Torsional vibration damper

A torsional vibration damper, comprising:

• input and output members rotatable with and relative to each other in clockwise and counterclockwise directions about a predetermined axis and respectively including first and second stressing components;
• and
• at least one energy storing device arranged to oppose rotation of said members relative to each other and having first and second ends each abutting a first and a second component, said ends being spaced apart from each other in a circumferential direction of said members and said device having a longitudinal axis and comprising a first coil spring between said ends and a second coil spring confined at least in part in a space defined by said first coil spring, said first and second coil springs respectively including a plurality of first and a plurality of second convolutions, said first convolutions having at least substantially identical inner diameters and at least one of said first convolutions cooperating with at least one of said second convolutions to compel said at least one second convolution to share movements of said at least one first convolution in at least one of said directions, said at least one second convolution having a radially outermost portion spaced apart from said longitudinal axis a distance exceeding one-half of one of said inner diameters and said at least one first convolution and said at least one second convolution overlying each other in said space and in a plane which is at least substantially normal to said longitudinal axis and includes said predetermined axis.

A torsional vibration damper, comprising:

• input and output members rotatable with and relative to each other in clockwise and counterclockwise directions about a predetermined axis and respectively including first and second stressing components;
• and
• at least one energy storing device arranged to oppose rotation of said members relative to each other and having first and second ends each abutting a first and a second component, said ends being spaced apart from each other in a circumferential direction of said members and said device having a longitudinal axis and comprising a first coil spring between said ends and a second coil spring confined at least in part in a space defined by said first coil spring, said first and second coil springs respectively including a plurality of first and a plurality of second convolutions, at least one of said first convolutions cooperating with at least one of said second convolutions in said space to compel said at least one second convolution to share the movements of said at least one first convolution in at least one direction of said longitudinal axis, said at least one first convolution and said at least one second convolution overlying each other in said space and in a plane which is at least substantially normal to said longitudinal axis and includes said predetermined axis, said first coil spring having a first lead and said second coil spring having a second lead other than said first lead.

A torsional vibration damper, comprising:

• input and output members rotatable with and relative to each other in clockwise and counterclockwise directions about a predetermined axis and respectively including first and second stressing components;
• and
• at least one energy storing device arranged to oppose rotation of said members relative to each other and having first and second ends each abutting a first and a second component, said ends being spaced apart from ech other in a circumferential direction of said members and said device having a longitudinal axis and comprising a first coil spring between said ends and a second coil spring confined at least in part in a space defined by said first coil spring, said first and second coil springs respectively including a plurality of first and a plurality of second convolutions, said first convolutions including an end convolution at one end of said energy storing device and said second convolutions including an end convolution at said one end of said energy storing device, said coil springs consisting of wire having a predetermined diameter and at least one of said end convolutions having a lead which is relatively small in comparison with said diameter, at least one of said first convolutions cooperating with at least one of said second convolutions in said space to compel said at least one second convolution to share the movements of said at least one first convolution in at least one direction of said longitudinal axis, said at least one first convolution and said at least one second convolution overlying each other in said space in a plane which is at least substantially normal to said longitudinal axis and includes said predetermined axis.

A torsional vibration damper, comprising:

• input and output members rotatable with and relative to each other in clockwise and counterclockwise directions about a predetermined axis and respectively including first and second stressing components;
• and
• at least one energy storing device arranged to oppose rotation of said members relative to each other and having first and second ends each abutting a first and a second component, said ends being spaced apart from each other in a circumferential direction of said members and said device having a longitudinal axis and comprising a first coil spring between said ends and a second coil spring confined at least in part in a space defined by said first coil spring, said first and second coil springs respectively including a plurality of first and a plurality of second convolutions, at least one of said first convolutions cooperating with at least one of said second convolutions to compel said at least one second convolution to share movements of said at least one first convolutions in at least one of said directions, said at least one first convolution and said at least one second convolution overlying each other in said space and in a plane which is at least substantially normal to said longitudinal axis and includes said predetermined axis, said at least one first convolution and said at least one second convolution being disposed at a locus which is spaced apart from said ends of said energy storing device.