Eaton Corporation

Robert C Schoenhals

Kevin M McGovern

An intake manifold (18) for an engine (10) includes a Roots-type supercharger (26) having a torsion damping mechanism (54) for reducing audible gear tooth rattle of timing gears (72,74) which prevent contact of meshed lobes (28c,29a) of the supercharger rotors (28,29). The damping mechanism includes a hard outer shell or band (102) for maintaining the shape of an annular member (100) formed of relatively soft elastomeric material which is fixed for rotation with the gear (74). The member (100) includes three arcuate slots (100c) each defining forward and reverse direction stops (100d,100e) for limiting movement of pins (96) slidably disposed at one end in the slots and fixed at the other end to the input shaft. A torsion spring (98) of low rate resiliently connects the pins to the annular member for reducing the audible gear tooth rattle. A set of three cantilever springs, molded integrally with the annular member, mitigate audible impacts of the reverse stops (100e) by the pins (96).

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Davisburg, MI, United States of America

Robert C Schoenhals