# US 8,770,365 B2 · Friction damper for a transmission clutch

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- Number: US 8,770,365 B2
- Document ID: US8770365B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/603,626
- Filed: 2012-09-05
- Published: 2014-03-06
- Granted: 2014-07-08
- Earliest claimed: 2012-09-05
- Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
- Applicants: Jau-Wen Tseng; Carl P. Garbacik; Michael A. Brockway; Kent E. Flory
- Inventors: Jau-Wen Tseng; Carl P. Garbacik; Michael A. Brockway; Kent E. Flory
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8770365B2

## CPC

- F16D 3/14: combined with a friction coupling for damping vibration or absorbing shock
- F16D 25/0638: with more than two discs, e.g. multiple lamellae
- F16D 25/12: Details not specific to one of the before-mentioned types
- F16F 15/1292: {characterised by arrangements for axially clamping or positioning or otherwise influencing the frictional plates}
- F16D: COUPLINGS FOR TRANSMITTING ROTATION; CLUTCHES; BRAKES
- F16F: SPRINGS; SHOCK-ABSORBERS; MEANS FOR DAMPING VIBRATION

## Abstract

A clutch assembly includes a hub rotatable about an axis and at least partially surrounding a cavity, a damper ring within the cavity, able to revolve about the axis, rotatable relative to the hub, a spring, a friction disc, forced elastically by the spring into contact with the damper ring, and a second friction disc contacting the damper ring and providing a reaction to the force of the spring.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A clutch comprising:
a hub rotatable about an axis, having a radially extending arm and an axially extending arm at least partially surrounding a cavity;
a damper ring within the cavity, radially inward from the axially extending arm, able to revolve about the axis, rotatable relative to the hub;
a spring contacting the hub;
a first friction disc adjacent to but spaced axially from the radially extending arm, forced elastically by the spring away from the radially extending arm into contact with the damper ring, and rotatable relative to the damper ring;
a second friction disc contacting and rotatable relative to the damper ring and providing a reaction to a force produced by the spring.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The clutch of claim 1, wherein the first friction disc is located axially between the damper ring and hub.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The clutch of claim 1, wherein the first friction disc is urged by the spring axially into contact with the damper ring.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The clutch of claim 1, wherein the second friction disc is secured to the hub against displacement.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The clutch of claim 1, wherein the cavity is supplied with hydraulic fluid admitted between the first friction disc and the damper ring and between the second friction disc and the damper ring.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The clutch of claim 1, wherein the first friction disc includes friction material contacting the damper ring, and the second friction disc includes second friction material contacting the damper ring.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The clutch of claim 1, further comprising:
a clutch shell;
a set of friction plates and a set of spacer plates, both sets located radially outboard of the damper ring, for alternately driveably connecting the shell and the hub when the clutch is engaged and driveably disconnecting the shell and the hub when the clutch is disengaged.

### Claim 8

A clutch comprising:
a hub rotatable about an axis, having a radially extending arm and an axially extending arm at least partially surrounding a cavity;
a damper ring within the cavity, radially inward from the axially extending arm, able to revolve about the axis, rotatable relative to the hub;
a spring;
a first friction disc spaced axially from the radially extending arm forced by the spring away from the radially extending arm against a first axial side of the ring, and rotatable relative to the damper ring;
a second friction disc contacting and rotatable relative to the ring at a second axial side of the ring with a reaction to a force produced by the spring.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The clutch of claim 8, wherein the second friction disc secured against axial displacement.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The clutch of claim 8, wherein the first friction disc is located axially between the ring and hub.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The clutch of claim 8, wherein the first friction disc is urged by the spring axially into elastic contact with the ring.

### Claim 12 (depends on 8)

The clutch of claim 8, wherein the cavity is supplied with hydraulic fluid that passes between the first friction disc and the ring and between the second friction disc and the ring.

### Claim 13 (depends on 8)

The clutch of claim 8, wherein the first friction disc includes friction material contacting the ring, and the second friction disc includes second friction material contacting the ring.

### Claim 14 (depends on 8)

The clutch of claim 8, further comprising:
a clutch shell;
a set of friction plates and a set of spacer plates, both sets located radially outboard of the ring, for alternately driveably connecting the shell and the hub when the clutch is engaged and driveably disconnecting the shell and the hub when the clutch is disengaged.