US 6,044,942 A · Dynamic damper and flywheel assembly

Abstract

Dynamic dampers 10, 50 and 70 can operate in a flywheel assembly of a coupling mechanism 1 to dampen vibrations. Each of the dynamic dampers 10, 50 and 70 has an inner periphery supporting mechanism arranged radially inside of a mass member 11 or 71 for supporting the mass member 11 or 71. This arrangement allows the mass member 11 or 71 to be increased in mass without increasing the sizes of a flywheel assembly. The dynamic damper 10 can dampen both torsional and axial vibrations. The dynamic damper 10 includes a mass member 11, a sub-clutch 13 and an elastic portion assembly 12. The coupling mechanism 1 has a main clutch 3, which is operatively coupled between a crankshaft 8 of an engine and an input shaft 9. The mass member 11 can selectively rotate with the input shaft 9 upon engagement of the sub-clutch 13. The sub-clutch 13 releases an interlocked relationship between the input shaft 9 and the mass member 11 when the main clutch 3 disengages the crankshaft 8 from the input shaft. The elastic portion assembly 12 includes at least one rubber member, which elastically couples the input shaft 9 and the mass member 11 together in the rotating and axial directions when the sub-clutch 13 interlocks the input shaft 9 and the mass member 11 together. The dynamic damper 50 is to the dynamic damper 10, except that a pair of curved springs 61 are used instead of rubber members. The dynamic damper 70 includes a mass member 71, a sub-clutch 13 and coil springs 72. The coil springs 72 elastically couple the input shaft 9 and the mass member 71 in the rotating direction when the input shaft 9 and the mass member 71 are interlocked together by the sub-clutch 13.

Claims38

Dependent claims

A dynamic damper assembly adapted to be employed in a coupling mechanism including a main clutch coupled between a crankshaft of an engine and an input shaft of a transmission, and being adapted to rotate with the input shaft of the transmission, said dynamic damper assembly comprising:

a mass portion adapted to rotate with the input shaft of the transmission, said mass portion having an inner radial portion and an outer radial portion, said mass portion being radially supported at said inner radial portion;
a sub-clutch having a first part operatively coupled to said mass portion and a second part adapted to be coupled to the input shaft to release the input shaft of the transmission from said mass portion when the main clutch disengages the crankshaft of the engine from the input shaft of the transmission, said first part of said sub-clutch having an input plate with an inner end fixedly coupled thereto and extending radially outwardly therefrom, said input plate having an axial length and a radial length with said radial length being greater than said axial length to space said mass portion radially outwardly from said sub-clutch by a distance greater than said axial length of said input plate;
and
an elastic portion having at least two elastic elements elastically coupled between said mass portion and said input plate for coupling the input shaft of the transmission and said mass portion in a rotating direction when the input shaft of the transmission and said mass portion are interlocked together by said sub-clutch.

1 more element

a mass portion adapted to rotate with the input shaft of the transmission, said mass portion having an inner radial portion and an outer radial portion, said mass portion being radially supported at said inner radial portion;
a sub-clutch having a first part coupled to said mass portion and a second part adapted to be coupled to the input shaft to release the input shaft of the transmission from said mass portion when the main clutch disengages the crankshaft of the engine from the input shaft of the transmission;
an elastic portion elastically coupling the input shaft of the transmission and said mass portion in a rotating direction when the input shaft of the transmission and said mass portion are interlocked together by said sub-clutch;
an input plate releasably coupled to said second part of said sub-clutch;
and
a support plate having an outer peripheral portion supporting said mass portion and an inner peripheral portion engaged with said input plate, and thereby radially supporting said mass portion with respect to the input shaft of the transmission,
said elastic portion including at least one coil spring coupling said input plate to said support plate,
said input plate being provided with a projected portion projecting radially outward for engagement with an end of said coil spring, said input plate having a radially outer end in contact with said support plate.

5 more elements

A flywheel assembly adapted to be employed in a coupling mechanism including a main clutch coupled between a crankshaft of an engine and an input shaft of a transmission, and being adapted to rotate with the input shaft of the transmission, said flywheel assembly comprising:

a flywheel coupled non-rotatably to a crankshaft of the engine, and disengageably coupled to a clutch disk assembly coupled to the input shaft of the transmission;
a mass portion adapted to rotate with the input shaft of the transmission, said mass portion having an inner radial portion and an outer radial portion, said mass portion being radially supported at said inner radial portion;
a sub-clutch having a first part operatively coupled to said mass portion and a second part adapted to be coupled to the input shaft to release the input shaft of the transmission from said mass portion when the main clutch disengages the crankshaft of the engine from the input shaft of the transmission, said first part of said sub-clutch having an input plate with an inner end fixedly coupled thereto and extending radially therefrom, said input plate having an axial length and a radial length with said radial length being greater than said axial length to space said mass portion radially outwardly from said sub-clutch by a distance greater than said axial length of said input plate;
and
an elastic portion having at least two elastic elements elastically coupled between said mass portion and said input plate for coupling the input shaft of the transmission and said mass portion in a rotating direction when the input shaft of the transmission and said mass portion are interlocked together by said sub-clutch.

2 more elements

a flywheel coupled non-rotatably to a crankshaft of the engine, and disengageably coupled to a clutch disk assembly coupled to the input shaft of the transmission;
a mass portion adapted to rotate with the input shaft of the transmission, said mass portion having an inner radial portion and an outer radial portion, said mass portion being radially supported at said inner radial portion;
a sub-clutch having a first part coupled to said mass portion and a second part adapted to be coupled to the input shaft to release the input shaft of the transmission from said mass portion when the main clutch disengages the crankshaft of the engine from the input shaft of the transmission;
an elastic portion elastically coupling the input shaft of the transmission and said mass portion in a rotating direction when the input shaft of the transmission and said mass portion are interlocked together by said sub-clutch;
an input plate releasably coupled to said second part of said sub-clutch;
and
a support plate having an outer peripheral portion supporting said mass portion and an inner peripheral portion engaged with said input plate, and thereby radially supporting said mass portion with respect to the input shaft of the transmission,
said elastic portion including at least one coil spring coupling said input plate to said support plate,
said input plate being provided with a projected portion projecting radially outward for engagement with an end of said coil spring, said input plate having a radially outer end in contact with said support plate.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Dynamic damper and flywheel assembly

Life of this patent

Dynamic damper and flywheel assembly

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims38