Centrifugal pendulum device for vibration isolation

Abstract

A centrifugal pendulum device for vibration isolation of a power take-off system of a drive unit, having a first pendulum element with a first mass and a second pendulum element with a second mass, which are set up to counteract vibrations of the drive unit in a resonance range. The first pendulum element has a first resonance range and the second pendulum element has a second resonance range, where the first and the second resonance ranges differ. Using the centrifugal pendulum device it is possible in a small construction space using efficient means to isolate an extended frequency range of vibrations from the drivetrain. In particular, with drive units which are designed as internal combustion engines having activatable cylinders, it is possible, using the centrifugal pendulum device proposed here to achieve a vibration isolation for many states of the drive unit.

Claims

1. A vibration equalization device, comprising: at least one shaft for transmitting torque; a first flywheel rotationally fixed on said at least one shaft and extending radially; a second flywheel rotationally fixed on said at least one shaft and extending radially; and, a centrifugal pendulum device for providing vibration isolation in a power take-off system in a drive unit, comprising: a first pendulum element having a first mass, the first pendulum element operatively arranged on the first flywheel to counteract vibrations of the drive unit in a first resonance range; and, a second pendulum element having a second mass, said second pendulum element operatively arranged on the second flywheel to counteract vibrations of said drive unit in a second resonance range, wherein said first and second resonance ranges differ.

2. The vibration equalization device as recited in claim 1, further comprising a third pendulum element operatively arranged on the first or second flywheel to counteract vibrations of said drive unit in said first resonance range, said second resonance range, or a third resonance range.

3. The vibration equalization device as recited in claim 1, wherein said first and second flywheels are formed by a component selected from the group consisting of a damper, a pressing plate, a central carrier, and a clutch housing.

4. The vibration equalization device recited in claim 1, further comprising a friction clutch for detachably connecting a drivetrain to the drive unit, the friction clutch comprising: a friction system having at least one pressing plate and at least one friction disk; a clutch housing in which the at least one pressing plate is rotationally fixed; an input shaft; and, at least one output shaft.

5. The vibration equalization device recited in claim 4, wherein the drive unit is situated in a motor vehicle ahead of a driver's compartment and transversely to a longitudinal axis of the motor vehicle.

6. The vibration equalization device as recited in claim 1, wherein each of said first and second pendulum elements is arranged symmetrically on the flywheel.

7. A method for adjusting first and second resonance ranges of a centrifugal pendulum device for providing vibration isolation in a power take-off system in a drive unit, the centrifugal pendulum device comprising a first pendulum element having a first mass, said first pendulum element operatively arranged on a first flywheel to counteract vibrations of said drive unit in the first resonance range, and a second pendulum element having a second mass, said second pendulum element operatively arranged on a second flywheel to counteract vibrations of said drive unit in the second resonance range, wherein said first and second resonance ranges differ, the method comprising adjusting the resonance ranges by at least one of the following actions: suspending said pendulum elements at various radii; providing different oscillation path tracks of said pendulum elements; varying the first mass and/or varying the second mass; or suspending said pendulum elements on various oscillation elements.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention as well as the technical environment will now be described in greater detail by reference to the accompanying figures, in which the figures represent the following:

(2) FIG. 1 is a centrifugal pendulum device on a damper;

(3) FIG. 2 is a centrifugal pendulum device having two pendulum elements on a damper;

(4) FIG. 3 is a centrifugal pendulum device having two different oscillation path tracks;

(5) FIG. 4 is a centrifugal pendulum device with oscillation path limit;

(6) FIG. 5 is a centrifugal pendulum device with differing suspension radii;

(7) FIG. 6 is a centrifugal pendulum device in cross section with a first radius;

(8) FIG. 7 is a centrifugal pendulum device in cross section with a second radius;

(9) FIG. 8 is a vibration equalization device; and,

(10) FIG. 9 is a motor vehicle having a friction clutch.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(11) At the outset, it should be appreciated that like drawing numbers on different drawing views identify identical, or functionally similar, structural elements of the invention. While the present invention is described with respect to what is presently considered to be the preferred aspects, it is to be understood that the invention as claimed is not limited to the disclosed aspects.

(12) Furthermore, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the particular methodology, materials and modifications described and, as such, may, of course, vary. It is also understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular aspects only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention, which is limited only by the appended claims.

(13) Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood to one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Although any methods, devices or materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the invention, the preferred methods, devices, and materials are now described.

