U.S. patent application number 16/442988 was filed with the patent office on 2019-10-03 for damper device.
This patent application is currently assigned to AISIN AW INDUSTRIES CO., LTD. The applicant listed for this patent is AISIN AW CO., LTD., AISIN AW INDUSTRIES CO., LTD. Invention is credited to Yoshihiro INOUE, Kazuhiro ITOU, Akiyoshi KATO, Hiroki NAGAI, Aki OGAWA, Ryosuke OTSUKA, Takao SAKAMOTO, Yoshihiro TAKIKAWA, Masaki WAJIMA, Takuya YOSHIKAWA.
Application Number | 20190301563 16/442988 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 57585119 |
Filed Date | 2019-10-03 |
![](/patent/app/20190301563/US20190301563A1-20191003-D00000.png)
![](/patent/app/20190301563/US20190301563A1-20191003-D00001.png)
![](/patent/app/20190301563/US20190301563A1-20191003-D00002.png)
![](/patent/app/20190301563/US20190301563A1-20191003-D00003.png)
![](/patent/app/20190301563/US20190301563A1-20191003-D00004.png)
![](/patent/app/20190301563/US20190301563A1-20191003-D00005.png)
![](/patent/app/20190301563/US20190301563A1-20191003-D00006.png)
![](/patent/app/20190301563/US20190301563A1-20191003-D00007.png)
![](/patent/app/20190301563/US20190301563A1-20191003-D00008.png)
![](/patent/app/20190301563/US20190301563A1-20191003-D00009.png)
![](/patent/app/20190301563/US20190301563A1-20191003-D00010.png)
View All Diagrams
United States Patent
Application |
20190301563 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
YOSHIKAWA; Takuya ; et
al. |
October 3, 2019 |
DAMPER DEVICE
Abstract
A rotary inertia mass damper of a damper device is configured to
include a planetary gear that includes a driven member with outer
teeth, first and second input plate member as a carrier which
rotatably supports a plurality of pinion gears, and a ring gear
that meshes with the plurality of pinion gears and works as the
mass body. The outer teeth of the driven member are arranged to be
disposed outside first and second springs in a radial direction of
the damper device. The driven member, the plurality of pinion gears
and the ring gear are arranged to at least partially overlap with
the first and second springs as viewed in the radial direction. A
motion of the ring gear in the axial direction is restricted by the
plurality of pinion gears.
Inventors: |
YOSHIKAWA; Takuya;
(Echizen-shi, JP) ; OGAWA; Aki; (Echizen-shi,
JP) ; KATO; Akiyoshi; (Echizen-shi, JP) ;
OTSUKA; Ryosuke; (Echizen-shi, JP) ; INOUE;
Yoshihiro; (Echizen-shi, JP) ; TAKIKAWA;
Yoshihiro; (Anjo-shi, JP) ; NAGAI; Hiroki;
(Anjo-shi, JP) ; WAJIMA; Masaki; (Anjo-shi,
JP) ; SAKAMOTO; Takao; (Anjo-shi, JP) ; ITOU;
Kazuhiro; (Anjo-shi, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
AISIN AW INDUSTRIES CO., LTD
AISIN AW CO., LTD. |
Echizen-shi
Anjo-shi |
|
JP
JP |
|
|
Assignee: |
AISIN AW INDUSTRIES CO.,
LTD
Echizen-shi
JP
AISIN AW CO., LTD.
Anjo-shi
JP
|
Family ID: |
57585119 |
Appl. No.: |
16/442988 |
Filed: |
June 17, 2019 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
15738005 |
Dec 19, 2017 |
|
|
|
PCT/JP2016/069024 |
Jun 27, 2016 |
|
|
|
16442988 |
|
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F16F 15/31 20130101;
F16F 15/12373 20130101; F16H 45/02 20130101; F16F 15/1206 20130101;
F16H 2045/0268 20130101; Y10T 74/2128 20150115; F16F 15/134
20130101; F16H 2045/0226 20130101; F16F 15/13469 20130101; F16D
3/12 20130101; F16H 1/28 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F16F 15/134 20060101
F16F015/134; F16D 3/12 20060101 F16D003/12; F16F 15/12 20060101
F16F015/12; F16F 15/31 20060101 F16F015/31; F16H 1/28 20060101
F16H001/28 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 26, 2015 |
JP |
2015-129111 |
Claims
1. A damper device configured to include a plurality of rotational
elements including an input element to which a torque from an
engine is transmitted and an output element, a plurality of elastic
bodies respectively arranged to transmit a torque between the input
element and the output element, and a rotary inertia mass damper
with a mass body that oscillates in accordance with relative
rotation between a first rotational element which is one of the
plurality of rotational elements and a second rotational element
different from the first rotational element, the damper device
comprising: a plurality of inner elastic bodies configured to work
in parallel to the plurality of elastic bodies when the torque
transmitted between the input element and the output element is
equal to or larger than a predetermined value, wherein the
plurality of elastic bodies are arranged to be disposed inside the
mass body of the rotary inertia mass damper in a radial direction
of the rotational elements, and wherein the plurality of inner
elastic bodies are arranged to be disposed inside the plurality of
elastic bodies in the radial direction.
2. The damper device according to claim 1, wherein the rotary
inertia mass damper is configured to include a planetary gear that
includes a sun gear, a plurality of pinion gears, a carrier that
rotatably supports the plurality of pinion gears, and a ring gear
that meshes with the plurality of pinion gears, and wherein the sun
gear, the plurality of pinion gears and the ring gear are arranged
to at least partially overlap with the plurality of elastic bodies
and the plurality of inner elastic bodies in an axial
direction.
3. The damper device according to claim 2, wherein the ring gear
works as the mass body, wherein one of the first and second
rotational elements is configured to include two plate members
arranged to be opposed to each other in an axial direction such as
to support the plurality of elastic bodies, the two plate members
rotatably supporting the plurality of pinion gears such as to work
as the carrier, and wherein the two plate members are coupled with
each other by means of a plurality of rivets arranged adjacent to
the pinion gear in a circumferential direction on an outer side of
the plurality of elastic bodies in the radial direction.
4. The damper device according to claim 3, wherein the one of the
first and second rotational elements is the input element and the
other of the first and second rotational elements is the output
element that rotates integrally with the sun gear.
5. The damper device according to claim 4, wherein the output
element is a single output plate member disposed between the two
plate members in the axial direction, the output plate member
including outer teeth in an outer circumference thereof such as to
work as the sun gear.
6. The damper device according to claim 5, wherein the output plate
member is configured to include the outer teeth formed in the outer
circumference, a plurality of outer accommodating windows in which
the corresponding elastic body is disposed, and a plurality of
inner accommodating windows in which the corresponding inner
elastic body is disposed, the plurality of inner accommodating
windows arranged inside the plurality of outer accommodating
windows in the radial direction, and wherein each of the plate
members is configured to include a plurality of outer accommodating
windows in which the corresponding elastic body is disposed, the
plurality of outer accommodating windows arranged at intervals in
the circumferential direction, a plurality of pinion gear
supporting portions that respectively supporting one end of a
pinion shaft that is inserted into the pinion gear, and a plurality
of inner accommodating windows in which the corresponding inner
elastic body is disposed, and the plurality of inner accommodating
windows arranged inside the plurality of outer accommodating
windows in the radial direction and respectively having a
circumferential length longer than a length of the inner elastic
body.
7. The damper device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of
rotational elements includes an intermediate element, and wherein
the plurality of elastic bodies include a plurality of first
elastic bodies arranged to transmit a torque between the input
element and the intermediate element, and a plurality of second
elastic bodies arranged to transmit a torque between the
intermediate element and the output element.
8. The damper device according to claim 1, wherein the output
element is operatively connected to an input shaft of a
transmission.
Description
[0001] This is a national phase application of PCT/JP2016/069024
filed Jun. 27, 2016, claiming priority to Japanese Patent
Application No. JP2015-129111 filed Jun. 26, 2015, the contents of
which are incorporated herein by reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present disclosure relates to a damper device including
a plurality of rotational elements which includes an input element
and an output element, an elastic body configured to transmit a
torque between the input element and the output element, and a
rotary inertia mass damper with a mass body rotating in accordance
with relative rotation between a plurality of rotational
elements.
BACKGROUND
[0003] A conventionally known torque converter includes a lockup
clutch, a torsional vibration damper, and a rotary inertia mass
damper (power transmission mechanism) with a planetary gear (as
shown in, for example, Patent Literature 1). In the torsional
vibration damper of the torque converter has two cover plates
(input element) are respectively coupled with a lockup piston by
means of a plurality of bearing journals, a sun gear disposed
between the two cover plates in an axial direction thereof such as
to work as a driven-side transmission element (output element), and
springs (elastic bodies) which transmit a torque between the cover
plates and the sun gear. In addition to the sun gear, the rotary
inertia mass damper further has a plurality of pinion gears (planet
gears) rotatably supported by the cover plates as carrier via the
bearing journals such as to mesh with the sun gear, and a ring gear
that meshes with the plurality of pinion gears. In the above
conventional torque converter, when the lockup clutch is engaged
and the cover plates of the torsional vibration damper is rotated
(twisted) relative to the sun gear, the springs are deflected and
the ring gear as the mass body is rotated in accordance with
relative rotation of the cover plates and the sun gear. This
configuration causes an inertia torque according to a difference in
angular acceleration between the cover plates and the sun gear to
be applied to the sun gear as the output element of the torsional
vibration damper from the ring gear as the mass body via pinion
gears and improves the vibration damping performance of the
torsional vibration damper.
CITATION LIST
Patent Literature
[0004] PTL1: Japanese Patent No. 3299510
SUMMARY
[0005] In the conventional torsional vibration damper, the springs
that transmit the torque are pressed against the cover plates by a
centrifugal force, so that a frictional force occurs between the
springs and the cover plates. Therefore, a difference or a
hysteresis occurs between a torque transmitted to the sun gear
(output element) from the springs when an input torque to the cover
plates (input element) increases and a torque transmitted to the
sun gear from the springs when the input torque to the cover plates
decreases. The hysteresis of the torsional vibration damper causes
a phase shift of a vibration transmitted to the sun gear from the
springs. Further, in the rotary inertia mass damper of the above
torque converter, the ring gear of the mass body is supported by
the two cover plates or the carrier from both sides thereof, so
that a difference in rotational speed (relative speed) occurs
between the ring gear and the cover plates. The difference in the
rotational speed between the mass body and a support member of the
mass body causes the difference or a hysteresis occurs between a
torque transmitted to the sun gear (output element) from the rotary
inertia mass damper when a relative displacement between the cover
plates (input element) and the sun gear (output element) increases
and a torque transmitted to the sun gear from the rotary inertia
mass damper when the relative displacement between the cover plates
and the sun gear decreases. The hysteresis of the rotary inertia
mass damper also causes the phase shift of a vibration transmitted
to the sun gear from the rotary inertia mass damper. Accordingly,
it is necessary to take into account the hysteresis of both the
torsional vibration damper and the rotary inertia damper such as to
improve the vibration damping performance in the above conventional
torque converter. However, the Patent Literature 1 does not take
into account not only the hysteresis of the torsional vibration
damper but also the hysteresis of the rotary inertia mass damper.
Therefore, it is not easy to improve the vibration damping
performance in the torque converter of the Patent Literature 1.
[0006] A subject matter of the disclosure is to improve vibration
damping performance of the damper device with a rotary inertia mass
damper.
[0007] The disclosure is directed to a damper device. The damper
device is configured to include a plurality of rotational elements
including an input element to which a torque from an engine is
transmitted and an output element, an elastic body configured to
transmit a torque between the input element and the output element,
and a rotary inertia mass damper with a mass body rotating in
accordance with relative rotation between a first rotational
element which is one of the plurality of rotational elements and a
second rotational element different from the first rotational
element. The rotary inertia mass damper is configured to include a
planetary gear that includes a sun gear arranged to rotate
integrally with the first element, a carrier that rotatably
supports a plurality of pinion gears and is arranged to rotate
integrally with the second element, and a ring gear that meshes
with the plurality of pinion gears and works as the mass body.
Outer teeth of the sun gear are arranged to be disposed outside the
elastic body in a radial direction of the damper device. The sun
gear, the plurality of pinion gears and the ring gear are arranged
to at least partially overlap with the elastic body in an axial
direction of the damper device as viewed in the radial direction. A
motion of the ring gear in the axial direction is restricted by the
plurality of pinion gears.
[0008] The damper device of this aspect enables an antiresonance
point where a vibration amplitude of the output element
theoretically becomes equal to zero to be set therein. Further, the
outer teeth of the sun gear of the rotary inertia mass damper are
arranged to be located outside the elastic body in the radial
direction of the damper device, the elastic body transmitting a
torque between the input element and the output element.
Accordingly, a centrifugal force applied to the elastic body is
reduced, thereby decreasing a hysteresis of the elastic body.
