Clutch for simplified installation

Abstract

A clutch for a drivetrain of a motor vehicle includes an axis and a pressure plate assembly. The pressure plate assembly has a clutch cover, a contact plate held movably on the clutch cover, a diaphragm spring with a radial inner edge region, and a pressure element for actuating the diaphragm spring. The diaphragm spring is braced between the clutch cover and the contact plate. The pressure element rests against the radial inner edge region. The pressure element includes a first through hole and the clutch cover includes a second through hole. The first through hole is axially aligned with the second through hole. In some embodiments, the clutch has a clutch disk with a hub region having a third through hole, and the third through hole is axially aligned with the first through hole and the second through hole.

Claims

1.-10. (canceled)

11. A clutch for a drivetrain of a motor vehicle comprising: an axis; and, a pressure plate assembly comprising: a clutch cover; a contact plate held movably on the clutch cover; a diaphragm spring with a radial inner edge region; and, a pressure element for actuating the diaphragm spring, wherein: the diaphragm spring is braced between the clutch cover and the contact plate; the pressure element rests against the radial inner edge region; the pressure element includes a first through hole; the clutch cover includes a second through hole; and, the first through hole is axially aligned with the second through hole.

12. The clutch of claim 11 wherein: the pressure element comprises a disk region extending radially away from the diaphragm spring; and, the first through hole is disposed in the disk region.

13. The clutch of claim 11 wherein: the clutch cover comprises a flange region radially overlapping the diaphragm spring; and, the second through hole is disposed in the flange region.

14. The clutch of claim 11 further comprising a clutch disk with a hub region having a third through hole.

15. The clutch of claim 14 wherein the third through hole is axially aligned with the first through hole and the second through hole.

16. The clutch of claim 11 further comprising a clutch disk, wherein: the pressure element comprises a disk region extending radially away from the diaphragm spring and comprising the first through hole; the clutch cover comprises a flange region radially overlapping the diaphragm spring and comprising the second through hole; and, the clutch disk comprises a hub region that comprises a third through hole axially aligned with the first through hole and the second through hole.

17. The clutch of claim 11 wherein: the first through hole comprises a first diameter; the second through hole comprises a second diameter; and, the second diameter is smaller than the first diameter.

18. The clutch of claim 11 further comprising a ring-shaped counterpressure plate with an inside diameter, wherein: the pressure element comprises a plurality of first through holes arranged circumferentially on an imaginary circle; the imaginary circle comprises an outside diameter; and, the inside diameter is greater than the outside diameter.

19. The clutch of claim 11 further comprising an auxiliary spring, wherein the pressure element is braced by the auxiliary spring.

20. The clutch of claim 19, wherein the pressure element is positioned between the diaphragm spring and the auxiliary spring.

21. A clutch system comprising: the clutch of claim 11; and, an actuating system comprising an actuating element, wherein: the actuating system is arranged to move the clutch between an engaged position and a disengaged position; and, the actuating element extends partway through the clutch and is coupled non-movingly with the pressure element.

22. A clutch for a drivetrain of a motor vehicle comprising: an axis; a pressure plate assembly comprising: a clutch cover with a first through hole; a contact plate held movably on the clutch cover; a diaphragm spring disposed between the clutch cover and the contact plate; and, a pressure element for actuating the diaphragm spring, the pressure element comprising a second through hole axially aligned with the first through hole; and, a clutch disk comprising a third through hole axially aligned with the first through hole and the second through hole.

23. The clutch of claim 22, wherein: the clutch cover comprises a flange region radially overlapping the diaphragm spring and comprising the first through hole; the pressure element comprises a disk region extending radially away from the diaphragm spring and comprising the second through hole; and, the clutch disk comprises a hub region that comprises the third through hole.

24. The clutch of claim 23 further comprising a ring-shaped counterpressure plate with an inside diameter, wherein: the pressure element comprises a plurality of second through holes arranged circumferentially on an imaginary circle; the imaginary circle comprises an outside diameter; and, the inside diameter is greater than the outside diameter.

