Patent ID: 6854580

Claim:
A torsional damper ( 10 ) rotatably supported for translating torque between a prime mover and the input of a transmission, said torsional damper ( 10 ) comprising: a torque input member ( 12 ) operatively connected for rotation with the power take off of a prime mover, an output member ( 14 ) operatively connected for rotation with the input to a transmission and a plurality of damping elements ( 16 ) interposed between said input member ( 12 ) and said output member ( 14 ), said damping members ( 16 ) acting to translate torque between said input and said output members and to dampen torsional forces generated between the prime mover and the transmission; a bypass clutch ( 40 ) including an annular friction plate ( 44 ) disposed generally spaced from said torque input member ( 12 ) and in frictional contact with said output member ( 14 ), said annular friction plate ( 44 ) including a plurality of fingers ( 46 ) annularly disposed in spaced relationship relative to one another about the rotational axis (A) of the torsional damper, said plurality of fingers ( 46 ) extending toward and being carried by said input member ( 12 ), a biasing member ( 50 ) acting on said plurality of fingers ( 46 ) to constantly bias said friction plate ( 44 ) into engagement with said output member ( 14 ), said output member ( 14 ) including an annular friction surface ( 56 ) disposed opposite to and corresponding to said friction plate ( 44 ) of said bypass clutch ( 40 ), said annular friction surface ( 56 ) and said friction plate ( 44 ) adapted for continuously slipping engagement to translate torque directly between said input and output members thereby providing a path for partial torque translation bypassing said damping elements at low rotational speeds of said input and output members; and a clutch release mechanism ( 42 ) operatively supported by said input member ( 12 ) and responsive to centrifugal forces acting on said torsional damper to disengage said bypass clutch ( 40 ) to reduce the torque translated directly between said input and output members at high rotational speeds.