TORQUE LIMITER WITH A ROTATIONAL AXIS FOR A DRIVE TRAIN

Abstract

A torque limiter for a drive train includes a rotational axis, a first cover disc and a second cover disc, a central disc arranged axially between the cover discs, a first friction lining and a second friction lining, a radially outer connector and a radially inner connector, and a spring element. The first friction lining is for frictionally locking torque transmission between the first cover disc and the central disc, and the second friction lining is for frictionally locking torque transmission between the second cover disc and the central disc. The radially outer connector is permanently connected to the cover discs in a torque-transmitting manner, and the radially inner connector is permanently connected to the central disc in a torque-transmitting manner. The spring element is arranged between the central disc and the first friction lining or the second friction lining.

Claims

1.-10. (canceled)

11. A torque limiter for a drive train, comprising: a rotational axis; a first cover disc and a second cover disc; a central disc arranged axially between the first cover disc and the second cover disc; a first friction lining arranged axially between the first cover disc and the central disc for frictionally locking torque transmission between the first cover disc and the central disc; a second friction lining arranged axially between the second cover disc and the central disc for frictionally locking torque transmission between the second cover disc and the central disc; a radially outer connector permanently connected to the first cover disc and the second cover disc in a torque-transmitting manner; a radially inner connector permanently connected to the central disc in a torque-transmitting manner; and a spring element arranged between the central disc and the first friction lining or the second friction lining.

12. The torque limiter of claim 11 further comprising a disc spring arranged axially between: the first cover disc and the first friction lining; or the second cover disc and the second friction lining.

13. The torque limiter of claim 11 wherein: the spring element is arranged between the central disc and the first friction lining, and the spring element is axially preloaded for generating a first axial contact force between the first friction lining and the first cover disc by means of the first cover disc and the second cover disc; or the spring element is arranged between the central disc and the second friction lining, and the spring element is axially preloaded for generating a second axial contact force between the second friction lining and the second cover disc by means of the first cover disc and the second cover disc.

14. The torque limiter of claim 11, wherein: the first friction lining is connected in a force-fitting or form-fitting, as well as torque-transmitting, manner to the first cover disc or the central disc; the second friction lining is connected in a force-fitting or form-fitting, as well as torque-transmitting, manner to the second cover disc or the central disc; or the first friction lining or the second friction lining is fixed rotationally in a purely frictionally locking manner.

15. The torque limiter of claim 11, further comprising a support disc arranged between: the first friction lining and the central disc; the first friction lining and the first cover disc; the second friction lining and the central disc; or the second friction lining and the second cover disc.

16. The torque limiter of claim 15 wherein the support disc is arranged between: the first friction lining and the spring element; or the second friction lining and the spring element.

17. The torque limiter of claim 15 wherein the spring element is formed by the support disc.

18. The torque limiter of claim 11 wherein the spring element is integrated into the central disc.

19. The torque limiter of claim 18, wherein the spring element comprises: a single-piece ring; multiple separate radially outer segments spaced apart from one another in radial overlap with the first friction lining and the second friction lining in a rotation direction; and multiple separate radially inner segments spaced apart from one another in the rotation direction and connected directly to a torsional vibration damper.

20. The torque limiter of claim 19 wherein an outer ring portion of the single-piece ring: is segmented in radial overlap with the first friction lining and the second friction lining in the rotation direction; or is directly connected to the torsional vibration damper.

21. The torque limiter of claim 11, wherein the central disc comprises: a single-piece ring; multiple separate radially outer segments spaced apart from one another in radial overlap with the first friction lining and the second friction lining in a rotation direction; and multiple separate radially inner segments spaced apart from one another in the rotation direction and connected directly to a torsional vibration damper.

22. The torque limiter of claim 21 wherein an outer ring portion of the single-piece ring: is segmented in radial overlap with the first friction lining and the second friction lining in the rotation direction; or is directly connected to the torsional vibration damper.

23. A drive train comprising: a drive engine having a machine shaft; a consumer; and the torque limiter of claim 11, wherein the machine shaft is connected in a predeterminedly limited torque-transmitting manner to the consumer for torque transmission by means of the torque limiter.

