Bearings for use in torsional vibration dampers

Apparatus for damping torsional vibrations, comprising an input member;

• an output member rotatable with and relative to said input member about a common axis, said members having annular surfaces which overlie each other in the direction of said axis;
• resilient means for yieldably opposing rotation of said input and output members relative to each other;
• means for centering said input and output members relative to each other, comprising a radial bearing having a sleeve with an internal surface complementary and adjacent to one of said annular surfaces and an external surface complementary and adjacent to the other of said annular surfaces, and a thrust bearing interposed between said input and output members, said sleeve being located at a first radial distance from said axis and said thrust bearing being located at a different second radial distance from said axis;
• and at least one layer of friction reducing material on at least one of said surfaces.

Apparatus for damping torsional vibrations, comprising an input member;

• an output member rotatable with and relative to said input member about a common axis, said input and output members respectively comprising primary and secondary flywheels and having annular surfaces which overlie each other in the direction of said axis;
• resilient means for yieldably opposing rotation of said input and output members relative to each other;
• means for centering said input and output members relative to each other, comprising a radial bearing having a sleeve with an internal surface complementary and adjacent to one of said annular surfaces and an external surface complementary and adjacent to the other of said annular surfaces, and a thrust bearing interposed between said input and output members, said sleeve being located at a first radial distance from said axis and said thrust bearing being located at a second radial distance from said axis less than said first distance;
• and means for connecting said primary flywheel with a rotary output component of a prime mover in a power train of a motor vehicle, said secondary flywheel being connectable with a rotary input component of a transmission in said power train and having at least one opening affording access to said connecting means, said at least one opening being located at a third radial distance from said axis greater than said second radial distance and less than said first radial distance.

Apparatus for damping torsional vibrations, comprising an input member;

• an output member rotatable with and relative to said input member about a common axis, said members having annular surfaces which overlie each other in the direction of said axis;
• resilient means for yieldably opposing rotation of said input and output members relative to each other;
• means for centering said input and output members relative to each other, comprising a radial bearing having a sleeve with an internal surface complementary and adjacent to one of said annular surfaces and an external surface complementary and adjacent to the other of said annular surfaces, and a thrust bearing interposed between said input and output members, said sleeve being located at a first radial distance from said axis and said thrust bearing being located at a different second radial distance from said axis, said thrust bearing comprising a collar located in a plane which is at least substantially normal to said common axis and being received between neighboring annular surfaces of said input and output members;
• and at least one layer of friction reducing material provided on said collar adjacent at least one of said annular surfaces.