Viscous damper and shear plate for improved fluid flow

摘要

A torsion damping mechanism is disclosed of the type including a viscous damper in which a first sidewall defines a ramp surface. The clutch assembly includes a radially outer portion and a radially inner portion, the portions cooperating to define a plurality of windows or openings. The windows are located axially adjacent the ramp surface such that at least a portion of the fluid in the larger, first reservoir, under the influence of centrifugal force, flows radially outward, impinges the ramp surface, and is then deflected through one of the windows and into the opposite shear chamber. With the present invention, the amount of fluid flowing into the two shear chambers may be equalized, even though the reservoirs contain substantially different volumes of fluid. Thus, the shear chambers are filled faster, and the damper operates more smoothly.