereof, and a bearing that is fitted in the recess,
• wherein the axially protruding portion is received in an inner bore of the bearing, and an elastic material is provided between the bearing and the crankshaft or between the bearing and the axially protruding portion.

A torque fluctuation absorbing apparatus provided between a crankshaft of an engine and a driven-side input shaft, comprising:

• a flywheel coupled to the crankshaft;
• a damper assembly disposed in a torque transmission path between the flywheel and the driven-side input shaft, the damper assembly including a pair of drive plates, a driven plate and at least one spring damper;
• a torque limiter disposed in a torque transmission path between the flywheel and the damper assembly, the torque limiter including a pair of linings that are adapted to slip when receiving at least a predetermined amount of torque;
• a bearing that is fitted in a recess formed in a distal end portion of the crankshaft;
• and
• a drive plate support member that supports the drive plates, the drive plate support member having a first end that is fitted in an inner circumferential wall of the bearing and a second end that is fixed to one of the drive plates.

A torque fluctuation absorbing apparatus provided between a crankshaft of an engine and a driven-side input shaft, comprising:

• a flywheel coupled to the crankshaft;
• a damper assembly disposed in a torque transmission path between the flywheel and the driven-side input shaft, the damper assembly including a pair of drive plates, a driven plate and at least one spring damper;
• a torque limiter disposed in a torque transmission path between the flywheel and the damper assembly, the torque limiter including a pair of linings that are adapted to slip when receiving at least a predetermined amount of torque;
• a bearing that is fitted in a recess formed in a distal end portion of the crankshaft;
• and
• a driven plate support member that supports the driven plate, the driven plate support member having a first end that is fitted in an inner circumferential wall of the bearing and a second end that is fixed to the driven plate.

A method of assembling a torque fluctuation absorbing apparatus including:

• (1) a flywheel coupled to a crankshaft of an engine, (2) a damper assembly disposed in a torque transmission path between the flywheel and a driven-side input shaft, the damper assembly including a pair of drive plates, a driven plate and at least one spring damper, and (3) a torque limiter disposed in a torque transmission path between the flywheel and the damper assembly, the torque limiter including a pair of linings that are adapted to slip when receiving at least a predetermined amount of torque, comprising:
• temporarily centering the drive plates to which the linings are fixed and the driven plate with each other;
• and
• centering the damper assembly in which the drive plates and the driven plate are centered with each other, with respect to the flywheel, (by using a jig), and fixing the damper assembly to the flywheel via a damper cover that forms a part of the torque limiter.

A method of assembling a torque fluctuation absorbing apparatus including:

• (1) a flywheel coupled to a crankshaft of an engine, (2) a damper assembly disposed in a torque transmission path between the flywheel and a driven-side input shaft, the damper assembly including a pair of drive plates, a driven plate and at least one spring damper, and (3) a torque limiter disposed in a torque transmission path between the flywheel and the damper assembly, the torque limiter including a pair of linings that are adapted to slip when receiving at least a predetermined amount of torque, comprising:
• centering the drive plates to which the linings are fixed, with respect to the flywheel;
• and
• fixing the damper assembly that is centered with respect to the flywheel, to the flywheel, by a damper cover that forms a part of the torque limiter.

A method of assembling a torque fluctuation absorbing apparatus including:

• (1) a flywheel coupled to a crankshaft of an engine, (2) a damper assembly disposed in a torque transmission path between the flywheel and a driven-side input shaft, the damper assembly including a pair of drive plates, a driven plate and at least one spring damper, and (3) a torque limiter disposed in a torque transmission path between the flywheel and the damper assembly, the torque limiter including a pair of linings that are adapted to slip when receiving at least a predetermined amount of torque, comprising:
• engaging the engine with the driven-side input shaft;
• and
• then forcing the torque fluctuation absorbing apparatus to resonate under control, so as to cause the torque limiter to slip, thereby reducing misalignment of the torque limiter during assembling of the torque fluctuation absorbing apparatus.

A method of assembling a torque fluctuation absorbing apparatus including:

• (1) a flywheel coupled to a crankshaft of an engine, (2) a damper assembly disposed in a torque transmission path between the flywheel and a driven-side input shaft, the damper assembly including a pair of drive plates, a driven plate and at least one spring damper, and (3) a torque limiter disposed in a torque transmission path between the flywheel and the damper assembly, the torque limiter including a pair of linings that are adapted to slip when receiving at least a predetermined amount of torque, comprising:
• engaging the engine with the driven-side input shaft;
• and
• then temporarily reducing an amount of torque that is required for causing slippage of the torque limiter, so as to permit the torque limiter to slip, thereby reducing misalignment of the torque limiter during assembling of the torque fluctuation absorbing apparatus.