A VIBRATION DAMPENER HAVING A STOPPER COMPRISING A CHANNEL

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to vibration dampeners used for transmission of the drive, applied by the engine, to the gearbox in vehicles.

PRIOR ART

The subject matter vibration dampeners are used in transmission of the movement, applied particularly on torque delimiters by the engine, to the transmission units in vehicles. Accordingly, the movement, applied by the engine, is transmitted to the holder plates from a drive plate. Thanks to the brake linings connected to the holder plates, when the torque exceeds a predetermined value, the brake linings are worn, and the excessive torque is prevented from being transmitted to the transmission units. The transmission of the movement from the drive plate to the holder plates is realized by means of the springs positioned in between. Thus, first of all, the drive plate compresses the springs, and the transmission of the movement to the holder plates in a harsh manner is prevented.

The stopper, disclosed in the application with number US5690553A, has an elastomeric part positioned between two end parts. The end parts and the elastomeric part are connected to each other by means of a rivet.

When the elastomeric parts, used in said embodiments, are forced to be compressed, the lengths of said elastomeric parts are shortened. When the exerted force is removed, the elastomeric part cannot return to its initial length. In other words, when the elastomeric part is subjected to force, plastic changes form partially and the length thereof is shortened. This leads to deviations in the tolerances of the vibration dampener.

As a result, because of all of the abovementioned problems, an improvement is required in the related technical field. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a vibration dampener, for eliminating the above mentioned disadvantages and for bringing new advantages to the related technical field.

An object of the present invention is to provide a vibration dampener having a stopper where the length losses, associated with the plastic shape change during operation, are reduced.

In order to realize all of the abovementioned objects and the objects which are to be deducted from the detailed description below, the present invention is a vibration dampener, for transmitting the drive, applied by the engine, to the gearbox in vehicles, and comprising at least one spring positioned inside at least one spring housing provided on a drive plate, and at least one stopper positioned in said spring. Accordingly, at least one channel is provided which extends on said stopper along at least part of an external diameter thereof. Thus, the stress applied onto the stopper is distributed in a balanced manner and the plastic deformation, which occurs in the stopper after compression, is decreased.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the at least one channel is provided which extends on said stopper along the entire external diameter thereof. Thus, the stress applied onto the stopper is distributed more effectively in a balanced manner and the plastic deformation, which occurs in the stopper after compression, is decreased.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, two channels are provided in a symmetrical manner with respect to the middle of the stopper.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the total channel width, existing on the stopper, is smaller, when the stopper is uncompressed, than the length change which occurs in the stopper when the stopper is compressed.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the total channel width, existing on the stopper, is greater, when the stopper is uncompressed, than or equal to the length change which occurs in the stopper when the stopper is compressed.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the stopper is provided in a cylindrical form having a lateral surface diameter which decreases towards the ends. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the lateral surface of the stopper is provided in a circular form.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the lateral surface diameter of the lateral surface of the stopper is equal to or greater than twice of the stopper length.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the lateral surface diameter of the lateral surface of the stopper is equal to or smaller than three times of the stopper length.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the total of the distances, which are to the center of the stopper from a channel bottom which defines the deepest part of each channel, is greater, when the stopper is uncompressed, than or equal to the length change which occurs in the stopper when the stopper is compressed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

In Figure 1, a representative detailed view of the subject matter vibration dampener is given.

In Figure 2, a representative isometric view of the stopper of the subject matter vibration dampener is given.

In Figure 3, a representative isometric cross-sectional view of the stopper of the subject matter vibration dampener is given.

In Figure 4a, 4b, 4c, the representative isometric views of the alternative embodiments of the stopper of the subject matter vibration dampener are given.

In Figure 5, the stress distribution of an exemplary embodiment of the stopper of the vibration dampener used in the prior art is given.

In Figure 6, the stress distribution of an exemplary embodiment of the stopper of the subject matter vibration dampener is given.

In Figure 7, the angle-torque change graphic of the case, where the total channel width on the stopper of the subject matter vibration dampener is greater than the compression amount which occurs in the stopper, is given. In Figure 8, the angle-torque change graphic of the case, where the total channel width on the stopper of the subject matter vibration dampener is smaller than the compression amount which occurs in the stopper, is given.

In Figure 9, the graphic of the plastic shape change which occurs in the range of 2L<R<3L in an exemplary embodiment of the stopper of the subject matter vibration dampener is given.

In Figure 10, the graphic of the plastic shape change which occurs in the stopper according to the amount of difference between the stopper length and the channel bottom radius in an exemplary embodiment of the stopper of the subject matter vibration dampener is given.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In this detailed description, the subject matter vibration dampener (10) is explained with references to examples without forming any restrictive effect only in order to make the subject more understandable.

With reference to Figure 1 , the subject matter vibration dampener (10) is used for transmission of the drive, applied by the engine, to the gearbox. In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the vibration dampener (10) has a drive plate (11). There is at least one spring housing (12) provided on the drive plate (11). There is at least one spring (14) provided in said spring housing (12). There is at least one spring holder (13) provided at the two ends of the spring (14) for providing fixation of said spring (14). In possible embodiments of the present invention, two springs (14) can be provided which are telescopically engaged to each other. The spring holder (13) can be made of a plastic or metal-based material. There is at least one stopper (20) provided in the inner gap of the spring (14). After the springs (14) are compressed at a predetermined amount, said stopper (20) is compressed and provides dampening.

