Torque transmitting and torsion damping apparatus for use in motor vehicles

Abstract

A torsion damping apparatus between the crankshaft of the engine and the input shaft of the change-speed transmission of a motor vehicle has two flywheels one of which is driven by the crankshaft and the other of which drives the input shaft by way of a friction clutch which generates heat. In order to prevent the transfer of heat from the friction clutch to the antifriction bearing between the flywheels, which are rotatable relative to each other against the opposition of a damper, the bearing is at least partially surrounded by a thermal barrier of synthetic plastic, ceramic or metallic material which prolongs the useful life of the bearing and enhances the torsion damping action of the damper. The thermal barrier can constitute or form part of the damper. The bearing can be disposed radially inwardly of the location of engagement between the clutch and the other flywheel and can be cooled by streams of air flowing through an annulus of passages each having a first end disposed radially inwardly of the friction surface of the other flywheel and a larger second end in a second surface of the other flywheel opposite the friction surface. Heat barriers in the other flywheel can alternate with the passages in the circumferential direction of the other flywheel.

We claim:  
     
       1. Apparatus for compensating for variations of torque, especially for fluctuations of torque which is transmitted between a combustion engine and an input means of a transmission, comprising at least two flywheels which are rotatable relative to each other, one of which is connectable with the engine and the other of which is connectable with the input means of the transmission and carries a disengageable friction clutch; antifriction bearing means interposed between said flywheels; a substantially disc-shaped member non-rotatably connected with said other flywheel; and damper means arranged to oppose rotation of said flywheels relative to each other, said damper means at least comprising energy storing means acting in the circumferential direction of said flywheels, and a friction generating device which is disposed between said flywheels, said friction generating device operating with friction axially between said member and said one flywheel and comprising a friction ring and a stressed energy storing element acting in the axial direction of said flywheels. 
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the stressing of said energy storing element of said friction generating device is such that said energy storing element exerts a force having a component acting against said other flywheel in a direction at least substantially counter to the direction of action of force which is to be applied to disengage the friction clutch. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said energy storing element reacts against said antifriction bearing means. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said other flywheel has a shoulder and said antifriction bearing means is disposed between said shoulder and said member in a predetermined axial position relative to said flywheels. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein said antifriction baring means comprises an inner race and an outer race surrounding said inner race, and further comprising a thermal barrier between said antifriction bearing means and said other flywheel, said thermal barrier comprising heat-insulating rings each having a substantially L-shaped cross-sectional outline and each including an annular portion surrounding said outer race and a radially extending portion sealingly engaging said inner race. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein one of said heat-insulating rings is adjacent said member and another of said heat-insulating rings is adjacent said shoulder. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said member includes a portion which is adjacent said antifriction bearing means and is disposed at a first radial distance from the axes of said flywheels, said friction generating device being disposed at a second radial distance from said axes and said second distance at least approximating said first distance, said friction generating device engaging said portion of said member. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said one flywheel comprises an axial protuberance having an external shoulder and an end face, and further comprising a disc at said end face, said antifriction bearing means including a race disposed between said shoulder and said disc. 
     
     
       9. Apparatus for compensating for variations of torque, especially for fluctuations of torque which is transmitted between a combustion engine and an input means of a transmission, comprising a first and a second flywheel, said flywheels being rotatable relative to each other, said first flywheel being connectable with the engine and said second flywheel being connectable with the input means of the transmission; a friction clutch carried by one of said flywheels; antifriction bearing means between said flywheels; damper means arranged to oppose rotation of said flywheels relative to each other and including series- connected first and second dampers, at least one of said dampers having energy storing means acting in the circumferential direction of said flywheels; and a disc non - rotatably connected with said one flywheel to maintain said bearing means in a predetermined axial position relative to said one flywheel, said disc having means for stressing said energy storing means.   
     
     
       10. The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein said one flywheel has a shoulder and said antifriction bearing means abuts said shoulder and said disc. 
     
