CONE FRICTION CLUTCH HAVING AN ACTUATOR AND A LEVER FOR DISENGAGING THE CLUTCH

Abstract

The invention relates to a friction surface clutch (10) for use in motor vehicles, in particular for switching an air compressor or the like, wherein the friction surface clutch comprises a first tapered element (11) having a first friction surface (12) and a second tapered element (13) having a second friction surface (14), wherein the friction surface clutch has an actuating device (15) having an actuating element (16) for force-locked connection and disconnection of the tapered elements, wherein the tapered elements are in force-locked connection in an unactuated operating state of the friction surface clutch, wherein the actuating device comprises a pressure element (21) coupled to the actuating element and a lever device (22) interacting with the first tapered element, wherein the pressure element can be engaged with the lever device in an actuated operating state of the friction surface clutch so that the force-locked connection can be disconnected, wherein the first tapered element has a guide part, in which the pressure element can be guided in a torsion-resistant way relative to the first tapered element prior to reaching a wear limit of the friction surfaces and can be engaged with the lever device in order to disconnect the force-locked connection, wherein the pressure element can be detached from the guide part when the wear limit of the friction surfaces is reached such that the pressure element can no longer engage with the lever device after leaving the guide part, so that the force-locked connection can no longer be disconnected.

Claims

1. A friction surface clutch (10, 41) for use in motor vehicles, in particular for switching an air compressor or the like, wherein the friction surface clutch comprises a first tapered element (11, 31, 42) having a first friction surface (12) and a second tapered element (13, 43) having a second friction surface (14), wherein the friction surface clutch has an actuating device (15) having an actuating element (16) for force-locked connection and disconnection of the tapered elements, wherein the tapered elements are in force-locked connection in an unactuated operating state of the friction surface clutch, characterized in that the actuating device comprises a pressure element (21, 32, 46) coupled to the actuating element and a lever device (22) interacting with the first tapered element, wherein the pressure element can be engaged with the lever device in an actuated operating state of the friction surface clutch, so that the force-locked connection can be disconnected, wherein the first tapered element has a guide part (30, 35, 45), in which the pressure element can be guided in a torsion-resistant way relative to the first tapered element prior to reaching a wear limit of the friction surfaces and can be engaged with the lever device in order to disconnect the force-locked connection, wherein the pressure element can be detached from the guide part when the wear limit of the friction surfaces is reached such that the pressure element can no longer engage with the lever device after leaving the guide part, so that the force-locked connection can no longer be disconnected.

2. The friction surface clutch according to claim 1, characterized in that a pressure ring is provided as a pressure element (21, 32, 46) and the lever device (22) comprises at least two, preferably three clutch release levers (29, 44), wherein the pressure element comprises a main body (33, 49) and a number of pressure sections (34, 47) corresponding to a number of clutch release levers, which sections are constructed as circular protrusions projecting from the main body in an axial direction (A), wherein the pressure element can be engaged with the clutch release levers via the pressure sections.

3. The friction surface clutch according to claim 2, characterized in that the first tapered element (11, 31, 42) has a number of passages (36) corresponding to the number of pressure sections (34, 47) and at least contributing toward forming the guide part (30, 35, 45), in which the pressure sections are at least partially engaged with the passage in the unactuated operating state before reaching the wear limit of the friction surfaces (12, 14), so that the pressure sections can be held in the passages with respect to the first tapered element in a torsion-resistant way, wherein the pressure sections can pass through the passages in the actuated operating state in such a way that the pressure sections can engage with the clutch release levers (29, 44) arranged behind the passages as viewed in the axial direction (A).

4. The friction surface clutch according to claim 3, characterized in that the first tapered element (11, 31, 42) is capable of moving away from the pressure element (21, 32, 46) in the axial direction (A) while the friction surfaces (12, 14) continue to wear, so that the pressure sections (34, 47) no longer engage in the passages (36) when the wear limit of the friction surfaces is reached in the unactuated operating state, whereby the pressure sections can be detached from the guide part (30, 35, 45).

5. The friction surface clutch according to claim 4, characterized in that the pressure sections (34, 47) are rotatable relative to the first tapered element (11, 31, 42) after leaving the guide part (30, 35, 45), so that the pressure sections are no longer able to press against an inner surface (37) of the first tapered element at least partially in alignment with the passages (36) in the actuated operating state.