Furthermore, in the damper device, the motion of the ring gear or
the mass body of the rotary inertia mass damper in the axial
direction is restricted by the plurality of pinion gears. This
configuration enables a relative speed between the ring gear and
the pinion gears that meshes with each other to be smaller than a
relative speed between the ring gear and the carrier. Accordingly,
a hysteresis of the rotary inertia mass damper is satisfactorily
decreased, compared with restricting the motion of the ring gear in
the axial direction by a member that works as the carrier of the
planetary gear, for example. As a result, the damper device
satisfactorily decreases both the hysteresis of the elastic body
and the hysteresis of the rotary inertia mass damper, thereby
decreasing the vibration amplitude of the output element about the
antiresonance point. Therefore, the vibration damping performance
of the damper device is effectively improved by making a frequency
of the antiresonance point equal to (closer to) a frequency of a
vibration (resonance) to be damped by the damper device.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating a
starting device including a damper device according to the
disclosure;
[0010] FIG. 2 is a sectional view illustrating the starting device
of FIG. 1;
[0011] FIG. 3 is a front view illustrating the damper device
according to the disclosure;
[0012] FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view illustrating a rotary
inertia mass damper of the damper device according to the
disclosure;
[0013] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a relationship of rotation
speed of an engine to torque variation T.sub.Fitic at an output
element in the damper device of FIG. 1 and other drawings;
[0014] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating a relative
velocity between a ring gear of the rotary inertia mass damper and
a drive member of the damper device;
[0015] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating a relative
velocity between the ring gear and a pinion gear of the rotary
inertia mass damper;
[0016] FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating a torque
difference obtained by quantifying a hysteresis of the rotary
inertia mass damper of the damper device according to the
disclosure;
[0017] FIG. 9 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating a
starting device including a damper device according to another
embodiment of the disclosure;
[0018] FIG. 10 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating a
starting device including a damper device according to yet another
embodiment of the disclosure;
[0019] FIG. 11 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating a
starting device including a damper device according to another
embodiment of the disclosure; and
[0020] FIG. 12 is an enlarged view illustrating another rotary
inertia mass damper according to the disclosure.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0021] The following describes some embodiments of the disclosure
with reference to drawings.
[0022] FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating a
starting device 1 including a damper device 10 according to the
disclosure. FIG. 2 is a sectional view illustrating the starting
device 1. The starting device 1 illustrated in these drawings is
mounted on a vehicle equipped with an engine (internal combustion
engine) EG as a driving source and may include, in addition to the
damper device 10, for example, a front cover 3 serving as an input
member connected with a crankshaft of the engine EG and configured
to receive a torque transmitted from the engine EG, a pump impeller
(input-side fluid transmission element) 4 fixed to the front cover
3, a turbine runner (output-side fluid transmission element) 5
arranged to be rotatable coaxially with the pump impeller 4, a
damper hub 7 serving as an output member connected with the damper
device 10 and fixed to an input shaft IS of a transmission TM that
is either an automatic transmission (AT) or a continuously variable
transmission (CVT), and a lockup clutch 8.
[0023] In the description below, a term "axial direction" basically
means an extending direction of a central axis (axial center) of
the starting device 1 or the damper device 10, unless otherwise
specified. A term "radial direction" basically means a radial
direction of the starting device 1, the damper device 10 or a
rotational element of the damper device 10 and so on, i.e., an
extending direction of a straight line extended in a direction
perpendicular to the central axis (radial direction) from the
central axis of the starting device 1 or the damper device 10,
unless otherwise specified. Additionally, a term "circumferential
direction" basically means a circumferential direction of the
starting device 1, the damper device 10 or a rotational element of
the damper device 10 and so on, i.e., a direction along a rotation
direction of the rotational element, unless otherwise
specified.
[0024] As shown in FIG. 2, the pump impeller 4 includes a pump
shell 40 closely fixed to the front cover 3 to define a fluid
chamber 9 in which hydraulic oil flows and a plurality of pump
blades 41 provided on an inner surface of the pump shell 40. As
shown in FIG. 2, the turbine runner 5 includes a turbine shell 50
and a plurality of turbine blades 51 provided on an inner surface
of the turbine shell 50. An inner circumferential portion of the
turbine shell 50 is fixed to the damper hub 7 by means of a
plurality of rivets. The pump impeller 4 and the turbine runner 5
are opposed to each other, and a stator 6 is disposed coaxially
between the pump impeller 4 and the turbine runner 5 to straighten
the flow of hydraulic oil (hydraulic fluid) from the turbine runner
5 to the pump impeller 4. The stator 6 includes a plurality of
stator blades 60. The rotation direction of the stator 6 is set to
only one direction by a one-way clutch 61. The pump impeller 4, the
turbine runner 5 and the stator 6 form a torus (annular flow path)
to circulate the hydraulic oil and work as a torque converter
(fluid transmission device) with the torque amplification function.
In the starting device 1, however, the stator 6 and the one-way
clutch 61 may be omitted, and the pump impeller 4 and the turbine
runner 5 may work as fluid coupling.
[0025] The lockup clutch 8 is a hydraulic multi-plate clutch which
executes and releases a lockup in which the front cover 3 and the
damper hub 7 are coupled to each other via the damper device 10.
The lockup clutch 8 includes a lockup piston 80 slidably supported
in the axial direction by a center piece 30 which is fixed to the
front cover 3, a clutch drum 81, an annular clutch hub 82 fixed to
an inner surface of a side wall portion 33 of the front cover 3 to
oppose to the lockup piston 80, a plurality of first friction
engagement plates (friction plates with a friction material on both
surfaces) 83 engaged to splines formed on an inner periphery of the
clutch drum 81, and a plurality of second friction engagement
plates 84 (separator plates) engaged to splines formed on an outer
periphery of the clutch hub 82.
[0026] Further, the lockup clutch 8 includes an annular flange
member (oil chamber defining member) 85 attached to the center
piece 30 of the front cover 3 to be disposed on the side opposite
to the front cover 3 with respect to the lockup piston 80, that is,
disposed on the side of the turbine runner 5 and the damper device
10 with respect to the lockup piston 80, and a plurality of return
springs 86 disposed between the front cover 3 and the lockup piston
80. As illustrated in the drawing, the lockup piston 80 and the
flange member 85 define an engagement oil chamber 87. Hydraulic oil
(engagement hydraulic pressure) is supplied to the engagement oil
chamber 87 from a hydraulic control device (not illustrated).
Increasing the engagement hydraulic pressure for the engagement oil
chamber 87 moves the lockup piston 80 in the axial direction such
that the first and the second friction engagement plates 83 and 84
are pressed toward the front cover 3, which brings the lockup
clutch 8 into engagement (complete engagement or slip engagement).
A hydraulic single-plate clutch that includes a lockup piston to
which a friction material is affixed may be adopted as the lockup
clutch 8.
[0027] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the damper device 10 includes a
drive member (input element) 11, an intermediate member
(intermediate element) 12 and a driven member (output element) 15,
as rotational elements. The damper device 10 also includes a
plurality of (for example, three in this embodiment) first springs
(first elastic bodies) SP1 arranged to transmit the toque between
the drive member 11 and the intermediate member 12, a plurality of
(for example, three in this embodiment) second springs (second
elastic bodies) SP2 arranged to respectively work in series with
the corresponding first springs SP1 and to transmit the torque
between the intermediate member 12 and the driven member 15, and a
plurality of (for example, three in this embodiment) inner springs
SPi arranged to transmit the torque between the drive member 11 and
the driven member 15, as torque transmission elements (torque
transmission elastic bodies).
[0028] As shown in FIG. 1, the damper device 10 has a first torque
transmission path TP1 and a second torque transmission path TP2
that are provided parallel to each other between the drive member
11 and the driven member 15. The first torque transmission path TP1
is configured by the plurality of first springs SP1, the
intermediate member 12 and the plurality of second springs SP2 such
as to transmit the torque between the drive member 11 and the
driven member 15 via these elements. According to this embodiment,
coil springs having an identical specification (spring constant)
are employed for the first and the second springs SP1 and SP2 of
the first torque transmission path TP1.
[0029] The second torque transmission path TP2 is configured by the
plurality of inner springs SPi such as to transmit the torque
between the drive member 11 and the driven member 15 via the
plurality of inner springs SPi that work parallel to one another.
According to this embodiment, the plurality of inner springs SPi of
the second torque transmission path TP2 are configured to work in
parallel to the first and the second springs SP1 and SP2 of the
first torque transmission path TP1, after an input torque into the
drive member 11 reaches a predetermined torque (first threshold
value) T1 that is smaller than a torque T2 (second threshold value)
corresponding to a maximum torsion angle .degree. max of the damper
device 10 and a torsion angle of the drive member 11 relative to
the driven member 15 becomes equal to or larger than a
predetermined angle .theta.ref. The damper device 10 accordingly
has two-step (two-stage) damping characteristics.
[0030] According to this embodiment, a linear coil spring made of a
metal material that is spirally wound to have an axial center
extended linearly at no load is employed for the first and the
second springs SP1 and SP2 and the inner springs SPi. Compared with
employing an arc coil spring, this more appropriately expands and
contracts the first and the second springs SP1 and SP2 and the
inner springs SPi along their axial centers and reduces a
difference between a torque transmitted to the driven member 15
from the second springs SP2 and the like when a relative
displacement between the drive member 11 and the driven member 15
increases and a torque transmitted to the driven member 15 from the
second springs SP2 and the like when the relative displacement
between the drive member 11 and the driven member 15 decreases,
that is a hysteresis. The arc coil spring may, however, be employed
for at least any of the first and the second springs SP1 and SP2
and the inner springs SPi.
[0031] As shown in FIG. 2, the drive member 11 of the damper device
10 includes an annular first input plate member 111 that is coupled
with the clutch drum 81 of the lockup clutch 8, and an annular
second input plate member 112 that is coupled with the first input
plate member 111 by means of a plurality of rivets such as to be
opposed with the first input plate member 111. Accordingly, the
drive member 11, or the first and the second input plate members
111 and 112 rotate integrally with the clutch drum 81. Further, the
front cover 3 (engine EG) is coupled with the drive member 11 of
the damper device 10 by engagement of the lockup clutch 8.
[0032] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the first input plate member 111
is configured to include a plurality of (for example, three in this
embodiment) arc-shaped outer spring-accommodating windows 111wo
arranged at intervals (at equal intervals) in the circumferential
direction, a plurality of (for example, three in this embodiment)
arc-shaped inner spring-accommodating windows 111wi arranged on an
inner side in the radial direction of each outer
spring-accommodating window 111wo at intervals (at equal intervals)
in the circumferential direction, a plurality of (for example,
three in this embodiment) spring support portions 111s respectively
extending along an outer circumferential edge of each inner
spring-accommodating window 111wi, a plurality of (for example,
three in this embodiment) outer spring contact portions 111co, and
a plurality of (for example, six in this embodiment) inner spring
contact portions 111ci. The inner spring-accommodating windows
111wi respectively have a circumferential length longer than a
natural length of the inner spring SPi (see FIG. 3). One outer
spring contact portion 111co is disposed between the outer
spring-accommodating windows 111wo arranged adjacent to each other
in the circumferential direction. One inner spring contact portion
111ci is disposed on each side in the circumferential direction of
each inner spring-accommodating window 111wi.
[0033] The second input plate member 112 is configured to include a
plurality of (for example, three in this embodiment) arc-shaped
outer spring-accommodating windows 112wo arranged at intervals (at
equal intervals) in the circumferential direction, a plurality of
(for example, three in this embodiment) arc-shaped inner
spring-accommodating windows 112wi arranged on an inner side in the
radial direction of each outer spring-accommodating window 112wo at
intervals (at equal intervals) in the circumferential direction, a
plurality of (for example, three in this embodiment) spring support
portions 112s respectively extending along an outer circumferential
edge of each inner spring-accommodating window 112wi, a plurality
of (for example, three in this embodiment) outer spring contact
portions 112co, and a plurality of (for example, six in this
embodiment) inner spring contact portions 112ci. The inner
spring-accommodating windows 112wi respectively have a
circumferential length longer than the natural length of the inner
spring SPi (see FIG. 3). One outer spring contact portion 112co is
disposed between the outer spring-accommodating windows 112wo
arranged adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction.
One inner spring contact portion 112ci is disposed on each side in
the circumferential direction of each inner spring-accommodating
window 112wi. In this embodiment, the first and the second input
plate members 111 and 112 have an identical shape such as to reduce
the number of kinds of parts.
[0034] The intermediate member 12 includes a first intermediate
plate member 121 that is disposed on the front cover 3-side of the
first input plate member 111 of the drive member 11, and a second
intermediate plate member 122 that is disposed on the turbine
runner 5-side of the second input plate member 112 of the drive
member 11 and coupled with the first intermediate plate member 121
by means of a plurality of rivets. As shown in FIG. 2, the first
and the second input plate members 111 and 112 are disposed between
the first intermediate plate member 121 and the second intermediate
plate member 122 in the axial direction of the damper device
10.
[0035] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the first intermediate plate
member 121 is configured to include a plurality of (for example,
three in this embodiment) arc-shaped spring-accommodating windows
121w arranged at intervals (at equal intervals) in the
circumferential direction, a plurality of (for example, three in
this embodiment) spring support portions 121s respectively
extending along an outer circumferential edge of the corresponding
spring-accommodating window 121w, and a plurality of (for example,
three in this embodiment) spring contact portions 121c. One spring
contact portion 121c is disposed between the spring-accommodating
windows 121w arranged adjacent to each other in the circumferential
direction. The second intermediate plate member 122 is configured
to include a plurality of (for example, three in this embodiment)
arc-shaped spring-accommodating windows 122w arranged at intervals
(at equal intervals) in the circumferential direction, a plurality
of (for example, three in this embodiment) spring support portions
122s respectively extending along an outer circumferential edge of
the corresponding spring-accommodating window 122w, and a plurality
of (for example, three in this embodiment) spring contact portions
122c. One spring contact portion 122c is disposed between the
spring-accommodating windows 122w arranged adjacent to each other
in the circumferential direction. In this embodiment, the first and
the second intermediate plate members 121 and 122 have an identical
shape such as to reduce the number of kinds of parts.
