Integrated damper and starter ring gear for a hybrid vehicle

1. A damper assembly configured to connect an engine crankshaft and a transmission input member, comprising:

an engine face plate configured to be fixed to the engine crankshaft without relative rotation therebetween;

a transmission face plate secured to the engine face plate such that the engine face plate and the transmission face plate are not rotatable relative to one another and an internal opening is defined therebetween;

a ring gear secured to at least one of the transmission face plate and the engine face plate;

a flange configured to connect to the transmission input member without relative rotation therebetween and positioned within the internal opening and at least partially rotatable relative to the engine face plate and the transmission face plate; and

a plurality of springs located between and operatively connecting the flange and one of the transmission face plate and the engine face plate to reduce relative rotational movement thereof; the ring gear thereby being connected to the engine crankshaft by the engine faceplate without torque flow from the ring gear to the crankshaft being through the plurality of springs when the engine face plate is connected to the engine crankshaft.

2. The damper assembly of claim 1 , wherein the ring gear has an annular shape.

3. The damper assembly of claim 1 , wherein a plurality of fasteners secure the engine face plate to the transmission face plate, and wherein the ring gear further comprises a mounting flange defining a plurality of fastener apertures through which the plurality of fasteners extend.

4. A vehicle assembly comprising:

an engine having a crankshaft;

a damper assembly having a mounting shaft and secured to the crankshaft, wherein the damper assembly includes a ring gear mounted thereon; wherein the damper assembly further includes a plurality of springs and is configured so that the ring gear rotates commonly with the crankshaft without torque flow from the ring gear to the crankshaft being through the plurality of springs and with torque flow from the crankshaft to the mounting shaft being through the plurality of springs; and

a hybrid transmission having an input shaft mounted on the mounting shaft of the damper assembly.

5. The vehicle of claim 4 , wherein the damper assembly further comprises;

an engine face plate;

a transmission face plate secured to the engine face plate such that an internal opening is defined therebetween;

a flange extending from the mounting shaft and positioned within the internal opening; and

a plurality of springs located between the flange and one of the transmission face plate and the engine face plate to reduce relative rotational movement thereof.

6. The vehicle of claim 5 , wherein the ring gear is secured to an external edge of at least one of the transmission face plate and the engine face plate.

7. The vehicle of claim 6 , wherein the ring gear has an annular shape.

8. The vehicle of claim 6 , wherein a plurality of fasteners secure the engine face plate to the transmission face plate, and wherein the ring gear further comprises a mounting flange defining a plurality of fastener apertures through which the plurality of fasteners extend.

9. The vehicle of claim 4 , wherein the ring gear has an interference with the transmission face plate.

10. The vehicle of claim 4 , wherein the ring gear has an interference fit with the engine face plate.

11. The engine assembly of claim 10 wherein the ring gear has an annular shape.

12. An engine assembly comprising:

an engine having a crankshaft;

a damper assembly having an engine face plate secured to rotate with the crankshaft without relative rotation between the engine face plate and the crankshaft, wherein the damper assembly includes a ring gear mounted thereon such that the ring gear rotates with the engine face plate and with the crankshaft without relative rotation therebetween, wherein the damper assembly further comprises:

a transmission face plate secured to the engine face plate such that an internal opening is defined therebetween;

a flange positioned within the internal opening; and

a plurality of springs located between the flange and one of the transmission face plate and the engine face plate to reduce relative rotational movement thereof.

13. The engine assembly of claim 12 , wherein the ring gear is secured to an external edge of at least one of the transmission face plate and the engine face plate.

14. The engine assembly of claim 13 wherein a plurality of fasteners secure the engine face plate to the transmission face plate, and wherein the ring gear further comprises a mounting flange defining a plurality of fastener apertures through which the plurality of fasteners extend.

15. The engine assembly of claim 12 wherein the ring gear has an interference fit with the transmission face plate.

16. The engine assembly of claim 12 wherein the ring gear has an interference fit with the engine face plate.