Damping connector for a power train

Claim 1

FOR A POWER TRANSMITTING SYSTEM INCLUDING AN ENGINE AND A REMOTELY CONNECTED LOAD, A CONNECTOR COMPRISING A TORSION BAR WHOSE INPUT AND OUTPUT ENDS ARE RESPECTIVELY CONNECTIBLE TO THE ENGINE AND LOAD, A TUBE CONCENTRIC WITH THE TORSION BAR AND HAVING ONE END TIED TO THE INPUT END OF THE TORSION BAR FOR ROTATION THEREWITH, AND CONCENTRIC SLEEVE MEMBERS RESPECTIVELY CARRIED BY THE OUTPUT END OF THE TORSION BAR AND THE OPPOSITE END OF THE TUBE IN A MANNER ENABLING RELATIVE ROTATION OF SAID LAST NAMED ENDS AND INCLUDING THEREBETWEEN SPACED PARIS OF LIQUID FILLED CHAMBERS ARRANGED AS AN ANNULUS AROUND THE TORSION BAR, EACH PAIR OF CHAMBERS BEING PARTIALLY DEFINED BY A PAIR OF SPACED TEETH RADIALLY EXTENDING FROM ONE OF THE SLEEVE MEMBERS AND A TOOTH EXTENDING RADIALLY IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION FROM THE OTHER SLEEVE MEMBER BETWEEN AND IN SPACED RELATION TO THE TEETH OF SAID PAIR AND HAVING ITS PERIPHERAL FACE SPACED FROM SAID ONE SLEEVE MEMBER TO PROVIDE AN ORIFICE PASSAGE CONNECTING SAID PAIR OF CHAMBERS WHEREBY A DAMPING TORQUE IS PRODUCED DURING SAID RELATIVE ROTATION BY LIQUID FLOW BETWEEN THE CHAMBERS OF THE RESPECTIVE PAIRS, EACH SAID PAIR OF SPACED TEETH HAVING PERIPHERAL BEARING CONTACT WITH SAID OTHER SLEEVE MEMBER.