Valeo Corporation

Renzo Franchi

Ernesto Lanzarini

A torsional damper device suitable for automobile vehicles comprises a driving part, an intermediate part and a driven part disposed coaxially and rotatable relative to each other within predetermined limits of relative angular displacement. Lost motion meshing teeth between the driving, intermediate and driven parts are adapted to determine these predetermined limits of relative angular displacement. First and second circumferentially acting spring units between the driving, intermediate and driven parts oppose relative angular displacement of these parts for at least two ranges of relative angular displacement. Lost motion meshing teeth between the driving, intermediate and driven parts define these two ranges of relative angular displacement. A first plurality of elements in the driving part include a friction disk and at least a disk to support and center it. An annular elastomer member has one side constrained to rotate with a guide ring and has its opposite side constrained to rotate with the intermediate member which is a hub plate. The first group of elements includes and rotates with the guide ring. At least one annular metal part which may be an adhesion plate separate from the guide ring or the guide ring itself is joined to one radial surface of the annular elastomer member. This annular elastomer member constitutes at least part of the first circumferentially acting spring unit. The annular elastomer member has at least an inner part of trapezoidal transverse cross section. The shorter parallel side of the trapezoidal cross section is nearer the axis of the device.

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Santena, Italy

Renzo Franchi