CLUTCH DEVICE

Abstract

A clutch device includes a rotor, a first sub-clutch, a second sub-clutch, and a first actuation device. The rotor has a first axial side and a second axial side. The sub-clutches are arranged within the rotor and each include an outer disk carrier with outer disks and an inner disk carrier with an inner disk engaged between two of the outer disks. The first actuating device is for actuating the first sub-clutch or the second sub-clutch. The first actuating device has a first housing. The rotor first axial side is rotatably mounted on the first housing via a first support.

Claims

1.-10. (canceled)

11. A clutch device comprising: a rotor of an electric machine comprising a first axial side and a second axial side; a first sub-clutch arranged within the rotor, comprising: a first outer disk carrier, coupled to the rotor, comprising: at least two first outer disks; and, a first inner disk carrier comprising: at least one first inner disk that engages between the at least two first outer disks; and, a second sub-clutch arranged within the rotor, comprising: a second outer disk carrier, integral with the first outer disk carrier or separate from the first outer disk carrier and coupled to the rotor, comprising: at least two second outer disks; and, a second inner disk carrier comprising: at least one second inner disk that engages between the at least two second outer disks; and, a first actuation device for actuating the first sub-clutch or the second sub-clutch, the first actuating device comprising a first housing, wherein the first axial side is rotatably mounted on the first housing via a first support.

12. The clutch device of claim 11, wherein the first support is connected to the first outer disk carrier or the second outer disk carrier.

13. The clutch device of claim 11, wherein the first actuation device is for actuating the first sub-clutch and the second sub-clutch.

14. The clutch device of claim 11, wherein: the first housing is arranged axially outside of the rotor and the first axial side is rotatably mounted to the first support outside the rotor; or, the first housing projects axially into the rotor and the first axial side is rotatably mounted to the first support within the rotor.

15. The clutch device of claim 11 further comprising a first bearing with a first outer ring and a first inner ring, wherein the first support is: rotatably mounted on the first housing by the first rolling bearing; and, connected to the first outer ring or the first inner ring.

16. The clutch device of claim 11, further comprising: a third sub-clutch arranged within the rotor, comprising: a third outer disk carrier, integral with the first outer disk carrier or the second outer disk carrier, or separate from the first outer disk carrier and the second outer disk carrier and coupled to the rotor, comprising: at least two third outer disks; and, a third inner disk carrier comprising: at least one third inner disk that engages between the at least two third outer disks.

17. The clutch device of claim 16, wherein the first support is connected to the first outer disk carrier, the second outer disk carrier, or the third outer disk carrier.

18. The clutch device of claim 16, further comprising a second actuation device, wherein: the first actuation device is for actuating the first sub-clutch and the second sub-clutch; and, the second actuation device is for actuating the third sub-clutch.

19. The clutch device of claim 11 further comprising a second actuation device for actuating the first sub-clutch or the second sub-clutch, the second actuating device comprising a second housing, wherein the second axial side is rotatably mounted on the second housing via a second support.

20. The clutch device of claim 19 further comprising a second bearing with a second outer ring and a second inner ring, wherein the second support is: rotatably mounted on the second housing by the second rolling bearing; and, connected to the second outer ring or the second inner ring.

21. The clutch device of claim 19, wherein: the second housing is arranged axially outside of the rotor and the first axial side is rotatably mounted to the second support outside the rotor; or, the second housing projects axially into the rotor and the first axial side is rotatably mounted to the second support within the rotor.

22. The clutch device of claim 19 further comprising: a first bearing with a first outer ring and a first inner ring; and, a second bearing with a second outer ring and a second inner ring, wherein: the first support is arranged on the first outer ring; and, the first inner ring is seated on an outside of the first housing; the second support is arranged on the second inner ring; and, the second outer ring is seated on an inside of the second housing.

23. A clutch device comprising: a rotor for an electric machine; a driving hub for coupling to an internal combustion engine; a first sub-clutch comprising: an outer disk carrier firmly connected to the rotor; an inner disk carrier connected to the driving hub; a plurality of outer disks and a plurality of inner disks arranged on the outer disk carrier and the inner disk carrier, respectively; an actuator comprising: a housing comprising a cylindrical pressure chamber for receiving a hydraulic fluid; and, a first axially movable cylinder disposed in the housing for compressing the plurality of outer disks and the plurality of inner disks for frictional engagement, wherein the outer disk carrier and the driving hub are each supported by the housing.

24. The clutch device of claim 23 further comprising a first bearing arranged to support the outer disk carrier on the housing and a second bearing arranged to support the driving hub on the housing.

25. The clutch device of claim 24 wherein the first bearing is disposed radially outside of the second bearing.

26. The clutch device of claim 23 further comprising: a pressure pot for compressing the plurality of outer disks and the plurality of inner disks; and, a rolling bearing disposed in a force path between the first axially movable cylinder and the pressure pot.

