A torque fluctuation inhibiting device includes a mass body, a centrifugal element and a cam mechanism. The mass body is disposed to be rotatable with a rotor and be rotatable relatively to the rotor. The centrifugal element is disposed to receive a centrifugal force to be generated by rotation of the rotor and the mass body. When a relative displacement is produced between the rotor and the mass body in a rotational direction, the cam mechanism converts the centrifugal force that acts on the centrifugal element into a circumferential force directed to reduce the relative displacement. Additionally, when the torque fluctuations inputted to the rotor have a predetermined magnitude or greater, the cam mechanism makes the mass body freely rotate with respect to the rotor.

A torque fluctuation inhibiting device inhibits torque fluctuations in a rotor to which a torque is inputted. The torque fluctuation inhibiting device includes a mass body, a centrifugal element and a cam mechanism. The mass body is disposed to be rotatable with a rotor and be rotatable relatively to the rotor. The centrifugal element is disposed to receive a centrifugal force to be generated by rotation of the rotor and the mass body. The cam mechanism converts the centrifugal force acting on the centrifugal element into a circumferential force when a relative displacement is produced between the rotor and the mass body in a rotational direction. The circumferential force is directed to reduce the relative displacement.

A rotary inertia mass damper of a damper device is configured to include a planetary gear that includes a driven member with outer teeth, first and second input plate member as a carrier which rotatably supports a plurality of pinion gears, and a ring gear that meshes with the plurality of pinion gears and works as the mass body. The outer teeth of the driven member are arranged to be disposed outside first and second springs in a radial direction of the damper device. The driven member, the plurality of pinion gears and the ring gear are arranged to at least partially overlap with the first and second springs as viewed in the radial direction. A motion of the ring gear in the axial direction is restricted by the plurality of pinion gears.

A torque fluctuation inhibiting device includes a mass body, first and second centrifugal elements, and first and second cam mechanisms. The mass body is rotatable with a rotor and is also rotatable relatively to the rotor. Each of the first and second centrifugal elements receives a centrifugal force to be generated by rotation of the rotor and the mass body. When a relative displacement is produced between the rotor and the mass body in a rotational direction, the first cam mechanism converts the centrifugal force that acts on the first centrifugal element into a first circumferential force directed to reduce the relative displacement. When the relative displacement is produced between the rotor and the mass body in the rotational direction, the second cam mechanism converts the centrifugal force that acts on the second centrifugal element into a second circumferential force directed to reduce the relative displacement.

A torque converter is provided. The torque converter includes an impeller and a stator. The stator includes a thrust assembly connected to both the stator and the impeller. The thrust assembly includes an axial thrust surface for axially contacting an axial surface of a radially extending wall of the impeller. A method of forming a torque converter is also provided. The method includes connecting a thrust assembly to a stator and connecting an impeller to the thrust assembly.

A damper assembly for a torque converter is provided. The damper assembly includes a first cover plate including a spring retainer at a radial outer end of the first cover plate supporting springs; and a second cover plate including, at a radial outer end thereof, tabs for the springs, the tabs being in circumferential spaces between the springs The spring retainer and the tabs are fixed together inside the spring retainer. A method of forming a damper assembly is also provided. The method includes fixing a spring retainer at a radial outer end of a first cover plate to tabs at a radially outer end of a second cover plate inside the spring retainer. The tabs are in circumferential spaces between springs retained by the spring retainer.

A damper assembly for a torque converter is provided. The damper assembly includes a first cover plate including a spring retainer at a radial outer end of the first cover plate supporting springs; and a second cover plate including, at a radial outer end thereof, tabs for the springs, the tabs being in circumferential spaces between the springs The spring retainer and the tabs are fixed together inside the spring retainer. A method of forming a damper assembly is also provided. The method includes fixing a spring retainer at a radial outer end of a first cover plate to tabs at a radially outer end of a second cover plate inside the spring retainer. The tabs are in circumferential spaces between springs retained by the spring retainer.

A damper system which is supportable rotatably around an axis of rotation, having a first absorber device and a second absorber device. The first absorber device includes at least one first pendulum mass, a first coupling device and a first flange part. The first pendulum mass is coupled with the first flange part by means of the first coupling device. The first coupling device is designed to guide the first pendulum mass along a first oscillation path. The second absorber device is offset radially from the first absorber device. The second absorber device includes an absorber element. The absorber element is coupled with the first flange part.

A damper device that includes a first torque transmission path including a first elastic body that transmits torque between the input element and the output element; and a second torque transmission path disposed in parallel with the first torque transmission path and including first and second intermediate elements, a second elastic body that transmits the torque between the input element and the first intermediate element, a third elastic body that transmits the torque between the first intermediate element and the second intermediate element, and a fourth elastic body that transmits the torque between the second intermediate element and the output element.

The present invention relates to a dynamic damper provided with a planetary dear device and damper springs and aims to obtain an increased adjustable range of gear ratio for obtaining a desired reduction of rotating fluctuation and to reduce a size in a radial direction. A plurality of planetary gears 34 are provided, each forms a stepped shape (Ravigneau type planetary gear device) and is constructed by a small diameter pinion 42 and a large diameter pinion 44 juxtaposed in an axial direction so as to be rotated integrally. Rotating elements, which are selectively and desirably arranged to mesh with the small diameter pinion 42 and the large diameter pinion 44, are large diameter and small diameter ring gears and large diameter and small diameter sun gears. In addition to a carrier connecting the plurality of stepped shaped planetary gears 34, two rotating elements are selected from the large diameter and small diameter ring gears and the large diameter and small diameter sun gears. Among the selected elements, two selected rotating elements, for example, the large diameter sun gear and the carrier are assigned to the inlet and the outlet elements, respectively and the remaining small sun gear 40 is assigned to the mass element.