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US 4,210,234 AGranted
Torsional vibration damper
AssigneeGeneral Motors Corporation
InventorMilford F. Jones
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A torsional vibration damper for use with a friction clutch incorporating torsional springs in a closed retainer housing. One end of each spring is driven by the retainer housing while the other end drives the output hub. The springs provide a resilient drive through a predetermined amount of relative angular movement between the retainer and the output hub after which movement the spring ends are in abutting relation so that a mechanical drive is present and overstressing of the springs is prevented. Preferably, the springs are used in pairs with each spring being less than a 360.degree. arc.
Claims3
A torque transmitting clutch and damper assembly comprising;
- an annular friction disc;
- an annular retainer member having an outer diameter secured to said friction disc, an inner diameter, and a pair of axially offset radially extending circumferentially spaced drive tangs disposed between the inner and outer diameters;
- an output hub coaxial with said retainer having a pair of radially extending circumferentially spaced driven tangs each being parallel to and axially displaced from one or the other of said drive tangs respectively when said clutch and damper assembly is not transmitting torque;
- and preloaded torsion spring means having a pair of circumferentially spaced ends with each end having a surface extending radially inward and engageable with one or the other sets of said drive and driven tangs respectively to maintain a prededetermined circumferential space between said respective sets of drive and driven tangs when no torque is being transmitted by said clutch and damper assembly and for permitting relative angular movement between said retainer member and said output hub while transmitting torque therebetween, said spring ends being urged into abutting relation after a predetermined amount of relative angular movement occurs to prevent further relative angular movement between said retainer member and said output hub.
1 more element
A torque transmitting clutch and damper assembly comprising;
- an annular friction disc;
- an annular retainer member having an outer diameter secured to said friction disc, an inner diameter, and a pair of axially offset radially extending circumferentially spaced drive tangs disposed between the inner and outer diameters;
- an output hub coaxial with said retainer having a pair of radially extending circumferentially spaced driven tangs each being parallel to and axially displaced from one or the other of said drive tangs respectively when said clutch and damper assembly is not transmitting torque;
- and preloaded torsion spring means having a pair of circumferentially spaced radially inward directed ends engageable with one or the other sets of said drive and driven tangs respectively to maintain a predetermined circumferential space between said respective sets of drive and driven tangs when no torque is being transmitted by said clutch and damper assembly and for permitting relative angular movement between said retainer member and said output hub while transmitting torque therebetween, said spring ends being urged into abutting relation after a predetermined amount of relative angular movement occurs to prevent further relative angular movement between said retainer member and said output hub.
1 more element
A torque transmitting clutch and damper assembly comprising;
- an annular friction disc;
- an annular retainer member having an outer diameter secured to said friction disc, an inner diameter, and a pair of axially offset radially extending circumferentially spaced drive tangs disposed between the inner and outer diameters;
- an output hub coaxial with said retainer having a pair of radially extending circumferentially spaced driven tangs each being parallel to and axially displaced from one or the other of said drive tangs respectively when said clutch and damper assembly is not transmitting torque;
- and preloaded torsion spring means having a pair of circumferentially spaced ends with each end having a surface extending radially inward and engageable with one or the other sets of said drive and driven tangs respectively to maintain a predetermined circumferential space between said respective sets of drive and driven tangs when no torque is being transmitted by said clutch and damper assembly and for permitting relative angular movement between said retainer member and said output hub while transmitting torque therebetween and maintaining contact with one of the drive or driven tangs during torque transmission, and each spring means having an arcuate recess adjacent said radially inward extending surface to accommodate the drive or driven tang not in contact with the spring means during torque transmission, said spring ends being urged into abutting relation after a predetermined amount of relative angular movement occurs to prevent further relative angular movement between said retainer member and said output hub.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.