Patent ID: 7140966
Filing Date: 2006-11-28
Classification: F16F

Abstract:
1. A torsional vibration damper, comprising: a primary mass adapted to be coupled to an engine crankshaft for rotation about a rotational axis of the engine crankshaft, the primary mass defining a substantially ring-shaped chamber that is divided into at least two portions; a secondary mass relatively rotatably connected to the primary mass and connectable with a clutch; and a damping unit for coupling the primary and secondary masses to each other in a rotationally elastic manner, wherein the damping unit comprises: a plurality of elastic members situated in series and disposed one after the other within the divided portions of the ring-shaped chamber; a pair of end guides slidably disposed within each divided portion of the ring-shaped chamber and supporting outer ends of the end elastic members among the plurality of elastic members; and a wedge-shaped friction member disposed between neighboring elastic members, the wedge-shaped friction member comprising an inner wedge and an outer wedge, wherein the inner wedge and the outer wedge are in slidable contact with one another; and are elastically supported by the neighboring elastic members such that the outer and inner wedges move in opposite directions; wherein the inner wedge is provided with a first slanted contacting surface, the outer wedge is provided with a second slanted contacting surface, and the inner and outer wedges contact each other through the first and second slanted contacting surfaces, so that the outer wedge is urged to move outwardly and the inner wedge is urged to move inwardly when the neighboring elastic members are compressed; wherein a mean operating radius of the elastic member supporting the outer wedge is greater than a mean operating radius of the elastic member supporting the inner wedge.