[0036] The driven member 15 is a plate-like annular member that is
disposed between the first and the second input plate members 111
and 112 in the axial direction and fixed to the damper hub 7 by
means of a plurality of rivets. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the
driven member 15 is configured to include a plurality of (for
example, three in this embodiment) arc-shaped outer
spring-accommodating windows 15wo arranged at intervals (at equal
intervals) in the circumferential direction, a plurality of (for
example, three in this embodiment) arc-shaped inner
spring-accommodating windows 15wi arranged on an inner side in the
radial direction of each outer spring-accommodating window 15w0 at
intervals (at equal intervals) in the circumferential direction, a
plurality of (for example, three in this embodiment) outer spring
contact portions 15co, and a plurality of (for example, six in this
embodiment) inner spring contact portions 15ci. One outer spring
contact portion 15co is disposed between the outer
spring-accommodating windows 15wo arranged adjacent to each other
in the circumferential direction. The inner spring-accommodating
windows 15wi respectively have a circumferential length longer than
the natural length of the inner spring SPi. One inner spring
contact portion 15ci is disposed on each side in the
circumferential direction of each inner spring-accommodating window
15wi.
[0037] One first spring SP1 and one second spring SP2 are disposed
in the outer spring-accommodating windows 111wo and 112wo of the
first and the second input plate members 111 and 112 and outer
spring-accommodating windows 15wo of the driven member 15, such
that the first and the second springs SP1 and SP2 form a pair (to
act in series). In the mounting state of the damper device 10, the
outer spring contact portions 111co and 112co of the first and the
second input plate members 111 and 112 and the outer spring contact
portions 15co of the driven member 15 are respectively disposed
between the first and the second springs SP1 and SP2 that are
disposed in the different outer spring-accommodating windows 15wo,
111wo and 112wo not to form a pair (not to act in series), and come
into contact with ends of the first and the second springs SP1 and
SP2.
[0038] The spring contact portions 121c and 122c of the first and
the second intermediate plate members 121 and 122 are respectively
disposed between the common outer spring-accommodating windows
15wo, 111wo and 112wo to form a pair, and come into contact with
ends of the first and the second springs SP1 and SP2. The first and
the second springs SP1 and SP2 disposed in the different outer
spring-accommodating windows 15wo, 111wo and 112wo not to form a
pair (not to act in series) are disposed in the
spring-accommodating windows 121w and 122w of the first and second
intermediate plate members 121 and 122. The first and the second
springs SP1 and SP2 that do not form a pair (not to act in series)
are supported (guided) from the outer side in the radial direction
by the spring support portion 121s of the first intermediate plate
member 121 on the front cover 3-side and the spring support portion
122s of the second intermediate plate member 122 on the turbine
runner 5-side.
[0039] As shown in FIG. 3, the first and the second springs SP1 and
SP2 are thus alternately arranged in the circumferential direction
of the damper device 10. One end of each first spring SP1 comes
into contact with the corresponding outer spring contact portions
111co and 112co of the drive member 11, and the other end of each
first spring SP1 comes into contact with the corresponding spring
contact portions 121c and 122c of the intermediate member 12. One
end of each second spring SP2 comes into contact with the
corresponding spring contact portions 121c and 122c of the
intermediate member 12, and the other end of each second spring SP2
comes into contact with the corresponding outer spring contact
portion 15co of the driven member 15.
[0040] As a result, the first and the second springs SP1 and SP2
forming a pair are connected with each other in series via the
spring contact portions 121c and 122c of the intermediate member 12
between the drive member 11 and the driven member 15. Accordingly,
the damper device 10 further reduces the rigidity of the elastic
bodies configured to transmit the torque between the drive member
11 and the driven member 15 or more specifically a combined spring
constant of the first and the second springs SP1 and SP2. In this
embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the plurality of first springs SP1
and the plurality of second springs SP2 are arranged on an
identical circumference, such that the distance between the axial
center of the starting device 1 or the damper device 10 and the
axial center of each first spring SP1 is equal to the distance
between the axial center of the starting device 1 and so on and the
axial center of each second spring SP2.
[0041] The inner spring SPi is disposed in each of the inner
spring-accommodating windows 15wi of the driven member 15. In the
mounting state of the damper device 10, each of the inner spring
contact portions 15ci comes into contact with a corresponding end
of the inner spring SPi. In the mounting state of the damper device
10, a side of the each inner spring SPi on the front cover 3-side
is located in a circumferential center of the corresponding inner
spring-accommodating window 111wi of the first input plate member
111 and supported (guided) from the outer side in the radial
direction by the spring support portion 111s of the first input
plate member ill. In the mounting state of the damper device 10, a
side of the each inner spring SPi on the turbine runner 5-side is
located in a circumferential center of the corresponding inner
spring-accommodating window 112wi of the second input plate member
112 and supported (guided) from the outer side in the radial
direction by the spring support portion 112s of the second input
plate member 112.
[0042] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, each of the inner springs SPi is
arranged in an inner circumferential-side region in the fluid
chamber 9 such as to be surrounded by the first and the second
springs SP1 and SP2. This configuration further shortens the axial
length of the damper device 10 and thereby the axial length of the
starting device 1. Each of the inner springs SPi comes into contact
with one pair of the inner spring contact portions 111ci and 112ci
disposed on the respective sides of the inner spring-accommodating
windows 111wi and 112wi of the first and second input plate members
111 and 112 when the input torque (drive torque) into the drive
member 11 or the torque applied from the axle side to the driven
member 15 (driven torque) reaches the above torque Ti.
[0043] The damper device 10 further includes a stopper (not shown)
configured to restrict the relative rotation of the drive member 11
to the driven member 15. In this embodiment, the stopper includes a
plurality of stopper portions arranged at intervals in the
circumferential direction such as to protrude in the radial
direction toward the damper hub 7 from an inner circumferential
portion of the second input plate member 112, and a plurality of
arc-shaped cut-out portions formed at intervals in the
circumferential direction in the damper hub 7 to which the driven
member 15 is fixed. In the mounting state of the damper device 10,
each of the stopper portions of the second input plate member 112
is disposed in the corresponding cut-out portion of the damper hub
7 such as not to come into contact with wall surfaces of the damper
hub 7, the wall surfaces defining both ends of the cut-out portion.
When each of the stopper portions of the second input plate member
112 comes into contact with one of the wall surfaces defining both
ends of the cut-out portion of the damper hub 7 accompanied with
relative rotation of the drive member 11 to the driven member 15,
the stopper restricts the relative rotation of the drive member 11
to the driven member 15 and the deflections of all of the t springs
SP1, SP2 and SPi.
[0044] Additionally, as shown in FIG. 1, the damper device 10
includes a rotary inertia mass damper 20 that is arranged parallel
to both the first torque transmission path TP1 that includes the
plurality of first springs SP1, the intermediate member 12 and the
plurality of second springs SP2 and the second torque transmission
path TP2 that includes the plurality of inner springs SPi. In this
embodiment, the rotary inertia mass damper 20 is configured to
include a single pinion-type planetary gear 21 disposed between the
drive member 11 or the input element of the damper device 10 and
the driven member 15 or the output element of the damper device
10.
[0045] The planetary gear 21 is configured by the driven member 15
that includes outer teeth 15t in an outer circumference thereof
such as to work as a sun gear, the first and the second input plate
members 111 and 112 that rotatably support a plurality (for
example, three in this embodiment) of pinion gears 23 respectively
engaging with the outer teeth 15t such as to work as a carrier, and
a ring gear 25 that is disposed concentrically with the driven
member 15 (outer teeth 15t) or the sun gear and has inner teeth 25t
engaging with the each pinion gear 23. Accordingly, in the fluid
chamber 9, the driven member 15 or the sun gear, the plurality of
pinion gears 23 and the ring gear 25 at least partially overlap
with the first and second springs SP1 and SP2 (and inner springs
SPi) in the axial direction as viewed in the radial direction of
the damper device 10.
[0046] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the outer teeth 15t are formed on
a plurality of predetermined portions of an outer circumferential
surface of the driven member 15 at intervals (at equal intervals)
in the circumferential direction. The outer teeth 15t are located
radially outside the outer spring-accommodating window 15wo and the
inner spring-accommodating window 15wi, that is, the first spring
SP1, the second spring SP2 and the inner spring SPi that transmit
the torque between the drive member 11 and the driven member 15.
The outer teeth 15t may be formed on the entire outer circumference
of the driven member 15.
[0047] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the first input plate member ill
forming the carrier of the planetary gear 21 is configured to
include a plurality of (for example, three in this embodiment)
pinion gear supporting portions 115 disposed radially outside the
outer spring contact portions 111co at intervals (at equal
intervals) in the circumferential direction. Similarly, the second
input plate member 112 forming the carrier of the planetary gear 21
is configured to include a plurality of (for example, three in this
embodiment) pinion gear supporting portions 116 disposed radially
outside the outer spring contact portions 112co at intervals (at
equal intervals) in the circumferential direction, as shown in
FIGS. 2 and 3.
[0048] As shown in FIG. 4, each of the pinion gear supporting
portions 115 of the first input plate member 111 is configured to
include an arc-shaped axially extending portion 115a configured to
axially protrude toward the front cover 3 and an arc-shaped flanged
portion 115f radially extended outward from an end of the axially
extending portion 115a. Each of the pinion gear supporting portions
116 of the second input plate member 112 is configured to include
an arc-shaped axially extending portion 116a configured to axially
protrude toward the turbine runner 5 and an arc-shaped flanged
portion 116f radially extended outward from an end of the axially
extending portion 116a. Each of the pinion gear supporting portions
115 (flanged portion 115f) of the first input plate member 111 is
opposed to the corresponding pinion gear supporting portions 116
(flanged portion 116f) of the first input plate member 112 in the
axial direction. The flanged portion 115f and 116f forming a pair
respectively support an end of a pinion shaft 24 inserted into the
pinion gear 23. In this embodiment, the pinion gear supporting
portions 115 (flanged portions 115f) are fixed to the clutch drum
81 of the lockup clutch 8 by means of rivets. Further, in this
embodiment, the first intermediate plate member 121 of the
intermediate member 12 is aligned by an inner circumferential
surface of the axially extending portion 115a of the pinion gear
supporting portion 115. The second intermediate plate member 122 of
the intermediate member 12 is aligned by an inner circumferential
surface of the axially extending portion 116a of the pinion gear
supporting portion 116.
[0049] As shown in FIG. 4, the pinion gears 23 of the planetary
gear 21 are configured to include an annular gear body 230 having
gear teeth (outer teeth) 23t in an outer circumference thereof, a
plurality of needle bearings 231 disposed between an inner
circumferential surface of the gear body 230 and an outer
circumferential surface of the pinion shaft 24, a pair of spacers
232 engaged to both ends of the gear body 230 such as to restricts
an axial motion of the needle bearing 231. As shown in FIG. 4, the
gear body 230 of the pinion gear 23 includes annular radially
supporting portions 230s that respectively protrude outside an
axial end of the gear teeth 23t in an inner side of bottoms of the
gear teeth 23t in the radial direction of the pinion gear 23 and
have a cylindrical outer circumferential surface. A diameter of an
outer circumferential surface of each spacer 232 is identical to or
smaller diameter than that of the radially supporting portion
230s.
[0050] The plurality of pinion gears 23 are supported at intervals
(at equal intervals) in the circumferential direction by the first
and the second input plate members 111 and 112 (pinion gear
supporting portions 115 and 116) or the carrier. A washer 235 is
disposed between a side face of each spacer 235 and the pinion gear
supporting portion 115 or 116 (flanged portion 115f or 116f) of the
first or the second input plate member 111 or 112. As shown in FIG.
4, an axial gap is defined between both side faces of the gear
teeth 23t of the pinion gear 23 and the pinion gear supporting
portion 115 or 116 (flanged portion 115f or 116f) of the first or
the second input plate member 111 or 112.
[0051] The ring gear 25 of the planetary gear 21 is configured to
include an annular gear body 250 having inner teeth 25t in an inner
circumference thereof, two annular-shaped side plates 251, a
plurality of rivets 252 for fixing the each side plate 251 to both
axial side face of the gear body 250. The gear body 250, the two
side plates 251 and the plurality of rivets 252 are integrated each
other and work as a mass body of the rotary inertia mass damper 20.
In this embodiment, the inner teeth 25t is formed on the entire
inner circumference of the gear body 250. The inner teeth 25t may
be formed on a plurality of predetermined portions of the inner
circumferential surface of the gear body 250 at intervals (at equal
intervals) in the circumferential direction. As shown in FIG. 3,
recessed portions may be formed on an outer circumferential surface
of the gear body 250 such as to adjust a weight of the ring gear
25.
