A torsional vibration damping arrangement for the drivetrain of a vehicle has an input region driven in rotation around an axis of rotation A and an output region. A first torque transmission path and a second torque transmission path parallel thereto proceed from the input region. A coupling arrangement communicates with the output region for superposing the torques guided via the torque transmission paths, and a phase shifter arrangement for the first torque transmission path generates a phase shift of rotational irregularities guided via the first torque transmission path relative to rotational irregularities guided via the second torque transmission path. The output region includes the planet gear carrier at which a planet gear is rotatably supported, and the planet gear carrier is connected to the output region to be fixed with respect to rotation relative to it.

A damper device includes first inner springs configured to transmit a torque between a drive member and an intermediate member, second inner springs configured to transmit a torque between the intermediate member and a driven member, and a rotary inertia mass damper including a sun gear serving as a mass body rotating with relative rotation of the drive member to the driven member. The rotary inertia mass damper is provided in parallel to a torque transmission path including the intermediate member, the first inner springs and the second inner springs. A damping ratio ζ of the intermediate member determined based on a moment of inertia J.sub.2 of the intermediate member and rigidities k.sub.1 and k.sub.2 of the first and the second inner springs and is less than a value.

A torsional vibration damper includes a planetary gear set having a ring gear connected to a transmission input shaft, a carrier rotatably supporting multiple planet gears individually meshed with a sun gear, and with the ring gear meshed with the planet gears. A spring cage includes a first spring support member having: a member first leg fixed to the ring gear; a member second leg rotatably connected to the transmission input shaft; and multiple first spring support member elements. A second spring support member connected to the carrier, the second spring support member having multiple second spring support member elements. Multiple springs each spring have at least one of the first spring support member elements and one of the second spring support member elements in contact with opposed ends of the spring. An inertial mass member is connected to the sun gear at a first end and has an inertial mass connected at a second end.

A damper device includes an input element; an intermediate element; art output element; a first elastic body that transmits a torque between the input element and the intermediate element; and a second elastic body that transmits a torque between the intermediate element and the output element. The damper device also includes a rotary inertia mass damper that includes a first mass body rotating in accordance with relative rotation between the input element and the output element and that is arranged between the input element and the output element to be parallel to a torque transmission path including the first elastic body, the intermediate element and the second elastic body. Finally, the damper devices includes a second mass body; and an elastic body arranged to couple the second mass body with the output element.

Presented are torque converters (TC) with planetary-type vibration dampers, methods for making/using such TC assemblies, and vehicles equipped with such TC assemblies. A TC assembly includes a TC housing drivingly connected to a prime mover to receive torque therefrom, and a TC output member drivingly connected to a transmission to transfer torque thereto. Rotatably mounted within an internal fluid chamber of the TC housing are juxtaposed turbine and impeller blades. The impeller blades are rotatably mounted to the housing. A TC clutch is operable to lock the TC housing to the TC output member. A torsional vibration damper, which is disposed within the internal fluid chamber, includes a sun gear attached to the TC output member for unitary rotation, a ring gear attached to the TC clutch for unitary rotation, and a planet carrier intermeshed with the ring and sun gears and attached to the turbine blades for unitary rotation.

Damper apparatus for use with vehicle torque converters are disclosed. A disclosed damper assembly for a vehicle torque converter includes a first portion operatively coupled to a clutch of the vehicle torque converter and configured to receive an engine torque from the clutch based on a state of the clutch. The damper assembly also includes a second portion and a hub rotatably coupled to a turbine of the vehicle torque converter. The damper assembly also includes a gear train including a ring gear coupled to the first portion, a planet gear rotatably coupled to the second portion, and a sun gear coupled to the hub. The damper assembly also includes a primary damping element positioned in a cavity formed by the second portion. Rotation of the first portion relative to the second portion compresses and decompresses the primary damping element to dampen a torsional vibration associated with the engine torque.

A torsional vibration damper that a torsional vibration damper having a planetary gear unit, and a manufacturing method of the torsional vibration damper for limiting damages on gears of the planetary gear unit due to dimension errors. In the planetary gear unit, at least one of a sun gear, a ring gear, and a set of planetary gears is/are formed by a press forming method. The gear formed by the press forming method is engaged with the remaining gears in such a manner that a thinner portion of each tooth is individually engaged with a thicker portion of the adjacent teeth of the remaining gears.

Presented are torque converters (TC) with planetary-type vibration dampers, methods for making/using such TC assemblies, and vehicles equipped with such TC assemblies. A TC assembly includes a TC housing drivingly connected to a prime mover to receive torque therefrom, and a TC output member drivingly connected to a transmission to transfer torque thereto. Rotatably mounted within an internal fluid chamber of the TC housing are juxtaposed turbine and impeller blades. The impeller blades are rotatably mounted to the housing. A TC clutch is operable to lock the TC housing to the TC output member. A torsional vibration damper, which is disposed within the internal fluid chamber, includes a sun gear attached to the TC output member for unitary rotation, a ring gear attached to the TC clutch for unitary rotation, and a planet carrier intermeshed with the ring and sun gears and attached to the turbine blades for unitary rotation.

A damper device includes a plurality of rotational elements, a plurality of elastic bodies, a rotary inertia mass damper and a housing that houses the plurality of rotational elements, the plurality of elastic bodies and the rotary inertia mass damper, the housing including a front cover. The rotary inertia mass damper is configured to include a planetary gear that includes a sun gear, a plurality of pinion gears, and a carrier that rotatably supports the plurality of pinion gears. The carrier is centered by either the sun gear or a member that rotates integrally with the sun gear by being radially supported by either the sun gear or the member that rotates integrally with the sun gear. In addition, the carrier is spline-engaged to the front cover when a lockup clutch is engaged.

Presented are torque converters (TC) with planetary-type vibration dampers, methods for making/using such TC assemblies, and vehicles equipped with such TC assemblies. A TC assembly includes a TC housing drivingly connected to a prime mover to receive torque therefrom, and a TC output member drivingly connected to a transmission to transfer torque thereto. Rotatably mounted within an internal fluid chamber of the TC housing are juxtaposed turbine and impeller blades. The impeller blades are rotatably mounted to the housing. A TC clutch is operable to lock the TC housing to the TC output member. A torsional vibration damper, which is disposed within the internal fluid chamber, includes a sun gear attached to the TC output member for unitary rotation, a ring gear attached to the TC clutch for unitary rotation, and a planet carrier intermeshed with the ring and sun gears and attached to the turbine blades for unitary rotation.