CLIAMS:1. A torsional damper joint assembly (100) comprising:
a first shaft member (1) and a second shaft member (2);
a damper (3) of predetermined shape connected to one end of the first shaft member (1) and other end of the first shaft member (1) is connected to a torque generating element; ; and
a flexible mounting bracket (4) of predetermined shape connected to one end of the second shaft member (2) and other end of the second shaft member (2) is connected to a torque transfer unit, wherein ;
the mounting bracket (4) is fixed to the first shaft member (1) through the damper (3) wherein, the mounting bracket (4) and the damper (3) are positioned in between the first shaft member (1) and the second shaft member (2).

2. The torsional damper joint assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1 wherein, the material composition of the damper (3) is chosen from a group comprising natural rubber, nitrile rubber, Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer (EPDM) rubber, polyurethane rubber.

3. The torsional damper joint assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1 wherein, the material composition of the mounting bracket (4) is chosen from a group comprising nickel, carbon, manganese, spring steel, galvanised steel and their alloys.

4. The torsional damper joint assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1 wherein, joint between the first shaft member (1) and the second shaft member (2) are selected from a group comprising universal joint, universal coupling joint, Hooke’s joint, cardan joint, U-joint, lovejoy coupling.

5. The torsional damper joint assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1 wherein, the predetermined shape of the damper (3) is chosen from a group comprising circular damper, square damper, rectangular damper, triangular damper.

6. The torsional damper joint assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1 wherein, the predetermined shape of the mounting bracket (4) is selected from a group comprising U – mount, C – mount and cross mount.

7. The torsional damper joint assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1 wherein, the damper (3) has plurality of through holes (5) provided at a boundary of the damper (3) for passage of the fasteners (6).

8. The torsional damper joint assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1 wherein, the mounting bracket (4) has a central through hole (7) for fastening the second shaft member (2) onto the mounting bracket (4).

9. The torsional damper joint assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1 wherein, the mounting bracket (4) has through holes (5) for fastening the first shaft member (1) onto the mounting bracket (4) through the damper (3).

10. The torsional damper joint assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1 wherein, the first shaft member (1), the second shaft member (2), the damper (3) and the flexible mounting bracket (4) are connected together by fasteners (6) selected from a group comprising bolts, screws, rivets, inserts, pegs etc.

Dated this 29th Day of October, 2013 P H D RANGAPPA
IN/PA-1538
K & S PARTNERS
AGENT OF THE APPLICANT

,TagSPECI:TECHNICAL FIELD
The present disclosure relates to a torsional damper joint assembly. More particularly relates to a torsional damper joint assembly used in applications such as but not limiting to steering joints, propeller shafts, machine drives, clutch systems and the like.
BACKGROUND OF DISCLOSURE
High speeds in vehicles lead to lots of vibrations and kickbacks which are directly transferred from the wheels to the steering joint of the vehicle and the user of the vehicle directly senses the vibrations and the shimmy movements of the steering wheel. These vibrations and shimmy movement of the steering wheel occur when the vehicle traverses over rough patches of road and at high speeds. These vibrations are directly transferred from the steering I shaft and the coupling assembly used to transfer the torque from the steering to the steering assembly.
The steering column system is an important aspect of the vehicle which provides manoeuvre capabilities for the user. The steering column system also provides feedback to the user for maneuvering the vehicle based on the amount of torque applied to counter road reactions. In cases where the vehicle is travelling at high speeds or on a rough patch of road the behaviour of steering column is altered due to the excess vibrations. These vibrations distort / amplify the torque input and also make maneuvering the vehicle a difficult task. Further, these continuous vibrations generate high stresses due to the impact loads on the structure leading to failure of the material and joint.
One of the most crucial components of a steering column system is the coupling connecting the column with the vehicle drive mechanism such as electronic power assisted steering, rack and pinion etc., Since these components are parental in transferring the vibrations from the system to the steering wheel surface.
Hence, there is a need to develop an energy absorbing type torsional damper joint assembly which effectively dampens the vibrations that occur when a vehicle is at high speeds or travelling over a rough patch of road. This joint assembly also has the capability to provide suitable torque force to the steering shaft for maneuvering the vehicle.

