Torsion damper

摘要

A torsion damper disposable between an engine and a drivetrain of a vehicle for allowing the torque generated by the engine to be transmitted to the drivetrain while tuning output torque fluctuations. The torsion damper (10) includes a drive plate (12) connected to and rotated by the engine, a retaining plate (14) connected to the drive plate so that the drive plate and retaining plate rotate together, and a driven plate (16), mounted between the drive plate and the retaining plate and and angularly displaceable with respect to the drive plate and the retaining plate, connected to the drivetrain. A frist friction plate (18a) is provided between the drive plate and the driven plate and a second friction plate (18b) is provided between the retaining plate and the driven plate. The first and second friction plates are identical and include an enlarged frictional surface and a plurality of laterally extending flanges (58). The enlarged frictional surfaces allow the friction plates to be frictionally driven by the drive and retaining plates, respectively, and the flanges, which engage with corresponding windows (44) in the driven plate, allow the friction plates to mechanically drive the driven plate. First and second identical biasing springs (56) are associated with each of the friction plates for enhancing the frictional engagement and an energy storage element (46) is operatively disposed between the drive and retaining plates and the driven plate for tuning the output torque fluctuations when slippage occurs in the frictional engagement.