27. The clutch device of claim 23 wherein the first sub-clutch is situated within the rotor.

28. The clutch device of claim 23 wherein the actuator is arranged axially outside the rotor.

29. The clutch device of claim 23 further comprising a second sub-clutch, wherein the actuator comprises a second axially movable cylinder disposed in the housing for frictional engagement of the second sub-clutch.

30. The clutch device of claim 29 wherein the second sub-clutch is situated within the rotor.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] The disclosure is explained in greater detail below by means of illustrative embodiments with reference to the drawings. The drawings are schematic illustrations and show, in:

[0023] FIG. 1 a clutch device according to the invention in section,

[0024] FIG. 2 an enlarged partial view of the clutch device from FIG. 1, illustrating the mounting of the rotor on a first actuation device, and

[0025] FIG. 3 an enlarged partial view of the clutch device from FIG. 1, illustrating the mounting of the rotor on a second actuation device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] FIG. 1 shows a clutch device 1 according to the invention with an associated electric machine 2 having a rotor 3. A sub-clutch 4, generally also referred to as the K0 clutch, is provided, having an outer disk carrier 5, on which a plurality of outer disks 6, e.g., steel disks, is arranged. A plurality of inner disks 8, in this case friction disks, is arranged on an inner disk carrier 7. The outer disk carrier 5 is firmly connected to the rotor 3, while the inner disk carrier 7 is connected to a driving hub 9, which is coupled to an internal combustion engine (not shown specifically).

[0027] The outer and inner disks 6, 8 form a disk pack which, since the outer disks are arranged in an axially movable manner on the respective outer and inner disk carrier 5, 7, can be compressed axially against an abutment 10. In this case, there is a frictional connection and hence torque transmission from the rotor 3, via the outer disk carrier 5, the disk pack and the inner disk carrier 7, to the driving hub 9 in order by this means to start the internal combustion engine, for example. Conversely, it is, of course, also possible by this means to pass a torque from the internal combustion engine to the outer disk carrier 5, which can then be passed via interposed further sub-clutches to a transmission.

[0028] To actuate this disk pack including the outer and inner disks 6, 8, a fixed actuation device 11 is provided, which is a hydraulically operating actuation device in the form of a CSC (concentric slave cylinder). By means of a hydraulic fluid, a correspondingly high pressure can be built up in a pressure chamber 12 and leads to an axial movement of the cylinder 13, to which an annular actuation element 15 in the form of a pressure pot is coupled by means of a rolling bearing 14. The axial movement thereof results in the compression of the outer and inner disks 6, 8 and hence the frictional engagement for torque transmission. When the pressure is relieved, the actuation element 15 moves back again, the disks which have been pressed together separate and release occurs.

[0029] Also provided is a sub-clutch 16, generally also referred to as the K1 clutch. This too comprises a multiplicity of outer disks 17, in this case also steel disks, and of inner disks 18 in the form of friction disks. The outer disks 17 are mounted in an axially movable manner on the outer disk carrier 5, on which the outer disks 6 are also arranged, while the inner disks 18 are arranged in an axially movable manner on a inner disk carrier 19. The inner disk carrier 19 is connected for conjoint rotation to a driving hub 20 connected to the transmission.

[0030] By means of this sub-clutch 16, a torque-transmitting connection between the outer disk carrier 5 and hence the rotor 3 and the driving hub 20 and therefore the associated transmission stages of the transmission can be established, allowing a rotation of the rotor 3 to be transmitted for electric driving but equally also allowing a rotation of the driving hub 9 driven by means of the internal combustion engine to be passed to the transmission via said hub.

[0031] Finally, sub-clutch 21, generally referred to as the K2 clutch, is provided, likewise comprising a plurality of outer disks 22 embodied in the form of steel disks and a plurality of inner disks 23 embodied in the form of friction disks engaging between said outer disks. Here too, the outer disks 22 are arranged in an axially movable manner on the common outer disk carrier 5, while the inner disks 23 are arranged in an axially movable manner on an inner disk carrier 24, which is connected for conjoint rotation to a drive shaft 25 embodied as a hollow shaft, by means of which drive shaft 25 transmission stages of a second stage group of the transmission are coupled.

[0032] The two sub-clutches 16 and 21 with their respective disk packs formed from the outer and inner disks 17, 18 and 22, 23, respectively, can also be opened and closed, for which purpose once again corresponding actuating means are provided. The sub-clutch 16 can likewise be actuated by means of the actuation device 11. For this purpose, a further cylindrical pressure chamber 26 is provided, in which a sufficient pressure can likewise be built up to enable a cylindrical piston 27 to be moved axially. Here too, an actuation element 29 in the form of a pressure pot can be arranged in an axially movable manner thereon by means of a rolling bearing 28. This actuation element 27 passes through the outer disks 6 of the sub-clutch 4, as shown in the figure, and presses on the outer disk 17 on the left of the sub-clutch 16, enabling it to be compressed against an abutment 30. The sub-clutch 16 is thereby closed. When the pressure is relieved, it opens again.

