Patent ID: 6131486
Filing Date: 2000-10-17
Classification: F16F,Y10T

Abstract:
A flexible plate which has an anisotropic flexural rigidity, said flexible plate being adapted to be installed on a crankshaft of an engine, a flywheel being adapted to be installed on said flexible plate, said flexible plate comprising:a flywheel installation portion on which the flywheel is adapted to be installed;a central portion integrally formed with at least a portion of said flywheel installation portion, said central portion being adapted to be installed on the crankshaft of the engine, the crankshaft and said central portion defining a center axis about which said flexible plate and the crankshaft are adapted to rotate;an intermediate portion formed between said flywheel installation portion and said central portion;a first plate and a second plate, each of said first and second plates formed with separate annular central portions fixed to one another to define said central portion;said first plate formed with first foot portions extending in opposite radial directions outward from said annular central portion of said first plate;said second plate formed with second foot portions extending in opposite radial directions outward from said annular central portion of said second plate;said first foot portions and said second foot portions defining said intermediate portion and said flywheel installation portion;first and second axes being defined extending through said flywheel installation portion and perpendicular to the center axis, said intermediate portion and said central portion being formed such that flexural rigidity about said first axis is greater than flexural rigidity about said second axis,said first foot portions and said second foot portions being perpendicular to one another with respect to the central axis, said first foot portions being generally aligned with said first axis and said second foot portions being generally aligned with said second axis; andwherein a circumferential width of said second foot portions is greater that a circumferential width of said first foot portions.