Process for damping torsional vibrations, and torsional vibration damper

Abstract

In order to adapt the damping behavior at a wider range in a process for damping torsional vibrations and in a torsional vibration damper, the length of an elastic element can be changed in dependence on a relative angle between two rotational subassemblies with the degree of change in length being variable in dependence on the relative angle. Furthermore, a thrust piston of a coupling element, which couples the two subassemblies, can be displaced in dependence on the relative angle, relative to a first one of the two subassemblies.

1 . Process for damping torsional vibrations, in which two subassemblies ( 1 ,  2 ) rotate relative to one another and interact with one another via at least one essentially tangentially effective elastic element ( 31 ), so as to vary the length of the elastic element ( 31 ) in dependence on a relative angle between the two rotational subassemblies ( 1 ,  2 ), characterized in that the degree of change in length is varied in dependence on the relative angle.  
     
     
         2 . Process according to    claim 1   , characterized in that the degree of change in length at low relative angle, starting from an idle position, is low, preferably almost equal to zero.  
     
     
         3 . Process according to    claim 1    or    2   , characterized in that the degree of change in length increases with increasing relative angle.  
     
     
         4 . Process for damping torsional vibrations in which two subassemblies (1, 2) rotate relative to one another and interact with one another via at least one elastic element ( 31 ) so that the length of the elastic element ( 31 ) is compressed in dependence on a relative angle between the two rotational subassemblies ( 1 ,  2 ), characterized in that the degree of compression is varied by the relative angle.  
     
     
         5 . Process according to    claim 4   , characterized in that the degree of compression at low relative angle, starting from an idle position, is low, preferably almost equal to zero.  
     
     
         6 . Process according to    claim 5   , characterized in that the degree of compression increases with increasing relative angle.  
     
     
         7 . Process for damping torsional vibrations in which two subassemblies ( 1 ,  2 ) rotate relative to one another and are coupled to one another by at least one coupling element ( 3 ) which opposes a relative movement of both subassemblies ( 1 ,  2 ) characterized in that at least one thrust piston ( 30 ) of the coupling element ( 3 ) is displaced, in dependence on a relative angle between the two rotational subassemblies ( 1 ,  2 ), relative to a first one of the two subassemblies ( 1 ,  2 ), while acting with a restoring force upon the first subassembly ( 1 ).  
     
     
         8 . Process according to    claim 7   , characterized in that the thrust piston ( 30 ) is tilted in a particular relative angle range in dependence on the relative angle in relation to the second subassembly ( 2 ).  
     
     
         9 . Process according to    claim 8   , characterized in that the tilting is realized between an idle position and a displacement position.  
     
     
         10 . Process according to one of the    claims 7    to    9   , characterized in that the thrust piston ( 30 ) is displaced along the first subassembly ( 1 ) at least in a particular relative angle range in dependence on the relative angle.  
     
     
         11 . Process according to    claim 10   , characterized in that the displacement movement is realized along a plane surface ( 11 ) of the first subassembly ( 1 ).  
     
     
         12 . Torsional vibration damper, in which two subassemblies ( 1 ,  2 ) rotate relative to one another and are coupled to one another by at least one coupling element ( 3 ), which opposes a relative movement of both subassemblies ( 1 ,  2 ) characterized in that the coupling element ( 3 ) includes at least one thrust piston ( 30 ) which is so guided as to be displaced in dependence on a relative angle between the two rotational subassemblies ( 1 ,  2 ), relative to the first subassembly ( 1 ,  2 ) while acting with a restoring force upon a first subassembly ( 1 ,  2 )).  
     
     
         13 . Torsional vibration damper according to    claim 12   , characterized in that the thrust piston ( 30 ) in relation to its guidance has at least an idle position and a displacement position, whereby the thrust piston ( 30 ) in its idle position bears upon a contact area ( 20 ) of the second subassembly ( 2 ), with its displacement position being tilted with respect to the idle position.  
     
     
         14 . Torsional vibration damper according to    claim 13   , characterized in that the tilting is realized in relation to the second subassembly ( 2 ).  
     
     
         15 . Torsional vibration damper according to one of the    claims 12    to    14   , characterized in that the coupling element ( 3 ) has at least two thrust pistons ( 30 ), which are moved towards one another at a particular relative movement of the two subassemblies, whereby the thrust pistons overlap at a particular relative angle.  
     
     
         16 . Torsional vibration damper according to one of the    claims 12    to    15   , characterized in that the coupling element ( 3 ) includes at least two thrust pistons ( 30 ) and both thrust pistons ( 30 ) have a lateral support surface ( 40 ) for a spring element ( 31 ) disposed between the thrust pistons ( 30 ) and engaging a recess ( 41 ) of the respective other thrust piston ( 30 ).  
     
     
         17 . Torsional vibration damper according to one of the    claims 12    to    16   , characterized in that the coupling element ( 3 ) includes at least two thrust pistons ( 30 ) and both thrust pistons ( 3 ) have an external support surface ( 42 ) for a spring element ( 31 ) disposed between the thrust pistons ( 30 ), with the support surface having an axial external region formed with a slanted ramp surface ( 43 ).  
     
     
         18 . Torsional vibration damper according to    claim 17   , characterized in that there is provided a guide surface ( 44 ) axially adjacent to the slanted ramp surface ( 43 ) for contact upon one of the rotational subassemblies ( 2 ).  
     
     
         19 . Torsional vibration damper according to one of the    claims 12    to    18   , characterized in that the coupling element ( 3 ) has at least two thrust pistons ( 30 ), which have at least a receiving position and an engagement position in relation to one of the two rotational subassemblies.  
     
     
         20 . Torsional vibration damper according to    claim 19   , characterized in that the thrust pistons ( 30 ) are tilted radially inwards in their engagement position in relation to the other thrust piston ( 30 ).  
     
     
         21 . Torsional vibration damper according to claims  19  or  20 , characterized in that the thrust pistons ( 30 ) are constrained in their engagement position by the two rotational subassemblies ( 1 ,  2 ).  
     
     
         22 . Torsional vibration damper according to one of the    claims 19    to    21   , characterized by means for securing a first one of the two thrust pistons ( 30 ) in its receiving position, when the second of the two thrust pistons (30) occupies its engagement position.  
     
     
         23 . Torsional vibration damper according to    claim 22   , characterized in that the securing means include a spring element, preferably a spring element ( 31 ) of the coupling element ( 3 ).  
     
     
         24 . Torsional vibration damper according to one of the    claims 19    to    23   , characterized by limiting means for forming a stop ( 45 ) at least at commencing engagement of a first one of the two thrust pistons ( 30 ) in the second one of the two thrust pistons ( 30 ), with the stop preventing an exiting of the engagement position of the second one of the two thrust pistons ( 30 ).  
     
     
         25 . Torsional vibration damper according to one of the    claims 12    to    24   , characterized in that the coupling element ( 3 ) essentially includes two identical thrust pistons ( 30 ) in opposite disposition.  
     
     
         26 . Torsional vibration damper according to one of the    claims 12    to    25   , characterized in that the thrust pistons ( 30 ) are asymmetric in relation to a radial plane of the torsional vibration damper.