Ford Motor Company Limited

James E Hansen

Christopher Gregory Garbacz

A bypass clutch for use in an hydrodynamic torque converter (10) includes a viscous coupling (30) driveably engaged with the torque converter input shell (12) and turbine (18), and a friction clutch (24) driveably engaged with said input shell (12) and turbine (18) in parallel to the viscous coupling (30).

Torque converter clutch having a parallel viscous drive

A vibration damper having a rotary input member connectable to the output of an engine and a driven member connectable to the input of a transmission. The vibration damper has a plurality of springs resiliently connecting the rotary input member to the driven member. A first pressure plate is disposed between the rotary input member and the driven member and a second pressure plate is disposed between the driven member and a retainer plate. A spring produces a lateral force urging the first and second pressure plate into frictional engagement with the rotary input member and the driven member. The first and second pressure plates have elongated circumferential slots which receive drive pins attached to the rotary input member and permit the rotary input member to torsionally vibrate relative to the driven member through a predetermined angle with a low frictional lag permitting the springs to absorb a substantial portion of the low amplitude torsional vibrations.

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Northville, MI, United States of America

James E Hansen