Patent ID: 7252593

Claim:
A torsional-vibration damper rotatably supported for translating torque between a power take-off of a prime mover and an input of a transmission, said torsional-vibration damper comprising: a primary element operatively connected for rotation with the power take-off of the prime mover; a secondary element operatively connected for rotation with the input of the transmission and including a drive-side holding plate on which a series of apertures and radial ridges are formed; a spring mechanism operatively disposed between said primary element and said secondary element and adapted to operatively couple said primary element to said secondary element in a damped-torque translational relationship; and a friction device having a plurality of friction blocks that are adapted to be received within respective said apertures of said drive-side holding plate and operatively supported between said primary element and said secondary element such that said friction blocks provide frictional contact between said primary element and said secondary element, wherein said friction device further includes a support plate having a plurality of axially extending ridges and that is operatively mounted to said drive-side holding plate such that said plurality of axially extending ridges of said support plate fit within and extend axially beyond said drive-side holding plate and said plurality of friction blocks are operatively disposed upon respective said axially extending ridges of said support plate and can move within respective said apertures in a circumferential orientation to next corresponding said radial ridges of said drive-side holding plate.