[0033] To actuate the sub-clutch 21, a actuation device 31 is provided, likewise comprising a cylindrical pressure chamber 32, in which a movable cylindrical piston 33 is arranged, to which a further actuation element 35 in the form of a pressure pot is coupled by means of a rolling bearing 34. This actuation element engages on the outer disk 22 of the sub-clutch 21 situated on the outer right, allowing it to be compressed axially against the abutment 30. When the pressure is relieved, the sub-clutch 21 is released in this case too.

[0034] This actuation device 31 is also designed as a hydraulic actuation device in the form of a CSC. In other words, the actuation of all three sub-clutches 4, 16 and 21 is performed hydraulically by means of respective CSCs.

[0035] The rotor 3 and, with the latter, the outer disk carrier 5, which is used jointly here, is rotatably mounted by means of two supports 36, 37 provided axially. The two supports 36, 37 extend radially inward. The rotatable mounting is in each case accomplished by means of a rolling bearing 38, 39. According to the disclosure, these two rolling bearings 38, 39 are seated on the respective housing 40, 41 of the respective actuation device 11, 31.

[0036] FIGS. 2 and 3 each show segments of the clutch device 1 from FIG. 1 with corresponding bearing regions.

[0037] As FIG. 2 shows, a bearing seat 42, in which the outer ring 43 of the rolling bearing 38 is accommodated and secured by means of a retaining ring 44 and a stop 45 situated on the other side, is formed on the housing 40 of the actuation device 11. The support 36 is connected to the outer ring 46, for which purpose said outer ring rests against a stop 47 and is secured axially on the other side by means of a retaining ring 48. Here, therefore, the support 36 is rotatably mounted on the outside of the housing 40.

[0038] The embodiment of the mounting of the support 37 shown in FIG. 3 is different. The support 37, through which furthermore (see FIG. 3) the actuation element 35 used to compress the disk pack of the sub-clutch 21 passes in corresponding apertures, is angled in such a way that it extends into the region below the housing 41 of the actuation device 31. A corresponding bearing seat 49, having a stop 50, against which the outer ring 51 of the rolling bearing 39 rests, is formed on the inside of the housing 41. A retaining ring 52, which secures the outer ring 51 axially, is provided on the other side.

[0039] The support 37 itself engages in the inner ring 53 of the rolling bearing 39. The inner ring 53 rests against a stop 54 of the support 37 and is secured axially by means of a retaining ring 55. Here, therefore, the rotor is positioned on the inside of the housing.

[0040] The two actuation devices, i.e. the two CSCs, thus have a dual function here. On the one hand, they serve as actuators for controlling the individual sub-clutches. On the other hand, the two housings thereof simultaneously serve as mounts for the rotor bearing assembly. Since the CSC housings 40, 41 are situated relatively far inward when viewed radially, it is possible for this reason to reduce the diameters of the rolling bearings 38, 39 but otherwise no further housing supports are required as bearing mounts. By machining the CSC housing as contour path logic, it is furthermore ensured that the bearings have a small coaxial offset. The unbalance, or imbalance, is therefore also extremely small.

REFERENCE LABELS

[0041] 1 clutch device

[0042] 2 electric machine

[0043] 3 rotor

[0044] 4 sub-clutch

[0045] 5 outer disk carrier

[0046] 6 outer disk

[0047] 7 inner disk carrier

[0048] 8 inner disk

[0049] 9 driving hub

[0050] 10 abutment

[0051] 11 actuation device

[0052] 12 pressure chamber

[0053] 13 cylinder

[0054] 14 rolling bearing

[0055] 15 actuation element

[0056] 16 sub-clutch

[0057] 17 outer disk

[0058] 18 inner disk

[0059] 19 inner disk carrier

[0060] 20 driving hub

[0061] 21 sub-clutch

[0062] 22 outer disk

[0063] 23 inner disk

[0064] 24 inner disk carrier

[0065] 25 drive shaft

[0066] 26 pressure chamber

[0067] 27 piston

[0068] 28 rolling bearing

[0069] 29 actuation element

[0070] 30 abutment

[0071] 31 actuation element

[0072] 32 pressure chamber

[0073] 33 piston

[0074] 34 rolling bearing

[0075] 35 actuation element

[0076] 36 support

[0077] 37 support

[0078] 38 rolling bearing

[0079] 39 rolling bearing

[0080] 40 housing

[0081] 41 housing

[0082] 42 bearing seat

[0083] 43 outer ring

[0084] 44 retaining ring

[0085] 45 stop

[0086] 46 outer ring

[0087] 47 stop

[0088] 48 retaining ring

[0089] 49 bearing seat

[0090] 50 stop

[0091] 51 outer ring

[0092] 52 retaining ring

[0093] 53 inner ring

[0094] 54 stop

[0095] 55 retaining ring