A spring preloaded lockup clutch system comprises clutch disc(s), an input component, and an output component housed in a hydraulic fluid chamber of a torque converter, a lockup piston and a mechanical spring housed in a piston housing of the torque converter, and a relief valve coupled to the hydraulic fluid chamber. The clutch disc(s), when engaged, couples the input component to the output component. The lockup piston has a first end and a second end, engages with the clutch disc(s) when biased, and disengages from the clutch disc(s) when unbiased. The mechanical spring, coupled to the lockup piston at the second end, applies force to bias the lockup piston. The relief valve, when opened, relieves hydraulic pressure in the hydraulic fluid chamber allowing the lockup piston to remain being biased, and, when closed, allows the hydraulic pressure to build up allowing the lockup piston to be unbiased.

A hybrid module includes a torque converter, an electric motor, a cover plate, a connecting pin, a piston, and a pressure plate. The torque converter includes a turbine and an impeller, arranged together to form a hydrodynamic torus. The electric motor includes a rotor with a rotor carrier drivingly engaged with the impeller. The cover plate is fixed to and radially inside of the rotor carrier, and includes a tubular portion with an orifice. The connecting pin is sealed to the tubular portion and extends through the orifice. The piston is disposed on a first axial side of the cover plate, is fixed to the connecting pin, and is arranged to engage a torque converter clutch, and the pressure plate is disposed on a second axial side of the cover plate, opposite the first axial side, is fixed to the connecting pin, and is arranged to engage a K0 clutch.

A damper apparatus that includes an input to which a torque from an engine is transferred; an output; a first intermediate element; a second intermediate element; a first elastic body configured to transfer the torque between the input and the first intermediate element; a second elastic body configured to transfer the torque between the first intermediate element and the output; a third elastic body configured to transfer the torque between the input and the second intermediate element; a fourth elastic body configured to transfer the torque between the second intermediate element and the output; and a fifth elastic body configured to transfer the torque between the first intermediate element and the second intermediate element.

The present invention relates to a torsional vibration reduction apparatus which uses coil springs and can obtain expected torsional vibration reduction performance by reducing the hysteresis torque caused by the sliding of coil springs (50) without restricting the layout and requiring the additive components. The coil springs (50) are received in paired input member side coil spring receiving portions (44) and an output member side coil spring receiving portion (48). The paired input member side coil spring receiving portions (44) comprise forward rotation side and reverse rotation side guide portions (44-1a) and (44-1b) between forward rotation side and reverse rotation side spring pedestals (44a) and (44b). The output member side coil spring receiving portion (48) comprises forward rotation side and reverse rotation side guide portions (48-1a) and (48-1b) between forward rotation side and reverse rotation side spring pedestals (48a) and (48b). In both the forward rotation and the reverse rotation, since the displacement of the coil springs (50) under the centrifugal force is received by the guide portions (44-1a), (48-1b); and (44-1b), (48-1a) and the vertical component force of the elastic force is small, the sliding resistance is suppressed, the hysteresis torque is reduced, the additive components is not required, and the installation positions of the coil springs (50) cannot be restricted.

A torque damper apparatus including an input plate, an intermediate plate, an output plate, and a spring member interposed between the intermediate plate and the output plate so that the torque transmitted from the intermediate plate to the output plate is reduced. The output plate includes a pair of plates arranged so as to separate from each other in an axial direction and a fastening part fastening the pair of plates. The spring member is a coiled spring arranged along a circumferential direction about the axial line, and the intermediate plate includes a holding portion holding an inner end of the spring member in a radial direction about the axial line, and a plate portion extended from the holding portion toward an inside in the radial direction between the pair of plates and supported rotatably relative to the fastening part.

A vibration damping device including a support member that rotates with a rotary element that receives engine torque; a restoring force generating member coupled to the support member and swingable with rotation of the support member; an inertial mass body that, with rotation of the support member, swings about the center of rotation in conjunction with the restoring force generating member; a guided portion formed in either the restoring force generating member and the inertial mass body; and a guide portion formed in the other of the restoring force generating member and the inertial mass body and configured to guide the guided portion. As the guided portion is guided by the guide portion, the restoring force generating member swings with respect to the center of rotation in the radial direction of the support member and the inertial mass body swings about the center of rotation when the support member rotates.

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.

The present invention discloses a torque converter for a vehicle in which the number of components is reduced and stability is improved in a long-travel torsional damper structure having springs that operate at two stages. The torque converter for a vehicle according to the present invention includes a front cover, an impeller, a turbine, a reactor, a lock-up clutch, and a torsional damper, and the lock-up clutch includes a clutch drum which is coupled to the front cover, multiple first friction plates which are coupled to the clutch drum, second friction plates which are disposed between the multiple first friction plates, and a retaining plate which has an extending drum portion to which the second friction plate are coupled and supports springs provided on the torsional damper.

A washer having such a thickness t that a value (L3(L1+L2+t)) obtained by subtracting the sum of a first distance L1 in an axial direction between a leading end face of a friction member and a face of a lockup piston, a second distance L2 in the axial direction between a shell-side abutting face of a pump shell and a face of an outside extended portion of an output hub, and the thickness t in the axial direction of the washer, from a third distance L3 in the axial direction between an opposed face of a front cover and a cover-side abutting face of a tubular portion, is in a predetermined range larger than zero, is selected and placed between the lockup piston and the outside extended portion of the output hub.

A lock-up device for a torque converter transmitting a torque from a front cover to a transmission-side member is disclosed. The lock-up device includes a clutch part, a piston, and a return mechanism. The piston is axially opposed to the front cover through the clutch part. The piston is axially movable and applies a pressing force to the clutch part whereby the clutch part is turned to an activated state. The return mechanism urges the piston away from the front cover. The return mechanism is disposed axially between the front cover and the piston while disposed radially inside the clutch part. The return mechanism includes first and second plates, and an elastic member. The first plate contacts the front cover. The second plate contacts the piston while axially opposed to the first plate. The elastic member is disposed between the first and second plates in a compressed state.