Apparatus for transmitting torque in the power trains of motor vehicles

A torque transmitting apparatus for use in motor vehicles, comprising a first rotary flywheel connectable with an engine of a vehicle;

• a second rotary flywheel connectable with a transmission of the vehicle by a friction clutch having a cover;
• and at least one damper operative to oppose rotation of said flywheels relative to each other and disposed in an annular chamber which is defined at least in part by one of said flywheels and is disposed radially outwardly of said cover.

A torque transmitting apparatus for use in motor vehicles, comprising a first rotary flywheel connectable with an engine of a vehicle;

• a second rotary flywheel connectable with a transmission of the vehicle by a friction clutch;
• at least one damper operative to oppose rotation of said flywheels relative to each other and disposed in an annular chamber defined at least in part by one of said flywheels;
• and at least one thermal barrier between said second flywheel and said chamber.

A torque transmitting apparatus for use in motor vehicles, comprising a first rotary flywheel connectable with an engine of a vehicle;

• a second rotary flywheel connectable with a transmission of the vehicle by a friction clutch having a cover with an axially extending portion surrounding said second flywheel, a pressure plate axially movably connected with said cover, a clutch plate between said second flywheel and said pressure plate and at least one spring reacting against said cover and bearing against said pressure plate to urge the clutch plate against said second flywheel, said second flywheel having a peripheral surface within said axially extending portion;
• means for connecting said second flywheel to said cover including at least one substantially cruciform recess in said peripheral surface and a projection provided on said axially extending portion and extending into said recess;
• and at least one damper operative to oppose rotation of said flywheels relative to each other.

A torque transmitting apparatus comprising a first rotary flywheel connectable with an engine;

• a second rotary flywheel connectable with and disconnectable from a transmission by a friction clutch;
• an antifriction bearing between said flywheels;
• and at least one damper operative to oppose rotation of said flywheels relative to each other and disposed in an annular chamber defined at least in part by said first flywheel, said damper including energy storing elements acting in the circumferential direction of said flywheels and said clutch including a cover connected with said second flywheel, said at least one damper further comprising stressing portions which engage said energy storing elements to transmit to the second flywheel only a portion of torque which is transmittable by the apparatus.

A torque transmitting apparatus for use in motor vehicles, comprising a first rotary flywheel connectable with an engine of a vehicle;

• a second rotary flywheel connectable with a transmission of the vehicle by a friction clutch;
• at least one antifriction bearing between said flywheels;
• and at least one damper operative to oppose rotation of said flywheels relative to each other and disposed in an annular chamber defined at least in part by said first flywheel, said damper including energy storing elements acting in the circumferential direction of said flywheels and said clutch including a cover affixed to said second flywheel and including a substantially axially extending portion which at least partially surrounds said second flywheel, said cover being provided with stressing portions extending into said chamber and engaging said energy storing elements.

A torque transmitting apparatus for use in motor vehicles, comprising a first rotary flywheel connectable with an engine of a vehicle;

• a second rotary flywheel connectable with a transmission of the vehicle by a friction clutch and including a substantially radially extending friction surface having a radially outermost portion and a radially innermost portion;
• at least one antifriction bearing between said flywheels;
• and at least one damper operative to oppose rotation of said flywheels relative to each other and disposed in an annular chamber defined at least in part by said first flywheel and being at least substantially sealed from the atmosphere, said chamber having a radially inner portion extending radially inwardly from the outermost portion toward the innermost portion of said friction surface and terminating at most midway between said innermost and outermost portions, said damper including energy storing elements acting in the circumferential direction of said flywheels and said clutch including a cover affixed to said second flywheel and provided with stressing portions extending into said chamber and engaging said energy storing elements, said friction clutch further including a pressure plate on said cover and a clutch plate between said pressure plate and said friction surface.

A torque transmitting apparatus for use in motor vehicles, comprising a first rotary flywheel connectable with an engine of a vehicle and including a portion which is immediately adjacent the engine;

• a second rotary flywheel connectable with a transmission of the vehicle by a friction clutch and having a substantially radially extending friction surface adjacent a clutch plate of said clutch, said second flywheel including a portion which is immediately adjacent said first flywheel and defines therewith a narrow clearance extending radially of said flywheels;
• at least one antifriction bearing between said flywheels;
• and at least one damper operative to oppose rotation of said flywheels relative to each other and disposed in an annular chamber defined at least in part by said first flywheel, said damper including energy storing elements acting in the circumferential direction of said flywheels and said clutch including a cover affixed to said second flywheel and provided with stressing portions extending into said chamber and engaging said energy storing elements.