6. The friction surface clutch according to claim 5, characterized in that the first tapered element (11, 31, 42) has a stop (38) limiting the rotation angle and/or at least one receiving recess (39, 48), into which at least one of the pressure sections (34, 47) can be arrested after fully leaving the guide part (30, 35, 45).

7. The friction surface clutch according to claim 1, characterized in that the actuating element (16) can be actuated pneumatically, hydraulically, or electromagnetically.

8. The friction surface clutch according to claim 1, characterized in that the actuating element (16) is configured as a piston.

9. The friction surface clutch according to claim 1, characterized in that the actuating element (16) is designed to be spring-resettable.

10. The friction surface clutch according to claim 1, characterized in that the actuating device (15) has a spring means (23), preferably a disk spring, particularly preferably two disk springs (24, 25) alternately layered with each other, by means of which the tapered elements (11, 13, 31, 42, 43) can be pressed together in a force-locked way in the unactuated operating state of the friction surface clutch (10, 41).

11. The friction surface clutch according to claim 1, characterized in that the first tapered element (11, 31, 42) is form-fittingly connected to a hub of the friction surface clutch (10, 41) by means of toothing (40), wherein the hub is arranged on the shaft of the friction surface clutch.

12. The friction surface clutch according to claim 1, characterized in that the first tapered element (11, 31, 42) is axially displaceable along a rotation axis of the first tapered element.

13. The friction surface clutch according to claim 1, characterized in that an outer side of a sleeve of the first tapered element (11, 31, 42) forms the first friction surface (12), and an inner side of a sleeve of the second tapered element (13, 43) forms the second friction surface (14).

14. The friction surface clutch according to claim 1, characterized in that the second tapered element (13, 43) is mounted on a shaft of the friction surface clutch by means of a roller bearing of the friction surface clutch (10, 41).

15. The friction surface clutch according to claim 1, characterized in that the second tapered element (13, 43) is connected to a drive wheel of the friction surface clutch (10, 41).

16. The friction surface clutch according to claim 1, characterized in that the friction surfaces (12, 14) are made of steel.

17. The friction surface clutch according to claim 1, characterized in that an inclination of the friction surfaces (12, 14) with respect to a rotation axis of the tapered elements (11, 13, 31, 42, 43) is within the range of 5° to 10°.

18. The friction surface clutch according to claim 1, characterized in that the tapered elements (11, 13, 31, 42, 43) are integrated into a housing (18) of the friction surface clutch (10, 41).

19. A motor vehicle having an air compressor or the like and a friction surface clutch (10, 41) according to claim 1, for switching the air compressor.

20. A method for actuating a friction surface clutch (10, 41) for use in motor vehicles, in particular for switching an air compressor or the like, wherein a first tapered element (11, 31, 42) of the friction surface clutch having a first friction surface (12) is force-lock connected/disconnected to/from a second tapered element (13, 43) of the friction surface clutch having a second friction surface (14) by means of an actuating element (16) of an actuating device (15) of the friction surface clutch, wherein the tapered elements are force-lock connected in an unactuated operating state of the friction surface clutch, characterized in that a pressure element (21, 32, 46) of the actuating device coupled to the actuating element engages the lever device (22) of the actuating device interacting with the first tapered element in an actuated operating state of the friction surface clutch in such a way that the force-locked connection is disconnected, wherein the pressure element is guided in a guide part (30, 35, 45) of the first tapered element in a torsion-resistant way relative to the first tapered element prior to reaching a wear limit of the friction surfaces and is engaged with the lever device for disconnecting the force-locked connection, wherein the pressure element is detached from the guide part when the wear limit of the friction surfaces is reached in such a way that the pressure element can no longer engage with the lever device after leaving the guide part, so that the force-locked connection can no longer be disconnected.