OBJECTIVES OF THE DISCLOSURE
One objective of the present disclosure is to provide a flexible damper assembly which performs the task of absorbing the vibrations and undue movements of the steering wheel.
Another objective of the present disclosure is to avoid the use of mono coupling in the steering column system which results in direct transfer of the vibrations to the steering wheel surface.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT DISCLOSURE
The shortcomings of the prior art are overcome and additional advantages are provided through the provision as claimed in the present disclosure. Additional features and advantages are realized through the techniques of the present disclosure. Other embodiments and aspects of the disclosure are described in detail herein and are considered a part of the claimed disclosure.
In one embodiment of the present disclosure, a torsional damper joint assembly is disclosed comprising: a first shaft member and a second shaft member; one end of the first shaft member is connected to a torque transferring element and other end is connected to a damper of predetermined shape; one end of the second shaft member is connected to a torque transfer unit and other end is connected to a flexible mounting bracket of predetermined shape; the mounting bracket is fixed to the first shaft through the damper wherein, the mounting bracket and the damper are positioned in between the first shaft member and the second shaft member.
In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the material composition of the damper is chosen from a group comprising natural rubber, nitrile rubber, Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer (EPDM) rubber, polyurethane rubber.
In one embodiment of the present disclosure wherein, the material composition of the mounting bracket is chosen from a group comprising nickel, carbon, manganese, iron, spring steel, galvanised steel and their alloys.
In one embodiment of the present disclosure wherein, the first shaft member and the second shaft member are selected from a group comprising universal joint, universal coupling joint, Hooke’s joint, cardan joint, U-joint, lovejoy coupling.
In one embodiment of the present disclosure wherein, the predetermined shape of the damper is chosen from a group comprising circular damper, square damper, rectangular damper, triangular damper.
In one embodiment of the present disclosure wherein, the predetermined shape of the mounting bracket is selected from a group comprising U – mount, C – mount and cross mount.
In one embodiment of the present disclosure wherein, the damper has plurality of through holes provided at a boundary of the damper for passage of the fasteners.
In one embodiment of the present disclosure wherein, the mounting bracket has a through hole in the centre for fastening the second shaft member onto the mounting bracket.
In one embodiment of the present disclosure wherein, the mounting bracket has through holes provided on the circumference for fastening the first shaft member onto the mounting bracket through the damper.
In one embodiment of the present disclosure, wherein, the first shaft member, the second shaft member, the damper and the mounting bracket are connected together by combination of suitable fasteners selected from a group comprising bolts, screws, rivets, inserts, pegs etc.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, is better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, this is shown in the drawings example constructions of the invention. However, the invention is not limited to the specific methods and product disclosed in the drawings:
Figure 1 illustrates an exploded view of the torsional damper joint assembly with fastening elements.
Figure 2 illustrates perspective assembled view of the torsional damper joint assembly.
Figure 3 illustrates perspective view of a damper placed over the mounting bracket before fastening onto the first shaft member.
Figure 4 illustrates perspective view of the mounting bracket having plurality of fastening holes at desired locations.
Figure 5 illustrates perspective view of the damper having plurality of fastening holes at desired locations.
The figures depict embodiments of the disclosure for purposes of illustration only. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from the following description that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the disclosure described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE
The foregoing has broadly outlined the features and technical advantages of the present disclosure in order that the detailed description of the disclosure that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the disclosure will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the disclosure. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and specific embodiment disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present disclosure. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as set forth in the appended claims. The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the disclosure, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages will be better understood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, that each of the figures is provided for the purpose of illustration and description only and is not intended as a definition of the limits of the disclosure.
It is to be noted at this point that all of the components, whether alone or in any combination, are claimed as being essential to the invention, in particular the details depicted in the drawings and reference numerals in the drawings are as given below.
Figure 1 illustrates an exploded view of the torsional damper joint assembly (100) which depicts a first shaft member (1), a damper (3), a mounting bracket (4) and a second shaft member (2) arranged in a sequential manner for forming the torsional damper joint assembly (100). The entire components of the torsional damper joint assembly (100) are fastened by plurality of fasteners (6). The intermediate part of the torsional damper joint assembly (100) consist of a damper (3) having a material composition chosen from a group comprising, but not limiting to, natural rubber, nitrile rubber, Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer (EPDM) rubber, polyurethane rubber. The damping (3) as shown, is aligned directly onto the mounting bracket (4) which is flexible. Since this mounting bracket (4) is flexible, it helps in absorbing the vibrations generated and transfers part of the vibrations to the damper (3) for dampening. The damping (3) has plurality of through holes (5) provided on the circumferential boundary of the damping (3) which are aligned to the through holes (6) of the mounting bracket (4). The shape of the damping (3) is chosen from a group comprising, but not limiting to, circular damper, square damper, rectangular damper, triangular damper.
The mounting bracket (4) is of a predetermined shape selected from a group comprising, but not limiting to, U – mount, C – mount and cross mount. The mounting bracket (4) is a prime base component of the torsional damping assembly (100) as majority of the vibrations are absorbed by this component and then transferred to the adjacently placed damper (3) for negating the vibrations and other stresses acting on the steering column joint. The mounting bracket (4) has to be flexible and at the same time rigid to absorb all the vibrations and other stresses. Hence, the material composition of the mounting bracket (4) is selected from, but not limiting to, a group comprising nickel, carbon, manganese, iron, spring steel, galvanised steel and their alloys.
The first shaft member (1) has two ends, one end of the first shaft member (1) is connected to a torque transferring unit (through total assembly) and the other end of the first shaft member (1) is connected to a mounting bracket (4) through the damper (3) by the use of plurality of fasteners (6). The torque generating means in this particular non limiting embodiment is a steering wheel assembly wherein, torque is generated by turning the steering wheel in a desired direction by applying desired force from the user. This torque applied by driver to counter road inputs is directly transferred to the torsional damper joint assembly (100) and through the second shaft member (2) into the steering assembly (not shown in fig) for driving the wheels.
The second shaft member (2) has two ends, one end of the second shaft member (2) is connected to a torque transferring unit (through total assembly) and the other end of the second shaft member (2) is connected to a mounting bracket (4) by the use of plurality of fasteners. The mounting bracket (4) has a central through hole (7) for fastening the second shaft member (2) onto the mounting member (4). The first shaft member (1), second shaft member (2), damper (3) and the mounting bracket (4) together when fastened constitute a torsional damper joint assembly (100). The torsional damper joint assembly (100) as claimed in the particular invention provides torque as well as dampens the vibrations and other stresses acting on the steering joint when the vehicle is travelling at high speeds or on rough patch of road. The subset of damper (3), mounting bracket (4) and peculiar arrangement allows absorption of energy, that otherwise may reflect into discomfiture and safety of the driver.
In a particular embodiment of the present disclosure, the material composition of the damper (3) is natural rubber and the shape of the damper (3) is a circular natural rubber disc which based on numerous tests provides optimal damping results.
In a particular embodiment of the present disclosure, the material composition of the mounting bracket (4) is spring steel and the shape of the mounting bracket (4) is a cross joint member which based on numerous tests provides optimal results.
In a particular embodiment of the present disclosure, joint between the first shaft member (1) and the second shaft member (2) is a universal joint.
In a particular embodiment of the present disclosure, the first shaft member (1), second shaft member (2), damper (3) and the mounting bracket (4) are fastened by threaded bolts and nuts.
Figure 2 illustrates perspective assembled view of the torsional damper joint assembly (100) wherein, the first shaft member (1) is fixed to the mounting bracket (4) through the damper (3) by the use of plurality of fasteners. The first shaft member (1), the damper (3) and the mounting bracket (4) are aligned together wherein, the through holes (5) provided on each of the first shaft member (1), damper (3) and the mounting bracket (4) are aligned and suitable fasteners (6) are passed through them and finally firmly fastened. The mounting bracket (4) has through holes (5) provided circumferentially which match with the through holes (5) provided on the damper (3) which help in fastening the first shaft member (1) to the mounting bracket (4).
The mounting bracket (4) further has a central through hole (7) provided for fastening the mounting bracket (4) onto the second shaft member (2) using suitable fasteners. A central through hole (7) is also provided on the second shaft member (2) which is aligned to the through hole (7) of the mounting bracket (4) for fastening forming a torsional damper joint assembly (100).
Figure 3 illustrates perspective view of a damper (3) placed over the mounting bracket (4) before fastening onto the first shaft member (1). The damper (3) has plurality of through holes (5) provided on the circumferential boundary of the damper (3). The mounting bracket (4) also has plurality of through holes (5) provided on the borders of the mounting bracket (4). The through holes (5) provided both on the damper (3) and the mounting member (4) are aligned before fastening onto the first shaft member (1). Provisions (8) are also provided on the mounting bracket (4) to accommodate the second shaft to help steer the mounting bracket (4).
Figure 4 illustrates perspective view of the mounting bracket (4) having plurality of through holes (5) at desired locations. The mounting bracket (4) has through holes (5) provided at the boundaries which align with the through holes provided on the damper (3). The central through hole (7) provided at the centre of the mounting bracket (4) is used to fasten the second shaft member (2) onto the mounting bracket (4) using suitable fasteners (6). The mounting bracket (4) as shown in the figure is fitted as a cross joint.
Figure 5 illustrates perspective view of the damper (3) having plurality of fastening holes (5) at desired locations. The damper (3) is a key component which aids in damping the vibrations transferred from the steering assembly (through total assembly) to the torsional damper joint assembly (100). The damper (3) having plurality of through holes (5) is further aligned with the through holes (5) of the mounting bracket (4) for fastening on to the first shaft member (1).
EQUIVALENTS

