A clutch disc segment, including: an inner circumference; a body portion including an outer circumference and a plurality of holes arranged to receive a plurality of rivets for securing friction material to the body portion, and a segment including at least a first portion of the inner circumference and conforming to a plane; a first foot protrusion including a first hole for receiving a first rivet for securing the clutch disc segment to a retainer plate; and a second foot protrusion including a second hole for receiving a second rivet for securing the clutch disc segment to the retainer plate. One of the first or second foot protrusions is off-set from the plane in a first direction orthogonal to the plane.

A clutch disc includes an input part, an output part, and a vibration damper. The vibration damper includes a first part with a first flange area, a second part with a second flange area, a spring device, and first and second intermediate parts. The intermediate parts are coupled to the first flange area and the second flange area by respective slide devices such that movement of the intermediate parts relative one another is inhibited by the spring device. The flange areas are each in operative connection with the input part and the output part such that a load acting on the input part that changes from either rotational direction to an opposite rotational direction moves the first flange area relative to the second flange area in a single fixed direction of movement.

A clutch disc includes an input part, an output part, and a vibration damper. The vibration damper includes a first part with a first flange area, a second part with a second flange area, a spring device, and first and second intermediate parts. The intermediate parts are coupled to the first flange area and the second flange area by respective slide devices such that movement of the intermediate parts relative one another is inhibited by the spring device. The flange areas are each in operative connection with the input part and the output part such that a load acting on the input part that changes from either rotational direction to an opposite rotational direction moves the first flange area relative to the second flange area in a single fixed direction of movement.

A driven disc assembly is provided. The backing plates have right angle depression sections that surround mounting holes of a clutch disc. The thickness of the backing plates are enlarged from their normal thickness causing a top surface of the backing plates to axially clear heads of conventional rivets. The thickness of the friction buttons on the backing plates can then be reduced to their minimal effective use thickness.

A driven disc assembly is provided. The backing plates have right angle depression sections that surround mounting holes of a clutch disc. The thickness of the backing plates are enlarged from their normal thickness causing a top surface of the backing plates to axially clear heads of conventional rivets. The thickness of the friction buttons on the backing plates can then be reduced to their minimal effective use thickness.

A hybrid drive device including a rotary electric machine having a stator and a rotor, a transmission coupled to the rotary electric machine, a clutch that couples an engine and the rotary electric machine and that releases a connection of the two, and a case for housing the rotary electric machine and the clutch, the hybrid drive device including: a first transmitting shaft coupled to an output shaft of the engine; and a second transmitting shaft that transmits power from the rotor of the rotary electric machine to the transmission.

Provided herein is a method for calibrating a clutch by searching for the minimum of a multi-dimensional surface including determining the error between a spline function and recorded data relating to clutch characteristics, creating a multi-dimensional surface corresponding to the error values, determining the minimum of the multi-dimensional surface using the steps of performing a Steepest Gradient & Direction determination step and conducting a Golden Section Search and Switch Direction Step to find a minimum that meets a predetermined closing condition. Additionally, provided herein is a computer-implemented system for calibrating the clutch.

A drive assembly for a motor vehicle clutch is provided. The drive assembly includes a subassembly includes at least one clutch facing and at least one support segment supporting the at least one clutch facing, the at least one support segment including an outer radial portion fixed to the at least one clutch facing and an inner radial portion extending radially inward from the outer radial portion; an extender connected to the inner radial portion of the at least one support segment; and a cover plate, the extender connecting the subassembly to the cover plate. A method of forming a drive assembly and a method of forming a plurality of drive assemblies are also provided.

A drive assembly for a motor vehicle clutch is provided. The drive assembly includes a subassembly includes at least one clutch facing and at least one support segment supporting the at least one clutch facing, the at least one support segment including an outer radial portion fixed to the at least one clutch facing and an inner radial portion extending radially inward from the outer radial portion; an extender connected to the inner radial portion of the at least one support segment; and a cover plate, the extender connecting the subassembly to the cover plate. A method of forming a drive assembly and a method of forming a plurality of drive assemblies are also provided.

The present invention relates to a plate carrying device (2) having a plate carrier (4), which has a tubular section (24), and a supporting ring (6), which surrounds the tubular section (24) and on which the tubular section (24) can be supported or is supported outwardly in a radial direction (12). The cross section of the supporting ring (6) has at least one radial leg (30; 38) extending substantially in a radial direction (12, 14). The present invention furthermore relates to a multiplate clutch or brake having a plate carrying device (2) of this kind and to a simplified method for producing the plate carrying device (2).