Patent ID: 6196925
Filing Date: 2001-03-06
Classification: F16D,F16F

Abstract:
Apparatus for damping vibrations, comprising at least two flywheel elements which are mounted for rotation relative to each other and include a first flywheel element connectable with a prime mover and a second flywheel element connectable with a transmission by way of a clutch; and damper means interposed between said flywheel elements and including at least two resilient dampers operating in parallel, one of said at least two resilient dampers being arranged to oppose, alone, a first stage of rotation of said first and second flywheel elements from a starting position and the other of said at least two resilient dampers being arranged to oppose, with said one resilient damper, a next-following second stage of rotation of said first and second flywheel elements relative to each other, said one resilient damper having a first stiffness and said other resilient damper having a second stiffness greater than said first stiffness, each of said resilient dampers including energy storing elements and said resilient dampers having a common output portion including two interconnected substantially washer-like members having openings for said energy storing elements, the energy storing elements of one of said resilient dampers being located nearer to a common axis of said flywheel elements and the energy storing elements of the other of said resilient dampers being more distant from said axis, said substantially washer-like members being spaced apart from each other in the direction of said axis at least at the openings for the energy storing elements located nearer to said axis.