25. The clutch of claim 23 further comprising an auxiliary spring, wherein: the pressure element is braced by the auxiliary spring; and, the pressure element is positioned between the diaphragm spring and the auxiliary spring.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] The disclosure will now be explained in greater detail below on the basis of figures; various exemplary embodiments are depicted in this connection.

[0024] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view in longitudinal section of a clutch according to a first exemplary embodiment, wherein the clutch may be recognized by its clutch cover.

[0025] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view in longitudinal section of part of a drivetrain including the clutch according to FIG. 1, wherein a clutch disk is already pushed onto a transmission input shaft so that it cannot rotate, and the clutch cover of the clutch is already positioned against an output shaft of a combustion engine.

[0026] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view in longitudinal section of a pressure plate assembly, as it is utilized in FIG. 1, wherein the various components of the pressure plate assembly are clearly recognizable.

[0027] FIG. 4 shows a front view of the clutch according to FIG. 1 in full view.

[0028] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a clutch disk utilized in the clutch according to FIG. 1.

[0029] FIG. 6 shows a perspective view in longitudinal section of the clutch disk from FIG. 5.

[0030] FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of an auxiliary spring/servo spring utilized in the clutch according to FIG. 1.

[0031] FIG. 8 shows a perspective, partially exploded view of the clutch depicted in longitudinal section in FIG. 1.

[0032] FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of a partially exploded clutch according to another, second exemplary embodiment, which exemplary embodiment differs from the first exemplary embodiment in particular in that the clutch disk is designed in two pieces in the hub region.

[0033] FIG. 10 shows a perspective view in longitudinal section of the clutch disk as it is utilized in FIG. 9.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0034] The figures are merely schematic in nature, and serve to aid in understanding the disclosure. The same elements are provided with the same reference labels.

[0035] FIGS. 1 through 8 illustrate a first exemplary embodiment of a clutch 1. The second exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 9 and 10 is constructed and functions in principle in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment, for which reason, with regard to the second exemplary embodiment, only the differences from the first exemplary embodiment are described below.

[0036] Returning to the clutch 1 of the first exemplary embodiment, its construction is clearly recognizable in FIG. 1. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 2, this clutch 1 serves in the usual way as an uncouplable torque-transferring device, i.e., for optionally connecting and disconnecting an output shaft 18, in the form of a crankshaft, of a combustion engine, to/from a transmission shaft 19 of a transmission. Other elements of the combustion engine and of the transmission are not shown here, in the interest of clarity. The clutch 1 is designed here as a friction clutch and a single plate clutch.

[0037] The clutch 1 has, in a typical way, a clutch cover 3, which is connected non-rotatingly to the output shaft 18 when the clutch 1 is in operation/in the installed state. Also connected non-rotatingly to the clutch cover 3 is a counterpressure plate 16/pressure plate. In turn, a clutch disk 13 of the clutch 1 is connected non-rotatingly to the transmission shaft 19. Furthermore, a contact plate 4 is present, which is held on the clutch cover 3 so that it is movable in the axial direction and is non-rotating. The clutch disk 13 is positioned between the counterpressure plate 16 and the contact plate 4 in such a way that its radially outer friction linings 20 (in relation to an axis of rotation 25 of the clutch) are pressed non-rotatingly against the counterpressure plate 16 by the contact plate 4 when the clutch 1 is in an engaged position. In a disengaged position, the contact plate 4 is positioned pressure-free relative to the clutch disk 13/the friction linings and the counterpressure plate 16, in such a way that no torque is transmitted from the output shaft 18 to the clutch disk 13.

[0038] In order to move the contact plate 4 in a typical way in the axial direction between the engaged position and the disengaged position, a diaphragm spring 5 is provided, which is pivoted in its pivot position by means of an actuating system, for example a central clutch release bearing (not shown in further detail here for the sake of clarity), to achieve the engaged or disengaged position. The diaphragm spring 5 is coupled non-movably with a pressure element 6, which is designed here as a disk. The diaphragm spring 5 itself is attached to the clutch cover 3 so that it can pivot about a pivot point, which is fixed by means of a plurality of centering pins 21 distributed in the circumferential direction. The pivoting movement of the diaphragm spring 5 occurs by means of cams in the clutch cover 3 and on the contact plate 4. The centering pins 21 also serve to secure the diaphragm spring 5 radially. The pressure element 6 rests against a radially inner edge region 7 of the diaphragm spring 5. In particular, the diaphragm spring 5 is provided with a plurality of diaphragm spring tongues in this edge region 7. The edge region 7 is the region which is located radially inside the centering pins 21.