(14) FIGS. 1 and 2 show centrifugal pendulum device 1 having first pendulum element 4 with first mass 5, which is suspended on first damper 14. FIG. 2 shows, for example, centrifugal pendulum device 1 from FIG. 1 in cross section, it being apparent that first damper 14 and second damper 15 are used. First pendulum element 4 having first mass 5 and second pendulum element 6 having second mass 7.

(15) FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of centrifugal pendulum device 1, wherein first pendulum element 4 having first mass 5 and second pendulum element 6 having second mass 7 are used. First pendulum element 4 here has first oscillation path limit 12 and second pendulum element 6 has second oscillation path limit 13, which differ from each other. In addition, first mass 5 and second mass 7 differ. Furthermore, two additional pendulum elements 8, 9 are employed, which are arranged symmetrically, which here means diametrically opposite each other. FIG. 4 depicts centrifugal pendulum device 1 such as, for example, in FIG. 3, in cross section. First pendulum element 4 having first mass 5 is suspended here at first oscillation path limit 12. Second pendulum element 6 is also recognizable.

(16) FIG. 5 shows another embodiment of centrifugal pendulum device 1, wherein first pendulum element 4 having first mass 5 is suspended at first radius 10 and second pendulum element 6 having second mass 7 is suspended at second radius 11. Here again, two additional pendulum elements 8, 9 are depicted symmetrically. Second additional pendulum element 9 and first pendulum element 4 are suspended in first oscillation path limit 12, and second pendulum element 6 as well as first additional pendulum element 8 are suspended at second oscillation path limit 13.

(17) FIG. 6 depicts centrifugal pendulum device 1 in cross section, as it is shown, for example, in FIG. 5. First pendulum element 4 with first mass 5 is shown here, which is situated at first radius 10 with first oscillation path limit 12. Furthermore, second pendulum element 6 is also recognizable.

(18) FIG. 7 shows a similar cross section to that in FIG. 6 through centrifugal pendulum device 1, where here second pendulum element 6 having second mass 7 may be seen suspended at second oscillation path limit 13 at second radius 11. Furthermore, first pendulum element 4 is also depicted.

(19) FIG. 8 shows friction clutch 23 in which vibration equalization device 16 having centrifugal pendulum device 1 is visible in cross section. Friction clutch 23 depicted in FIG. 8 is a dual clutch having central carrier 21, only the relevant elements being designated here. Friction clutch 23 has input shaft 17, to which clutch housing 22 is connected. Situated in clutch housing 22 is pressing plate 20, as well as central carrier 21, axially movable and rotationally fixed. Between pressing plate 20 and central carrier 21 friction disk 25 is provided, so that these elements together form friction system 24. Through it first output shaft 18 is frictionally connectable to input shaft 17. Situated in central carrier 21 is centrifugal pendulum device 1, of which first pendulum element 4 is recognizable in cross section. Centrifugal pendulum device 1, central carrier 21 and input shaft 17 form vibration equalization device 16. Also shown is second output shaft 19, which is likewise frictionally connectable to input shaft 17.

(20) FIG. 9 shows motor vehicle 26, in which drive unit 3 is situated ahead of driver's compartment 28. Drive unit 3 is connected through drive shaft 27 and schematically depicted friction clutch 23 to schematically depicted drivetrain 2. Drive unit 3 has its motor axis 30 oriented transversely to longitudinal axis 29 of motor vehicle 26.

(21) Using the centrifugal pendulum device, or vibration equalization device, proposed here, it is possible in a small construction space using efficient means to isolate an extended frequency range of vibrations from the drivetrain. In particular with drive units which are designed as internal combustion engines having activatable cylinders, it is possible, using the centrifugal pendulum device proposed here, to achieve vibration isolation for many states of the drive unit.

(22) Thus, it is seen that the objects of the present invention are efficiently obtained, although modifications and changes to the invention should be readily apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art, which modifications are intended to be within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed. It also is understood that the foregoing description is illustrative of the present invention and should not be considered as limiting. Therefore, other embodiments of the present invention are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

(23) 1 Centrifugal pendulum device 2 Drivetrain 3 Drive unit 4 First pendulum element 5 First mass 6 Second pendulum element 7 Second mass 8 First additional pendulum element 9 Second additional pendulum element 10 First radius 11 Second radius 12 First oscillation path limit 13 Second oscillation path limit 14 First flywheel 15 Second flywheel 16 Vibration equalization device 17 Input shaft 18 First output shaft 19 Second output shaft 20 Pressing plate 21 Central carrier 22 Clutch housing 23 Friction clutch 24 Friction system 25 Friction disk 26 Motor vehicle 27 Output shaft 28 Driver's compartment 29 Longitudinal axis 30 Motor axis