A torque transmitting apparatus for use in motor vehicles, comprising a first rotary flywheel connectable with an engine of a vehicle;

• a second rotary flywheel connectable with a transmission of the vehicle by a friction clutch, said flywheels having portions which are immediately adjacent each other and define a narrow clearance and said second flywheel further having a friction surface adjacent a clutch plate of said friction clutch, said portion of said second flywheel having at least one opening disposed radially inwardly of said friction surface and communicating with said clearance;
• at least one antifriction bearing between said flywheels;
• and at least one damper operative to oppose rotation of said flywheels relative to each other and disposed in an annular chamber defined at least in part by said first flywheel, said damper including energy storing elements acting in the circumferential direction of said flywheels and said clutch further including a cover affixed to said second flywheel and provided with stressing portions extending into said chamber and engaging said energy storing elements.

A torque transmitting apparatus for use in motor vehicles, comprising a first rotary flywheel connectable with an engine of a vehicle;

• a second rotary flywheel connectable with a transmission of the vehicle by a friction clutch, said flywheels defining a passage for a component of the transmission;
• at least one antifriction bearing between said flywheels, said passage being surrounded by said at least one bearing and said first flywheel having first holes disposed radially outwardly of said passage to receive rotary fasteners which secure the first flywheel to a rotary output element of the engine, said first openings being disposed radially outwardly of said at least one bearing and said second flywheel having second openings in at least partial alignment with said first openings to afford access to said fasteners extending into said first openings;
• and at least one damper operative to oppose rotation of said flywheels relative to each other and disposed in an annular chamber defined at least in part by said first flywheel, said at least one damper including energy storing elements acting in the circumferential direction of said flywheels and said clutch including a cover affixed to said second flywheel and provided with stressing portions extending into said chamber and engaging said energy storing elements.

A torque transmitting apparatus for use in motor vehicles, comprising a first rotary flywheel connectable with an engine of a vehicle;

• a second rotary flywheel connectable with a transmission of the vehicle by a friction clutch;
• at least one antifriction bearing between said flywheels;
• and at least one damper operative to oppose rotation of said flywheels relative to each other and disposed in an annular chamber defined at least in part by said first flywheel, said at least one damper including energy storing elements acting in the circumferential direction of said flywheels and said clutch including a cover affixed to said second flywheel and provided with stressing portions extending into said chamber and engaging said energy storing elements, said cover including an axially extending radially outer portion and said chamber surrounding said axially extending portion.

A torque transmitting apparatus for use in motor vehicles, comprising a first rotary flywheel connectable with an engine of a vehicle;

• a second rotary flywheel connectable with a transmission of the vehicle by a friction clutch;
• at least one antifriction bearing between said flywheels;
• and at least one damper operative to oppose rotation of said flywheels relative to each other and disposed in an annular chamber defined at least in part by said first flywheel, said at least one damper including energy storing elements acting in the circumferential direction of said flywheels and said clutch including a cover affixed to said second flywheel and provided with stressing portions extending into said chamber and engaging said energy storing elements, said cover including an axially extending radially outer portion and said stressing portions being provided on said axially extending portion, said stressing portions being disposed substantially radially of said axially extending portion.

A torque transmitting apparatus for use in motor vehicles, comprising a first rotary flywheel connectable with an engine of a vehicle;

• a second rotary flywheel connectable with a transmission of the vehicle by a friction clutch;
• at least one antifriction bearing between said flywheels;
• and at least one damper operative to oppose rotation of said flywheels relative to each other and disposed in an annular chamber defined at least in part by said first flywheel, said at least one damper including energy storing elements acting in the circumferential direction of said flywheels and said clutch including a cover affixed to said second flywheel and provided with stressing portions extending into said chamber and engaging said energy storing elements, said cover including an axially extending radially outer portion and said energy storing elements being radially outwardly adjacent said axially extending portion.