Patent attributes
A damped torsional coupling is utilized to couple a drive shaft to a work shaft while permitting some relative rotation due to torsional vibrations. The coupling includes a second coupler oriented to rotate with respect to a first coupler about an axis through a continuum of negative to positive torque orientations. The first coupler defines a fluted perimeter surface with a number of flutes, distributed with radial symmetry about the axis. The second coupler a number of pistons reciprocally received in respective barrels to define a variable volume chamber fluidly connected to a damping passage. A spring biases the pistons and barrels to extend toward a position in contact with one of the flutes. The contact end may be an edge of a roller that rolls on the fluted perimeter surface in one of the flutes responsive to torques transmitted between the couplers.
