Francis B Robbins

US Patent:

55602673, Oct 1, 1996

Filed:

Jun 21, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/263320

Inventors:

Kevin B. Todd - Freeville NY
Francis B. Robbins - Carol Stream IL
Alan L. Miller - Dixon IL

Assignee:

Borg-Warner Automotive, Inc. - Sterling Heights MI

International Classification:

F16F 7116

US Classification:

74604

Abstract:

A camshaft vibration damper comprises an inertia ring having a friction clutch surface disposed in driving contact with a complementary clutch surface and a spring for biasing the clutch surfaces toward one another. The complementary clutch surface may be disposed on a drive member, for example, a camshaft sprocket or similar structure rotating with the camshaft. The spring is a compression spring, preferably a Belleville spring washer, which biases the two friction clutch surfaces together. The inertia of the inertia ring opposes the instantaneous variations in rotational speed (d. theta. /dt) of the camshaft causing relative rotation between the inertia ring and the drive member thereby reducing vibration without resisting camshaft rotation. Relative motion at the clutch face between the inertia ring and the drive member results in energy absorption and dissipation thereby minimizing unwanted vibration. Such energy adsorption is a function of: the moment of inertia of the inertia ring, the coefficient of friction of the clutch interface and the biasing force provided by the Belleville spring washer.