Torsional Vibration Damper With Intersecting Leaf Springs

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing torsional vibration dampers for vehicle drive trains face challenges in achieving improved torque transmission behavior with effective wobbling decoupling between the drive and output areas, particularly in transmitting large torques while minimizing compression and ensuring non-rotatable coupling between disk elements.

Innovation Solution

A torsional vibration damper design featuring a secondary side with a radially outer first driven disk element and a second driven disk element connected via an axially and/or radially elastic coupling spring arrangement, where multiple leaf-spring-like spring sections intersect radially between the disk elements, ensuring non-rotatable coupling and avoiding compression, and optionally incorporating a flywheel mass for enhanced vibration damping.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional leaf spring elements are used to couple driven disk elements, then torque transmission is achieved, but compression occurs and wobbling decoupling is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetorque transmission capabilityVSAvoidcompression and wobbling
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The coupling spring arrangement is divided into multiple individual spring sections (at least two) that are arranged separately rather than as a single element. Each spring section connects the first and second driven disk elements independently, allowing the system to handle torque transmission while reducing compression through distributed elastic support.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The spring sections are arranged to extend essentially tangentially with respect to the second output disk element, changing the orientation from conventional radial alignment. This tangential arrangement in a different dimensional orientation enables effective wobbling decoupling while maintaining torque transmission capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Reliability

If the secondary side is designed for wobble decoupling, then vibration damping is improved, but torque transmission efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevibration damping performanceVSAvoidtorque transmission efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

The coupling spring arrangement provides different functional qualities at different locations: the spring sections are arranged to be tangential to the second output disk element, creating local elastic support that decouples wobbling vibrations while the overall arrangement maintains efficient torque transmission paths.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system combines rigid driven disk elements with elastic spring sections to create a composite coupling structure. This composite arrangement allows simultaneous achievement of vibration damping through the elastic spring sections and efficient torque transmission through the rigid disk elements and their connections.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Power

If multiple spring sections are used to improve torque transmission, then device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetorque transmission capabilityVSAvoidcoupling spring arrangement complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple spring sections are merged into a unified coupling spring arrangement that connects the first and second driven disk elements. Although multiple sections are used, they function together as an integrated system, reducing the overall complexity compared to using multiple separate coupling mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

This design enables efficient transmission of high torques with wobble decoupling, maintaining non-rotatable coupling and reducing load-induced wobbling, while providing improved vibration damping characteristics and stable mass distribution, even under dynamic conditions.

Implementation Method 1

the coupling spring arrangement comprises a plurality of leaf spring-like spring sections connected to the first driven disk element and the second driven disk element

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

at least two of the spring sections intersect in a radial area between their connection to the first output disk element and the second output disk element

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGeometry: Geometry

Data Source

PatentEP2347145B1Torsional vibration damper for the drive train of a vehicle
Publication Date: 2012.12.19 ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
  • EP2347145B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2347145B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2347145B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A torsional vibration damper for the drive train of a vehicle, comprising a primary side (14) which is to be connected to a drive element for common rotation about a rotational axis (A) and a secondary side (32) which is coupled by means of a damper spring arrangement (28) to the primary side (14) for torque transmission, wherein the secondary side (32) comprises a first output disc element (34) which interacts in its radially outer region with the damper spring arrangement (28), and a second output disk element (36) which is coupled to the first output disk element (34) by means of an axially and/or radially elastic coupling spring arrangement (40), wherein the coupling spring arrangement (40) comprises a plurality of leaf-spring-like spring sections (56, 58, 60, 62, 64, 66, 68, 70) which are connected to the first output disk element (34) and the second output disk element (36), is characterized in that at least two of the spring sections (56, 58, 60, 62, 64, 66, 68, 70) intersect in a radial region between their connection to the first output disk element (34) and the second output disk element (36).