Patent ID: 6270417
Filing Date: 2001-08-07
Classification: F16F

Abstract:
A damper mechanism comprising:a first rotary member;a second rotary member coupled to said first rotary member for limited relative rotary displacement therebetween such that torque is transmittable therebetween;a damper mechanism disposed between said first and second rotary members coupling said first and second rotary members together in a rotating direction and arranged to exhibit torsion characteristics in first and second stages of relative rotary displacement between said first and second rotary members, displacement in said second stage causing said damper mechanism to exhibit a higher rigidity than displacement in said first stage, said damper mechanism being adapted to provide dampening in said first and second stages in response to displacement in both positive and negative rotation directions, positive rotation corresponding to rotation of said second rotary member in a rotational driving direction with respect to said first rotary member, and said negative rotation corresponding to rotation of said second rotary member in a rotational direction opposite the rotational driving direction with respect to said first rotary member;a friction mechanism adapted to generate friction in response to relative rotary displacement between said first and second rotary members in said second stage; anda friction suppressing mechanism adapted to operate in response to torsional vibrations that do not exceed a predetermined level in said second stage, said friction suppressing mechanism adapted to stop operation of said friction mechanism in response to torsional vibration within a first angular range in the direction of positive rotation within said second stage, and said friction suppressing mechanism further being adapted to stop operation of said friction mechanism in response to torsional vibration within a second angular range in the direction of negative rotation within said second stage, said second angular range having magnitude an angular magnitude that is aproximately half of that of said first angular range.