HEAT DISSIPATION DISC FOR A CLUTCH MECHANISM

Abstract

A heat dissipation disc is for a clutch mechanism, and is incorporated into the clutch in a variable number, alternatingly intercalated between the friction discs of an oil-immersed multi-disc clutch. The heat dissipation disc is provided with inner or outer toothing for engaging either the crankshaft or the gearshift. The heat dissipation disc includes at least two solid outer steel discs and a central spacer disc, all of which are attached to one another concentrically like a sandwich. The central disc has a series of open grooves on its surface with an exit on one of the edges. The outer discs have several notches on one of the edges. The grooves and the notches determine an increased surface area on the edges of the dissipation disc.

Claims

1. A heat dissipation disc for a clutch applicable for the incorporation thereof in a variable number, alternatingly intercalated between the friction discs of an oil-immersed multi-disc clutch, and being provided with inner or outer toothing for engaging either the crankshaft or the gearshift, said heat dissipation disc comprising at least two solid outer steel discs and a central spacer disc, all of which are attached to one another concentrically; wherein the central disc has a series of open grooves on its surface with an exit on one of the edges thereof, and the outer discs have a plurality of notches on one of the edges thereof, said grooves and said notches determining an increased surface area on the edges of the dissipation disc.

2. A heat dissipation disc for a clutch according to claim 1, wherein the notches of the outer discs are arranged such that they cover part of the grooves of the central disc, allowing oil to flow therethrough.

3. A heat dissipation disc for a clutch according to claim 2, wherein the notches of the outer discs are arranged such that they cover the starting point of all the grooves of the central spacer disc, i.e., the point opposite the point of exit of the edge on which said open grooves in the central disc are located.

4. A heat dissipation disc for a clutch according to claim 3, wherein it has an inner toothing for engaging the gearshift through the hub; in that the grooves of the central disc have the point of exit on the outer edge thereof and the starting point of all of them close to the inner edge of the disc; and in that the notches of the outer discs are also incorporated on the inner edge thereof.

5. A heat dissipation disc for a clutch according to claim 4, wherein the starting point of each groove of the central spacer disc is located coinciding with an imaginary circumference close to the inner edge of said disc, grouped into intermediate segments existing between the spaces of the toothing of said inner edge, and the notches of the outer discs are also incorporated on the inner edge thereof, intercalated between the spaces of the notch that said outer discs also have, with the shape and position coinciding with the spaces of the notches of the central disc, such that the starting points of the grooves of the central disc are open as they are covered by said notches, allowing oil to flow into the grooves which, with the rotation of the discs, is centrifuged towards the point of exit of the grooves located on the outer edge.

6. A heat dissipation disc for a clutch according to claim 5, wherein the grooves of each group of starting points project in diverging directions.

7. A heat dissipation disc for a clutch according to claim 3, wherein the starting point of the grooves of the central disc is circular and slightly greater than the width of the rest of the groove.

8. A heat dissipation disc for a clutch according to claim 1, wherein the two outer discs are identical.

9. A heat dissipation disc for a clutch according to claim 1, wherein the central disc has a smaller thickness than the outer discs.

10. A heat dissipation disc for a clutch according to claim 1, wherein the central disc is made of steel.

11. A heat dissipation disc for a clutch according to claim 1, wherein the central disc is made of carbon fiber sheet.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] To complement the description that is being made and for the purpose of aiding to better understand the features of the invention, a set of drawings is attached to the present specification as an integral part thereof in which the following has been depicted with an illustrative and non-limiting character:

[0019] FIG. 1 shows an exploded plan view of an example of the heat dissipation disc for a clutch mechanism object of the invention, where the parts and elements the invention comprises can be seen.

[0020] FIG. 2 shows an also exploded perspective view of the same example of the disc of the invention, where in this case the difference in thickness between the outer discs and the central disc can be seen.

[0021] FIG. 3 shows a plan view of the same example of the heat dissipation disc according to the invention shown in the preceding drawings, but in this case depicted with the discs attached to and overlapping one another, where the arrangement of the ventilation grooves of the central disc can be seen by means of dashed lines, and with the notches of the outer discs overlapping said grooves, allowing oil to flow therethrough.