[0039] In this exemplary embodiment, the pressure element 6 is designed as a sheet metal disk/of sheet metal, and is therefore also referred to as a pressure plate. One disk region 11 of the pressure element 6 extends inward in the radial direction so far that it partially overlaps a central through opening 22 in the clutch disk 13 inward in the radial direction. Consequently, the pressure element 6 has a smaller minimum diameter than the clutch disk 13.

[0040] FIG. 3 shows in detail that an auxiliary spring 17, which is designed as a servo spring, is provided for additional support of the diaphragm spring 5. The auxiliary spring 17 is braced on the centering pin 21 and the pressure element 6. The auxiliary spring 17 thus pre-stresses the diaphragm spring 5 indirectly in the axial direction relative to the clutch cover 3. The auxiliary spring 17 is also visible by itself in FIG. 7.

[0041] For a plurality of contact points on a centering pin 21 distributed in the circumferential direction, the servo spring 17 has correspondingly shaped arms/lugs protruding outward in the radial direction/projections 26. Thus, the servo spring 17 rests against the pressure element 6 under pre-stressing, so that by actuating the pressure element 6 the servo spring 17 is actuated.

[0042] As illustrated furthermore in FIGS. 4 through 6, the clutch disk 13 according to the first exemplary embodiment has a one-piece hub, which thus forms a one-piece hub region 14. The hub region 14 is designed as forged part. The hub region 14 has in a typical manner, on a radial inner surface, a spline toothing which delimits the through opening 22 toward the outside, which is connected non-rotatingly to the transmission shaft 19 during operation, as shown already in FIG. 2. At one axial end of the spline toothing 23, the hub region 14 then extends outward in the radial direction, forming a connecting flange 24. Radially outside, the fiction linings 20 are attached non-rotatingly to the connecting flange 24.

[0043] FIG. 8 shows that the clutch 1 is essentially made up of three sub-assemblies. To this end, the counterpressure plate 16, the clutch disk 13 and a pressure plate assembly 2 are each realized as a sub-assembly in the clutch 1. The pressure plate assembly 2 as a sub-assembly is a pre-assembled unit, and includes of a plurality of components, in particular the clutch cover 3, the centering pins 21 attached to the clutch cover 3, the contact plate 4, the diaphragm spring 5, the auxiliary spring 17 and the pressure element 6.

[0044] The clutch cover 3 is made of a cast material, e.g., a cast iron or cast steel. At an area located radially inside, the clutch cover 3 forms a flange region 12, which is prepared for attachment to a face of the output shaft 18. In particular, this flange region 12 has a plurality of through holes 9, which are referred to below as second through holes 9. The second through holes 9 are distributed in the circumferential direction. A plurality of first through holes 8, likewise distributed in the circumferential direction, are made in the pressure element 6, namely in the disk region 11. The flange region 12 and the pressure element 6 are arranged side-by-side in the axial direction and oriented relative to one another in the radial direction in such a way that each first through hole 8 aligns with a second through hole 9 (in the axial direction of the clutch 1/axis of rotation 25). In addition, the second through holes 9 are smaller in diameter than the first through holes 8.

[0045] Furthermore, it can be seen in FIG. 8 that the clutch disk 13 for its part also has a plurality of third through holes 15. These third through holes 15 are made in the hub region 14. Like the through holes 8 and 9 earlier with the pressure 6 and the clutch cover 3 respectively, the third through holes 15 also penetrate the hub region 14 in the axial direction. The third through holes 15, for their part, are distributed around a circumferential direction. The third through holes 15, for their part, are matched to the first and second through holes 8 and 9, so that they likewise each align with one of the first through holes 8 and one of the second through holes 9. Thus, access is prepared for a tool, in order to penetrate the clutch disk 13 and the pressure element 6 as far as fastening elements in the form of screws/threaded bolts inserted into the second through holes 9, when attaching the clutch 1 to the output shaft 18. In addition, the diameter of the third through holes 15 in turn is greater than the diameter of the second through holes 9. Alternatively, the third through holes 15 may also be the same size as the second through holes 9.

