Spring and system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9371877-B2
Application number	US-201414267364-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 1, 2014
Priority date	May 6, 2013
Publication date	Jun 21, 2016
Grant date	Jun 21, 2016

Abstract

A spring includes at least one spring portion that extends over an arc of at least 90° when projected onto a cross-sectional area perpendicular to a force direction of the spring in an unloaded condition thereof. The spring portion has an elliptical shape in the projection. A system including one or more springs is also described.

First claim

We claim:

1. A torsional vibration damper comprising:
a first structural component part ( 94 ) having a first and second cover plate ( 46 , 54 ) forming a spring channel ( 44 );
a second structural component part ( 96 ) comprising a hub disc ( 41 );
at least one spring ( 60 ) disposed to contact the spring channel when the damper rotates, the at least one spring having a first and a second end, the spring further comprising a first elliptical spring portion ( 62 ) at the first end extending over an arc of at least 90° when projected onto a cross-sectional area ( 64 ) perpendicular to a force direction ( 66 ) of the spring ( 60 ) in an unloaded condition thereof;
a further elliptical spring portion ( 62 ′) at the second end extending over an arc of at least 90° when projected onto a further cross-sectional area ( 64 ′) perpendicular to the force direction ( 66 ) of the spring ( 60 ) in an unloaded condition thereof;
an additional spring portion ( 76 ) between the first and second end having a circular shape in an additional projection on an additional cross-sectional area ( 78 ) perpendicular to the force direction of the spring ( 60 ) in an unloaded condition thereof;
at least one of the first and further elliptical spring portions ( 62 , 62 ′) of the spring ( 60 ) comprising a first semiaxis ( 80 ) having a radius ( 72 ) of the circular shape of the additional spring portion ( 76 ) and a second semiaxis ( 74 ) that is smaller than the first semiaxis ( 80 ) by a predefined value;
wherein one of the first and further elliptical spring portions ( 62 , 62 ′) is in contact with the first structural component part ( 94 ); and the other one of the one of the first and further spring portion is mechanically coupled with the second structural component part ( 96 );
wherein the second structural component part ( 96 ) comprises an edge for contacting the further elliptical spring portion ( 62 ′);
the first and further spring portions ( 62 , 62 ′) comprising a ground face ( 34 ) that is, due to overlap, largely coextensive with control surfaces ( 56 ) of the first cover plate ( 46 ), the second cover plate ( 54 ) and the hub disc ( 41 ) so as to achieve, based on the overlap with the control surfaces ( 56 ), control over the spring ( 60 ) through the two cover plates ( 46 , 56 ) and the hub disc ( 41 ); and
wherein the vibration damper has an axis of rotation and the hub disc ( 41 ) is extending in a radial direction substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation; the second, smaller semiaxis ( 74 ) extending in the radial direction of the hub disc ( 41 ) and the first, larger semiaxis ( 80 ) extending substantially perpendicular to the second, smaller semiaxis ( 74 ).

2. The torsional vibration damper according to claim 1 , wherein the spring ( 60 ) comprises coils wound from a spring wire ( 18 ); wherein the spring portion ( 62 ) comprises at least one coil; and wherein a pitch ( 32 ) of the at least one coil in the spring portion ( 62 ) is less than a pitch ( 30 ) of a coil outside the spring portion ( 62 ).

3. The torsional vibration damper according to claim 2 , wherein the at least one coil in the spring portion ( 62 ) comprises a dead coil.

4. The torsional vibration damper according to claim 1 , wherein the force direction ( 66 ) of the spring follows a shape of a circular arc segment.

5. The torsional vibration damper according to claim 1 , wherein the first structural component part ( 94 ) is fabricated at least partially from a sheet-like material; and wherein the first structural component part ( 94 ) contacts the spring portion ( 62 ) by an edge of the first structural component part ( 94 ).

Assignees

• Cegar Stojan
• Wack Erwin
• Zahnradfabrik Friedrichshafen

Inventors

• Cegar Stojan
• Wack Erwin

Classifications

• F16F1/06 Primary

  with turns lying in cylindrical surfaces · CPC title

• F16D3/66

  the elements being metallic, e.g. in the form of coils · CPC title

• F16F15/123

  Wound springs {(F16F15/1213, F16F15/1216, F16F15/127 take precedence)} · CPC title

• F16D3/04

  specially adapted to allow radial displacement, e.g. Oldham couplings · CPC title