Torsion damping device comprising elastic members held individually in position by phase washer

1. A torsion damping device ( 10 ) between an axially oriented coaxial drive shaft and driven shaft in an automotive temporary coupling system, the device ( 10 ) comprising:

a torque input element ( 12 A, 12 B) and a torque output element ( 18 );

at least one first, upstream circumferentially acting elastic member ( 36 A), an upstream circumferential end face ( 38 A) of which is capable of being loaded by or of loading the torque input element ( 12 A, 12 B);

at least one second, downstream circumferentially acting elastic member ( 36 B), a downstream circumferential end face ( 38 B) of which is capable of loading or of being loaded by the output element ( 18 );

at least one first radial phase washer ( 40 A, 40 B) rotatable with respect to the torque input element ( 12 A, 12 B) and the torque output element ( 18 ), the at least one first radial phase washer ( 40 A, 40 B) having at least two windows ( 46 );

the downstream end face ( 38 B) of the at least one upstream elastic member ( 36 A) being capable of loading or of being loaded by an upstream radial phasing face ( 50 A) of the at least one first radial phase washer ( 40 A, 40 B), and the upstream end face ( 38 A) of the at least one downstream elastic member ( 36 B) being capable of being loaded by or of loading a downstream radial phasing face ( 50 B) of the at least one first radial phase washer ( 40 A, 40 B), such that the two elastic members ( 36 A, 36 B) are mounted in series; and

a drive hub ( 16 ) non-rotatably connected to the torque input element ( 12 A, 12 B) such that a radially inner portion of the drive hub ( 16 ) is non-rotatably connected to a radially inner portion of the torque input element ( 12 A, 12 B);

each of the at least two windows ( 46 ) receiving only one of the at least one upstream elastic member ( 36 A) or the at least one downstream elastic member ( 36 B) so that each of the upstream and downstream elastic members ( 36 A, 36 B) is received circumferentially between the associated phasing face ( 50 A, 50 B) and an associated oppositely located radial retention face ( 52 B, 52 A) of the at least one first radial phase washer ( 40 A, 40 B).

2. The device ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the elastic members ( 36 A, 36 B) are arranged on the circumference of a single circle, the phasing faces ( 50 A, 50 B) thus being carried by one common radial phasing tab ( 48 ) of the at least one first radial phase washer ( 40 A, 40 B) which is interposed between the upstream elastic member ( 36 A) and the downstream elastic member ( 36 B).

3. The device ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the device ( 10 ) comprises first and second radial phase washers ( 40 A, 40 B) that are arranged axially on either side of the input and output elements ( 12 A, 12 B, 18 ) and that are fastened onto one another; and wherein the phase washers ( 40 A, 40 B) have means for capturing the elastic members ( 36 A, 36 B) in order to retain them axially and radially in position.

4. The device ( 3 ) according to claim 3 , wherein each of the first and second radial phase washers ( 40 A, 40 B) is in the shape of an annular washer coaxial with the torque input element ( 12 A, 12 B) and the torque output element ( 18 ).

5. The device ( 10 ) according to claim 4 , wherein the first and second radial phase washers ( 40 A, 40 B) are axially spaced from each other.

6. The device ( 10 ) according to claim 5 , wherein the first and second radial phase washers ( 40 A, 40 B) are non-rotatably fastened to each other.

7. The device ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one first radial phase washer ( 40 A, 40 B) is in the shape of an annular washer coaxial with the torque input element ( 12 A, 12 B) and the torque output element ( 18 ).

8. The device ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one first radial phase washer ( 40 A, 40 B) is axially spaced from the torque input element ( 12 A, 12 B).

9. The device ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the drive hub ( 16 ) selectively connectable to the drive shaft through a locking clutch.

10. The device ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , wherein a circumferential distance (D) between the phasing face ( 50 A, 50 B) and the oppositely located retention face ( 52 B, 52 A) being equal to or less than the circumferential length of the elastic member at rest.

11. The device ( 10 ) according to claim 10 , wherein the circumferential distance (D) between each of the upstream and downstream phasing faces ( 50 A, 50 B) and the oppositely located retention face ( 52 B, 52 A) is less than the length of the elastic member ( 36 A, 36 B) at rest, so that the elastic member ( 36 A, 36 B) is received in circumferentially constrained fashion between the retention face ( 52 A, 52 B) and the associated phasing face ( 50 B, 50 A).

12. The device ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , further comprising a bearing ( 28 ) having a first cylindrical guidance surface ( 26 ) and a second cylindrical guidance surface ( 42 ) arranged axially in front of the first cylindrical guidance surface ( 26 ), wherein the first cylindrical guidance surface ( 26 ) has a diameter different than a diameter of the second cylindrical guidance surface ( 42 ) of the bearing ( 28 ), and wherein the at least one first radial phase washer ( 40 A, 40 B) is mounted to rotate freely on the second cylindrical guidance surface ( 42 ) of the bearing ( 28 ).

13. The device ( 10 ) according to claim 12 , wherein the first cylindrical guidance surface ( 26 ) of the bearing ( 28 ) is separated from the second cylindrical guidance surface ( 42 ) by a front facing radial shoulder surface ( 44 ) radially extending between the first cylindrical guidance surface ( 26 ) and the second cylindrical guidance surface ( 42 ); and wherein the at least one first radial phase washer ( 40 A, 40 B) abuts axially against the front facing radial shoulder surface ( 44 ) in order to axially position the at least one first radial phase washer ( 40 A, 40 B) with respect to the torque input element ( 12 A, 12 B).