     
       11. Apparatus for compensating for variations of torque, especially for fluctuations of torque which is transmitted between a combustion engine and an input means of a transmission, comprising at least two flywheels including first and second flywheels, said flywheels being rotatable relative to each other, said first flywheel being connectable with the engine and said second flywheel being connectable with the input means of the transmission; a friction clutch carried by one of said flywheels; a damper device arranged to oppose rotation of said flywheels relative to each other and consisting at least of energy storing elements acting in the circumferential direction of said flywheels; an antifriction bearing disposed between said first and second flywheels and axially secured by said one flywheel, said bearing having an inner race and an outer race and said one flywheel having a first shoulder; a disc- shaped member form - lockingly and nonrotatably connected with said one flywheel, said outer race being confined between said first shoulder and said disc - shaped member and the other of said flywheels having a second shoulder engaged by said inner race and provided on a protuberance of said other flywheel, said protuberance extending from an output element of the engine; a sheet metal member; and fastener means securing said sheet metal member to said other flywheel, said sheet metal member including a radially outer portion and said inner race being secured between said radially outer portion and said second shoulder.   
     
     
       12. The apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising a thermal insulator having means for at least reducing the transfer of heat between said one flywheel and said bearing. 
     
     
       13. Apparatus for compensating for variations of torque, especially for fluctuations of torque which is transmitted between a combustion engine and an input means of a transmission, comprising at least two flywheels including first and second flywheels, said flywheels being rotatable relative to each other, said first flywheel being connectable with the engine and said second flywheel being connectable with the input means of the transmission; a damper device arranged to oppose rotation of said flywheels relative to each other and consisting at least of energy storing elements acting in the circumferential direction of said flywheels; a friction clutch carried by one of said flywheels; an antifriction roller bearing disposed between said flywheels and axially fixed by said one flywheel; a substantially disc- shaped member; and means for form - lockingly and nonrotatably connecting said member to said one flywheel radially inwardly of said energy storing elements, said one flywheel having a shoulder and said bearing being confined between said shoulder and said member.   
     
     
       14. The apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising a thermal insulator having means for at least reducing the transfer of heat between said one flywheel and said bearing. 
     
     
       15. The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein said means for at least reducing the transfer of heat comprises at least one insulating ring which is disposed between said substantially disc- shaped member and said shoulder, said at least one insulating ring having a first section surrounding an outer race of said bearing and at least one second section extending substantially radially inwardly of said first section toward an inner race of said bearing.   
     
     
       16. The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein said at least one second section includes a portion in sealing engagement with said inner race. 
     
     
       17. The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein said at least one second section is resilient and bears against said inner race. 
     
     
       18. The apparatus of  claim 15 , further comprising means for biasing said at least one second section against said inner race, said biasing means comprising a diaphragm spring. 
     
     
       19. The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein said bearing includes an outer race and further comprising a seal between said insulator and said outer race. 
     
     
       20. Apparatus for compensating for variations of torque, especially for fluctuations of torque which is transmitted between a combustion engine and an input means of a transmission, comprising at least two flywheels including a first and a second flywheel, said flywheels being rotatable relative to each other, said first flywheel being connectable with the engine and said second flywheel being connectable with the input means of the transmission; a friction clutch carried by one of said flywheels; damper means arranged to oppose rotation of said flywheels relative to each other and comprising energy storing elements acting in the circumferential direction of said flywheels; an antifriction bearing between said flywheels; a thermal insulator having means for at least reducing the transfer of heat between said bearing and said one flywheel; and a disc nonrotatably connected with said one flywheel to axially secure said bearing on said one flywheel, said disc having means for stressing said energy storing elements. 
     
     
       21. The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein said means for at least reducing the transfer of heat comprises at least one insulting ring between said disc and a shoulder of said one flywheel, said at least one insulating ring having a first section surrounding an outer race of said bearing and at least one second section extending substantially radially inwardly of said first section toward an inner race of said bearing. 
     
     
       22. The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein said at least one second section includes a portion in sealing engagement with said inner race. 
     
     
       23. The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein said at least one second section is resilient and bears against said inner race. 
     
     
       24. The apparatus of  claim 21 , further comprising means for biasing said at least one second section against said inner race, said biasing means comprising a diaphragm spring. 
     
     
       25. The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein said bearing includes an outer race and further comprising a seal between said insulator and said outer race.