192 clutches and power-stop control – Elements – Clutch element resiliently carried on hub
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-09
2001-04-03
Marmor, Charles A (Department: 3681)
192 clutches and power-stop control
Elements
Clutch element resiliently carried on hub
C192S213110, C192S213200, C192S213220
Reexamination Certificate
active
06209701
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a damper disk assembly, and particularly a damper disk assembly for transmitting a torque and for absorbing and damping a torsional vibration.
B. Description of the Background Art
A clutch disk assembly used in a clutch of a vehicle has a clutch function for releasable engagement with a flywheel, and also has a damper function for damping a torsional vibration. The clutch disk assembly includes a clutch coupling portion, an input plate fixed to the clutch coupling portion, a hub disposed radially inside the input plate, and elastic members elastically coupling the input plate to a flange of the hub in a circumferential direction. When the clutch coupling portion is coupled to the flywheel, torque is supplied to the clutch disk assembly from the flywheel. Torque is transmitted to the hub via the elastic members, and then is output to a shaft extending from a transmission. When variations in torque of the engine is transmitted to the clutch disk assembly, relative rotation occurs between the input plate and the hub, and the elastic members are repetitively and circumferentially compressed. The clutch disk assembly further includes a friction mechanism which is arranged between the input plate and the hub for generating a frictional resistance when the relative rotation occurs therebetween. The friction mechanism is formed of a plurality of washers, a biasing member and others.
In a clutch disk assembly of a hub-separate type, the flange is separate from the hub, and is used as an intermediate member. The hub and the intermediate member are circumferentially coupled together by elastic members having a low rigidity. In this clutch disk assembly, a maximum torsional angle between the input plate and the hub can be increased, and operation characteristics can have two stages of low and high rigidities.
In a torsional vibration system that operates with the clutch disk assembly, for instance the transmission and other components of the drive system, normal vibrations in rotation speed of the engine continuously cause collision between teeth of paired gears in the transmission, and thereby cause noises sometimes referred to as idle rattle. For reducing the torsional vibration causing the gear noises in the clutch disk assembly, it is necessary to reduce a spring constant of the elastic members of a low rigidity for the first stage. However, for damping the torsional vibration such as a low frequency vibration, which causes the relative rotation of a large angle, it is necessary to increase a spring constant of the elastic members functioning in the second state. In the conventional device having such characteristics, a jumping phenomenon occurs. In other words, the operation angle jumps over between the first stage and second stage, for example, when a torque variation is supplied during idling. The jumping phenomenon is caused by oscillations in transmission of the inertia with respect to the elastic members which are provided in the clutch disk assembly for the second stage of dampening characteristics, and causes gear collision to an extent higher than the normal gear collision due to excessive rotational variations.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the invention is to provide a damper disk assembly in a clutch disk assembly with means for preventing engagement between outer gear teeth on a hub and inner teeth on a separate flange.
According to a first aspect of the invention, a damper disk assembly includes a hub, a first circular plate member, an intermediate member, a second circular plate member, a second elastic member, a third elastic member and a damper. The first circular plate member is disposed radially outside the hub. The intermediate member is disposed near the hub and the first circular plate member. The second circular plate member is arranged on a second axial side of the first circular plate member. The second elastic member circumferentially and elastically couples the intermediate member and the first circular plate member together. The third elastic member circumferentially and elastically couples the first and second circular plate members. The damper has a first elastic member circumferentially and elastically coupling the hub and the intermediate member together, and is axially offset from the first circular plate member.
In this damper disk assembly, the damper having the first elastic member, which functions as a spring for a first stage in torsion characteristics, is disposed at a position axially offset from the first circular plate member. Therefore, a sufficiently large contact area can be ensured between contact portions of the hub and the first circular plate member.
According to a second aspect, the damper disk assembly is such that the hub has a radially projected portion. The damper is disposed radially outside the hub and axially between the projected portion and the second circular plate member.
According to a third aspect, the damper disk assembly is such that the damper has a second member non-rotatably engaged with the intermediate member, and a first elastic member circumferentially and elastically coupling the first and second members together.
According to a fourth aspect, the damper disk assembly of the third aspect further has such a feature that the first and second members are relatively rotatable in the circumferential direction with respect to each other, and the first and second members have sliding portions in contact with each other. The damper further has a biasing member axially biasing the first and second members toward each other.
In this damper disk assembly, the first and second members produce intended friction by sliding of the sliding portions in a first stage of a torsion angle. In the structure, the damper produces a frictional resistance from the first and second members which are coupled together by the first elastic member. Therefore, an additional member for producing the frictional resistance is not required.
According to a fifth aspect, the damper disk assembly of the fourth aspect further has such a feature that the second member is axially movably engaged with the hub. The biasing member is an elastic member arranged and compressed axially between the projected portion and the second member. The first member is axially engaged with the second circular plate member.
In this damper disk assembly, the first member is axially biased toward the second member by the biasing member, and the first member is held between the second member and the second circular plate member.
According to a sixth aspect, the damper disk assembly is such that the first elastic member is axially supported by the second circular plate member.
In this damper disk assembly, the first elastic member is axially carried by the second circular plate member. Therefore, an additional member for axially carrying the first elastic member is not required.
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Fujioka Keisuke
Hashimoto Hideki
Exedy Corporation
Marmor Charles A
Shinjyu Global IP Counselors, LLP
Waddell Tisha D.
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