Elastic clutch
AssigneeJ. M. Voith GmbH
InventorViktor Kuhne
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In an elastic clutch of disk design, particularly a split flywheel for an internal combustion engine, a coupling including an oblong spring is arranged between two coupling halves that are mutually rotatable. Essentially stretched in relaxed condition, the spring is subdivided in two or more partial sections by wedge-shaped spring cups, the longitudinal axes of which partial sections have relative to one another a buckled arrangement. Obtained in this way is a spring favorable for specific operating conditions, with a low spring stiffness, but with the spring being composed of essentially straight-line partial sections. Provided thereby is a spring that can be manufactured at low cost, which, in operation, is favorably stressed and not subjected to any wear.
Claims18
A coupling for an elastic disk-type clutch with two halves, for two masses of a split flywheel for an internal combustion engine, which masses are allowed a limited mutual rotation against the force of elastic coupling elements, said elastic coupling elements arranged in several cutouts distributed across the circumference, each said elastic coupling element comprising a single, integral oblong helical spring subdivided in axial direction into partial sections by means of at least one wedge-shaped spring cup forming a bend in said spring separating said partial sections, the wedge-shaped spring cup being disposed between two adjacent windings of the spring in the outer winding area thereof, each said partial section defining a straight-line longitudinal axis having a radius of curvature that is substantially infinite, the wedge-shaped spring cup forming a side guide of the spring within the two halves, the cutout supporting spring plates adapted to support ends of the spring.
A coupling for elastic disk-type clutch comprising:
- two halves allowed a limited degree of rotation relative to each other, said halves defining an axis of rotation;
- an oblong, helical spring disposed between said first and second halves for elastically limiting relative motion between said first and second halves;
- and
- at least one wedge-shaped cup means for subdividing said spring in an axial direction into a plurality of sub-sections, said cup means being disposed between two adjacent windings of said spring in a radially outer winding area relative to said axis;
- individual said sub-sections being integral with each other and being substantially straight and disposed in a substantially unstressed condition.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.