The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 29, 1983
Filed:
Jun. 09, 1980
Earl E Seppala, New Castle, DE (US);
Howard J Kutsch, Wilmington, DE (US);
E. I. Du Pont de Nemours and Company, Wilmington, DE (US);
Abstract
An apparatus is provided for transferring torque from one shaft to another. The shafts (11) and (12) are coupled together using a flexible member, such as an elastomeric spring or belt (23), trained around pins (21) eccentrically mounted on at least two planet gears (19). A sun gear (15) which is connected to one of the shafts (11) meshes with the planet gears. These gears (19) are also connected to the other shaft, (12), either through a ring gear (66) or pivots (27). When one of the shafts is rotated, this causes the planet gears (19) to rotate, and this rotation moves the pins (21) in an arc. This gradual controlled movement of the pins (21) causes the belt (23) to stretch in a manner so that as torque is transferred from one shaft to the other, troublesome torsional vibrations are effectively damped. This energy-absorbing, torque cushioning apparatus is particularly suited for use as a lock-up clutch in motor vehicles.