A low frequency torsional vibration damper has an annular inertia member defining an annular recess for receiving an elastomeric O-ring in a radial outer surface or a radial inner surface thereof and defining opposing annular recesses for receiving elastomeric O-rings, one each, in the top and bottom surfaces thereof, an elastomeric O-ring seated in each annular recess, and a hub defining an annular receptacle with opposing sidewalls that each comprise a plurality of spaced apart tabs permanently deformed against the plurality of elastomeric O-rings, thereby operatively coupling the hub to the inertia member for rotation together. When the inertia member defines the outer diameter of the torsional vibration damper, the hub is mountable on a shaft, and when the inertia member defines the inner diameter of the torsional vibration damper, the hub is mountable inside a shaft.

A gear includes a first, radially inner ring element, a second, radially outer ring element and a connecting element, wherein the second, radially outer ring element includes a toothing, wherein further the connecting element is arranged in the radial direction between the first, radially inner ring element and the second, radially outer ring element and is connected to the first, radially inner ring element and the second, radially outer ring element, and wherein the connecting element is made at least partly from a rubbery-elastic material, and wherein a deviation of the coaxiality of the outer diameter of the first, radially inner ring element to the inner diameter of the second, radially outer ring element amounts to a maximum of 0.8 mm and/or the toothing of the radially outer ring element is formed with teeth having different tooth thicknesses.

A drive mechanism comprises a flywheel, a flywheel damper removably connected to the flywheel, a pump drive, and an intermediate shaft. The pump drive comprises a housing, an input shaft mounted to the housing for rotation relative thereto about an axis of rotation, and a seal surrounding the input shaft to establish a sealed connection therewith. The intermediate shaft is co-axial with the input shaft relative to the axis of rotation and removably connected to the flywheel damper and the input shaft. The seal is replaceable. An associated method for replacing the seal is disclosed.

A steering device includes: a coupling including a first coupling member, a second coupling member, and an elastic member, the elastic member which is made from a resin, and which includes an elastic member base portion, a first rotation direction elastic portion, a second rotation direction elastic portion, a third rotation direction elastic portion, a fourth rotation elastic portion, and an axial elastic portion, the axial elastic portion which is provided to the elastic member base portion, and which is arranged to be bent in a direction to be inclined with respect to the first axis when a clearance between the first shaft member assembly and the second shaft member assembly in the direction of the first axis is decreased.

A steering device includes: a coupling including a first coupling member, a second coupling member, and an elastic member, the elastic member which is made from a resin, and which includes an elastic member base portion, a first rotation direction elastic portion, a second rotation direction elastic portion, a third rotation direction elastic portion, a fourth rotation elastic portion, and an axial elastic portion, the axial elastic portion which is provided to the elastic member base portion, and which is arranged to be bent in a direction to be inclined with respect to the first axis when a clearance between the first shaft member assembly and the second shaft member assembly in the direction of the first axis is decreased.

An engine assembly has a damper rotationally coupled to a crankshaft. The damper has first and second spokes connecting a hub to an inertial weight, with the inertial weight circumferentially surrounding and spaced apart from the hub. Each of the spokes has an airfoil section. The first spoke is oriented with a positive angle of attack and the second spoke is oriented with one of a negative angle of attack and a zero angle of attack. A crankshaft damper is provided by a member having first and second spokes extending radially outwardly from a huh to an outer rim supporting an inertial weight. A chord associated with the first spoke is oriented at a first angle of attack relative to a rotational plane of the member. A chord associated with the second spoke is oriented at a second angle of attack relative to the rotational plane.

A drive mechanism comprises a flywheel, a flywheel damper removably connected to the flywheel, a pump drive, and an intermediate shaft. The pump drive comprises a housing, an input shaft mounted to the housing for rotation relative thereto about an axis of rotation, and a seal surrounding the input shaft to establish a sealed connection therewith. The intermediate shaft is co-axial with the input shaft relative to the axis of rotation and removably connected to the flywheel damper and the input shaft. The seal is replaceable. An associated method for replacing the seal is disclosed.

A support structure for rotating shafts of a vehicle, including: a drive shaft operatively connected to a power transmitting shaft to which a drive force of an engine is transmitted; and a rotor shaft of an electric motor spline-coupled to the drive shaft, each of the rotor shaft of the electric motor and the drive shaft is being supported by at least one bearing, in the support structure, one of the rotor shaft and the drive shaft is constituted by a first rotary shaft and a second rotary shaft which are operatively connected to each other, and an elastic member is interposed between the first rotary shaft and the second rotary shaft such that the first and second rotary shafts are operatively spline-connected to each other through the elastic member.

A support structure for rotating shafts of a vehicle, including: a drive shaft operatively connected to a power transmitting shaft to which a drive force of an engine is transmitted; and a rotor shaft of an electric motor spline-coupled to the drive shaft, each of the rotor shaft of the electric motor and the drive shaft is being supported by at least one bearing, in the support structure, one of the rotor shaft and the drive shaft is constituted by a first rotary shaft and a second rotary shaft which are operatively connected to each other, and an elastic member is interposed between the first rotary shaft and the second rotary shaft such that the first and second rotary shafts are operatively spline-connected to each other through the elastic member.

The disclosed invention is a novel method for constructing a Torsional Vibration Damper (TVD). The traditional means used to construct the hub of the TVD was to employ a single material. The disclosed invention essentially discretizes the construction of the TVD hub into three regions: nose, spokes, and flange, and simultaneously aligns unique materials and manufacturing methods for each region with the structural loads borne thereby. Consequently, the invention helps in reduces four unwanted characteristics: (1) mass; (2) polar mass moment of inertia; and (3) casting scrap; and (4) cost. Furthermore, because of this construction other enhancements to the axial and angular structural integrity of the TVD can be reaped in certain cases.