1. Field of the Invention
This invention generally relates to a dynamic damper and a flywheel assembly. More specifically, the present invention relates to a dynamic damper, which operates in accordance with an operation of an input shaft of a transmission for dampening a vibration.
2. Background Information
In connection with such a dynamic damper and a flywheel assembly, the assignee has already developed prior arts disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 6-48031 (1994) and others.
In the above prior arts, a bearing is employed as means for rotatably attaching the dynamic damper to the crankshaft of the engine. An inner race of the bearing is attached to the crankshaft of the engine, and the outer race of the bearing is attached to the dynamic damper. In this structure, however, a space radially inside the bearing cannot be effectively used, and therefore it is necessary to dispose various members radially outside the bearing. This increases the size of the coupling mechanism, which transmits a torque from the crankshaft of the engine to the input shaft of the transmission.
In view of the above, there exists a need for a dynamic damper and a flywheel assembly which is compact. This invention addresses this need in the prior art as well as other needs, which will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure.