A central release mechanism for a pneumatic clutch actuating device has a cylinder housing, which, about a central axis, delimits a ring-shaped pressure chamber wherein a ring-shaped piston which can be pneumatically pressurized via the pressure chamber and which is operatively connectable to a clutch is guided so as to be displaceable along the central axis. In the pressure chamber, between the ring-shaped piston and a base of the cylinder housing, a preload spring arrangement braces the ring-shaped piston and the cylinder housing apart from one another. A movement of the ring-shaped piston relative to the cylinder housing is detectable with a sensor arrangement which has a position detector and a position encoder. The preload spring arrangement has a multiplicity of distributed preload springs, angularly spaced apart from one another, about the central axis. Between the preload springs as viewed in a circumferential direction about the central axis, at least a part of the sensor arrangement is arranged in the region of the pressure chamber providing a compact construction.

A power-transmitting device (10) and a method of assembling a power-transmitting device (10) secures and releases driving continuity between driving and driven parts (22, 62) through at least one clutch assembly (26, 66). The power-transmitting device (10) includes an apply plate (36) axially moveable with respect to the clutch assembly (26, 66) for engaging and disengaging the clutch assembly (26, 66). A return spring (34) acting on the apply plate (36) and an apply spring (32) having a higher compression force than the return spring (34) can be located between the apply plate (36) and the clutch assembly (26, 66). A ball (38) can be engageable with a portion of the apply plate (36) for locking the apply plate (36) in engagement with the clutch assembly (26, 66) during a steady state condition and a piston (40) can drive the ball (38) into engagement with the apply plate (36) in response to application of fluid under pressure.

A power-transmitting device (10) and a method of assembling a power-transmitting device (10) secures and releases driving continuity between driving and driven parts (22, 62) through at least one clutch assembly (26, 66). The power-transmitting device (10) includes an apply plate (36) axially moveable with respect to the clutch assembly (26, 66) for engaging and disengaging the clutch assembly (26, 66). A return spring (34) acting on the apply plate (36) and an apply spring (32) having a higher compression force than the return spring (34) can be located between the apply plate (36) and the clutch assembly (26, 66). A ball (38) can be engageable with a portion of the apply plate (36) for locking the apply plate (36) in engagement with the clutch assembly (26, 66) during a steady state condition and a piston (40) can drive the ball (38) into engagement with the apply plate (36) in response to application of fluid under pressure.

The invention relates to a clutch device for a drivetrain of a motor vehicle, including a pressure plate which is preferably displaceable in the axial direction of the clutch device, wherein the pressure plate, in a coupled position of the clutch device, presses a clutch disk against a counterpressure plate that can be connected to a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine, and including an actuating device which has a displaceable actuating piston. The displacement position of the actuating piston defines a position of the pressure plate and the actuating piston can be driven by a drive unit of the actuating device in order to displace the pressure plate between the coupled position and an uncoupled position. The drive unit has at least one pump, and the at least one pump is accommodated in a pump seat housing and the pump seat housing is connected to the counterpressure plate in such a way as to rotate therewith.

The invention relates to a clutch device for a drivetrain of a motor vehicle, including a pressure plate which is preferably displaceable in the axial direction of the clutch device, wherein the pressure plate, in a coupled position of the clutch device, presses a clutch disk against a counterpressure plate that can be connected to a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine, and including an actuating device which has a displaceable actuating piston. The displacement position of the actuating piston defines a position of the pressure plate and the actuating piston can be driven by a drive unit of the actuating device in order to displace the pressure plate between the coupled position and an uncoupled position. The drive unit has at least one pump, and the at least one pump is accommodated in a pump seat housing and the pump seat housing is connected to the counterpressure plate in such a way as to rotate therewith.

A translational force Fh to one side in a rotational axis direction is caused to act from a hydraulic piston to a sleeve when an engaged stage between an engagement tooth and an engaged tooth is maintained, so that translation of the sleeve to the other side in the rotational axis direction and consequent disengagement of the engagement tooth and the engaged tooth can be prevented. Therefore, the engaged state between the engagement member and the engaged member can be stably maintained regardless of the condition of the torque acting from the drive source to the engagement member.

A translational force Fh to one side in a rotational axis direction is caused to act from a hydraulic piston to a sleeve when an engaged stage between an engagement tooth and an engaged tooth is maintained, so that translation of the sleeve to the other side in the rotational axis direction and consequent disengagement of the engagement tooth and the engaged tooth can be prevented. Therefore, the engaged state between the engagement member and the engaged member can be stably maintained regardless of the condition of the torque acting from the drive source to the engagement member.

A clutch actuator for transmitting a disengaging force to a disengaging device of a clutch includes an actuating element to which the disengaging force can be applied and includes a piston rod for transmitting the disengaging force from the actuating element to the disengaging device. The piston rod is mounted against a connection region of the actuating element such that the piston rod can be moved towards the connection region by the clutch reaction force of the clutch, and the positioning of the connection region and the piston rod relative to each other as a result of the movement can be fixed by applying the disengaging force to the actuating element. The actuating element is designed to at least partly deflect the disengaging force so as to produce a normal force and/or a radial force which acts between the connection region and the piston rod, and the normal force and/or the radial force fixes the position of the connection region and the piston rod relative to each other.

A clutch actuator for transmitting a disengaging force to a disengaging device of a clutch includes an actuating element to which the disengaging force can be applied and includes a piston rod for transmitting the disengaging force from the actuating element to the disengaging device. The piston rod is mounted against a connection region of the actuating element such that the piston rod can be moved towards the connection region by the clutch reaction force of the clutch, and the positioning of the connection region and the piston rod relative to each other as a result of the movement can be fixed by applying the disengaging force to the actuating element. The actuating element is designed to at least partly deflect the disengaging force so as to produce a normal force and/or a radial force which acts between the connection region and the piston rod, and the normal force and/or the radial force fixes the position of the connection region and the piston rod relative to each other.

A drive assembly for a motor vehicle drive train is provided. The drive assembly includes a clutch pack, a hub, a main piston axially movable with respect to the hub to engage the clutch pack and a clutch control assembly nonrotatably fixed to the hub. The clutch control assembly forms a pressure chamber with the main piston. Rotation of the hub causes the clutch control assembly to close an engagement gap of the clutch pack. Pressure in the pressure chamber moves the main piston to engage the clutch pack after the engagement gap is closed.