Apparatus for damping vibrations

Apparatus for damping vibrations between an engine and a power train, comprising:

• a first flywheel connectable with the engine;
• a second flywheel connectable with the power train by way of a clutch, said flywheels being rotatable relative to each other;
• a damper device between said flywheels, said first flywheel constituting an input member and said second flywheel constituting an output member of said damper device, one of said flywheels including a housing defining at least one compartment having a substantially closed cross-sectional outline, said damper device including at least one damper having a plurality of deformable arcuate energy storing elements provided in said compartment, each of said energy storing elements having two end portions and an intermediate portion between the respective end portions, each of said energy storing elements extending along an arc of at least 45.degree., said housing closely conforming to the outlines of said energy storing elements and said at least one damper further having means for deforming said energy storing elements, said deforming means including at least one first abutment provided on said housing and located in said compartment and a flange rotatable with the other of said flywheels and having at least one second abutment in said compartment, said damper device further comprising a supply of viscous fluid medium at least partially filling said compartment;
• and
• wear reducing means including at least one insert provided in said compartment and engageable by said intermediate portions of said energy storing elements under the action of centrifugal force during rotation of said flywheels.

Apparatus for damping vibrations between an engine and a clutch in a power train, comprising a first flywheel connectable with the engine;

• a second flywheel rotatable relative to the first flywheel and having a friction surface engageable with a clutch plate of the clutch;
• at least one damper device including an input component constituted by said first flywheel, an output component constituted by said second flywheel, a chamber including a radially outer portion constituting a compartment, a supply of viscous medium which at least partially fills said compartment, and a plurality of energy storing elements which are disposed and supported in said compartment, said chamber having internal surfaces bounding said compartment and including radially outer portions positioned to oppose radially outward movements of the energy storing elements under the action of centrifugal force when said flywheels rotate and to thus produce a frictional damping action between said flywheels, said flywheels being rotatable relative to each other against the resistance of said energy storing elements and said energy storing elements including at least one helical coil spring means, said at least one damper device further having means for deforming said at least one helical coil spring means including at least one first abutment provided in said chamber and located in said compartment and a flange rotatable with one of said flywheels and having at least one second abutment;
• and wear reducing means provided in said compartment between said at least one helical coil spring means and said radially outer portions of said internal surfaces, including at least one wear reducing member in contact with the viscous medium.