14. A hydrodynamic converter comprising a turbine wheel, a locking clutch comprising a drive hub ( 16 ) and a torsion damping device ( 10 ), the torsion damping device ( 10 ) comprising:

a torque input element ( 12 A, 12 B) and a torque output element ( 18 );

at least one first, upstream circumferentially acting elastic member ( 36 A), an upstream circumferential end face ( 38 A) of which is capable of being loaded by or of loading the input element ( 12 A, 12 B);

at least one second, downstream circumferentially acting elastic member ( 36 B), a downstream circumferential end face ( 38 B) of which is capable of loading or of being loaded by the output element ( 18 ); and

at least one first radial phase washer ( 40 A, 40 B) rotatable with respect to the torque input element ( 12 A, 12 B) and the torque output element ( 18 ), the downstream end face ( 38 B) of each upstream elastic member ( 36 A) being capable of loading or of being loaded by an upstream radial phasing face ( 50 A) of the phase washer ( 40 A, 40 B), and the upstream end face ( 38 A) of each downstream elastic member ( 36 B) being capable of being loaded by or of loading a downstream radial phasing face ( 50 B) of the phase washer ( 40 A, 40 B), such that the two elastic members ( 36 A, 36 B) are mounted in series;

a radially inner portion of the drive hub ( 16 ) is non-rotatably connected to a radially inner portion of the torque input element ( 12 A, 12 B);

each of the elastic members ( 36 A, 36 B) is received circumferentially between the associated phasing face ( 50 A, 50 B) and an associated oppositely located radial retention face ( 52 B, 52 A) of the phase washer ( 40 A, 40 B);

the at least one first radial phase washer ( 40 A, 40 B) being non-rotatably connected to the turbine wheel while the torque input element ( 12 A, 12 B) being non-rotatably connected to the locking clutch.

15. The hydrodynamic converter according to claim 14 , wherein a circumferential distance (D) between the phasing face ( 50 A, 50 B) and the oppositely located retention face ( 52 B, 52 A) being equal to or less than the circumferential length of the elastic member at rest.

16. A hydrodynamic converter comprising a turbine wheel, a locking clutch comprising a drive hub ( 16 ) and a torsion damping device ( 10 ), the torsion damping device ( 10 ) comprising:

a torque input element ( 12 A, 12 B) having input tabs ( 24 ) arranged circumferentially regularly and a torque output element ( 18 ) having output tabs ( 22 ) arranged circumferentially regularly;

first, upstream circumferentially acting elastic members ( 36 A), an upstream circumferential end face ( 38 A) of each of the first circumferentially acting elastic members ( 36 A) is capable of being loaded by or of loading the input element ( 12 A, 12 B);

second, downstream circumferentially acting elastic members ( 36 B), a downstream circumferential end face ( 38 B) of each of the second circumferentially acting elastic members ( 36 B) is capable of loading or of being loaded by the output element ( 18 );

first and second radial phase washers ( 40 A, 40 B) each rotatable with respect to the torque input element ( 12 A, 12 B) and the torque output element ( 18 ), each of the first and second radial phase washer ( 40 A, 40 B) having a plurality of windows ( 46 );

the downstream end face ( 38 B) of each upstream elastic member ( 36 A) being capable of loading or of being loaded by an upstream radial phasing face ( 50 A) of each of the phase washers ( 40 A, 40 B), and the upstream end face ( 38 A) of the at least one downstream elastic member ( 36 B) being capable of being loaded by or of loading a downstream radial phasing face ( 50 B) of each of the phase washers ( 40 A, 40 B), such that the two elastic members ( 36 A, 36 B) are mounted in series;

a radially inner portion of the drive hub ( 16 ) is non-rotatably connected to a radially inner portion of the torque input element ( 12 A, 12 B);

each of the windows ( 46 ) receiving only one of the upstream elastic members ( 36 A) or the downstream elastic members ( 36 B) so that each of the elastic members ( 36 A, 36 B) is received circumferentially between the associated phasing face ( 50 A, 50 B) and an associated oppositely located radial retention face ( 52 B, 52 A) of each of the phase washers ( 40 A, 40 B);

each of the phase washers ( 40 A, 40 B) being non-rotatably connected to the turbine wheel while the torque input element ( 12 A, 12 B) is non-rotatably connected to the locking clutch.

17. The hydrodynamic converter according to claim 16 , wherein each of the first and second radial phase washers ( 40 A, 40 B) is in the shape of an annular washer coaxial with the torque input element ( 12 A, 12 B) and the torque output element ( 18 ).

18. The hydrodynamic converter according to claim 17 , wherein the first and second radial phase washers ( 40 A, 40 B) are axially spaced from each other.

19. The hydrodynamic converter according to claim 18 , wherein the first and second radial phase washers ( 40 A, 40 B) are non-rotatably fastened to each other.

20. The hydrodynamic converter according to claim 16 , wherein a circumferential distance (D) between the phasing face ( 50 A, 50 B) and the oppositely located retention face ( 52 B, 52 A) being equal to or less than the circumferential length of the elastic member at rest.