With respect to the use of substantially any plural and/or singular terms herein, those having skill in the art can translate from the plural to the singular and/or from the singular to the plural as is appropriate to the context and/or application. The various singular/plural permutations may be expressly set forth herein for sake of clarity.
It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, terms used herein, and especially in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of the appended claims) are generally intended as “open” terms (e.g., the term “including” should be interpreted as “including but not limited to,” the term “having” should be interpreted as “having at least,” the term “includes” should be interpreted as “includes but is not limited to,” etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of the introductory phrases “at least one” and “one or more” to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles “a” or “an” limits any particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation to inventions containing only one such recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases “one or more” or “at least one” and indefinite articles such as “a” or “an” (e.g., “a” and/or “an” should typically be interpreted to mean “at least one” or “one or more”); the same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of “two recitations,” without other modifiers, typically means at least two recitations, or two or more recitations). Furthermore, in those instances where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, and C, etc.” is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, and C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). In those instances where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, or C, etc.” is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, or C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that virtually any disjunctive word and/or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in the description, claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplate the possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms, or both terms. For example, the phrase “A or B” will be understood to include the possibilities of “A” or “B” or “A and B.”

In addition, where features or aspects of the disclosure are described in terms of Markush groups, those skilled in the art will recognize that the disclosure is also thereby described in terms of any individual member or subgroup of members of the Markush group.

While various aspects and embodiments have been disclosed herein, other aspects and embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The various aspects and embodiments disclosed herein are for the purposes of illustration and are not intended to be limiting, with the true scope and spirit being indicated by the following claims.

REFERRAL NUMERALS
Torsional damper joint assembly 100
First Shaft member 1
Second Shaft member 2
Damper 3
Mounting bracket 4
Through holes 5
Fasteners 6
Central through hole 7
Provision 8