24. A motor vehicle comprising a drive wheel drivable by the drive train of claim 23.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0044] The above disclosure is explained in detail below based on the relevant technical background with reference to the associated drawings, which show example embodiments. The disclosure is in no way restricted by the purely schematic drawings, and it should be noted that the drawings are not dimensionally accurate and are not suitable for defining proportions. In the figures,

[0045] FIG. 1 shows a sectional view of a torque limiter with a central disc with integrated spring element;

[0046] FIG. 2 shows a sectional view of a torque limiter with a central disc and support discs;

[0047] FIG. 3 shows a sectional view of a torque limiter with friction linings riveted to the central disc;

[0048] FIG. 4 shows a sectional view of a torque limiter with a central disc, support disc and disc spring;

[0049] FIG. 5 shows a sectional view of a torque limiter with friction linings riveted to the central disc, support disc and disc spring;

[0050] FIG. 6 shows a single segment of a central disc;

[0051] FIG. 7 shows a central disc in the form of a ring;

[0052] FIG. 8 shows a central disc in a sectional view A-A; and

[0053] FIG. 9 shows a motor vehicle with a drive train including a torque limiter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0054] In FIG. 1 to FIG. 5, a torque limiter 1 is shown in a schematic sectional view. The torque limiter 1 has a front cover disc 5 (as shown on the left) and a rear cover disc 6 (as shown on the right of the front cover disc 5). The cover discs 5,6 are connected in a torque-transmitting manner to a radially outer connector 10, for example with a machine connection, here by means of a flywheel 29. On the axially inward-facing inner side of the respective cover disc 5,6, i.e., the surfaces of the two cover discs 5,6 facing one another, are each in contact with a friction lining 8,9, namely the front cover disc 5 with the front friction lining 8 and the rear cover disc 6 with the rear friction lining 9. A central disc 7 is arranged between the two friction linings 8,9 and the friction linings 8,9 are in torque-transmitting contact with the central disc 7. The central disc 7 is connected on the radially inner side to a radially inner connector 11 (formed here by or with a torsional vibration damper 21, for example a hub with internal teeth), here (optionally) directly to a front side plate 30 and indirectly to a rear side plate 31 of a torsional vibration damper 21. A damper spring 32 of the torsional vibration damper 21 is further shown in part.

[0055] In the shown embodiment of the torque limiter 1 in FIG. 1, the central disc 7 has an integrated spring element 12. By means of an axial contact force 16, a frictional connection is created between the friction linings 8,9 and the respective cover disc 5,6. The contact force 16 is generated during assembly of the torque limiter 1 by positioning the cover discs 5,6 accordingly. The central disc 7 is tensioned by the integrated spring element 12.

[0056] In FIG. 2 to FIG. 5, embodiments of the torque limiter 1 with a similar structure are shown. The torque limiters 1 shown there differ from the embodiment according to FIG. 1 with regard to the spring element, the connection of the friction linings 8,9 and/or in that the support discs are still provided (cf. corresponding figure).

[0057] FIG. 2 shows a torque limiter 1 according to FIG. 1 with two additional support discs 17,18. A front support disc 17 (as shown on the left) is arranged between the front friction lining 8 and the central disc 7, and a rear support disc 18 (as shown on the right) is arranged between the central disc 7 and the rear friction lining 9. The support discs 17,18 improve the contact pressure distribution and/or protect the integrated spring element 12. In one embodiment, the spring element 12 is integrated into the central disc 7. In an alternative or additional embodiment, the front support disc 17 includes or forms a front spring element 13 and/or the rear support disc 18 includes or forms a rear spring element 14. In this case, such a support disc 17,18 is corrugated, for example.

[0058] FIG. 3 shows a torque limiter 1 according to FIG. 1, with the friction linings 8,9 are riveted to the central disc 7.

[0059] FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of a torque limiter 1 in which a disc spring 15 is provided. The disc spring 15 is arranged between the (optional rear) cover disc 6 and a (corresponding rear) support disc 18. The (rear) support disc 18 is arranged between the rear friction lining 9 and the disc spring 15. Here, it is not excluded that the central disc 7 includes an integrated spring element 12 and/or the support disc 18 includes a (rear) spring element 14. In one embodiment, at least one additional support disc and/or spring element is provided.

[0060] In FIG. 5, a torque limiter 1 is shown in a combination with the embodiments according to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4.

