Patent ID: 8057310

Claim:
A damper assembly configured to connect an engine crankshaft and a transmission input member, comprising: an engine face plate configured to be fixed to the engine crankshaft without relative rotation therebetween; a transmission face plate secured to the engine face plate such that the engine face plate and the transmission face plate are not rotatable relative to one another and an internal opening is defined therebetween; a ring gear secured to at least one of the transmission face plate and the engine face plate; a flange configured to connect to the transmission input member without relative rotation therebetween and positioned within the internal opening and at least partially rotatable relative to the engine face plate and the transmission face plate; and a plurality of springs located between and operatively connecting the flange and one of the transmission face plate and the engine face plate to reduce relative rotational movement thereof; the ring gear thereby being connected to the engine crankshaft by the engine faceplate without torque flow from the ring gear to the crankshaft being through the plurality of springs when the engine face plate is connected to the engine crankshaft.