[0046] It can also be seen that the counterpressure plate 16 is designed with a larger inside diameter than the outside diameter of an imagined circle, on which the through holes 8, 9 and 15 of the clutch cover 3, the pressure element 6 and the hub region 14 are positioned.

[0047] The pressure plate/counterpressure plate 16 may be made of a (relatively inexpensive) metal sheet, and/or as a flywheel. The counterpressure plate 16 may be made of a cast material/cast metal, in order to realize a high mass and stiffness.

[0048] However, the hub region 14 may also be designed in two pieces, as can be seen in the second exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 9 and 10. In addition, in principle the third through holes 15 may also be dispensed with in the hub region. A sleeve section of the hub region 14 forming the spline toothing 23 may be formed as a forged part, while the connecting flange 24 is designed as a sheet metal part. The two-piece version of the hub region 14 again makes the cost of the clutch 1 more reasonable.

[0049] In other words, a clutch 1 is implemented as an easily installable unit. Current mass-produced clutches are frequently delivered to the customer in multiple parts. This is due to the linking of the clutch 1 (the cover 3 is screwed onto the crankshaft 8), and to the fact that there is no room available to enable passing the screws/fastening elements through the individual parts. All parts (thrust plate (pressure element 6) and clutch disk 13 if appropriate) are provided with holes 8, 15 having room for the crankshaft screws, including tool. The shape of the parts guarantees that all holes 8, 9, 15 align with each other, and, as a result, the clutch 1 can be mounted on the crankshaft 8 as a package. An additional advantage is that the clutch characteristic/imbalance can be measured in-house as a result, and that these variables are also reproducible at the customer's location. Furthermore, the increased potential for error during installation is significantly reduced. The clutch disk 13 may have a one-piece forged hub 14, or may be made in two pieces. The servo spring 17 has its contact points on the diaphragm spring pins (centering pins 21) and the clutch release plate (pressure element 6). For each contact point, the servo spring 17 has corresponding shaped arms. The support on the diaphragm spring pins 21 serves at the same time to center the servo spring 17. The clutch 1 may be actuated by means of a push rod, which is inserted through the transmission shaft 19 from the side of the transmission. The diaphragm spring 5 is actuated by means of the thrust plate 6. Under wear, the servo spring 17 intervenes with the effect of reducing force. The servo spring 17 is not actuated directly by means of the diaphragm spring 5 as in the other known applications. Rather, the servo spring 17 rests against the (pre-stressed) thrust plate 6 under pre-stressing, and the actuation of the servo spring 17 occurs through the actuation of the thrust plate 6.

[0050] In addition, the clutch 1 is an element of a clutch system that also has an actuating system, which is not shown here in the interest of clarity. The actuating system has an actuating element, which moves the clutch 1 between its engaged position and a disengaged position. The actuating element reaches partway through the clutch 1, and is coupled non-movingly with the pressure element 6.

REFERENCE LABELS

[0051] 1 clutch [0052] 2 pressure plate assembly [0053] 3 clutch cover [0054] 4 contact plate [0055] 5 diaphragm spring [0056] 6 pressure element [0057] 7 edge region [0058] 8 first through hole [0059] 9 second through hole [0060] 10 drive train [0061] 11 disk region [0062] 12 flange region [0063] 13 clutch disk [0064] 14 hub region [0065] 15 third through hole [0066] 16 counterpressure plate [0067] 17 auxiliary spring [0068] 18 output shaft [0069] 19 transmission shaft [0070] 20 friction lining [0071] 21 centering pin [0072] 22 through opening [0073] 23 spline toothing [0074] 24 connecting flange [0075] 25 axis of rotation [0076] 26 protrusion