Vibration damper with variable spring rate and damping friction
AssigneeBorg-Warner Corporation
InventorEdmund John Radke
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A torsional vibration dampener assembly having resilient means to provide a variable torque output in conjunction with variable damping friction torque. The assembly utilizes a first set of torsion springs to provide a low deflection or displacement rate for a first stage of travel between the input and output members and a second set of springs providing an increased deflection rate for a second stage of travel, and a cooperating cam construction which can be arranged to provide an increase or decrease in damping friction as required in relation to the transmitted torque.
Claims11
A vibration damper assembly for a vehicle friction clutch comprising a hub operatively connected to a driven shaft, a radial flange integral with said hub, a clutch plate rotatably mounted on said hub and terminating at its outer periphery in oppositely disposed friction facings secured thereto, a spring retainer plate rotatably mounted on said hub and secured to said clutch plate for rotation therewith, said clutch plate and said spring retainer plate sandwiching said hub flange, a plurality of circumferentially spaced first aligned openings in said plates and flange, a torsion spring for each set of said first openings providing a first stage of angular displacement, a plurality of circumferentially spaced second aligned openings in said plates and flange, at least one torsion spring for each set of said second openings, the second openings in said hub flange having a greater arcuate dimension than the second openings in the plates thereby providing a second stage of angular displacement, means to limit the extent of arcuate movement of said plates relative to said hub and flange, a plurality of circumferentially spaced raised cam areas on said flange adjacent said hub separated by depressed areas, and a plurality of depressed cam areas on said spring retainer plate adjacent the inner periphery thereof cooperating with the cam areas on the flange, wherein said plates move relative to said flange over said first stage at a low rate of angular displacement and over said second stage at a higher rate of angular displacement, and said cam areas providing a low friction rate and a high friction rate over said displacement stages, said friction rate shifting from one level to the other simultaneously with the change between stages of angular displacement.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.