Rotary shafts – gudgeons – housings – and flexible couplings for ro – Torque transmitted via flexible element – Coil spring
Reexamination Certificate
2001-07-27
2003-06-10
Binda, Greg (Department: 3679)
Rotary shafts, gudgeons, housings, and flexible couplings for ro
Torque transmitted via flexible element
Coil spring
C192S205000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06575838
ABSTRACT:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED CASES
This application claims the priority of commonly owned copending German patent application Serial No. 100 36 503.5 filed Jul. 27, 2000. The disclosure of the above-referenced German patent application, as well as that of each US and foreign patent and patent application identified in the specification of the present application, is incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to improvements in apparatus for damping vibrations between rotary driving and driven parts, such as between the output shaft of an engine or another prime mover and the input shaft of a change-speed transmission in the power train of a motor vehicle. As a rule, such apparatus comprise first and second rotary torque transmitting devices and a torque transmitting and stray movements (such as vibrations) suppressing (damping) unit between such devices.
Torsional vibration damping apparatus of the character to which the apparatus of the present invention pertain are disclosed, for example, in published German patent applications Serial Nos. 199 12 970 A1, 199 09 044 A1, 196 48 432 A1, 196 03 248 A1 and 41 17 584 A1. All such parts or groups of parts in the apparatus of the present invention which are adequately disclosed and illustrated in the above-enumerated and other published German patent applications as well as in US and foreign patents granted to the assignee of the present application and/or to others will be described only to the extent necessary to readily locate the relevant references for additional disclosure (if necessary).
Damping apparatus of the type to which the apparatus of the present invention pertain are also disclosed in commonly owned German patent application Serial No. 100 37 107.8, filed Jul. 27, 2000, and in the corresponding copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/915,817, filed Jul. 25, 2001 for “APPARATUS FOR DAMPING TORSIONAL VIBRATIONS”.
A drawback of many presently known vibration damping apparatus is that they are not effective under any and all circumstances which arise in torque transmitting machines, assemblies or apparatus, as well as that they are in part too bulky, complex and expensive. Moreover, many (if not all) presently known torsional vibration damping apparatus are overly sensitive to the presence and influence of foreign matter, primarily or frequently because their sensitive constitutents are not adequately shielded against penetration of dust and/or other impurities and/or against uncontrolled escape of lubricant.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
An object of our present invention is to enhance the simplicity and reliability as well as to reduce the initial and maintenance cost of torsional vibration damping apparatus, for example, of apparatus which can be put to use in the power trains of motor vehicles.
Another object of the instant invention is to provide torsional vibration damping apparatus which can be installed in existing power trains of motor vehicles or the like as superior substitutes for conventional apparatus of such character.
A further object of the invention is to provide novel and improved means for reliably confining grease, oil or another suitable lubricant in the enclosure(s) for the torsional vibration damper or dampers of the above outlined apparatus.
An additional object of the invention is to provide novel and improved means for shielding the sensitive constituents of torsional vibration damping apparatus from adverse influences of dust and/or other foreign matter.
Still another object of our present invention is to provide novel and improved seals for use in torsional vibration damping apparatus of the above outlined character.
A further object of the invention is to provide a power train, particularly for use in a motor vehicle, which embodies a torsional vibration damping apparatus of the above outlined character.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel and improved apparatus which is designed to transmit torque between the rotary output element of the engine and the rotary input element of the transmission in the power train of a motor vehicle, such as a passenger car, a truck, an SUV and/or others.
A further object of the invention is to provide a torsional vibration damping apparatus which is or which can be constructed and assembled in such a way that it can be readily converted for optimal operation under any one of a host of different circumstances.
An additional object of the invention is to provide novel and improved damper means for use in the above outlined apparatus.
Still another object of the invention is to provide the above outlined apparatus with novel and improved means for reliably coupling various constituents of the apparatus to each other.
A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved multi-stage torsional vibration damping apparatus for use in the power trains of motor vehicles and the like.
An additional object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved torsional vibration damping apparatus which can be readily assembled into a module for convenient and time-saving installation in the power train of a motor vehicle.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel and improved method of limiting or preventing stray movements of parts which transmit torque between a prime mover and a torque receiving unit, such as in the power train of a motor vehicle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One feature of our invention resides in the provision of an apparatus for damping torsional vibrations, particularly in the power train of a motor vehicle (e.g., between the crankshaft or camshaft of the combustion engine or the output shaft of another prime mover and the input shaft of the manual, automated or automatic change-speed transmission). The improved apparatus comprises first and second torque transmitting devices which are turnable with and relative to each other about a common axis and are respectively arranged to normally receive torque from a rotary output element of a driving unit (such as the camshaft or the crakshaft of the aforementioned combustion engine) and to transmit torque to a rotary input element (such as the input shaft of the aforesaid transmission). The improved apparatus further comprises a damper which is constructed, assembled and installed to yieldably oppose rotation of the torque transmitting devices relative to each other and includes elastically deformable energy storing means engageable by suitably configurated and/or dimensioned and/or installed portions of the torque transmitting devices, and inserts which are interposed between the aforementioned portions of the torque transmitting devices on the one hand and the energy storing means on the other hand. The inserts have portions or sections (hereinafter called anvils for short) which are arranged to abut each other in response to turning of at least one of the torque transmitting devices relative to the other device through predetermined angles. The energy storing means is disposed at a first radial distance from the common axis of the torque transmitting devices, and the anvils are disposed at a lesser second radial distance from the common axis.
At least one but preferably each of the torque transmitting devices can include at least one flywheel. The arrangement can be such that the improved apparatus comprises first and second flywheels which are rotatable about the common axis of the torque transmitting devices, and means for respectively connecting the first and second flywheels to the first and second torque transmitting devices.
The energy storing means can include at least two arcuate or polygonal (hereinafter often referred to as arcuate) resilient components having centers of curvature at (i.e., on or relatively close to) the common axis of the torque transmitting devices and being arranged to permit the two devices to turn relative to each other clockwise and counterclockwise from a neutral position through angles of at least 30°. The arcuate resilient components can include or constitute coi
Jäckel Johann
Mende Hartmut
Binda Greg
Darby & Darby
LuK Lamellen und Kupplungsbau Beteiligungs KG
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