[0052] Each of the side plates 251 has a concave cylindrically
shaped inner circumferential surface and works as a supported
portion that is axially supported by the plurality of pinion gears
23 engaging with the inner teeth 25t. That is, in both axial ends
of the inner teeth 25t, the two side plates 251 are respectively
fixed to the corresponding side face of the gear body 250 such as
to protrude inside bottoms of the inner teeth 25t in the radial
direction and oppose to at least the side face of the gear teeth
23t of the pinion gear 23. As shown in FIG. 4, in this embodiment,
the inner circumferential surface of each side plate 251 is located
slightly inside tips of the inner teeth 25t.
[0053] When each of the pinion gears 23 meshes with the inner teeth
25t, the inner circumferential surface of each side plate 251 is
supported by the corresponding radially supporting portion 230s of
the pinion gear 23 (gear body 230). This enables the ring gear 25
to be accurately aligned with respect to the axial center of the
driven member 15 or the sun gear by the radially supporting
portions 230s of the plurality of pinion gears 23 and to smoothly
rotate (oscillate). Further, when each of the pinion gears 23
meshes with the inner teeth 25t, an inner face of each side plate
251 opposes to the side face of the gear teeth 23t of the pinion
gear 23 and a side face of a portion from the bottoms of the gear
teeth 23t to the radially supporting portion 230s. Accordingly, an
axial motion of the ring gear 25 is restricted by at least the side
face of the gear teeth 23t of the pinion gear 23. Further, as shown
in FIG. 4, an axial gap is defined between an outer face of each
side plate 251 of the ring gear 25 and the pinion gear supporting
portion 115 or 116 (flanged portion 115f or 116f) of the first or
the second input plate member 111 or 112.
[0054] When the lockup by the lockup clutch 8 is released in the
starting device 1 with the configuration described above, as seen
from FIG. 1, the torque (power) transmitted from the engine EG to
the front cover 3 is transmitted to the input shaft IS of the
transmission TM via the path of the pump impeller 4, the turbine
runner 5, the driven member 15 and the damper hub 7. When the
lockup is executed by the lockup clutch 8 of the starting device 1,
on the other hand, the torque transmitted from the engine EG to the
drive member 11 via the front cover 3 and the lockup clutch 8 is
transmitted to the driven member 15 and the damper hub 7 via the
first torque transmission path TP1 including the plurality of first
springs SP1, the intermediate member 12 and the plurality of second
springs SP2, and the rotary inertia mass damper 20 until the input
torque reaches the above torque T1. When the input torque becomes
equal to or higher than the above torque T1, the torque transmitted
to the drive member 11 is transmitted to the driven member 15 and
the damper hub 7 via the first torque transmission path TP1, the
second torque transmission path TP2 including the plurality of
inner springs SPi, and the rotary inertia mass damper 20.
[0055] When the drive member 11 is rotated (twisted) relative to
the driven member 15 under an execution of the lockup (engagement
of the lockup clutch 8), the first and the second springs SP1 and
SP2 are deflected, and the ring gear 25 or the mass body is rotated
(oscillated) about the axial center in accordance with relative
rotation of the drive member 11 to the driven member 15. More
specifically, when the drive member 11 is rotated (oscillated)
relative to the driven member 15, the rotation speed of the drive
member 11 (first and the second input plate members 111 and 112) or
the carrier which is an input element of the planetary gear 21
becomes higher than the rotation speed of the driven member 15 or
the sun gear. In such a state, the rotation speed of the ring gear
25 is increased by the action of the planetary gear 21, so that the
ring gear 25 is rotated at a higher rotation speed than the
rotation speed of the drive member 11. This causes an inertia
torque to be applied from the ring gear 25 that is the mass body of
the rotary inertia mass damper 20 to the driven member 15 that is
the output element of the damper device 10 via the pinion gears 23
and thereby damps the vibration of the driven member 15. The rotary
inertia mass damper 20 is configured to mainly transmit the inertia
torque between the drive member 11 and the driven member 15 but not
to transmit an average torque.
[0056] The following describes a design procedure of the damper
device 10.
[0057] As described above, in the damper device 10, until the input
torque transmitted to the drive member 11 reaches the above torque
T1, the first and the second springs SP1 and SP2 included in the
first torque transmission path TP1 work in parallel to the rotary
inertia mass damper 20. When the first and the second springs SP1
and SP2 work in parallel to the rotary inertia mass damper 20, the
torque transmitted from the first torque transmission path TP1
including the intermediate member 12 and the first and the second
springs SP1 and SP2 to the driven member 15 depends on (is
proportional to) the displacement (amount of deflection or torsion
angle) of the second springs SP2 between the intermediate member 12
and the driven member 15. The torque transmitted from the rotary
inertia mass damper 20 to the driven member 15, on the other hand,
depends on (is proportional to) a difference in angular
acceleration between the drive member 11 and the driven member 15,
i.e., a second order differential equation result of the
displacement of the first and the second springs SP1 and SP2
between the drive member 11 and the driven member 15. On the
assumption that the input torque transmitted to the drive member 11
of the damper device 10 is periodically vibrated as shown by
Equation (1) given below, the phase of the vibration transmitted
from the drive member 11 to the driven member 15 via the first
torque transmission path TP1 is accordingly shifted by 180 degrees
from the phase of the vibration transmitted from the drive member
11 to the driven member 15 via the rotary inertia mass damper
20.
[Math. 1]
T=T.sub.0 sin .omega.t (1)
[0058] Additionally, in the damper device 10 including the single
intermediate member 12, two resonances occur in the first torque
transmission path TP1 when the deflections of the first and the
second springs SP1 and SP2 are allowed and the inner springs SPi
are not deflected. That is, a resonance (first resonance) of the
entire damper device 10 occurs in the first torque transmission
path TP1 by the vibrations of the drive member 11 and the driven
member 15 in the opposite phases when the deflections of the first
and the second springs SP1, SP2 are allowed and the inner springs
SPi are not deflected. A resonance (second resonance) also occurs
in the first torque transmission path TP1 by the vibrations of the
intermediate member 12 in the opposite phase to both the drive
member 11 and the driven member 15 when the deflections of the
first and the second springs SP1, SP2 are allowed and the inner
springs SPi are not deflected, at a higher rotation speed side
(higher frequency side) than the first resonance.
[0059] In order to further improve the vibration damping effect of
the damper device 10 with the above characteristics, as the result
of intensive studies and analyses, the inventors have noted that
the damper device 10 can damp the vibration of the driven member 15
by making the amplitude of the vibration of the first torque
transmission path TPl equal to the amplitude of the vibration of
the rotary inertia mass damper 20 in the opposite phase. The
inventors have established an equation of motion as shown by
Equation (2) given below in a vibration system including the damper
device 10 in which the torque is transmitted from the engine EG to
the drive member 11 under engagement of the lockup clutch and the
inner springs SPi are not deflected. In Equation (2), "J.sub.1"
denotes a moment of inertia of the drive member 11, "J.sub.2"
denotes a moment of inertia of the intermediate member 12 as
described above, "J.sub.3" denotes a moment of inertia of the
driven member 15, and "J.sub.1" denotes a moment of inertia of the
ring gear 25 that is the mass body of the rotary inertia mass
damper 20. Further, ".theta..sub.1" denotes a torsion angle of the
drive member 11, ".theta..sub.2" denotes a torsion angle of the
intermediate member 12, ".theta..sub.3" denotes a torsion angle of
the driven member 15. Furthermore, "k1" denotes a combined spring
constant of the plurality of first springs SP1 working in parallel
between the drive member 11 and the intermediate member 12, "k2"
denotes a combined spring constant of the plurality of second
springs SP2 working in parallel between the intermediate member 12
and the driven member 15. Additionally, ".lamda." denotes a gear
ratio of the planetary gear 21 (a pitch circle diameter of the
outer teeth 15t (sun gear)/a pitch circle diameter of the inner
teeth 25t of the ring gear 25) included in the rotary inertia mass
damper 20, that is, a ratio of a rotational speed of the ring gear
25 or the mass body with respect to a rotational speed of the
driven member 15, and "T" denotes an input torque transmitted to
the drive member from the engine EG.
[ Math . 2 ] [ J 1 + J i ( 1 + .lamda. ) 2 0 - J i .lamda. ( 1 +
.lamda. ) 0 J 2 0 - J i .lamda. ( 1 + .lamda. ) 0 J 3 + J i .lamda.
2 ] [ .theta. 1 .theta. 2 .theta. 3 ] + [ k 1 - k 1 0 - k 1 k 1 + k
2 - k 2 0 - k 2 k 2 ] [ .theta. 1 .theta. 2 .theta. 3 ] = [ T 1 0 0
] ( 2 ) ##EQU00001##
[0060] Additionally, the inventors have assumed that the input
torque T is periodically vibrated as shown by Equation (1) given
above and have also assumed that the torsion angle .theta..sub.1 of
the drive member 11, the torsion angle .theta..sub.2 of the
intermediate member 12 and the torsion angle .theta..sub.3 of the
driven member 15 are periodically responded (vibrated) as shown by
Equation (3) given below. In Equations (1) and (3), ".omega."
denotes an angular frequency in the periodical fluctuation
(vibration) of the input torque T. In Equation (3), ".THETA..sub.1"
denotes an amplitude of the vibration (vibration amplitude, i.e.,
maximum torsion angle) of the drive member 11 generated during
transmission of the torque from the engine EG, ".THETA..sub.2"
denotes an amplitude of vibration (vibration amplitude) of the
intermediate member 12 generated during transmission of the torque
from the engine EG to the drive member 11, and ".THETA..sub.3"
denotes an amplitude of vibration (vibration amplitude) of the
driven member 15 generated during transmission of the torque from
the engine EG to the drive member 11. On such assumptions, an
identity of Equation (4) given below is obtained by substituting
Equations (1) and (3) into Equation (2) and eliminating "sin
.omega.t" from both sides.
[ Math . 3 ] [ .theta. 1 .theta. 2 .theta. 3 ] = [ .THETA. 1
.THETA. 2 .THETA. 3 ] sin .omega. t ( 3 ) [ T 1 0 0 ] = [ k 1 -
.omega. 2 { J 1 + J i ( 1 + .lamda. ) 2 } - k 1 .omega. 2 J i
.lamda. ( 1 + .lamda. ) - k 1 k 1 + k 2 - .omega. 2 J 2 - k 2
.omega. 2 J i .lamda. ( 1 + .lamda. ) - k 2 k 2 - .omega. 2 ( J 3 +
J i .lamda. 2 ) ] [ .THETA. 1 .THETA. 2 .THETA. 3 ] ( 4 )
##EQU00002##
[0061] In Equation (4), when the vibration amplitude .THETA..sub.3
of the driven member 15 is zero, this means that the vibration from
the engine EG is theoretically damped completely by the damper
device 10 and that no vibration is theoretically transmitted to the
transmission TM, the driveshaft and the like located downstream of
the driven member 15. From this point of view, the inventors have
obtained a conditional expression of Equation (5) by solving the
identity of Equation (4) with respect to the vibration amplitude
.THETA..sub.3 and setting .THETA..sub.3=0. Equation (5) is a
quadratic equation with regard to the square of angular frequency
.omega..sup.2 in the periodical fluctuation of the input torque T.
When the square of angular frequency .omega..sup.2 is either of two
real roots (or multiple root) of Equation (5), the vibration from
the engine EG transmitted from the drive member 11 to the driven
member 15 via the first torque transmission path TP1 and the
vibration transmitted from the drive member 11 to the driven member
15 via the rotary inertia mass damper 20 are cancelled out each
other, and the vibration amplitude .THETA..sub.3 of the driven
member 15 theoretically becomes equal to zero.
[Math. 4]
J.sub.2J.sub.i.lamda.(1+.lamda.)(.omega..sup.2).sup.2-J.sub.i.lamda.(1+.-
lamda.)(k.sub.1+k.sub.2).omega..sup.2+k.sub.1k.sub.2=0 (5)
[0062] This result of analysis indicates that a total of two
antiresonance points (A1 and A2 in FIG. 5) providing theoretically
zero vibration amplitude .THETA..sub.3 of the driven member 15 may
be set in the damper device 10 that includes the intermediate
member 12 and accordingly provides two peaks, i.e., a resonance in
the torque transmitted via the first torque transmission path TP1
as shown in FIG. 5. The damper device 10 can thus significantly
effectively damp the vibration of the driven member 15 by making
the amplitude of the vibration of the first torque transmission
path TP1 equal to the amplitude of the vibration of the rotary
inertia mass damper 20 in the opposite phase at two points
corresponding to the two resonances occurring in the first torque
transmission path TP1.
[0063] Additionally, in the damper device 10, the resonance of the
intermediate member 12 occurs in the stage where the rotation speed
of the drive member 11 becomes rather higher than a rotation speed
corresponding to the frequency at an antiresonance point A1 of a
lower rotation speed side (lower frequency side). The amplitude of
the vibration transmitted from the second springs SP2 to the driven
member 15 changes from decreasing to increasing before the rotation
speed of the drive member 11 (engine EG) reaches a rotation speed
corresponding to the relatively low natural frequency of the
intermediate member 12, as shown by a one-dot chain line curve in
FIG. 5. Even when the amplitude of the vibration transmitted from
the rotary inertia mass damper 20 to the driven member 15 is
gradually increased with an increase in rotation speed of the drive
member 11 (as shown by a two-dot chain line curve in FIG. 5), this
expands an area where the vibration transmitted from the rotary
inertia mass damper 20 to the driven member 15 cancels out at least
part of the vibration transmitted from the second springs SP2 to
the driven member 15. This results in further improving the
vibration damping performance of the damper device 10 in a
relatively low rotation speed range of the drive member 11.