[0022] FIG. 4 shows a section view of the dissipation disc of the invention with the discs the invention comprises attached to one another, according to section A-A indicated in FIG. 3.

[0023] FIG. 5 shows an enlarged view of detail B of the dissipation disc indicated in FIG. 4.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0024] In view of the mentioned drawings and according to the numbering used, a non-limiting embodiment of the heat dissipation disc for the proposed clutch mechanism which comprises the parts and elements indicated and described in detail below, can be seen therein.

[0025] In this sense, as seen in said drawings and as indicated in the preceding sections, the dissipation disc (1) in question is applicable for the incorporation thereof in a variable number, alternatingly intercalated between the friction discs of an oil-immersed multi-disc clutch (which is not depicted as it is a sufficiently known mechanism), being provided with inner or outer toothing (2) for engaging either the crankshaft or the gearshift, having the particularity of being formed from at least two outer discs (3) and a central spacer disc (4) that are attached to one another concentrically like a sandwich, the central disc (4) having a series of open grooves (41) on its surface with an exit on one of the edges thereof, and the outer discs (3) which are completely smooth and solid, i.e., not having grooves, having a plurality of notches (41) on one of the edges thereof, said grooves (41) and said notches (31) determining an increased surface area on the edges of the dissipation disc (1) which favors heat dissipation.

[0026] Said notches (31) of the outer discs (3) are furthermore arranged such that they cover part of the grooves (41) of the central disc (4), as seen in FIG. 3, specifically covering the starting point (42) of all the grooves (41), i.e., the point opposite the point of exit of the edge on which said grooves (1) in the central disc (4) of the dissipation disc (1) are open to allow oil to flow therethrough.

[0027] Preferably, the central spacer disc (4) furthermore has a smaller thickness (g) than the outer discs (3), the latter in turn having a smaller thickness than the conventional disc they replace, and both the discs preferably have the same thickness. In any case, however, the sum of the thickness of the outer discs (3) and the central disc (4), i.e., of the dissipation disc (1), will always be equal to the thickness of said conventional disc which this dissipation disc (1) replaces.

[0028] In the preferred embodiment, when the dissipation disc (1) is a disc having an inner toothing (2) for engaging the gearshift through the hub, the point of exit of the grooves (41) of the central spacer disc (4) is on the outer edge thereof and the starting point (42), which is circular and slightly greater than the width of the rest of the groove (41), is located in all of them close to the inner edge of the disc.

[0029] More specifically, said starting point (42) of each groove (41) of the central disc (4) is located coinciding with an imaginary circumference close to the inner edge of said disc, and preferably grouped into intermediate segments existing between the spaces of the toothing (2) of said inner edge, the grooves of each of said groups projecting in diverging directions in order to cover the greatest length possible and thereby determine a larger extension of surface area of material through which heat will be dissipated.

[0030] The notches (31) of the outer discs (3) are in turn also incorporated on the inner edge thereof, specifically intercalated between the spaces of the notch (2) that said discs (3) also have, with the shape and position coinciding with the spaces of the notches of the central disc (4), such that the starting points (42) of the grooves of the central disc (4) are not covered up by the body of the outer discs (3), but rather are open as they are covered by said notches (31), allowing oil to flow into the grooves (41) which, with the rotation of the discs, is centrifuged towards the point of exit of the grooves located on the outer edge, providing an even more effective heat dissipation.

[0031] Finally, it must be pointed out that the outer discs (3) are always made of steel, whereas the central disc (4), while it can also be made of steel, is preferably made of a different material, for example carbon fiber sheet or another similar material in terms of lightweightness and strength.

[0032] Having sufficiently described the nature of the present invention as well as the way of putting it into practice, it is not considered necessary to further describe the invention so that a person skilled in the art can comprehend the scope thereof and the advantages derived from it, stating that within its essential nature, the present invention could be carried out to practice in other embodiments differing in detail from that indicated by way of example, and such embodiments would also be granted the protection that is sought provided that the fundamental principle thereof is not altered, changed or modified.