A viscous damper has an inertial mass in the form of a tubular member that is applicable for dissipating (removing) destructive torsional vibration in power transmitting shaft assemblies. A viscous fluid contained between moving surfaces is sheared, thereby producing frictional heat which is then allowed to transfer across the moving surfaces to the ambient surroundings. Surfaces of the inertial mass and housing are arranged with respect to each other to provide high shear rate and energy dissipation (damping) is obtained within a small volume.

A viscous damper has an inertial mass in the form of a tubular member that is applicable for dissipating (removing) destructive torsional vibration in power transmitting shaft assemblies. A viscous fluid contained between moving surfaces is sheared, thereby producing frictional heat which is then allowed to transfer across the moving surfaces to the ambient surroundings. Surfaces of the inertial mass and housing are arranged with respect to each other to provide high shear rate and energy dissipation (damping) is obtained within a small volume.

The present invention relates to a torsional vibration damper (18) comprising a first component (20) and a second component (22) which are torsionally elastically coupled to one another, wherein a force transmission device (26) is provided for transmitting an actuating force from the one axial side (48) of the torsional vibration damper (18) to the opposite axial side (50) of the torsional vibration damper (18) to a device (54) to be actuated. In addition, the present invention relates to an arrangement (2) for the drivetrain of a motor vehicle comprising such a torsional vibration damper (18).

In one aspect, there is provided a decoupler for an accessory drive for an engine. The decoupler includes a decoupler input member and a decoupler output member. One of the decoupler input member and the decoupler output member has a clutch engagement surface. The decoupler further includes a wrap spring clutch and an isolation spring that act in series in a torque path between the decoupler input member and the decoupler output member. The wrap spring clutch has a radially inner surface and a radially outer surface. One of the radially inner and outer surfaces engages the clutch engagement surface in an interference fit with the clutch engagement surface. The decoupler further includes a volume of lubricant. During sufficiently high acceleration of the decoupler input member, there is slippage at the wrap spring clutch for a selected period of time after which the slippage stops.

In one aspect, there is provided a decoupler for an accessory drive for an engine. The decoupler includes a decoupler input member and a decoupler output member. One of the decoupler input member and the decoupler output member has a clutch engagement surface. The decoupler further includes a wrap spring clutch and an isolation spring that act in series in a torque path between the decoupler input member and the decoupler output member. The wrap spring clutch has a radially inner surface and a radially outer surface. One of the radially inner and outer surfaces engages the clutch engagement surface in an interference fit with the clutch engagement surface. The decoupler further includes a volume of lubricant. During sufficiently high acceleration of the decoupler input member, there is slippage at the wrap spring clutch for a selected period of time after which the slippage stops.

A coupling arrangement for the powertrain of a vehicle with a clutch housing (3) which is rotatable around a central axis is provided with a clutch mechanism (90) with input-side clutch units (20) in operative connection with an input-side clutch unit carrier (10) which is fixed with respect to rotation relative to the clutch housing and with output-side clutch units (40) which are in operative connection with an output-side clutch unit carrier (44) which is fixed with respect to rotation relative to a torsional vibration damper (48), and with a pressing device (30) through which an operative connection between the input-side clutch units and the output-side clutch units can be produced or cancelled, and with a torsional vibration damper (48) connecting the clutch mechanism to an output. The torsional vibration damper is arranged adjacent to an input side (86) of the clutch housing facing a drive (4), and the clutch mechanism is arranged adjacent to an output side (87) of the clutch housing facing a driven end (54). The pressing device (30) is provided axially between the torsional vibration damper (48) and the clutch mechanism (90).

A flexplate assembly comprising a central plate having a general disc shape disposed about and extending radially from an axis. The central plate has a first radial width. A ring gear is annularly secured about the central plate and presents an outer circumference that defines a plurality of ring teeth extending therefrom. At least one noise plate is disposed adjacent to the central plate and extends circumferentially about the axis for reducing vibrations and noise from the flexplate assembly. The noise plate has a second radial width that is at least one half of the first radial width of the central plate. A method of constructing such a flexplate assembly is also provided.

A clutch disc assembly, comprising a friction plate, a damper fixedly secured to the friction plate, comprising an inwardly facing saline and a retainer plate, the retainer plate comprises a first radially inwardly facing surface and a second radially inwardly facing surface radially offset from the first radially inwardly facing surface, and a hub, the hub comprises a first radially outwardly facing surface having a circumferential groove, a second radially outwardly facing surface having an outer saline that meshes with the inwardly facing saline to non-rotatably connect the hub and the damper, and an internal saline surface.

A device for transmitting torque on an axis from a drive to an output has a first connection for connecting with the drive and having a vulcanization surface, and a second connection for connecting with the output and also having a vulcanization surface. An elastic element formed of rubber-elastic material is in the power transmission path between the two connections, is constructed so as to be radially soft, permitting a radial offset of up to 1 mm between the first connection and the second connection, is torsionally rigid to permit an only very small torsion angle of at most 1.5 between the first connection and the second connection, and is vulcanized to the vulcanization surface of the first connection and to the vulcanization surface of the second connection.

A reduced noise flexplate assembly and method of construction is provided. The assembly includes a central plate that is generally disc shaped and extends radially from an axis. A ring gear is disposed annularly about the central plate and presents a plurality of ring teeth that extend radially therefrom for engaging a pinion gear coupled to a starter of an automobile. A noise plate is attached to the central plate with a plurality of plate fasteners and extends circumferentially about the axis. The noise plate includes a flange and a lower lip extending generally axially and radially outwardly from the inside flange to a maximum deflection zone adjacent to the ring teeth of the ring gear. The noise plate is frictionally engaged with and slideably moveable relative to the central plate and/or ring gear to reduce noise and reduce vibrations during starting of the automobile by converting friction into heat.