[0064] A vehicle equipped with the engine EG as the source of
generating power for driving may be configured as to further
decrease a lockup rotation speed Nlup of the lockup clutch 8
(rotation speed at the time of first coupling of the engine EG with
the damper device 10 after a start of the engine EG and the lowest
among a plurality of lockup rotation speeds; in other words,
minimum rotation speed in a rotation speed range where the torque
is transmitted from the drive member 11 through the torque
transmission path TPl to the driven member 15) and mechanically
transmit the torque from the engine EG to the transmission TM at an
earlier timing, such as to improve the power transmission
efficiency between the engine EG and the transmission TM and
thereby further improve the fuel consumption of the engine EG. The
vibration transmitted from the engine EG via the lockup clutch 8 to
the drive member 11, however, increases in a low rotation speed
range of approximately 500 rpm to 1500 rpm that is likely to be set
as a range of the lockup rotation speed Nlup. The vibration level
significantly increases especially in a vehicle equipped with a
smaller-number cylinder engine such as three-cylinder engine or
four-cylinder engine. Accordingly, in order to suppress
transmission of a large vibration to the transmission TM and so on
during or immediately after engagement the lockup, there is a need
to further reduce the vibration level in a rotation speed range of
about the lockup rotation speed Nlup of the entire damper device 10
(driven member 15) configured to transmit the torque (vibration)
from the engine EG to the transmission TM under engagement of the
lockup.
[0065] By taking into account the foregoing, the inventors have
configured the damper device 10 such as to form the antiresonance
point A1 of the lower rotation speed side (lower frequency side)
when the rotation speed Ne of the engine EG is in the range of 500
rpm to 1500 rpm (in the expected setting range of the lockup
rotation speed Nlup), based on the predetermined lockup rotation
speed Nlup of the lockup clutch 8. Two solutions .omega..sub.1 and
.omega..sub.2 of Equation (5) given above may be obtained as
Equations (6) and (7) given below according to the quadratic
formula, and satisfy .omega..sub.1<.omega..sub.2. A frequency
fa.sub.1 at the antiresonance point A1 of the lower rotation speed
side (lower frequency side) (hereinafter referred to as "minimum
frequency") is expressed by Equation (8) given below, and a
frequency fa.sub.2 at an antiresonance point A2 of the higher
rotation speed side (higher frequency side) (fa.sub.2>fa.sub.1)
is expressed by Equation (9) given below. A rotation speed
Nea.sub.1 of the engine EG corresponding to the minimum frequency
fa.sub.1 is expressed as Nea.sub.1=(120/n)fa.sub.1, where "n"
denotes the number of cylinders of the engine EG.
[ Math . 5 ] .omega. 1 2 = ( k 1 + k 2 ) - ( k 1 + k 2 ) 2 - 4 J 2
J i k 1 k 2 1 .lamda. ( 1 + .lamda. ) 2 J 2 ( 6 ) .omega. 2 2 = ( k
1 + k 2 ) + ( k 1 + k 2 ) 2 - 4 J 2 J i k 1 k 2 1 .lamda. ( 1 +
.lamda. ) 2 J 2 ( 7 ) fa 1 = 1 2 .pi. ( k 1 + k 2 ) - ( k 1 + k 2 )
2 - 4 J 2 J i k 1 k 2 1 .lamda. ( 1 + .lamda. ) 2 J 2 ( 8 ) fa 2 =
1 2 .pi. ( k 1 + k 2 ) + ( k 1 + k 2 ) 2 - 4 J 2 J i k 1 k 2 1
.lamda. ( 1 + .lamda. ) 2 J 2 ( 9 ) ##EQU00003##
[0066] Accordingly, the combined spring constant k.sub.1 of the
plurality of first springs SP1, the combined spring constant
k.sub.2 of the plurality of second springs SP2, the moment of
inertia J.sub.2 of the intermediate member 12 (determined by taking
into account (summing up) the moments of inertia of the turbine
runner 5 and the like coupled to be integrally rotated), and the
moment of inertia J.sub.i of the ring gear 25 that is the mass body
of the rotary inertia mass damper 20 are selected and set in the
damper device 10, in order to satisfy Expression (10) given below.
More specifically, in the damper device 10, the spring constants
k.sub.1 and k.sub.2 of the first and the second springs SP1 and
SP2, the moment of inertia J.sub.2 of the intermediate member 12,
the moment of inertia J.sub.1 of the ring gear 25, and the gear
ratio .lamda. of the planetary gear 21 are determined, based on the
above minimum frequency fa.sub.1 (and the lockup rotation speed
Nlup). When designing the damper device 10, a moment of the inertia
of the pinion gear 23 may be ignored in practice as shown in
Equations (2)-(9) and may be taken into account in the above
equation (2) and the like. Further, the spring constants k.sub.1
and k.sub.2 of the first and the second springs SP1 and SP2, the
moment of inertia J.sub.2 of the intermediate member 12, the moment
of inertia J.sub.1 of the ring gear 25, the gear ratio .lamda. of
the planetary gear 21, and the moment of the inertia of the pinion
gear 23 may be determined, based on the above minimum frequency
fa.sub.1 (and the lockup rotation speed Nlup).
[ Math . 6 ] 500 rpm .ltoreq. 120 n fa 1 .ltoreq. 1500 rpm ( 10 )
##EQU00004##
[0067] As described above, the antiresonance point A1 of the lower
rotation speed side that is likely to provide theoretically zero
vibration amplitude .THETA..sub.3 of the driven member 15 (that is
likely to further decrease the vibration amplitude .THETA..sub.3)
may be set in the low rotation speed range of 500 rpm to 1500 rpm
(in the expected setting range of the lockup rotation speed Nlup).
This results in allowing for the lockup (coupling of the engine EG
with the drive member 11) at the lower rotation speed.
[0068] When the damper device 10 is configured to satisfy
Expression (10), it is preferable to select and set the spring
constants k.sub.1 and k.sub.2 and the moments of inertia J.sub.2
and J.sub.1, such as to minimize the frequency of the lower
rotation-speed (lower-frequency) side resonance (at a resonance
point R1) occurring in the first torque transmission path TP1 to
the minimum possible value that is lower than the above minimum
frequency fa.sub.1. This further reduces the minimum frequency
fa.sub.1 and allows for the lockup at the further lower rotation
speed.
[0069] Moreover, the configuration capable of setting two
antiresonance points A1 and A2 enables the antiresonance point A1
having the minimum frequency (fa.sub.1) between the two
antiresonance points A1 and A2 to be shifted toward the lower
frequency side, compared with the configuration that only one
antiresonance point is set (shown by a broken line curve in FIG.
5). Additionally, as seen from FIG. 5, the configuration that the
two antiresonance points A1 and A2 are set enables the vibration
from the engine EG transmitted from the drive member 11 to the
driven member 15 via the first torque transmission path TP1 (shown
by the one-dot chain line curve in FIG. 5) to be effectively damped
by the vibration transmitted from the drive member 11 to the driven
member 15 via the rotary inertia mass damper 20 (shown by the
two-dot chain line curve in FIG. 5) in a relatively wide rotation
speed range between the two antiresonance points A1 and A2.
[0070] This further improves the vibration damping effect of the
damper device 10 in the lower rotation speed range of a lockup area
that is likely to increase the vibration from the engine EG. In the
damper device 10, on the occurrence of the second resonance
(resonance as shown by the resonance point R2 in FIG. 5), the
intermediate member 12 is vibrated in the opposite phase to that of
the driven member 15. As shown by the one-dot chain line curve in
FIG. 5, the phase of the vibration transmitted from the drive
member 11 to the driven member 15 via the first torque transmission
path TP1 becomes identical with the phase of the vibration
transmitted from the drive member 11 to the driven member 15 via
the rotary inertia mass damper 20.
[0071] In the damper device 10 configured as described above, in
order to further improve the vibration damping performance around
the lockup rotation speed Nlup, there is a need to appropriately
separate the lockup rotation speed Nlup and the rotation speed Ne
of the engine EG corresponding to the resonance point R2.
Accordingly, when the damper device 10 is configured to satisfy
Expression (10), it is preferable to select and set the spring
constants k.sub.1 and k.sub.2 and the moments of inertia J.sub.2
and J.sub.1, such as to satisfy Nlup.ltoreq.(120/n)fa.sub.1
(=Nea.sub.1). This engages the lockup by the lockup clutch 8, while
effectively suppressing transmission of the vibration to the input
shaft IS of the transmission TM. This also enables the vibration
from the engine EG to be remarkably effectively damped by the
damper device 10, immediately after engagement of the lockup.
[0072] As described above, designing the damper device 10 based on
the frequency (minimum frequency) fa.sub.1 at the antiresonance
point A1 remarkably effectively improves the vibration damping
performance of the damper device 10. According to the inventors'
studies and analyses, it has been confirmed that when the lockup
rotation speed Nlup is set to, for example, a value of about 1000
rpm, the damper device 10 configured to satisfy, for example, 900
rpm.ltoreq.(120/n)fa.sub.1.ltoreq.1200 rpm provides the remarkably
effective results in practice.
[0073] On the other hand, it is necessary to decrease both a
hysteresis of the first torque transmission path TP1 including the
intermediate member 12, the first and the second springs SP1 and
SP2 and a hysteresis of the rotary inertia mass damper 20 as much
as possible such as to decrease an actual vibration amplitude of
the driven member 15 about the antiresonance points A1 and A2. That
is, in the damper device 10, it is necessary to decrease both a
phase shift of a vibration transmitted to the driven member 15 via
the first torque transmission path TP1, the phase shift caused by
the hysteresis of the first and second springs SP1 and SP2, and a
phase shift of a vibration transmitted to the driven member 15 via
the rotary inertia mass damper 20, the phase shift caused by the
hysteresis of the rotary inertia mass damper 20.
[0074] Therefore, in the damper device 10, the driven member 15
working as the sun gear of the planetary gear 21 of the rotary
inertia mass damper 20 is provided with the outer teeth 15t located
radially outside the first and the second springs SP1 and SP2 that
transmit the torque between the drive member 11 and the driven
member 15. That is, the first and the second springs SP1 and SP2
are disposed radially inside the planetary gear 21 of the rotary
inertia mass damper 20. Accordingly, the centrifugal force applied
to the first and the second springs SP1 and SP2 is reduced, thereby
decreasing a frictional force (sliding resistance) that occurs when
the first and the second springs SP1 and SP2 are pressed against
the spring supporting portions 121s and 122 by the centrifugal
force. As a result, the hysteresis of the first and the second
springs SP1 and SP2 is satisfactorily decreased in the damper
device 10.
[0075] Furthermore, an energy loss caused by the hysteresis of the
rotary inertia mass damper 20 may be expressed as
Jh=.DELTA.T.theta.. Herein "Jh" denotes energy loss caused by the
hysteresis of the rotary inertia mass damper 20, ".DELTA.T" denotes
a torque difference, that is, a difference between the torque
transmitted to the driven member 15 (sun gear) from the rotary
inertia mass damper 20 when a relative displacement between the
drive member 11 and the driven member 15 increases and a torque
transmitted to the driven member 15 (sun gear) from the rotary
inertia mass damper 20 when the relative displacement between the
drive member 11 and the driven member 15 decreases, and ".theta."
denotes a torsion angle of the drive member 11 relative to the
driven member 15. Further, the energy loss Jh may be expressed as
Jh=.mu.Frx. Herein ".mu." denotes a coefficient of dynamic friction
between the ring gear 25 and the pinion gear 23, "Fr" denotes a
vertical load (axial force) applied to the ring gear 25 according
to a pressure in the fluid chamber 9 for example, and "x" denotes a
sliding distance of the ring gear 25 with respect to the pinion
gear 23.
[0076] Accordingly, a relationship .DELTA.T.theta.=.mu.Frx is
satisfied. By differentiating both sides of the relational
expression by time, a relationship .DELTA.Td.theta./dt=.mu.Frdx/dt
is derived. The torque difference .DELTA.T or the hysteresis of the
rotary inertia mass damper 20 thus may be expressed as
.DELTA.T=.mu.Fr(dx/dt)/(d.theta./dt). The time differential value
dx/dt of the sliding distance x in the right side of the relational
expression showing the torque difference .DELTA.T shows a relative
speed Vrp between the ring gear 25 and the pinion gears 23. The
hysteresis of the rotary inertia mass damper 20 thus becomes
smaller as the relative speed Vrp between the ring gear 25 and the
pinion gears 23 that support the ring gear 25, that is, a relative
speed between the mass body and a support member that restricts an
axial motion of the mass body becomes smaller.
[0077] When the ring gear 25 or the mass body is supported from
both sides by the first and the second input plate members 111 and
112 of the drive member 11 or the carrier of the planetary gear 21,
the hysteresis of the rotary inertia mass damper 20 depends on a
relative speed Vrc between the ring gear 25 and the drive member
11. FIG. 6 shows the relative speed Vrc between the ring gear 25
and the drive member 11 when the drive member 11 is twisted in the
angle .theta. with respect to the driven member 15. As shown in
FIG. 6, the relative speed Vrc is relatively large about the inner
circumference of the ring gear 25 and becomes larger from the inner
circumference to the outer circumference of the ring gear 25. The
hysteresis of the rotary inertia mass damper 20 is not favorably
decreased when the ring gear 25 or the mass body is supported from
both sides by the first and the second input plate members 111 and
112.
