Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Gerald C Danielewicz

John Benjamin Hageman

Robert A Muchmore

Randy Lewis Melanson

Wayne L Spitler

A damper assembly for a friction clutch has a plurality of springs trapped in a cage member. The springs provide a resilient drive connection between input and output members of the clutch damper. The input member of the clutch damper is a pressure plate on which a friction surface is disposed. The output member is a hub which is connected to the output shaft of a torque converter. Embossments are formed on the members of the damper, such as the cage, the input or output member, to provide friction hysteresis between relatively rotatable members of the damper. The normal force for the friction hysteresis is established by a washer spring which is positioned by embossments also formed on one of the damper members. The angular excursion permitted by the damper springs is limited by openings formed in one damper member and tabs formed on another damper member.

Clutch and damper assembly

A torque converter and clutch assembly incorporates a selectively engageable clutch pressure plate which enforces frictional engagement between a clutch disc, mounted on the pressure plate, and the input shell of the torque converter. An elastomer lined compliant interface is disposed intermediate the pressure plate and the clutch disc for the purpose of permitting surface configuration compliance between the input shell and the clutch disc as well as between the clutch disc and the pressure plate.

Torque converter and clutch with compliance interface

A clutch vibration damper for a clutch disposed within an automatic transmission torque converter, wherein the damping between the clutch hub and the clutch pressure plate is provided by frictional drag resulting from the clutch damper being applied simultaneous with clutch engagement. The damper is rotatively locked to the clutch hub through engaging lugs. The clutch damper is frictionally engaged to the pressure plate by the apply fluid pressure which forces the pressure plate to engage the torque converter input shell.

Growing community of inventors

Dayton, OH, United States of America

Gerald C Danielewicz