Description

IN THE DRAWINGS

[0037] FIG. 1 shows a perspective partial cross-sectional view of a friction surface clutch in an unactuated operating state;

[0038] FIG. 2 shows a partial cross-sectional view of a pressure element detached from a guide part;

[0039] FIG. 3 shows a perspective partial view of a pressure element arrested in a guide part as seen in a reverse axial direction;

[0040] FIG. 4 shows a perspective partial view of the pressure element detached from the guide part as viewed in the reverse axial direction;

[0041] FIG. 5 shows a perspective partial view of the pressure element detached from the guide part and twisted with respect to a first tapered element as viewed in the reverse axial direction;

[0042] FIG. 6 shows a perspective partial view of the first tapered element as viewed in the axial direction;

[0043] FIG. 7 shows a perspective partial view of the pressure element detached from the guide part as viewed in the axial direction;

[0044] FIG. 8 shows a perspective partial view of the pressure element detached from the guide part and twisted with respect to the first tapered element as viewed in the axial direction;

[0045] FIG. 9 shows a perspective partial view of the pressure element arrested in a receiving recess as viewed in the axial direction;

[0046] FIG. 10 shows a perspective partial view of the pressure element arrested in the receiving recess as viewed in the axial direction;

[0047] FIG. 11 shows a perspective partial cross-sectional view of a friction surface clutch prior to reaching a wear limit of friction surfaces in an unactuated operating state of the friction surface clutch;

[0048] FIG. 12 shows a perspective partial cross-sectional view of the friction surface clutch prior to reaching a wear limit of friction surfaces in an actuated operating state of the friction surface clutch;

[0049] FIG. 13 shows a perspective partial cross-sectional view of the friction surface clutch having a pressure element detached from a guide part;

[0050] FIG. 14 shows a perspective partial cross-sectional view of the friction surface clutch having the pressure element detached from the guide part and rotated relative to a first tapered element; and

[0051] FIG. 15 shows a perspective view of the pressure element.

[0052] FIG. 1 shows a friction surface clutch 10 in an unactuated operating state of the friction surface clutch 10, wherein the friction surface clutch 10 comprises a first tapered element 11 having a first friction surface 12 and a second tapered element 13 having a second friction surface 14. In the unactuated operating state of the friction surface clutch 10, the tapered elements 11 and 13 or the friction surfaces 12 and 14 are force-locked together. Furthermore, the friction surface clutch 10 has an actuating device 15, which has an actuating element 16, which is in this case constituted by a pneumatically actuatable piston, by means of which the tapered elements 11 and 13 can be disconnected or can be connected by force-locking. The actuating element 16 is supported in a receiving space 17 of a housing 18 of the friction surface clutch 10 so as to be axially displaceable with respect to a rotational axis of the first tapered element 11 via roller bearings 19 and 20 of the actuating device 15. The actuating element 16 is axially displaceable from an initial position to an end position. Furthermore, the actuating device 15 has a spring, not shown here, which moves the actuating element 16 from the end position to the initial position when the friction surface clutch 10 is transferred from the actuated operating state to the unactuated operating state or in the case that the actuating element 16 is no longer being subjected to pressure. The first tapered element 11 is form-fittingly connected to a hub of the friction surface clutch 10, also not shown, by means of toothing not shown herein, wherein the hub is arranged on a shaft of the friction surface clutch 10, also not shown here. Here, the first tapered element 11 can be axially moved along the rotation axis. The shaft itself is supported in the housing 18 of the friction surface clutch 10 by means of a roller bearing not shown here. The second tapered element 13 is supported on the shaft rotation-symmetrically with respect to the rotation axis via a roller bearing (not shown here) of the friction surface clutch 10 and is connected to a drive wheel (not shown here) configured as a gear by means of screws (not shown here). A disk (not shown herein) form-fittingly connected to the shaft secures the second tapered element 13 against axial movement. If the drive wheel is now driven by a drive device not shown here, such as an internal combustion engine, a torque applied by the drive device to the drive wheel or the second tapered element 13 is transmitted to the first tapered element 11 in the unactuated operating state.

[0053] Furthermore, the actuating device 15 has a pressure element 21 coupled to the actuating element 16 and a lever device 22 interacting with the first tapered element 11, wherein the pressure element 21 can be engaged with the lever device 22 when the friction surface clutch 10 is actuated or in an actuated operating state of the friction surface clutch 10 in such a way that the force-locked connection can be disconnected. In the unactuated operating state of the friction surface clutch 10, the tapered elements 11 and 13 or the friction surfaces 12 and 14 are force-locked together. If torque is now transmitted by means of the friction surface clutch 10 the tapered elements 11 and 13 perform a rotational movement. The lever device 22 is connected to the first tapered element 11 here, so that the lever device 22 participates in the rotational movement of the tapered elements 11 and 13. The pressure element 21 is further rotationally synchronized with the first tapered element 11 by a form-fitting connection between the pressure element 21 and the first tapered element 11. The pressure element 21 thus also participates in the rotational movement of the tapered elements 11 and 13. However, the actuating element 16 is constructed or arranged in such a way that the same does not participate in the rotational movement of the tapered elements 11 and 13. If the friction surface clutch 10 is now actuated, the pressure element 21 engages with the lever device 22 or is pressed onto the lever device 22. This causes displacement or tilting of the lever device 22 and the first tapered element 11 interacting with the same, which disconnects the force-locked connection.