[0078] On the other hand, the pinion gears 23 revolve at a
peripheral speed Vp that is identical with a peripheral speed of
the first and the second input plate members 111 and 112 or the
carrier and rotate about the pinion shaft 24. The relative speed
Vrp between the ring gear 25 and the pinion gear 23 becomes
substantially zero about an engagement position (a point on a
broken line in FIGS. 6 and 7) between the inner tooth 25t of the
ring gear 25 and the gear tooth 23t of the pinion gear 23. As
illustrated by a white arrow in FIG. 7, the relative speed Vrp
between the ring gear 25 and the pinion gear 23 becomes
significantly smaller than the relative speed Vrc between the ring
gear 25 and the drive member 11 (carrier) and smaller than the
relative speed (not shown) between the ring gear 25 and the driven
member 15 (sun gear). In the damper device 10 in which the axial
motion of the ring gear 25 or the mass body is restricted by the
pinion gears 23 of the planetary gear 21, as illustrated by a solid
line in FIG. 8, the hysteresis of the rotary inertia mass damper
20, that is, the torque difference .DELTA.T is satisfactorily
decreased, compared with supporting the ring gear 25 from both
sides by the first and second input plate members 111 and 112 (see
a broken line in FIG. 8).
[0079] In this embodiment, the ring gear 25 includes the two side
plates 251 (supported portions) fixed to each of the side face of
the gear body 250 in such a manner that the inner circumferential
surface of each side plate 251 is located slightly inside tips of
the inner teeth 25t. Further, the axial motion of the ring gear 25
is restricted by at least the side face of gear teeth 23t of the
pinion gears 23. Accordingly, the axial motion of the ring gear 25
can be restricted by the pinion gears 23 at the engagement position
between the inner tooth 25t and the gear tooth 23t where the
relative speed Vrp between the ring gear 25 and the pinion gear 23
becomes substantially zero, thereby satisfactorily decreasing the
hysteresis of the rotary inertia mass damper 20.
[0080] As described above, the damper device 10 satisfactorily
decreases both the hysteresis in the first torque transmission path
TPl and the hysteresis in the rotary inertia mass damper 20,
thereby favorably decreasing the actual vibration amplitude of the
driven member 15 about the antiresonance points A1 and A2.
Therefore, the vibration damping performance of the damper device
10 including the rotary inertia mass damper 20 is effectively
improved by making the frequency fa.sub.1 of the antiresonance
point A1 of the lower rotation speed side equal to (closer to) a
frequency of one vibration (resonance) to be damped by the damper
device in the above range and making the frequency fa.sub.2 of the
antiresonance point A2 of the higher rotation speed side equal to
(closer to) a frequency of the other vibration (resonance) to be
damped by the damper device. Further, the vibration damping
performance of the rotary inertia mass damper 20 is advantageously
improved by decreasing the hysteresis of the rotary inertia mass
damper 20 as has been described.
[0081] In the damper device 10, the driven member 15 or the sun
gear, the plurality of pinion gears 23 and the ring gear 25 are
arranged to at least partially overlap with the first and the
second springs SP1 and SP2 (and the inner spring SPi) in the axial
direction of the damper device 10 as viewed in the radial
direction. This configuration further shortens the axial length of
the damper device 10 and further increases the moment of inertia of
the ring gear 25 by disposing the ring gear 25 in the outer
circumference side of the damper device 10 while suppressing an
increase of the weight of the ring gear 25 that works as the mass
body of the rotary inertia mass damper 20, thereby enabling the
inertia torque to be efficiently obtained.
[0082] Further, in the damper device 10, the rotation speed of the
ring gear 25 or the mass body is increased by the action of the
planetary gear 21 such as to be higher than the rotation speed of
the drive member 11 (carrier). This reduces the weight of the ring
gear 25 or the mass body while effectively ensuring the moment of
inertia applied to the driven member 15 from the rotary inertia
mass damper 20. This also enhances the flexibility in design of the
rotary inertia mass damper 20 and the entire damper device 10. The
rotary inertia mass damper 20 (planetary gear 21) may, however, be
configured to decrease the rotation speed of the ring gear 25 to be
lower than the rotation speed of the drive member 11, according to
the magnitude of the moment of inertia of the ring gear 25 (mass
body). Further, the planetary gear 21 may be a double pinion-type
planetary gear. Furthermore, the outer tooth 15t of the driven
member 15, the gear tooth 23t of the pinion gear 23 and the inner
tooth 25t of the ring gear 25 may be a helical tooth with a helical
tooth trace or a tooth with a straight tooth trace.
[0083] As described above, the configuration that two antiresonance
points A1 and A2 are set enables the antiresonance point A1 to be
shifted toward the lower frequency. Depending on the specification
of the vehicle, the motor and so on equipped with the damper device
10, the multiple root of Equation (5) (=1/2.pi.
{(k.sub.1+k.sub.2)/(2J.sub.2)} may be set to the above minimum
frequency fa.sub.1. Determining the spring constants k.sub.1 and
k.sub.2 of the first and the second springs SP1 and SP2 and the
moment of inertia J.sub.2 of the intermediate member 12 based on
the multiple root of Equation (5) also improves the vibration
damping effect of the damper device 10 in the lower rotation speed
range of the lockup area that is likely to increase the vibration
from the engine EG as shown by the broken line curve in FIG. 5.
[0084] In the damper device 10 described above, springs having the
identical specification (spring constant) are employed for the
first and the second springs SP1 and SP2. This is, however, not
restrictive. The spring constants k.sub.1 and k.sub.2 of the first
and the second springs SP1 and SP2 may be different from each other
(k.sub.1>k.sub.2 or k.sub.1<k.sub.2). This further increases
the value of the term (discriminant) in Equations (6) and (8) and
further increases the interval between the two antiresonance points
A1 and A2, thus further improving the vibration damping effect of
the damper device in the low frequency range (low rotation speed
range). In this case, the damper device 10 may be provided with a
stopper configured to restrict the deflection of one of the first
and the second springs SP1 and SP2 (for example, one having the
lower rigidity).
[0085] As described above, the ring gear 25 of the rotary inertia
mass damper 20 includes two side plates 251 respectively fixed to
the gear body 250 in such a manner that the inner circumferential
surface of each side plate 251 is located slightly inside tips of
the inner teeth 25t. However, each of the two side plates 251 may
be fixed to the gear body 250 in such a manner that the inner
circumferential surface of each side plate 251 is located radially
inside bottoms of the inner teeth 25t and radially outside the
pinion shaft 24 supporting the pinion gear 23. Further, a diameter
of the radially supporting portion 230s of the pinion gear 23 (gear
body 230) may also be reduced to be smaller than the above
diameter. Namely, the inner circumferential surface of each side
plate 251 of the ring gear 25 may be made close to the pinion shaft
24, so that the axial motion of the ring gear 25 is satisfactorily
restricted by the pinion gears 23.
[0086] In order to restrict the axial motion of the ring gear 25 by
the pinion gears 23, the pinion gear 23 may be provided with a pair
of supporting portions that have an annular shape for example and
protrude radially outside from both sides of the gear teeth 23t and
the side plates 251 may be omitted from the ring gear 25. In such a
configuration, the supporting portions of the pinion gear 23 may be
formed such as to oppose to at least the side face of the inner
teeth 25t of the ring gear 25 or a portion of the side face of the
gear body 250.
[0087] As in a damper device 10X of a starting device 1X shown in
FIG. 9, an intermediate member 12X may be coupled with the turbine
runner 5 to be integrally rotated instead of coupling the driven
member 15X with the turbine runner 5 to be integrally rotated. This
configuration allows for a further increase of the substantial
moment of inertia J.sub.2 of the intermediate member 12X (total
moments of inertia of the intermediate member 12X, the turbine
runner 5 and the like). In this configuration, as seen from the
Equation (8), the frequency fa.sub.1 of the antiresonance point A1
may be further reduced such as to set the antiresonance point A1 in
the further lower rotation speed side (further lower frequency
side).
[0088] In the damper devices 10, 10X, the sun gear of the planetary
gear 21 may be coupled (integrated) with the drive member 11, and
the driven members 15, 15X may be configured to work as the carrier
of the planetary gear 21. Further, in the damper devices 10, 10X,
the sun gear of the planetary gear 21 may be coupled (integrated)
with the intermediate members 12, 12X, and the drive member 11 or
the driven members 15, 15X may be configured to work as the carrier
of the planetary gear 21. Furthermore, in the damper devices 10,
10X, the intermediate members 12, 12X may be configured to work as
the carrier of the planetary gear 21, and the sun gear of the
planetary gear 21 may be coupled (integrated) with the drive member
11 or the driven members 15, 15X.
[0089] FIG. 10 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating a
starting device lY including a damper device 10Y according to
another embodiment of the disclosure. Among the components of the
starting device lY and the damper device 10Y, the same components
to those of the starting device 1 and the damper device 10
described above are expressed by the same reference signs and their
repeated description is omitted. The damper device 10Y shown in
FIG. 10 includes a drive member (input element) 11Y, an
intermediate member (intermediate element) 12Y and a driven member
(output element) 15Y, as rotational elements. The damper device 10Y
also includes a plurality of first springs (first elastic bodies)
SP1 configured to transmit the torque between the drive member 11Y
and the intermediate member 12Y and a plurality of second springs
(second elastic bodies) SP2 configured to respectively work in
series with the corresponding first springs SP1 and to transmit the
torque between the intermediate member 12Y and the driven member
15Y, as torque transmission elements (torque transmission elastic
bodies). The plurality of first springs (first elastic bodies) SP1,
the intermediate member 12Y and the plurality of second springs
(second elastic bodies) SP2 configure a torque transmission path TP
between the drive member 11Y and the driven member 15Y. As shown in
the figure, the intermediate member 12Y is coupled with the turbine
runner 5 to be integrally rotated. As shown by a two-dot chain line
in FIG. 10, however, the turbine runner 5 may be coupled with
either one of the drive member 11Y and the driven member 15Y.
[0090] As the above rotary inertia mas damper 20, a rotary inertia
mass damper 20Y includes the single pinion-type planetary gear 21
and is arranged parallel to the torque transmission path TP between
the drive member 11Y and the driven member 15Y. In the rotary
inertia mass damper 20Y, the drive member 11Y (first and second
input plate members 111 and 112) is configured to rotatably support
the plurality of the pinion gears 23 such as to work as the carrier
of the planetary gear 21. The driven member 15Y is configured to
include outer teeth 15t and work as the sun gear of the planetary
gear 21. In the rotary inertia mass damper 20Y, the axial motion of
the ring gear 25 or the mass body is restricted by the pinion gear
23.
[0091] The damper device 10Y further includes a first stopper ST1
configured to restrict the relative rotation of the drive member
11Y to the intermediate member 12Y, i.e., deflection of the first
springs SP1 and a second stopper ST2 configured to restrict the
relative rotation of the intermediate member 12Y to the driven
member 15Y, i.e., deflection of the second springs SP2. One of the
first stopper ST1 and the second stopper ST2 is configured to
restrict the relative rotation of the drive member 11Y to the
intermediate member 12Y or the relative rotation of the
intermediate member 12Y to the driven member 15Y when the input
torque into the drive member 11Y reaches a predetermined torque Ti
that is smaller than a torque T2 corresponding to a maximum torsion
angle .theta.max of the damper device 10Y and the torsion angle of
the drive member 11Y relative to the driven member 15Y becomes
equal to or larger than a predetermined angle .theta.ref. The other
of the first stopper ST1 and the second stopper ST2 is configured
to restrict the relative rotation of the intermediate member 12Y to
the driven member 15Y or the relative rotation of the drive member
11Y to the intermediate member 12Y when the input torque into the
drive member 11Y reaches the torque T2.
[0092] This configuration allows for the deflections of the first
and the second springs SP1 and SP2 until one of the first and the
second stoppers ST1 an ST2 operates. When one of the first and the
second stoppers ST1 and ST2 operates, the deflection of one of the
first and the second springs SP1 and SP2 is restricted. When both
the first and the second stoppers ST1 and ST2 operate, the
deflections of both the first and the second springs SP1 and SP2
are restricted. The damper device 10Y accordingly has two-step
(two-stage) damping characteristics. The first stopper ST1 or the
second stopper ST2 may be configured such as to restrict the
relative rotation of the drive member 11Y to the driven member
15Y.
[0093] The damper device 10Y configured as described above provides
the similar operations and advantageous effects to those of the
damper device 10 described above. In the damper device 10Y, one of
the first and the second springs SP1 and SP2 may be arranged on the
outer side in the radial direction of the other at intervals in the
circumferential direction. More specifically, for example, the
plurality of first springs SP1 may be arranged in an outer
circumferential-side area in the fluid transmission chamber 9 at
intervals in the circumferential direction. The plurality of second
springs SP2 may be arranged on the inner side in the radial
direction of the plurality of first springs SP1 at intervals in the
circumferential direction. In this configuration, the first and the
second springs SP1 and SP2 may be arranged to at least partially
overlap with each other as viewed in the radial direction.
