Torque Converter Damper Intermediate Plate for Spring Radial Guidance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle torque converter dampers face challenges in assembly complexity and increased production time and cost due to the use of separate components for radial guidance of springs, and are prone to radial deformation under centrifugal loads.
Innovation Solution
A damper assembly with an intermediate plate that provides radial guidance to spring members using a single component, maintaining their bend radii and reducing deformation, facilitating easier assembly and reducing production time and costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If separate components are used for radial guidance of spring members, then the damper can be assembled with individual parts, but the assembly complexity increases and production time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The intermediate plate merges multiple functions into a single component: it provides radial guidance for spring members through its cavity structure, maintains bend radii of the springs, and reduces radial deformation under centrifugal loads. This consolidation eliminates the need for separate guidance components, thereby simplifying assembly and reducing part count.
2Ease of manufacture
If separate components are used for radial guidance of spring members, then each component can be optimized independently, but production cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The intermediate plate integrates radial guidance and spring support functions into one component, reducing the total number of parts that need to be manufactured, inventoried, and assembled. This consolidation directly reduces production costs while maintaining functional optimization through the plate's specifically designed cavity structure.
3Reliability
If the intermediate plate engages spring members to maintain bend radii, then radial deformation is reduced, but the plate structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The intermediate plate features a cavity with specific local geometries that engage the spring members at critical locations. The cavity includes surfaces positioned to contact the springs and maintain their bend radii, providing localized support exactly where needed to prevent radial deformation under centrifugal loads during operation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively reduces radial deformation and simplifies the assembly process, enhancing the radial stiffness of the intermediate plate and maintaining the integrity of the spring members during operation, thereby improving the overall performance and efficiency of the torque converter damper.
Implementation Method 1
a first spring member operatively coupled to the driven plate and the retainer plate and a second spring member operative coupled to the driven plate and the retainer plate. Rotation of the retainer plate relative to the driven plate compresses and decompresses the first and second spring members.
Implementation Method 2
configured to receive a torque from the clutch when the clutch is engaged and dampen a torsional vibration in the torque
Implementation Method 3
prone to radial deformation under centrifugal loads
Implementation Method 4
The body is configured to engage inner and outer radial portions of the respective first and second spring members to maintain bend radii of the respective first and second spring members
Data Source
AI summary
Intermediate plate apparatus and related damper assemblies for use with vehicles are disclosed. A disclosed vehicle torque converter includes a clutch and a torsional vibration damper configured to receive a torque from the clutch when the clutch is engaged and dampen a torsional vibration in the torque. The torsional vibration damper includes a driven plate, a retainer plate, a first spring member, a second spring member, and an intermediate plate positioned radially outward relative to the driven plate and the retainer plate. The intermediate plate includes a body that defines an annular cavity though which the first and second spring members extend. The body is configured to engage inner and outer radial portions of the respective first and second spring members to maintain bend radii of the respective first and second spring members.