Torque transmitting apparatus

A module arranged to be connected to a rotary output element of a prime mover and including at least one primary flywheel rotatable about a predetermined axis, at least one secondary flywheel coaxial and rotatable with and relative to said at least one primary flywheel, a substantially flange-like section forming part of said at least one primary flywheel and extending substantially radially of said axis, and means for securing said section to said output element;

• a damper having energy storing means arranged to yieldably oppose rotation of said primary and secondary flywheels relative to each other, said energy storing means being disposed at a first radial distance and said securing means being disposed at a lesser second radial distance from said axis;
• a transmission having a rotary input element;
• an engageable and disengageable friction clutch including an annular component forming part of said at least one secondary flywheel and having an annular first friction surface, a clutch disc having a second friction surface engaging said first friction surface in the engaged condition of said friction clutch to transmit torque between said annular component and said input element, and a carrier member rotatable relative to said at least one primary flywheel, mounted by way of a bearing on an axial extension of said at least one primary flywheel and coupled to said energy storing means;
• and
• a slip clutch interposed between said carrier member and said annular component of said at least one secondary flywheel.

A flywheel assembly, comprising:

• a module arranged to be connected to a rotary output element of a prime mover and including at least one primary flywheel rotatable about a predetermined axis, at least one secondary flywheel coaxial and rotatable with and relative to said at least one primary flywheel, a substantially flange-like section forming part of said at least one primary flywheel and extending substantially radially of said axis, and means for securing said section to said output element;
• a damper having energy storing means arranged to yieldably oppose rotation of said primary and secondary flywheels relative to each other, said energy storing means being disposed at a first radial distance and said securing means being disposed at a lesser second radial distance from said axis;
• a transmission having a rotary input element;
• and
• an engageable and disengageable friction clutch including an annular component forming part of said at least one secondary flywheel and having an annular first friction surface, a clutch disc having a second friction surface engaging said first friction surface in the engaged condition of said friction clutch to transmit torque between said annular component and said input element, and a carrier member rotatable relative to said at least one primary flywheel, said carrier member being mounted by way of a bearing on an axial extension of said at least one primary flywheel and being coupled to said energy storing means, said bearing being installed between said primary and secondary flywheels and being disposed at a third radial distance from said axis less than said second radial distance.

A flywheel assembly, comprising:

• at least one primary flywheel rotatable about a predetermined axis and arranged to receive torque from a rotary output element of a prime mover;
• at least one secondary flywheel coaxial and rotatable jointly with and relative to said at least one primary flywheel;
• a damper arranged to transmit torque between and to oppose rotation of said flywheels relative to each other;
• a slip clutch operating between said damper and said at least one secondary flywheel;
• an engageable and disengageable friction clutch carried by and rotatable with said at least one secondary flywheel and including a first friction surface provided on a portion of said at least one secondary flywheel and a clutch disc having a second friction surface engaging said first friction surface in the engaged condition of said friction clutch;
• a transmission having a rotary input element connected to and arranged to receive torque from said clutch disc in the engaged condition of said friction clutch;
• and
• a bearing interposed between and arranged to center said flywheels relative to each other, said slip clutch being installed between said bearing and said portion of said at least one secondary flywheel.

A flywheel assembly, comprising:

• at least one primary flywheel rotatable about a predetermined axis;
• at least one secondary flywheel coaxial and rotatable with and relative to said at least one primary flywheel, said at least one secondary flywheel including an annular component having an annular friction surface arranged to cooperate with a clutch disc;
• a substantially flange-like section forming part of said at least one primary flywheel and extending substantially radially of said axis;
• means for securing said section to a shaft of a prime mover;
• a damper having energy storing means arranged to yieldably oppose rotation of said primary and secondary flywheels relative to each other, said energy storing means being disposed at a first radial distance and said securing means being disposed at a lesser second radial distance from said axis;
• a carrier member rotatable relative to and mounted on an axial exension of said at least one primary flywheel and being coupled to said energy storing means;
• and
• a slip clutch interposed between said carrier member and said annular component.

A flywheel assembly, comprising:

• at least one primary flywheel rotatable about a predetermined axis and including a substantially flange-like section extending substantially radially of said axis;
• at least one secondary flywheel coaxial and rotatable with and relative to said at least one primary flywheel, said at least one secondary flywheel including an annular component having an annular friction surface arranged to cooperate with a clutch disc;
• means for securing said substantially flange-like section to a shaft of a prime mover;
• a damper having energy storing means arranged to yieldably oppose rotation of said primary and secondary flywheels relative to each other, said energy storing means being disposed at a first radial distance and said securing means being disposed at a lesser second radial distance from said axis;
• a carrier member rotatable relative to and mounted on an axial extension:
• of said at least one primary flywheel, said carrier member being coupled to said energy storing means and supporting said annular component;
• and
• a bearing between said axial extension and said carrier member, said bearing being disposed at a third radial distance from said axis less than said second radial distance.

A flywheel assembly, particularly for motor vehicles, comprising:

• a primary flywheel rotatable about a predetermined axis;
• means for transmitting torque from a prime mover of a motor vehicle to said primary flywheel;
• a secondary flywheel including an annular component having a friction surface arranged to cooperate with a clutch disc;
• means for transmitting torque from said primary to said secondary flywheel, including a damper having energy storing devices;
• a bearing interposed between and arranged to permit rotation of said flywheels relative to each other about said axis;
• and
• a slip clutch mounting said annular component for rotation relative to said bearing.

A flywheel assembly, comprising:

• at least one primary flywheel rotatable about a predetermined axis;
• a secondary flywheel coaxial with and rotatable with and relative to said at least one primary flywheel, said secondary flywheel including an annular component having a friction surface arranged to cooperate with a clutch disc;
• a bearing interposed between said flywheels;
• a damper including energy storing elements arranged to oppose rotation of said flywheels relative to each other;
• and
• torque limiting means operating between said energy storing elements and said annular component and arranged to permit rotation of said annular component relative to said bearing.