Torsion damping mechanism for a supercharger

A torsion damping mechanism for a rotary blower that is adapted to be rotatably interposed between a first drive member for driving a first gear in constant mesh with a second gear and a second drive member rotatably driven in one direction by torque from a periodic combustion engine;

• the torsion damping mechanism comprising:
• a generally annular body having a central opening and disposed for rotation about an axis and fixed to one of the drive members, the body including a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart bores, a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart generally arcuate-shaped slots, and a central opening;
• a cushion damper including a plurality of cushioning members each adapted to be received in a corresponding slot in the body, the cushion damper having a webbing that extends over a portion of the central opening;
• axially extending first pins each having one end loosely received by one of the slots and another end fixed to the first drive member;
• axially extending second pins each having one end fixedly received by the bores and another other end fixed to the second drive member;
• and
• a spring received in the ventral opening fixed at one end to the body and having a free end extending radially in cantilever fashion into at least one of the slots, the spring interposed between the cushioning member of the one slot and the pin therein;
• wherein the body is provided with at least one stress-reducing feature to reduce stress in the spring.

A rotary blower comprising:

• a torsion damping mechanism that is adapted to be rotatably interposed between a first drive member for driving a first gear in constant mesh with a second gear and a second drive member rotatably driven in one direction by torque from a periodic combustion engine;
• a generally annular body disposed for rotation about an axis and fixed to one of the drive members, the body including a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart bores and a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart generally arcuate-shaped slots;
• a cushion damper including a plurality of cushioning members each adapted to be received in a corresponding slot in the body, the cushion damper including a webbing interconnecting the cushioning members in a manner that permits slots to remain unobstructed;
• axially extending first pins each having one end loosely received by one of the slots and another end fixed to the first drive member, each of the first pins being substantially similar in length so as to permit torsion damping member to be disposed relative to first drive member in more than one angular position;
• axially extending second pins each having one end fixedly received by the bores and another other end fixed to the second drive member;
• and
• a spring fixed at one end to the body and having a free end extending radially in cantilever fashion into at least one of the slots, the spring interposed between the cushioning member of the one slot and the pin therein.