Patent attributes
A torsional vibration damper, particularly for use in the power train of a motor vehicle, employs one or more preferably arcuate coil springs having constant inner radii and one or more sets of neighboring smaller-diameter convolutions next to one or more sets of neighboring larger-diameter convolutions. The coil spring or springs is or are compressible by the retainers of two components which can turn, about a common axis, with and relative to each other and at least one of which defines a chamber for the coil spring(s). The retainers of the components can act upon the adjacent end convolutions of the coil spring or of two or more series-arranged coil springs between them by way of plastic slide elements and/or elastic bumpers. One or more plastic slides can partially surround selected convolutions to maintain it or them out of contact with the surface surrounding the coil spring(s) even when such spring or springs is or are being acted upon by centrifugal force in response to high-speed rotation of the components.