Torque fluctuation absorbing apparatus

Abstract

A torque fluctuation absorbing apparatus provided between a driving source and a transmission and transmitting torque from the driving source to the transmission, the apparatus absorbing fluctuations in the torque and limiting a maximum value of the torque, the apparatus includes a flywheel, a supporting member, a first plate having a sliding surface, a second plate having a sliding surface, a disc spring supported by the supporting member and biasing one of the first and second plates towards the other one thereof, a friction material sandwiched tightly between the sliding surface of the first plate and the sliding surface of the second plate, a damper mechanism connected to the friction material and transmitting the torque from the driving source to an input shaft of the transmission, and a cover member demarcating the sliding surfaces of the first and second plates from an exterior of the torque fluctuation absorbing apparatus.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and additional features and characteristics of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description considered with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a sectional view schematically illustrating a configuration of a torque fluctuation absorbing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2A is a plain view illustrating an example of a surface pattern formed on a surface of a friction material of the torque fluctuation absorbing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the invention and FIG. 2B is a sectional view taken along a line IIB-IIB′;

FIG. 3A is a plain view illustrating an example of the surface pattern formed on the surface of the friction material of the torque fluctuation absorbing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the invention and FIG. 3B is a sectional view taken along a line IIIB-IIIB′;

FIG. 4A is a plain view of the friction material, FIG. 4B is a sectional view taken along a line IVB-IVB′ and FIG. 4C is an enlarged view of the FIG. 4B;

FIG. 5 is a view for explaining a forming method of the surface pattern of the friction material of the torque fluctuation absorbing apparatus according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a view schematically illustrating a configuration of the torque fluctuation absorbing apparatus according to a second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a view schematically illustrating an example of a modified configuration of the torque fluctuation absorbing apparatus according to the second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a view schematically illustrating another example of the modified configuration of the torque fluctuation absorbing apparatus according to the second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 9 is a view schematically illustrating another example of the modified configuration of the torque fluctuation absorbing apparatus according to the second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged sectional view schematically illustrating a configuration of the limiter mechanism of the torque fluctuation absorbing apparatus according to a third embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 11A is an enlarged sectional view schematically illustrating a configuration of the limiter mechanism of the torque fluctuation absorbing apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the invention and FIG. 11B is a plain view of the disk 25; and

FIG. 12A is a radial sectional view schematically illustrating a main configuration of the torque fluctuation absorbing apparatus according to a fifth embodiment of the invention, FIG. 12B is a plain view viewed from a direction of an arrow D, and FIG. 12C is a side view viewed from a direction of an arrow E.

Claims

1. A torque fluctuation absorbing apparatus provided between a driving source and a transmission and transmitting torque from the driving source to the transmission, the apparatus further absorbing fluctuations in the torque transmitted and limiting a maximum value of torque to be transmitted to the transmission, the apparatus comprising: a flywheel connected with a driving shaft of the driving source;a supporting member unitarily rotating with the flywheel;a first plate having a sliding surface;a second plate having a sliding surface;a disc spring supported by the supporting member and biasing one of the first and second plates towards the other one thereof;a friction material sandwiched tightly between the sliding surface of the first plate and the sliding surface of the second plate;a damper mechanism connected to the friction material and transmitting the torque transmitted from the driving source to an input shaft of the transmission; anda cover member covering the sliding surfaces of the first and second plates from an exterior of the torque fluctuation absorbing apparatus.

2. A torque fluctuation absorbing apparatus provided between a driving source and a transmission and transmitting torque from the driving source to the transmission, the apparatus further absorbing fluctuations in the torque transmitted and limiting a maximum value of toque to be transmitted to the transmission, comprising: a flywheel connected with a driving shaft of the driving source;a supporting member unitarily rotating with the flywheel;a first plate having a sliding surface being corrosion resistant;a second plate having a sliding surface being corrosion resistant;a disc spring supported by the supporting member and biasing one of the first and second plates towards the other one thereof;a friction material sandwiched tightly between the sliding surface of the first plate and the sliding surface of the second plate;a damper mechanism connected to the friction material and transmitting the torque transmitted from the driving source to an input shaft of the transmission.