[0061] In FIG. 6, a single segment of a central disc 7 is shown in an (axial) plan view. The segment is formed here as a single-piece and includes a portion having a radially outer segment 22 and a portion having a radially inner segment 23. In use in a torque limiter 1 (cf. FIG. 1 to FIG. 5), the radially outer segment 22 is arranged to overlap radially with the friction linings 8,9, for example the friction linings are riveted to the radially outer segment 22. In use in such a torque limiter 1, the radially inner segment 23 is connected, e.g., indirectly, for example by means of a torsional vibration damper 21, to the radially inner connector 11, for example by means of riveting. The complete central disc 7 includes a plurality of such or similar segments 22,23, which are spaced apart from one another in the direction of rotation 3 (cf. the embodiment according to FIG. 7) and thus form a (multi-piece) ring. Shown here is a section line A-A, showing how the sectional view of the radially outer segment 22 according to FIG. 8 is oriented.

[0062] In FIG. 7, the central disc 7 is shown as a single-piece ring, e.g., with an integrated spring element 12. The central disc 7 has a rotational axis 2 with a direction of rotation 3. An outer ring portion 19 is located in the radially outer region of the central disc 7, which includes a plurality of radially outer segments 22 according to FIG. 6. An inner ring portion 20 is formed in the radially inner region, which corresponds to the radially inner segment 23 according to FIG. 6, but also ensures the single-piece nature of the central disc 7. The inner ring portion 20 ensures the connection to the radially inner connector 11, for example to one of the side plates 30,31. Here, optionally, the region of attachment, for example by riveting, of the inner ring portion 20 is set apart from the rest of the inner ring portion 20, so that this region of attachment is (almost) exempt from corrugation (for example also of the rest of the inner ring portion 20) and/or deformation of the central disc 7.

[0063] As in FIG. 6, a section line A-A is shown, showing how the sectional view of the radially outer segment 22 according to FIG. 8 is oriented.

[0064] In FIG. 8, a radially outer segment 22 of a central disc 7 is shown in a sectional view along section line A-A (cf. FIG. 6 or FIG. 7). The radially outer segment 22 is (optionally) designed here to be corrugated, thus forming the spring element or part of the integrated spring element 12. By means of the corrugated shape, the desired contact force 16 (cf. FIG. 1 to FIG. 5) or a desired spring characteristic is provided and/or the desired contact force 16 is transmitted uniformly.

[0065] FIG. 9 shows a drive train 4 arranged in a motor vehicle 28 with the motor axis 33 thereof (optionally) transverse to the longitudinal axis 34 (optionally) in front of the driver's cab 35. Here, the torque limiter 1 is connected on the input side to the machine shaft 25 of the drive engine 24, to the transmission gearing 36 and then to the differential 37. From this drive engine 24 or via its machine shaft 25, torque is delivered to the drive train 4. On the output side, the torque limiter 1 is connected to a purely schematically illustrated output, so that here a left drive wheel 26 (consumer) and a right drive wheel 27 (consumer) can be supplied with torque from the drive engine 24 with a variable transmission ratio. The drive engine 24 is protected from a torque peak, for example originating from the consumers 26,27, by means of the torque limiter 1.

[0066] In the case of the torque limiter which is proposed here, a consistent coefficient of friction over a long service life can be achieved.

REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0067] 1 Torque limiter [0068] 2 Rotational axis [0069] 3 Direction of rotation [0070] 4 Drive train [0071] 5 Front cover disc [0072] 6 Rear cover disc [0073] 7 Central disc [0074] 8 Front friction lining [0075] 9 Rear friction lining [0076] 10 Radially outer connector [0077] 11 Radially inner connector [0078] 12 Integrated spring element [0079] 13 Front spring element [0080] 14 Rear spring element [0081] 15 Disc spring [0082] 16 Contact force [0083] 17 Front support disc [0084] 18 Rear support disc [0085] 19 Outer ring portion [0086] 20 Inner ring portion [0087] 21 Torsional vibration damper [0088] 22 Radially outer segment [0089] 23 Radially inner segment [0090] 24 Drive engine [0091] 25 Machine shaft [0092] 26 Left drive wheel [0093] 27 Right drive wheel [0094] 28 Motor vehicle [0095] 29 Flywheel [0096] 30 Front side plate [0097] 31 Rear side plate [0098] 32 Damper spring [0099] 33 Motor axis [0100] 34 Longitudinal axis [0101] 35 Driver's cab [0102] 36 Transmission gearing [0103] 37 Differential