192 clutches and power-stop control – Elements – Clutch element resiliently carried on hub
Reexamination Certificate
1997-08-29
2001-06-19
Marmor, Charles A (Department: 3681)
192 clutches and power-stop control
Elements
Clutch element resiliently carried on hub
C192S210100, C192S214100, C074S574300, C474S068000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06247571
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a power transmitting mechanism and, more particularly, to a power transmitting mechanism for transmitting the motive power from an engine side to a transmission mechanism side with the possibility of connecting/disconnecting the motive power and of absorbing torque fluctuations.
BACKGROUND
As an example of the conventional power transmitting mechanism FIGS. 4 and 5 of the British Patent GB2269440 show a torque fluctuation absorbing device. Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the torque fluctuation absorbing device provided for absorbing torque fluctuations between an engine and a transmission includes driving members 53, 54, 60, driven members 55, 56, 59, a coil spring 50 as a torsion mechanism and a hysteresis mechanism 62 provided between lateral sides of the driving member (driving plate) 53 and the driven member (driven plate) 56 for exhibiting hysteresis by frictional sliding. The driving power from the engine is transmitted from the driving member 60 via 53, 54, coil spring 50 and driven member 55 to 56 and 59. A roller bearing 61 is mounted between the outer periphery of the driving member 60 and the inner periphery of the driven member 59 for holding the driven member (flywheel) 59 concentrically and for free relative rotation with respect to the driving member (inner hub) 60.
A torque fluctuation absorbing device having a flange-shaped slide bearing inserted radially between the driving member and the driven member, as a bearing provided between the outer periphery of the driving member and the inner periphery of the driven member for holding the driven member concentrically and for free relative rotation with respect to the driving member, is proposed in JP Patent Publication JP-B-56-43176. This slide bearing has slide surfaces on both the the outer periphery of the driving member and the inner periphery of the driven member.
In the torque fluctuation device of GB2269440, a grease is sealed in a spacing holding a torsion spring 50 installed as a torsion member on the outer periphery of the device. As a seal on the inner periphery of the spacing, a seal 58 and a thin spring plate in the compressed state are arranged axially between the inner peripheral portion of the driven plate 56 and the inner peripheral portion of the driving plate 54 for allowing for relative rotation between the driving plate 54 and the driven plate 56 and for displaying the sealing function.
Also, in the device of GB2269440, a driving member (driving plate) 53 is formed of iron for reducing the cost.
Referring to FIG. 4 showing the device of GB2269440, the outer peripheral sides of spring sheets 51, 52 are extended between the outer peripheral side of the torsion spring 50 and the inner periphery of the driving side plates 53, 54, on the outer peripheral side of the torsion spring 50 and on the inner peripheral sides of the driving plates 53, 54, for preventing the torsion spring 50 from being moved under centrifugal force towards the outer periphery to come into sliding contact with the driving plates 53, 54.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
However, through eager investigation towards the present invention, the following problems have been encountered. First of all, if the roller bearing is used as in the torque fluctuation absorbing device of the above GB2269440, the cost is increased. Moreover, the slide bearing disclosed in JP-B-56-43176 has the slide surfaces on both the outer peripheral surface of the driving member and the inner peripheral side of the driven member, so that clatter tends to be produced in the radial direction of the device such that the driving members cannot be maintained in concentric relation with respect to the driven members thus producing vibrations due to the unbalanced concentricity.
Second, referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, in the mechanism for tight sealing of the spacing for holding the torsion spring 50 arranged on the outer periphery of the torque fluctuation device in GB2269440, the seal 58 is provided on the inner periphery of the device for preventing application of a strong pressure caused by rotation of the device, and the grease is moved towards the outer periphery of the device during rotation of the device under centrifugal force, such that the sliding surface of the seal 58 for the driven plate 56 becomes dry to cause progress of wear, with the sealing function being lost to cause the grease to leak out at the seal 58.
In addition, a hysteresis mechanism is provided on the innermost side of the sealed spacing to cause the grease to be deposited on a thrust plate of the hysteresis mechanism or to cause the friction member to become dried depending on the rotational speed of the device to render the hysteresis unstable. Moreover, since the spacing is tightly sealed, heat dissipation properties are worse such that the thrust plate having a small thermal capacity in the dried state is heated to promote wear of the lining to give rise to gradual loss of the hysteresis function.
Third, referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the driving side plate 53 of GB2269440 is formed of steel plate for reducing the cost. However, if the device is subjected to axial vibrations, the driving plate 53 tends to be cracked or destroyed under the stress produced in a concentrated fashion in the vicinity of the portion of the driving plate 53 secured to the driving shaft.
Fourth, referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the outer peripheral sides of the spring sheets 51, 52 in GB2269440 are extended to the outer peripheral side of the torsion spring 50 and to the inner peripheral side of the driving plates 53, 54 to consume the spacing so that the housing position of the torsion spring 50 is shifted to the inner peripheral side in an amount corresponding to the spring sheets 51, 52 on its outer peripheral side. Therefore, a problem is raised that, unless a torsion spring 50 of high toughness and large size is used, sufficient torque fluctuation absorbing characteristics cannot be achieved.
In view of the above problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a power transmitting mechanism and various component portions thereof having improved durability.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a torsion mechanism, which serves as a component member if the power transmitting mechanism is designed as a torque fluctuation absorbing mechanism, more compact in size.
Further objects of the present invention will become apparent in the entire disclosure.
For accomplishing the above object, a first aspect of the present invention provides a power transmitting mechanism in which a driving member rotatingly transmitting power and a driven member receiving the transmitted power to be rotated are arranged substantially concentrically relative to each other for rotation relative to each other. The driving member is arranged on the inner or outer side and the driven member is arranged on the diametrically outer or inner side; and there is provided a slide bearing between the radial directions of the driving member and the driven member, said slide bearing being substantially concentrically engaged with one of the driving member or the driven member with an opposite peripheral surface thereby being a sliding surface. Preferably, a lubricant is provided in at least one of the slide bearing, driving member and driven member (aspect 1-1).
Preferably (aspect 1-2) the slide bearing is provided in a spacing surrounded by the driving member and the driven member; and further, a lubricant sink is provided radially inwardly of the slide surface in the lateral surface of the slide bearing, and/or in the lateral surface of the driving member and/or the driven member facing the lateral side of the slide bearing. A clearance is provided between the lateral surface of the slide bearing and said at least one of the lateral surfaces of the driving member and the driven member facing the lateral surface of the slide bearing
1
or a groove is provided on the driving member and/or driven member, so that the lubricant accumulated in the sink will be supplied unde
Ebata Masaru
Kamiya Masakazu
Kobayashi Kiyonori
Nakane Mototaka
Sadakari Shuji
Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
Burns Doane , Swecker, Mathis LLP
Marmor Charles A
Parekh Ankur
LandOfFree
Power transmitting mechanism with two hysteresis mechanisms does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Power transmitting mechanism with two hysteresis mechanisms, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Power transmitting mechanism with two hysteresis mechanisms will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2440350