Flywheel with friction generating device

Abstract

Friction blocks are held between a driver plate and a friction ring fixedly held on a side plate using a plate spring, and are received in circumferentially spaced windows of an annular disc. The annular disc is affixed to a torque converter cover and disposed between the driver and side plates both of which are secured to an engine crankshaft. The friction blocks have, within the windows, a play in the circumferential direction of the annular disc. The annular disc is resiliently coupled with the driver and side plates by coil springs operatively disposed in corresponding windows of the driver plate, side plate, and the annular disc. Rotation of the driver and side plates relative to the annular disc far enough to consume the circumferential play of the friction blocks in the corresponding windows causes the annular disc to entrain all of the friction blocks in its further movement. Relative mobility of the friction blocks to each other in the circumferential direction of the annular disc is restricted by two floating rings, the first of which is disposed between the annular disc and the friction ring and the second of which is disposed between the annular disc and the driver plate.