192 clutches and power-stop control – Clutches – Axially engaging
Reissue Patent
1998-09-01
2001-12-11
Bonck, Rodney H. (Department: 3681)
192 clutches and power-stop control
Clutches
Axially engaging
C074S574300, C192S113400, C192S213220, C464S068800
Reissue Patent
active
RE037465
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to torque transmitting and torsion damping apparatus, especially to improvements in torque transmitting and torsion damping apparatus which can be utilized in motor vehicles to compensate for fluctuations of torque which is transmitted between driving and driven components, particularly between the crankshaft of the internal combustion engine and the input shaft of the change-speed transmission in a passenger car or another motor vehicle.
It is already known to provide a torsion damping apparatus, which is installed in a motor vehicle between the crankshaft of the internal combustion engine and the input shaft of the change-speed transmission, with several flywheels which are rotatable relative to each other within certain limits and against the opposition of one or more dampers. Such apparatus are disclosed, for example, in commonly owned copending patent application Ser. No. 669,657 of Oswald Friedmann as well as in several other pending applications of the assignee. The flywheels can rotate relative to each other about the axis or axes of one or more bearings. A friction clutch is interposed between the last flywheel and the input shaft of the transmission, and such friction clutch includes a disc which is movable into and out of friction- and heat-generating engagement with the adjacent flywheel. This can adversely influence the operation and useful life of the bearing, especially if the races of the bearing are directly connected to or in direct contact with the adjacent flywheels. Thus, one race of an antifriction ball bearing between two coaxial flywheels which can move angularly relative to each other against the opposition of one or more dampers can be non-rotatably secured to one of the flywheels, and the other race of the bearing can be non-rotatably secured to the other flywheel. It has been found that the just described mounting of the flywheels on an antifriction bearing enables the damper or dampers to produce a highly satisfactory damping action. Nevertheless, such torsion damping apparatus failed to gain popularity in the automotive and other industries, primarily because the useful life of the bearing or bearings between the flywheels is relatively short. The bearing or bearings are one of the critical elements in these torsion damping apparatus so that their failure after a relatively short interval of use deters the manufacturers of motor vehicles from employing such torsion damping apparatus between the engine and the change-speed transmission.
A torque transmitting and torsion damping apparatus between the input shaft of a change-speed transmission and the output shaft of an engine must be capable of taking up stresses, such as those attributable to fluctuations of transmitted torque, which develop while a rotary driving element transmits torque to a rotary driven element. As a rule, or in many instances, the crankshaft of the engine is attached directly to a first flywheel, the input shaft of the transmission can receive torque from a second flywheel by way of a friction clutch, and the means for transmitting torque between the flywheels comprises one or more dampers which oppose angular movements of the flywheels relative to each other. The second flywheel has a friction surface which is engaged by a lining of the clutch disc of the friction clutch when the latter is engaged to transmit torque from the second flywheel to the transmission. The bearing or bearings between the flywheels have pairs of races confining single or multiple rows of antifriction rolling elements in the form of needles, balls, rollers or the like. The bearing or bearings enable the torque transmitting and torsion damping apparatus to perform a highly satisfactory damping of oscillations which develop in the power train between the engine and the transmission. Nevertheless, and as already stated above, such apparatus failed to gain widespread acceptance due to the short useful life of the bearing or bearings. As a rule, the bearing or bearings constitute the first part or parts which require replacement, and such replacement must take place after a relatively short period of use.
One of the main reasons that the useful life of the antifriction bearing or bearings between the flywheels of the above outlined torque transmitting apparatus is relatively short is that the bearings are subjected to pronounced thermal stresses, primarily because the friction clutch between the input element of the change-speed transmission and the respective flywheel invariably generates heat when it is called upon to transmit torque to the transmission.
The damper or dampers which are provided between the relatively movable flywheels of the just outlined torque transmitting apparatus normally comprise at least one set of coil springs or analogous energy storing elements which yieldably oppose angular movements of the flywheels relative to each other, as well as one or more friction generating devices each of which can oppose some or all angular movements of the flywheels relative to one another. The damper or dampers contribute significantly to the initial and maintenance cost of the torque transmitting apparatus.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the invention is to provide a torsion damping apparatus which can be used in motor vehicles as a superior substitute for heretofore known torsion damping apparatus and is constructed, dimensioned and assembled in such a way that it and its bearing or bearings can stand long periods of use.
Another object of the invention is to provide a torsion damping apparatus wherein the bearing or bearings between the flywheels can be shielded from undesirable influences of the adjacent parts of the apparatus in a simple and inexpensive but efficient way.
A further object of the invention is to provide a torsion damping apparatus wherein the damper or dampers can perform their functions more efficiently than in heretofore known apparatus, even though their construction need not depart, or need not appreciably depart, from the construction of dampers in conventional torsion damping apparatus.
An additional object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved method of shielding the bearing or bearings and/or the damper or dampers of a torsion damping assembly from undesirable influences of other component parts of the apparatus, especially of the friction clutch between one of the flywheels and the input element of the change-speed transmission in a motor vehicle.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a torsion damping apparatus which exhibits the above outlined features but need not be bulkier, more complex and/or more expensive than heretofore known apparatus.
A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus which is designed for controlled transmission of torque between the crankshaft of the internal combustion engine and the input shaft of the change-speed transmission in a motor vehicle and is capable of effectively opposing and damping undesirable fluctuations of torque in the power train between the engine and the wheels of the vehicle.
Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved method of combining the bearing or bearings with other parts of the above outlined torsion damping apparatus.
Another object of the invention is to provide novel and improved bearings for use in the above outlined torsion damping apparatus.
An additional object of the invention is to provide novel and improved flywheels for use in the above outlined torsion damping apparatus.
A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved method of preventing heat from adversely influencing the bearing or bearings and/or other sensitive parts of a torsion damping apparatus of the type wherein a flywheel can transmit torque to a rotary element by way of a friction clutch.
An additional object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved device for preventing heat which is generated during actual use of the torsion damping apparatus from affecting the use
Elison Hans-Dieter
Reik Wolfgang
Bonck Rodney H.
Darby & Darby
LuK Lamellen und Kupplungsbau GmbH
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