3. A torque fluctuation absorbing apparatus provided between a driving source and a transmission and transmitting torque from the driving source to the transmission, the apparatus further absorbing fluctuations in the toque transmitted and limiting a maximum value of the toque to be transmitted to the transmission, the apparatus comprising: a flywheel connected with a driving shaft of the driving source;a supporting member unitarily rotating with the flywheel;a first plate having a sliding surface;a second plate having a sliding surface;a disc spring supported by the supporting member and biasing one of the first and second plates towards the other one thereof;a friction material sandwiched tightly between the sliding surface of the first plate and the sliding surface of the second plate;a damper mechanism connected to the friction material and transmitting the torque transmitted from the driving source to an input shaft of the transmission;wherein a limit toque value, at which a relative rotation between the friction material and each first and second plate starts against frictional force between the friction material and each first and second plate, is set to a value ranging from 0.7 to 1.4 times larger than the maximum value of torque generated by the driving source.

4. A torque fluctuation absorbing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the flywheel and the cover is in contact with each other in a sealing manner, and the input shaft and the cover is in contact with each other in a sealing manner.

5. A torque fluctuation absorbing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a surface of the friction material exhibits a concavoconvex shape and the amount of fibers per a certain volume in the convex portion of the concavoconvex shape is smaller by at least 30 weight percent than the amount of fibers per a certain vilume in the concave portion of the concavoconvex shape.

6. A torque fluctuation absorbing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the concavoconvex shape is formed by pressing a mold against the surface of the friction material so that the fibers are pushed into the friction material.

7. A torque fluctuation absorbing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of grooves are formed at a friction surface of the friction material of the damper mechanism and each groove opens to an outer circumferential side in a situation where the friction material is sandwiched tightly between the first plate and the second plate.

8. A torque fluctuation absorbing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a plurality of grooves are formed at a friction surface of the friction material of the damper mechanism and each groove opens to an outer circumferential side in a situation where the friction material is sandwiched tightly between the first plate and the second plate.

9. A torque fluctuation absorbing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a plurality of grooves are formed at a friction surface of the friction material of the damper mechanism and each groove opens to an outer circumferential side in a situation where the friction material is sandwiched tightly between the first plate and the second plate.

10. A torque fluctuation absorbing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein a plurality of grooves are formed at a friction surface of the friction material of the damper mechanism and each groove opens to an outer circumferential side in a situation where the friction material is sandwiched tightly between the first plate and the second plate.

11. A torque fluctuation absorbing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein a plurality of grooves are formed at a friction surface of the friction material of the damper mechanism and each groove opens to an outer circumferential side in a situation where the friction material is sandwiched tightly between the first plate and the second plate.

12. A torque fluctuation absorbing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein a plurality of grooves are formed at a friction surface of the friction material of the damper mechanism and each groove opens to an outer circumferential side in a situation where the friction material is sandwiched tightly between the first plate and the second plate.

13. A torque fluctuation absorbing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the grooves are formed on the friction surface of the friction material of the damper mechanism and each groove extends from an outer side of a radially inward portion of the friction material to an inner side of a radially outward portion and sealed by being sandwiched tightly between the first and second plates.

14. A torque fluctuation absorbing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a plurality of the grooves are formed on the friction surface of the friction material of the damper mechanism and each groove extends from an outer side of a radially inward portion of the friction material to an inner side of a radially outward portion and sealed by being sandwiched tightly between the first and second plates.

15. A torque fluctuation absorbing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a plurality of the grooves are formed on the friction surface of the friction material of the damper mechanism and each groove extends from an outer side of an radially inward portion of the friction material to an inner side of a radially outward portion and sealed by being sandwiched tightly between the first and second plates.

16. A torque fluctuation absorbing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein a plurality of the grooves are formed on the friction surface of the friction material of the damper mechanism and each groove extends from an outer side of a radially inward portion of the friction material to an inner side of a radially outward portion and sealed by being sandwiched tightly between the first and second plates.

17. A torque fluctuation absorbing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein a plurality of the grooves are formed on the friction surface of the friction material of the damper mechanism and each groove extends from an outer side of a radially inward portion of the friction material to an inner side of a radially outward portion and sealed by being sandwiched tightly between the first and second plates.

18. A torque fluctuation absorbing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein a plurality of the grooves are formed on the friction surface of the friction material of the damper mechanism and each groove extends from an outer side of an radially inward portion of the friction material to an inner side of an radially outward portion and sealed by being sandwiched tightly between the first and second plates.