As can be seen in Figure 2 and 3, the stopper (20) is provided in a cylindrical form. Moreover, the stopper (20) is provided such that the external diameter thereof narrows towards the two ends thereof. In other words, a lateral surface (23) of the stopper (20) is embodied to have a lateral surface diameter (R). The stopper (20) has a stopper length (L). The stopper length (L) is the distance between two axial ends of the stopper (20) in an axial direction. The stopper (20) extends integrally between these two axial ends. There is a center axis (X) at the center of the stopper (20) provided in cylindrical form. The center axis (X) extends in the axial direction. There is at least one channel (21) provided on the stopper (20). Said channel (21) extends along at least part of the periphery of the stopper (20) on the lateral surface (23) of the stopper (20). In other words, the channel (21) is made by a succession of holes. In a possible embodiment of the present invention, not all the holes communicate with each other.

In a possible embodiment of the present invention, all the holes of a channel (21) communicate with each other. In other words, said channel (21) extends along the entire periphery of the stopper (20) on the lateral surface (23) of the stopper (20).

The channel (21) is embodied to have a channel width (t). The channel width (t) extends in the axial direction. Moreover, the distance which is from a channel bottom (22) of the channel (t) to the center axis (X) is defined as a channel bottom radius (d). With reference to Figure 4a, one channel (21) can be provided in the middle of the stopper (20), and with reference to Figure 4b, two channels can be symmetrically provided with respect to the middle of the stopper (20), or with reference to Figure 4c, one channel can be provided in the middle of the stopper (20) and one each channels can be provided at the two sides of the middle of the stopper (20). In alternative embodiments, the number of channels (21) can be greater than three.

In a possible embodiment of the present invention, all the holes of a rib communicate with each other.

The channel (21) provides the stress, existing on the stopper (20), to be distributed in a more balanced manner when the stopper (20) is compressed such that its length is reduced during operation. In other words, in the present art, when the stopper (20) is compressed, the load accumulates at the two ends of the stopper (20) and leads to plastic deformation at these parts (Figure 5-Prior art). In the stopper (20) having the channel (21), since the external diameter and the lateral surface diameter (R) of the part where the channel (21) exists are reduced when the stopper (20) is compressed, stress accumulation around the channel (21) is also observed. Thus, in the parts where no shape change occurs in the prior art, shape change is observed now, and the plastic deformation, which occurs in the stopper (20), is reduced (Figure 6).

In a possible embodiment of the present invention, the total channel width (t) on the stopper (20) is provided to be greater than the compression amount which occurs in the stopper (20). Thus, during the compression, the two side walls of the channel (21) are prevented from contacting each other, and thus, in the vibration dampener (10), first of all, a dampening depending on the spring (14) characteristic occurs and afterwards a dampening depending on the stopper (20) characteristic occurs (Figure 7).

In another possible embodiment of the present invention, the total channel width (t) on the stopper (20) is provided to be smaller than the compression amount which occurs in the stopper (20). Thus, during compression, the two side walls of the channel (21) are contacted to each other. Thus, in the vibration dampener (10), first of all, a dampening depending on the spring (14) characteristic occurs and afterwards a dampening depending on the stopper (20) characteristic occurs, and afterwards, as the side walls are rested onto each other, the stopper (20) forms a different dampening characteristic (Figure 8).

Thus, the total channel width (t) on the stopper (20) is changed and the vibration dampener (10) can realize dampening with different characteristics.

In a possible embodiment of the present invention, the lateral surface diameter (R) of the lateral surface is provided to be smaller than or equal to three times of the stopper length (L). This is regardless of the position of the lateral surface diameter (R). In other words, the largest lateral surface diameter (R) of the stopper (20) is smaller than or equal to three times of the stopper length (L).

In another possible embodiment of the present invention, the lateral surface diameter (R) of the lateral surface is provided to be smaller than or equal to twice of the stopper length (L). This is regardless of the position of the lateral surface diameter (R). In other words, the largest lateral surface diameter (R) of the stopper (20) is smaller than or equal to twice of the stopper length (L).

In the graphic given in Figure 9, the vertical axis describes the amount of plastic deformation which occurs in the stopper (20), and the horizontal axis describes the difference (R-2L) between the lateral surface diameter (R) and the twice of the stopper length (L). When R=2L, in other words, when R-2L=0 and when R=3L, the amount of plastic deformation stays at the acceptable levels, and in the range of 2L<R<3L, the deformation amount decreases to lower values. When R>2L or R>3L, the deformation amount increases to greater levels.

In a possible embodiment of the present invention, the total of the distances, which are to the center of the stopper (20) from a channel bottom (22) which defines the deepest part of each channel (21), is greater than or equal to the length change which occurs in the stopper (20) when the stopper (20) is compressed. In other words, the total of channel bottom radiuses (d) of all channels (21) provided on the stopper (20) is greater than the length change which occurs at the stopper (20). This is regardless of the position of the channel (21) in the stopper (20). In other words, the channel bottom radius (d) off a channel (21) provided on the thinnest part of the stopper (20) is greater than the length change which occurs at the stopper (20). In the graphic given in Figure 10, the horizontal axis shows the length change, and the vertical axis shows the amount of plastic deformation which occurs in the stopper. Accordingly, in the tests made such that the length change is 2 mm, it has been determined that the plastic deformation amount is at low levels when the total of channel bottom radiuses (d) is greater than 2 mm. In other words, when the total of channel bottom radiuses is smaller than 2 mm, the amount of plastic deformation is increasing.

The protection scope of the present invention is set forth in the annexed Claims and cannot be restricted to the illustrative disclosures given above, under the detailed description. It is because a person skilled in the relevant art can obviously produce similar embodiments under the light of the foregoing disclosures, without departing from the main principles of the present invention.

REFERENCE NUMBERS

10 Vibration dampener

11 Drive plate 12 Spring housing

13 Spring holder

14 Spring

20 Stopper 21 Channel

22 Channel bottom

23 Lateral surface t Channel width R Lateral surface diameter

L Stopper length

X Center axis d Channel bottom radius