[0054] Furthermore, the actuating device 15 has a spring means 23, which in this case is constituted by two alternately layered disk springs 24 and 25, by means of which the tapered elements 11 and 13 can be pressed together in a force-locked way in the unactuated operating state. In the unactuated operating state, the pressure element 21 which is rotatable relative to the actuating element 16 is not in contact with the actuating element 16. In actuating the friction surface clutch 10, the actuating element 16 is axially displaced with respect to the rotation axis in an axial direction A in the direction of the pressure element 21. During axial movement of the actuating element 16, the actuating element 16 contacts the pressure element 21 in such a way that a radially inwardly extending portion 26 of an axial side 27 of the pressure element 21 abuts precisely in a recess 28 of the actuating element 16. The actuating element 21, which is mechanically coupled to the actuating element 16, then moves likewise during a further axial displacement of the actuating element 16 until the actuating element 16 has reached the end position. In the end position, the pressure element 21 presses against the lever device 22 which is connected to the first tapered element 11 and engaged with the spring means 23. This results in a tilt of the lever device 22, whereby the first tapered element 11 is axially displaced in the direction of the actuating element 16 against the axial direction A with respect to the rotation axis. The force-locked connection between the tapered elements 11 and 13 is therefore disconnected, so that a torque applied to the second tapered element 13 can no longer be transmitted to the first tapered element 11.

[0055] A pressure ring is provided as a pressure element 21 and the lever device 22 comprises three clutch release levers 29, of which only one is visible in FIG. 1. The clutch release levers 29 are arranged at uniform intervals around the rotation axis of the first tapered element 11. The pressure element 21 comprises a main body, not shown here, and three pressure sections, also not shown here, which are constructed as circular protrusions projecting from the main body in the axial direction A, also not shown here, wherein the pressure element 21 can be engaged with the clutch release levers 29 via the pressure sections.

[0056] When actuating the friction surface clutch 10, the friction surfaces 12 and 14 continuously wear in such a way that the pressure element 21, when reaching a wear limit of the friction surfaces 12 and 14, can be detached from a guide part 30 of the first tapered element 11, in which the pressure element 21 can be guided in a torsional locking manner relative to the first tapered element 11 before reaching the wear limit of the friction surfaces 12 and 14, and is capable of engaging with the lever device 22 in order to disconnect the force-locked connection, such that the pressure element 21 can no longer be engaged with the lever device 22 after leaving the guide part 30. Therefore, the force-locked connection can no longer be disconnected when the wear limit is reached. This is illustrated in FIG. 2. In particular, it can be seen for this purpose that the pressure element 21 is detached from the guide part 30. The pressure element 21 can thus be rotated relative to the first tapered element 11 due to rotational acceleration.

[0057] An inspection of FIGS. 3 to 10 shows an advantageous embodiment of a first tapered element 31 and a pressure element 32. The friction surface clutch 10 shown in FIG. 1 can comprise the first tapered element 31 and/or the pressure element 32.

[0058] A pressure ring is provided as a pressure element 32, wherein the pressure element 32 comprises a main body 33 and three pressure sections 34, of which only one is shown here, wherein the pressure sections 34 are constructed as circular protrusions projecting from the main body 33 in the axial direction A, wherein the pressure element 32 can be engaged with clutch release levers (not shown here) via the pressure sections 34. The pressure element 32 constitutes the pressure sections 34 here.

[0059] In addition, the first tapered element 31 has three passages 36 at least contributing toward forming a guide part 35 of the first tapered element 31, in which the pressure sections 34 at least partially engage in the unactuated operating state prior to reaching the wear limit of friction surfaces (not shown here), so that the pressure sections 34 can be held in the passages 36 with respect to the first tapered element 31 in a torsion-resistant way, wherein the pressure sections 34 can pass through the passages 36 in the actuated operating state in such a way that the pressure sections 34 can engage with the clutch release levers (not shown here) arranged behind the passages 36 as viewed in the axial direction A. It is clear from FIG. 3 how a pressure section 34 at least partially engages a passage 36 or is arrested in the guide part 35.