[0094] In the damper device 10Y, the sun gear of the planetary gear
21 may be coupled (integrated) with the drive member 11Y, and the
driven member 15Y may be configured to work as the carrier of the
planetary gear 21. Further, in the damper device 10Y, the sun gear
of the planetary gear 21 may be coupled (integrated) with the
intermediate member 12Y, and the drive member 11Y or the driven
member 15Y may be configured to work as the carrier of the
planetary gear 21. Furthermore, in the damper device 10Y, the
intermediate member 12Y may be configured to work as the carrier of
the planetary gear 21, and the sun gear of the planetary gear 21
may be coupled (integrated) with the drive member 11Y or the driven
member 15Y.
[0095] FIG. 11 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating a
starting device 1Z including a damper device 10Z according to yet
another embodiment of the disclosure. Among the components of the
starting device 1Z and the damper device 10Z, the same components
to those of the starting device 1 and the damper device 10
described above are expressed by the same reference signs and their
repeated description is omitted.
[0096] The damper device 10Z shown in FIG. 11 includes a drive
member (input element) 11Z, a first intermediate member (first
intermediate element) 13, a second intermediate member (second
intermediate element) 14 and a driven member (output element) 15Z,
as rotational elements. The damper device 10Z also includes a
plurality of first springs (first elastic bodies) SP1' configured
to transmit the torque between the drive member 11Z and the first
intermediate member 13, a plurality of second springs (second
elastic bodies) SP2' configured to transmit the torque between the
first intermediate member 13 and the second intermediate member 14,
and a plurality of third springs (third elastic bodies) SP3
configured to transmit the torque between the second intermediate
member 14 and the driven member 15Z, as torque transmission
elements (torque transmission elastic bodies). The plurality of
first springs (first elastic bodies) SP1', the first intermediate
member 13, the plurality of second springs (second elastic bodies)
SP2', the second intermediate member 14 and the plurality of third
springs SP3 configure a torque transmission path TP between the
drive member 11Z and the driven member 15Z. As the rotary inertia
mass dampers 20, 20Y, a rotary inertia mass damper 20Z includes the
single pinion-type planetary gear 21 and is arranged parallel to
the torque transmission path TP between the drive member 11Z and
the driven member 15Z. The first intermediate member 13 is coupled
with the turbine runner 5 to be integrally rotated. As shown by a
two-dot chain line in FIG. 11, however, the turbine runner 5 may be
coupled with either one of the drive member 11Z and the driven
member 15Z.
[0097] In the damper device 10Z including the first and the second
intermediate members 13 and 14, three resonances occur in the
torque transmission path TP when the deflections of all the first
to the third springs SP1', SP2' and SP3 are allowed. More
specifically, a resonance of the entire damper device 10Z occurs in
the torque transmission path TP by the vibrations of the drive
member 11Z and the driven member 15Z in the opposite phases when
the deflections of the first to the third springs SP1', SP2' and
SP3 are allowed. A resonance also occurs in the torque transmission
path TP by the vibrations of the first and the second intermediate
members 13 and 14 in the opposite phase to both the drive member
11Z and the driven member 15Z when the deflections of the first to
the third springs SP1', SP2' and SP3 are allowed. A resonance
further occurs in the torque transmission path TP by the vibration
of the first intermediate member 13 in the opposite phase to the
drive member 11Z, the vibration of the second intermediate member
14 in the opposite phase to the first intermediate member 13 and
the vibration of the driven member 15Z in the opposite phase to the
second intermediate member 14 when the deflections of the first to
the third springs SP1', SP2' and SP3 are allowed. This
configuration thus enables a total of three antiresonance points,
where the vibration transmitted from the drive member 11Z to the
driven member 15Z via the torque transmission path TP and the
vibration transmitted from the drive member 11Z to the driven
member 15Z via the rotary inertia mass damper 20Z are theoretically
cancelled out each other, to be set in the damper device 10Z.
[0098] Among the three antiresonance points that are likely to
provide theoretically zero vibration amplitude of the driven member
15Z (that are likely to further decrease the vibration amplitude),
a first antiresonance point of the lowest rotation speed may be set
in the low rotation speed range of 500 rpm to 1500 rpm (in the
expected setting range of the lockup rotation speed Nlup). This
shifts one resonance having the minimum frequency of the resonances
occurring in the torque transmission path TP toward the lower
rotation speed side (toward the lower frequency side), such as to
be included in a non-lockup area of the lockup clutch 8. This
results in allowing for the lockup at the lower rotation speed and
remarkably effectively improving the vibration damping performance
of the damper device 10Z in the low rotation speed range that is
likely to increase the vibration from the engine EG. The damper
device 10Z may make a second antiresonance point of the higher
rotation speed side (higher frequency side) than the first
antiresonance point equal to (closer to), for example, resonance
point (frequency thereof) of the input shaft IS of the transmission
TM or may make a third antiresonance point of the higher rotation
speed side (higher frequency side) than the second antiresonance
point equal to (closer to), for example, a resonance point
(frequency thereof) in the damper device 10Z, such as to
effectively suppress the occurrence of such resonances.
[0099] The damper device 10Z may be configured such as to include
three or more intermediate members in the torque transmission path
TP. The turbine runner 5 may be coupled with the second
intermediate member 14 or may be coupled with one of the drive
member 11Z and the driven member 15Z as shown by a two-dot chain
line in FIG. 11. In the damper device 10Z, the sun gear of the
planetary gear 21 may be coupled (integrated) with the drive member
11Z, and the driven member 15Z may be configured to work as the
carrier of the planetary gear 21. Further, in the damper device
10Z, the sun gear of the planetary gear 21 may be coupled
(integrated) with the first intermediate member 13. The first
intermediate member 13 may be configured to work as the carrier of
the planetary gear 21 in the damper device 10Z.
[0100] FIG. 12 is an enlarged view illustrating another rotary
inertia mass damper 20B applicable to the above damper devices 10,
10X, 10Y, and 10Z. Among the components of the rotary inertia mass
damper 20B, the same components to those of the above rotary
inertia mass damper 20 described above are expressed by the same
reference signs and their repeated description is omitted.
[0101] The planetary gear 21B of the rotary inertia mass damper 20B
is configured by the driven member 15 that includes outer teeth 15t
in the outer circumference thereof such as to work as a sun gear,
the first and the second input plate members 111 and 112 that
rotatably support the plurality of pinion gears 23B respectively
engaging with the outer teeth 15t such as to work as a carrier, and
a ring gear 25B that is disposed concentrically with the driven
member 15 (15t) or the sun gear and has inner teeth 25t engaging
with the each pinion gear 23B. The outer teeth 15t of the driven
member 15 are located radially outside the first spring SP1, the
second spring SP2 and the inner spring (not shown). In the fluid
chamber, the driven member 15 or the sun gear, the plurality of
pinion gears 23B and the ring gear 25B at least partially overlap
with each other in the axial direction as viewed in the radial
direction of the damper device.
[0102] As shown in FIG. 12, the pinion gears 23B of the planetary
gear 21B are configured to include an annular gear body 230 having
gear teeth (outer teeth) 23t in an outer circumference thereof, and
a plurality of needle bearings 231 disposed between an inner
circumferential surface of the gear body 230 and an outer
circumferential surface of the pinion shaft 24. The ring gear 25B
is an equivalent to the above ring gear 25 from which the two side
plates 251 and the plurality of rivets are omitted and includes an
annular portion 250B or the mass body and inner teeth 25t formed on
an inner circumference of the annular portion 250B.
[0103] As shown in FIG. 12, larger-diameter washers 238 are
disposed in both sides of each pinion gear 23B in the axial
direction. A smaller-diameter washer 239 with smaller diameter than
that of the larger-diameter washer 238 is disposed between each
larger-diameter washer 238 and the flanged portion 115f or 116f
(first or the second input plate member 111 or 112 or the carrier).
An outer diameter of the larger-diameter washer 238 is determined
in such a manner that the larger-diameter washer 238 opposes to the
side face of the pinion gear 23B (gear body 230) and the side face
of the inner teeth 25t of the ring gear 25B when each of the pinion
gears 23B meshes with the inner teeth 25t. More specifically, an
outer circumferential portion of the larger-diameter washer 238
protrudes radially outside the bottoms of inner teeth 25t of the
ring gear 25B and opposes to a portion (inner circumferential
portion) of the side face of the annular portion 250B located
outside the bottoms of the inner teeth 25t. In this embodiment, an
outer diameter of the smaller-diameter washer 239 is smaller than a
deddendum circle of the gear teeth 23t of the pinion gear 23B and
an outer circumference of the smaller-diameter washer 239 is
located radially outside the needle bearings 231.
[0104] In the rotary inertia mass damper 20B with the configuration
described above, the outer teeth 15t of the driven member 15 are
located outside the first and the second springs SP1 and SP2 in the
radial direction of the damper device. Accordingly, the centrifugal
force applied to the first and the second springs SP1 and SP2 is
reduced, thereby satisfactorily decreasing the hysteresis of the
first and the second springs SP1 and SP2. Further, in the rotary
inertia mass damper 20B, the axial motion of the ring gear 25B
working as the mass body is restricted by the larger-diameter
washers 238 disposed in the both sides of each pinion gear 23B in
axial direction. This satisfactorily decreases the hysteresis of
the rotary inertia mass damper 20B, that is, the torque difference
.DELTA.T, compared with supporting the ring gear 25B from both
sides by the first and second input plate members 111 and 112.
Accordingly, both the hysteresis in the torque transmission path
including the first and the second springs SP1 and SP2 and the
hysteresis in the rotary inertia mass damper 20B are satisfactorily
decreased, thereby decreasing the actual vibration amplitude of the
driven member 15 about the antiresonance points A1 and A2.
Therefore, the vibration damping performance of the damper device
including the rotary inertia mass damper 20B is effectively
improved by making the frequency fa.sub.1 of the antiresonance
point A1 of the lower rotation speed side equal to (closer to) a
frequency of one vibration (resonance) to be damped by the damper
device in the above range and making the frequency fa.sub.2 of the
antiresonance point A2 of the higher rotation speed side equal to
(closer to) a frequency of the other vibration (resonance) to be
damped by the damper device. That is, the damper device including
the rotary inertia mass damper 20B provides the similar operations
and advantageous effects to those of the damper device 10 and the
like described above.
[0105] Further, the larger-diameter washer 238 and the smaller
diameter washer 239 are disposed between the each pinion gear 23B
and the first or the second input plate member 111 or 112, so that
the axial motion of the ring gear 25B may be restricted by the
larger-diameter washer 238, while decreasing the hysteresis of the
rotary inertia mass damper 20B by decreasing a relative speed
between each pinion gear 23B and the larger-diameter washer 238. In
the rotary inertia mass damper 20B, the side plates and the
plurality of rivet are omitted from the ring gear 25B, thereby
reducing the number of parts and enabling the damper device and the
rotary inertia mass damper 20B to be more compact (in the axial
direction) and lightweight. The larger-diameter washer 238 and the
smaller-diameter washer 239 may be integrated with each other.
[0106] As has been described above, a damper device (10, 10X, 10Y,
10Z) according to one aspect of the disclosure is configured to
include a plurality of rotational elements including an input
element (11, 11Y, 11Z) to which a torque from an engine (EG) is
transmitted and an output element (15, 15Y, 15Z), an elastic body
(SP1, SP1', SP2, SP2', SP3) configured to transmit a torque between
the input element (11, 11Y, 11Z) and the output element (15, 15Y,
15Z), and a rotary inertia mass damper (20, 20Y, 20Z) with a mass
body (25) rotating in accordance with relative rotation between a
first rotational element which is one of the plurality of
rotational elements and a second rotational element different from
the first rotational element. The rotary inertia mass damper (20,
20Y, 20Z) is configured to include a planetary gear (21) that
includes a sun gear (15, 15t, 15Y, 15Z) arranged to rotate
integrally with the first element, a carrier (11,111,112) that
rotatably supports a plurality of pinion gears (23) and is arranged
to rotate integrally with the second element, and a ring gear (25)
that meshes with the plurality of pinion gears (23) and works as
the mass body. Outer teeth (15t) of the sun gear are arranged to be
disposed outside the elastic body (SP1, SP1', SP2, SP2', SP3) in a
radial direction of the damper device (10, 10X, 10Y, 10Z). The sun
gear (15, 15t, 15Y, 15Z), the plurality of pinion gears (23) and
the ring gear (25) are arranged to at least partially overlap with
the elastic body (SP1, SP1', SP2, SP2', SP3) in an axial direction
of the damper device (10, 10X, 10Y, 10Z) as viewed in the radial
direction. A motion of the ring gear (25) in the axial direction is
restricted by the plurality of pinion gears (23).
[0107] In the damper device of this aspect, the torque transmitted
to the output element via the elastic body depends on (is
proportional to) the displacement of the elastic body transmitting
the torque to the output element. The rotary inertia mass damper
works in parallel to the elastic body disposed between the first
rotational element and the second rotational element. The torque
transmitted from the rotary inertia mass damper to the output
element depends on (is proportional to) a difference in angular
acceleration between the first rotational element and the second
rotational element, i.e., a second order differential value of the
displacement of the elastic body disposed between the first
rotational element and the second rotational element. On the
assumption that an input torque transmitted to the input element of
the damper device is periodically vibrated, the phase of the
vibration transmitted from the input element to the output element
via the elastic body is accordingly shifted by 180 degrees from the
phase of the vibration transmitted from the input element to the
output element via the rotary inertia mass damper. That is, the
damper device of this aspect enables an antiresonance point where a
vibration amplitude of the output element theoretically becomes
equal to zero to be set therein.
