Patent ID: 6883655
Filing Date: 2005-04-26
Classification: F16F

Abstract:
1. A variable torsional damper rotatably supported for translating torque between a prime mover and the input of a transmission, said variable torsional damper comprising: a torque input member operatively connected for rotation with the power take off of a prime mover, an output member operatively connected for rotation with the input to a transmission and a plurality of damping elements interposed between said input member and said output member, said damping members acting to translate torque between said input and said output members and to dampen torsional forces generated between the prime mover and the transmission; and a magneto-rheological damper assembly including a magnetic coil assembly, an inner disk assembly, and an outer disk assembly, said magnetic coil assembly having a winding that is adapted to provide a magnetic field having two magnetic poles when selectively energized, said inner disk assembly having a riser portion and a flux-shaping ring, said flux-shaping ring mounted to said riser portion and operatively supported about said magnetic coil such that the magnetic lines of flux generated by said magnetic coil assembly flow through said flux-shaping ring, said inner disk assembly operatively supported by said input member and said outer disk assembly operatively supported by said output member such that said magneto-rheological damper assembly is disposed in parallel with said damping elements and adapted to operatively vary the hysteresis between said input member and said output member such that said variable torsional damper is operable to selectively add additional hysteresis to that provided by said damping members.