[0060] In the case of continued wear of the friction surfaces, the first tapered element 31 is moved away from the pressure element 32 in the axial direction A, so that the pressure sections 34 no longer engage in the passages 36 when the wear limit of the friction surfaces is reached in the unactuated operating state, whereby the pressure sections 34 leave the guide part 35 and are detached from the guide part 35 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 7.

[0061] After leaving the guide part 35 the pressure sections 34 rotate as can be seen in FIGS. 5 and 8 relative to the first tapered element 31 at a rotation angle not shown here, so that the pressure sections 34 are no longer able to press against an inner surface 37 of the first tapered element 31 at least partially in alignment with the passages 36 in the actuated operating state. In particular due to rotational acceleration applied to the pressure element 32 in particular when a friction surface clutch (not shown here) which can comprise the first tapered element 31 and the pressure element 32 is actuated, the pressure sections 34 then rotate relative to the passages 36 to such an extent that the pressure sections 34 are no longer aligned with the passages 36, so that the pressure sections 34 are no longer engaged with or pass through the passages 36 when actuating the friction surface clutch, but instead press at least partly on the inner surface 37 of the first tapered element 31 or come to lie against the same. Since the pressure sections 34 are no longer pressed against the clutch release levers, but against the inner surface 37, the force-locked connection is no longer disconnectable.

[0062] Furthermore, the first tapered element 31, as is particularly clear in FIGS. 6, 9 and 10, has stops 38 limiting the rotation angle and receiving recesses 39 into which the pressure sections 34 arrest after completely leaving the guide part 35.

[0063] FIGS. 6 to 10 show that the first tapered element 31 has toothing 40, by means of which the first tapered element 31 can be form-fittingly connected to a hub (not shown here) of the friction surface clutch, wherein the hub can be arranged on a shaft (also not shown here) of the friction surface clutch.

[0064] An inspection of FIGS. 11 to 14 shows a friction surface clutch 41. FIGS. 11 to 14 show a first tapered element 42, a second tapered element 43, a clutch release levers 44, a guide part 45 and a pressure element 46 having a pressure section 47.

[0065] FIGS. 11 and 12 show the friction surface clutch 41 in an unactuated or actuated operating state of the friction surface clutch 41 prior to friction surfaces not shown here reaching a wear limit. The pressure section 47 is arrested in the guide part 45 in FIG. 11.

[0066] FIGS. 13 and 14 show the friction surface clutch 41 after reaching the wear limit of the friction surfaces. The pressure section 47 is detached from the guide part 45 and has rotated relative to the first tapered element 42. In FIG. 14, the pressure section 43 has arrested into a receiving recess 48.

[0067] Finally, it is clear from FIG. 15 that the pressure element 46 configured as a pressure ring has a main body 49 and three pressure sections 47.

[0068] List of Reference Numerals [0069] 10 Friction surface clutch [0070] 11 First tapered element [0071] 12 First friction surface [0072] 13 Second tapered element [0073] 14 Second friction surface [0074] 15 Actuating device [0075] 16 Actuating element [0076] 17 Receiving space [0077] 18 Housing [0078] 19 Roller bearing [0079] 20 Roller bearing [0080] 21 Pressure element [0081] 22 Lever device [0082] 23 Spring means [0083] 24 Disk spring [0084] 25 Disk spring [0085] 26 Portion [0086] 27 Axial side [0087] 28 Recess [0088] 29 Clutch release lever [0089] 30 Guide part [0090] 31 First tapered element [0091] 32 Pressure element [0092] 33 Main body [0093] 34 Pressure section [0094] 35 Guide part [0095] 36 Passage [0096] 37 Inner surface [0097] 38 Stop [0098] 39 Receiving recess [0099] 40 Toothing [0100] 41 Friction surface clutch [0101] 42 First tapered element [0102] 43 Second tapered element [0103] 44 Clutch release lever [0104] 45 Guide part [0105] 46 Pressure element [0106] 47 Pressure section [0107] 48 Receiving recess [0108] 49 Main body [0109] A Axial direction