A clutch and damper assembly wherein a single plate clutch has torsion springs and deformable resilient members, permitting a wide angle of travel, disposed between the clutch input and output to accommodate engine torsional vibrations imposed on the clutch. The torsion springs permit a predetermined amount of relative angular movement between the clutch input and output at a predetermined rate, and the resilient members become operable after the predetermined motion to permit further relative motion at a higher rate. A friction assembly included within the damper dissipates the periodic energy of the torsional vibrations.

A torsional vibration absorber utilizes a resilient element comprising a coil spring positioned along relative rotational directions between drive and driven plates. The coil spring includes a compressive elastic member loosely positioned within the inner cavity of the coil spring and extending along the axis of the coil spring. Resin sheet elements having a diameter larger than the external diameter of the elastic member are provided as being fixed by bonding to each end of the elastic member. A metallic seat member is positioned at one end of the coil spring so as to provide contact with a corresponding resin member so as to compress the elastic member only in one of the relative rotational directions of the vibration absorber.

A device to be connected between the engine and power train of a construction vehicle or the like for damping the fluctuations of the engine output torque. The damper comprises a housing having a drive plate, and a driven plate coaxially mounted in the housing for angular displacement within limits. Mounted between the housing and the driven plate are two friction drive mechanisms for frictionally transmitting the rotation of the housing to the driven plate. A plurality of torsional or compression springs are mounted to the driven plate so as to laterally project out of windows in the housing, so that when a slip occurs in the friction drive mechanisms, the housing acts endwise on the springs to cause their compression. Variable spacings are provided between the ends of the springs and the opposed edges of the housing bounding the windows.

A friction plate for a vehicle clutch assembly having an improved damper spring. The damper spring includes a compression coil spring member which is encapsulated within an elastomer. The elastomer fills the interior of the spring and the spaces between the individual spring coils. The spring-elastomer combination has a greater dampening effect than the total dampening effect of the spring and elastomer if acting independent of each other. A plurality of the encapsulated springs are mounted individually in axially aligned openings provided in an inner hub flange, a friction drive plate and a retainer plate, all of which are mounted concentrically with respect to each other, with the hub flange being integral with a clutch hub. The encapsulated spring rotatably couples together the friction drive plate and retainer plate with the hub. Friction elements are mounted on the outer periphery of the drive plate. The encapsulated spring absorbs the shock and reduces chatter upon the friction elements coupling engaging another clutch member, and transmits the coupling drive forces between the drive plate and hub.

A clutch disc assembly comprising a drive clutch hub having a radial disc, a driven plate on one side of the disc, and a retainer plate on the opposite side of the disc and interconnected for movement with the driven plate. The disc, driven plate and retainer plate have generally aligned openings. First springs are provided in some of the openings and second springs are provided in others of the aligned openings. First stage friction members are provided between the disc and the driven plate and second stage friction pack comprising a thrust plate attached to the retainer plate and friction members is interposed between the retainer plate and the thrust plate.