[0108] Further, the outer teeth of the sun gear of the rotary
inertia mass damper are arranged to be located outside the elastic
body in the radial direction of the damper device, the elastic body
transmitting the torque between the input element and the output
element. By disposing the elastic body of the damper device
radially inside the planetary gear of the rotary inertia mass
damper, a centrifugal force applied to the elastic body can be
reduced, thereby decreasing a hysteresis of the elastic body.
Furthermore, in the damper device, the motion of the ring gear or
the mass body of the rotary inertia mass damper in the axial
direction is restricted by the plurality of pinion gears. This
configuration enables a relative speed between the ring gear and
the pinion gears that mesh with each other to be smaller than a
relative speed between the ring gear and the carrier. Accordingly,
a hysteresis of the rotary inertia mass damper is satisfactorily
decreased, compared with restricting the motion of the ring gear in
the axial direction by a member that works as the carrier of the
planetary gear, for example.
[0109] As a result, the damper device satisfactorily decreases both
the hysteresis of the elastic body and the hysteresis of the rotary
inertia mass damper, thereby decreasing the vibration amplitude of
the output element about the antiresonance point. Therefore, the
vibration damping performance of the damper device is effectively
improved by making a frequency of the antiresonance point equal to
(closer to) a frequency of a vibration (resonance) to be damped by
the damper device. The vibration damping performance of the rotary
inertia mass damper is advantageously improved by decreasing the
hysteresis of the rotary inertia mass damper. Further, in the
damper device, the sun gear, the plurality of pinion gears and the
ring gear are arranged to at least partially overlap with the
elastic body in the axial direction of the damper device as viewed
in the radial direction. This configuration further shortens the
axial length of the damper device and further increases the moment
of inertia of the ring gear or the mass body of the rotary inertia
mass damper by disposing the ring gear while suppressing an
increase of the weight of the ring gear, thereby enabling an
inertia torque to be efficiently obtained.
[0110] The ring gear (25) of the planetary gear (21) may be
configured to include a pair of supported portions (251) arranged
to protrude inwardly in the radial direction to be respectively
opposed to at least a side face of the pinion gear (23) at both
sides of inner teeth (25t) of the ring gear (25) in the axial
direction. This enables the axial motion of the ring gear to be
restricted by the pinion gears at the engagement position between
the ring gear and the pinion gear (the inner tooth and the gear
tooth) where the relative speed between the ring gear and the
pinion gear becomes substantially zero, thereby satisfactorily
decreasing the hysteresis of the rotary inertia mass damper.
[0111] Inner circumferential surfaces of the supported portions
(251) of the ring gear (25) may be arranged to be disposed inside
tooth bottoms of the inner teeth (25t) in the radial direction and
outside a pinion shaft (24) in the radial direction, the pinion
shaft (24) supporting the pinion gear (23). This enables the axial
motion of the ring gear to be restricted by the pinion gears.
[0112] The pinion gear (23) may be configured to include annular
radially supporting portions (230s) that protrude both sides of
gear teeth (23t) of the pinion gear (23) in the axial direction at
an inner circumferential side of tooth bottoms of the gear teeth
(23t) in the radial direction. The inner circumferential surfaces
of the supported portions (251) of the ring gear (25) are supported
in the radial direction by the radially supporting portions (230s)
of the pinion gear (23). This enables the ring gear working as the
mass body of the rotary inertia mass damper to be accurately
aligned such as to smoothly rotate.
[0113] A damper device (10, 10X, 10Y, 10Z) according to another
aspect of the disclosure is configured to include a plurality of
rotational elements including an input element (11, 11Y, 11Z) to
which a torque from an engine (EG) is transmitted and an output
element (15, 15X, 15Y, 15Z), an elastic body (SP1, SP1', SP2, SP2',
SP3) configured to transmit a torque between the input element (11,
11Y, 11Z) and the output element (15, 15X, 15Y, 15Z), and a rotary
inertia mass damper (20B) with a mass body (25B) rotating in
accordance with relative rotation between a first rotational
element which is one of the plurality of rotational elements and a
second rotational element different from the first rotational
element. The rotary inertia mass damper (20B) is configured to
include a planetary gear (21B) that includes a sun gear (15, 15t,
15X, 15Y, 15Z) arranged to rotate integrally with the first
element, a carrier (11,111,112) that rotatably supports a plurality
of pinion gears (23B) and is arranged to rotate integrally with the
second element, and a ring gear (25B) that meshes with the
plurality of pinion gears (23B) and works as the mass body. Outer
teeth (15t) of the sun gear (15, 15t, 15X, 15Y, 15Z) are arranged
to be disposed outside the elastic body (SP1, SP1', SP2, SP2', SP3)
in a radial direction of the damper device (10, 10X, 10Y, 10Z). The
sun gear (15, 15t, 15Y, 15X, 15Z), the plurality of pinion gears
(23B) and the ring gear (25B) are arranged to at least partially
overlap with the elastic body (SP1, SP1', SP2, SP2', SP3) in an
axial direction of the damper device (10, 10X, 10Y, 10Z) as viewed
in the radial direction. Washers (238, 239) are disposed both sides
of each pinion gear (23B) in axial direction. A motion of the ring
gear (25B) in the axial direction is restricted by the washers
(238, 239).
[0114] The damper device of this aspect also enables an
antiresonance point where a vibration amplitude of the output
element theoretically becomes equal to zero to be set therein.
Further, the outer teeth of the sun gear of the rotary inertia mass
damper are arranged to be located outside the elastic body in the
radial direction of the damper device, the elastic body
transmitting a torque between the input element and the output
element. Accordingly, a centrifugal force applied to the elastic
body is reduced, thereby decreasing a hysteresis of the elastic
body. Furthermore, in the damper device, the motion of the ring
gear or the mass body of the rotary inertia mass damper in the
axial direction is restricted by the washers disposed both sides of
each pinion gear in axial direction. Accordingly, a hysteresis of
the rotary inertia mass damper is satisfactorily decreased,
compared with restricting the motion of the ring gear in the axial
direction by a member that works as the carrier of the planetary
gear, for example. As a result, the damper device satisfactorily
decreases both the hysteresis of the elastic body and the
hysteresis of the rotary inertia mass damper, thereby decreasing
the vibration amplitude of the output element about the
antiresonance point. Therefore, the vibration damping performance
of the damper device including the rotary inertia mass damper is
effectively improved by making a frequency of the antiresonance
point equal to (closer to) a frequency of a vibration (resonance)
to be damped by the damper device.
[0115] The washer may include a larger-diameter washer (238)
disposed to be opposed to a side face of the pinion gear (23B) and
side faces of inner teeth (25t) of the ring gear (25B), and a
smaller-diameter washer (239) disposed between the larger-diameter
washer (238) and the carrier (11,111,112). A diameter of the
smaller-diameter washer (239) may be smaller than that of the
larger-diameter washer (238). This enables the axial motion of the
ring gear to be restricted by the larger-diameter washer, while
decreasing the hysteresis of the rotary inertia mass damper by
decreasing a relative speed between each pinion gear and the
larger-diameter washer.
[0116] The plurality of rotational elements may include
intermediate element (12, 12X, 12Y). The elastic body may include a
first elastic body (SP1) configured to transmit a torque between
the input element (11, 11Y) and the intermediate element (12, 12X,
12Y), and a second elastic body (SP2) configured to transmit a
torque between the intermediate element (12, 12X, 12Y) and the
output element (15, 15X, 15Y). The first rotational element may be
one of the input element (11, 11Y) and the output element (15, 15X,
15Y). The second rotational element may be the other of the input
element (11, 11Y) and the output element (15, 15X, 15Y). In the
damper device, two resonances occur in a torque transmission path
including the intermediate element, the first and the second
elastic bodies when deflections of the first and the second elastic
bodies are allowed. Accordingly, the damper device of this aspect
enables two antiresonance points above described. Therefore, the
vibration damping performance of the damper device is effectively
improved by making frequencies of the two antiresonance points
equal to (closer to) frequencies of vibrations (resonances) to be
damped by the damper device. Further, by enabling the two
antiresonance points to be set, the antiresonance point having the
minimum frequency among the plurality of the antiresonance points
may be shifted toward the lower frequency side and the vibration
damping performance of the damper device may be improved in a wider
rotation speed range.
[0117] The input element (11, 11Y) may be configured to include two
input plate members (111, 112) arranged to be opposed to each other
in the axial direction such as to rotatably support the plurality
of pinion gears (23), the two input plate (111, 112) members
working as the carrier. The output element (15, 15X, 15Y) is a
single output plate member disposed between the two input plate
members (111, 112) in the axial direction and configured to include
the outer teeth (15t) in an outer circumference thereof to work as
the sun gear. The intermediate element (12, 12X, 12Y) may be
configured to include two intermediate plate members (121, 122)
between which at least one of the input element (11, 11Y) and the
output element (15, 15X, 15Y) is disposed. This configuration
suppresses an increase of an axial length of the damper device
accompanied with an installation of the rotary inertia mass damper
and the intermediate member.
[0118] At least spring constants (k.sub.1,k.sub.2) of the first and
the second elastic bodies (SP1, SP2) and moments of inertia
(J.sub.2, J.sub.i) of the intermediate element (12, 12X, 12Y) and
the ring gear (25) may be determined, based on a minimum frequency
(fa.sub.1) of frequencies of antiresonance points that provide zero
vibration amplitude of the output element (15, 15X, 15Y).
[0119] Power from an internal combustion engine (EG) may be
transmitted to the input element (11, 11Y). At least the spring
constants (k.sub.1,k.sub.2) of the first and the second elastic
bodies (SP1, SP2) and the moments of inertia (J.sub.2, J.sub.i) of
the intermediate element (12, 12X, 12Y) and the ring gear (25) may
be determined, based on the minimum frequency (fa.sub.1) of the
antiresonance point (A1) and number (n) of cylinders of the
internal combustion engine (EG).
[0120] The damper device (10, 10X, 10Y) may be configured to
satisfy 500 rpm.ltoreq.(120/n)fa.sub.1.ltoreq.1500 rpm, where
"fa.sub.1" denotes the minimum frequency of the antiresonance point
and "n" denotes the number of cylinders of the internal combustion
engine (EG).
[0121] Setting the antiresonance point that is likely to further
decrease the vibration amplitude of the output element in the low
rotation speed range of 500 rpm to 1500 rpm allows for coupling of
the engine with the input element at the lower rotation speed and
further improves the vibration damping effect of the damper device
in a low rotation speed range where the vibration from the engine
is likely to be increased. Configuration of the damper device such
that a minimum frequency of a resonance occurring in the torque
transmission path becomes a minimum possible value that is lower
than the frequency fa.sub.1 of the antiresonance point further
reduces the frequency fa.sub.1 of the antiresonance point and
allows for coupling of the internal combustion engine with the
input element at the further lower rotation speed.
[0122] The damper device (10, 10X, 10Y) may be configured to
satisfy Nlup.ltoreq.(120/n)fa.sub.1, where "Nlup" denotes a lockup
rotation speed of a lockup clutch (8) arranged to couple the
internal combustion engine (EG) with the input element (11, 11Y).
This enables the vibration from the internal combustion engine to
be remarkably effectively damped by the damper device when the
internal combustion engine is coupled with the input element by the
lockup clutch and immediately after engagement of the lockup.
[0123] The damper device (10, 10X, 10Y) may be configured to
satisfy 900 rpm.ltoreq.(120/n)fa.sub.1.ltoreq.1200 rpm.
[0124] The minimum frequency fa.sub.1 of the antiresonance point
(A1) may be expressed by the above Equation (8). When an equation
".gamma.=1/.lamda.(1+.lamda.)" is satisfied in the Equation (8),
the constant .lamda. may be determined according to a connection
configuration of rotational elements of the planetary gear with the
input element, the intermediate element and the output element and
a gear ratio of the planetary gear.
[0125] The first elastic body (SP1) may have a spring constant
(k.sub.1) that is identical with a spring constant (k.sub.2) of the
second elastic body (SP2).
[0126] The first elastic body (SP1) may have a spring constant
(k.sub.1) that is different from a spring constant (k.sub.2) of the
second elastic body (SP2). This increases the interval between the
two antiresonance points, thus further improving the vibration
damping effect of the damper device in the low frequency range (low
rotation speed range).
[0127] The damper device (10, 10X, 10Y, 10Z) may be configured not
to restrict deflections of the elastic body (SP1, SP1', SP2, SP2')
until an input torque (T) transmitted to the input element (11,
11Y, 11Z) becomes equal to or larger than a predetermined threshold
value (T1). The threshold value may be a torque value corresponding
to a maximum torsion angle of the damper device and may be a
smaller value than the value corresponding to the maximum torsion
angle.
[0128] The disclosure is not limited to the above embodiments in
any sense but may be changed, altered or modified in various ways
within the scope of extension of the disclosure. Additionally, the
embodiments described above are only concrete examples of some
aspect of the disclosure described in Summary and are not intended
to limit the elements of the disclosure described in Summary.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0129] The techniques according to the disclosure is applicable to,
for example, the field of manufacture of the damper device.
* * * * *