Rotary shafts – gudgeons – housings – and flexible couplings for ro – Torque transmitted via flexible element – Plural circumferentially spaced elements
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-06
2001-05-29
Browne, Lynne H. (Department: 3629)
Rotary shafts, gudgeons, housings, and flexible couplings for ro
Torque transmitted via flexible element
Plural circumferentially spaced elements
C464S003000, C464S137000, C074S574300
Reexamination Certificate
active
06238293
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to a torsional vibration damper with a drive-side damper element and a driven-side damper element that is rotatable relative to the drive-side damper element against the action of a damping element.
2. Description of the Related Art
A prior art torsional vibration damper is disclosed in German reference DE 197 26 532 A1 with a drive-side damper element and a driven-side damper element. The driven-side damper element is rotatable relative to the drive-side element against the action of a damping device. The damping device transmits torque between the two damper elements and has a plurality of coupling bodies, each of which is received in at least one guide path of the drive-side damper element and in at least one guide path of the driven-side damper element. The coupling body comprises an outer circumference which engages one of the guide paths and a bearing neck which engages the other respective guide path. As is shown especially clearly in FIGS. 3, 10 or 12 of the prior art reference, all of the guide paths extend in each of the damper elements in a comparable manner. For example, in one damper element the guide paths are curved in an essentially semicircular manner at least in their radial outer rolling area for the coupling body and in the other damper element the guide paths extend substantially radially. The semicircular curved guide paths are constructed so as to extend farther in the circumferential direction than in the radial direction, while the other guide paths are constructed so as to extend farther in the radial direction than in the circumferential direction. The following problem results from this prior art arrangement:
FIGS. 10 and 12 of the prior art reference show that only very slender webs remain between every two guide paths in all guide paths which are constructed so as to extend farther in the circumferential direction in a damper element. This problem occurs even when the quantity of guide paths in the circumferential direction is limited to a comparatively small number. However, the minimum width of these webs must be dimensioned such that the loads occurring on the damper element, e.g., shearing loads or bending loads, are withstood. At the same time, the extension of the guide paths in the circumferential direction is determined by the desired amount of deflection of the damper elements relative to one another. Accordingly, the quantity of coupling bodies to be received in this damper element is necessarily limited to a comparatively small number. It is precisely these coupling bodies that carry out the transmission of torque between the damper elements. Since a greater number of these coupling bodies is required to transmit high torques, the performance threshold of this type of prior art torsional vibration damper is relatively low. In the other damper element in which the guide paths run essentially radially, the webs between every two guide paths viewed in the circumferential direction are relatively very wide, especially when the guide paths which extend farther in the radial direction are to be provided for receiving the bearing necks of the coupling bodies which are often constructed with a smaller diameter than the outer circumference of the coupling bodies.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is the object of the invention to provide a torsional vibration damper having coupling bodies arranged between damper elements for transmitting torque between the damper elements such that the highest possible torque can be transmitted and such that every damper element comprises a sufficient stability.
This object is met according to the invention by a torsional vibration damper, comprising a drive-side damper element rotatable about an axis of rotation and having a plurality of drive-side guide paths, said plurality of drive-side guide paths comprising first drive-side guide paths and second drive-side guide paths, a driven-side damper element rotatable relative to said drive-side element about said axis of rotation and having a plurality of driven-side guide paths, said plurality of driven-side guide paths comprising first driven-side guide paths and second driven-side guide paths, wherein said first drive-side guide paths and said first driven-side guide paths comprise first guide paths extending farther in the circumferential direction than in the radial direction and said second drive-side guide paths and said second drive-side guide paths comprises second guide paths extending farther in a radial direction that in the circumferential direction, and a damping device arranged between said drive-side damper element and said driven-side damper element for transmitting torque between said drive side damper element and said driven-side damper element such that said driven-side damper element is rotatable relative to said drive-side damper element against an action of said damping device, said damping device comprising a plurality of coupling bodies, at least one of said plural coupling bodies being received one of said first guide paths and one of said second guide paths, wherein said coupling body undergoes a deflection in at least one of said first guide path and said second guide path during a relative movement between the drive-side damper element and the driven-side damper element, wherein at least one of said plurality of drive-side guide paths and said plurality of driven side guide paths is arranged in a succession in which one of said first guide paths is arranged circumferentially adjacent to one of said second guide paths.
As a result of the construction of the damper elements with a succession of guide paths for the coupling bodies in the circumferential direction in which at least one guide path extending farther in the radial direction is adjacent to at least some of the guide paths extending farther in the circumferential direction, a greater number of guide paths can be realized in every damper element. Because at least one coupling body is associated with every guide path of a damper element, the increased number of guide paths allow the damper elements to be loaded by a greater number of coupling bodies. Accordingly the mass introduced via the coupling bodies is considerably increased compared with the construction according to the prior art and it is therefore possible to transmit higher torques. In this respect, it is particularly advantageous when every guide path in a damper element extending farther in the circumferential direction is adjoined on both sides by a guide path extending farther in the radial direction and each of the latter guide paths is in turn adjoined on both sides by a guide path extending farther in the circumferential direction. In this way, a very dense loading of every damper element with guide paths and therefore with coupling bodies is achieved. The web width between every two of these guide paths is sufficiently large in the circumferential direction in all of the damper elements, so that every damper element is capable of supplying the desired minimum stability relative to the occurring loads.
As an alternative to the particularly advantageous solution described above, two guide paths extending farther in the radial direction may be provided between every two guide paths extending farther in the circumferential direction. An individual guide path extending farther in the circumferential direction may be associated with these two guide paths extending farther in the radial direction at the other respective damper element so that two coupling bodies are inserted in the individual guide path extending farther in the circumferential direction. Each of the two coupling bodies engages in the radial direction in one of the guide paths extending farther in the radial direction. In this embodiment, the quantity of coupling bodies in the torsional vibration damper can be considerably increased whereby a plurality of coupling bodies are used for every guide path extending farther in the circumferential direction which results in the
Browne Lynne H.
Cohen & Pontani, Lieberman & Pavane
Mannesmann Sachs AG
Thompson Kenn
LandOfFree
Torsional vibration damper with guide paths for coupling... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Torsional vibration damper with guide paths for coupling..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Torsional vibration damper with guide paths for coupling... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2463890