Sealing sleeve with combined axial bearing and automatic transmission or clutch with such a sealing sleeve

Abstract

A sealing sleeve for a transmission or a clutch of a motor vehicle for use between two torque transmitting devices, which rotate relative to each other, wherein a shell surface of the sealing sleeve is designed for making contact in a sliding and sealing manner with one or more sealing means; and a flange section, which projects radially from the shell surface, is designed for interpositioning between the two torque transmitting devices, wherein the flange section is formed as a running surface for an axial bearing. An automatic transmission or a clutch with a first torque transmitting device and a second torque transmitting device, between which an inventive sealing sleeve is inserted.

Claims

1. A sealing sleeve for use between two torque transmitting devices, which rotate relative to each other, comprising: a shell surface, including: a radially inward facing surface; a hook section extending radially inward from the radially inward facing surface and, a nose extending radially inward from the radially inward facing surface and axially displaced from the hook section in a first axial direction; a bottom unit, including: a flange section, having: a first end that engages the shell surface axially between the hook section and the nose; a second end; and, a running surface facing in the first axial direction; and, a rim extending from the second end in the first axial direction; and, an axial bearing operatively arranged on the running surface, the axial bearing including a cage connected to the flange section.

2. The sealing sleeve as claimed in claim 1, wherein the flange section forms a rolling surface for a rolling body of the axial bearing.

3. The sealing sleeve as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sealing sleeve is securely connected to the axial bearing.

4. The sealing sleeve as claimed in claim 1, wherein hydraulic fluid passage openings are contained in the shell surface.

5. The sealing sleeve as claimed in claim 1, wherein the shell surface, the flange section, and the rim comprise a constant thickness.

6. The sealing sleeve as claimed in claim 5, wherein the flange section and the rim form a cup-shaped, ring-shaped, and/or disk-shaped bottom unit.

7. The sealing sleeve as claimed in claim 6, wherein the bottom unit is attached to a sleeve base body in a non-positive locking manner and/or a positive locking manner and/or by material bonding.

8. The sealing sleeve as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sealing sleeve is configured in one part or two parts.

9. An automatic transmission or clutch with a first torque transmitting device and a second torque transmitting device, between which the sealing sleeve is inserted, as claimed in claim 1.

10. A sealing sleeve for use between two torque transmitting devices, which rotate relative to each other, comprising: a bottom unit, including: a flange section, having: a first end; a second end arranged radially inward of the first end; and, a running surface facing in a first axial direction; and, a rim extending from the second end in the first axial direction; a shell surface connected to and extending from the first end in the first axial direction; and, an axial bearing operatively arranged on the running surface and securely connected to the sealing sleeve.

11. The sealing sleeve as claimed in claim 10, wherein the flange section forms a rolling surface for a rolling body of the axial bearing.

12. The sealing sleeve as claimed in claim 10, wherein the flange section is connected to a cage of the axial bearing.

13. The sealing sleeve as claimed in claim 11, wherein the flange section is connected to a cage of the axial bearing.

14. The sealing sleeve as claimed in claim 10, wherein hydraulic fluid passage openings are contained in the shell surface.

15. The sealing sleeve as claimed in claim 10, wherein the shell surface, the flange section, and the rim comprise a constant thickness.

16. The sealing sleeve as claimed in claim 10, wherein the sealing sleeve is configured in one part or two parts.

17. The sealing sleeve as claimed in claim 15, wherein the flange section and the rim form a cup-shaped, ring-shaped, and/or disk-shaped bottom unit.

18. The sealing sleeve as claimed in claim 17, wherein the bottom unit is attached to a sleeve base body in a non-positive locking manner and/or a positive locking manner and/or by material bonding.

19. An automatic transmission or clutch with a first torque transmitting device and a second torque transmitting device, between which the sealing sleeve is inserted, as claimed in claim 10.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The present disclosure is explained in more detail below with reference to the figures in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a longitudinal view of an inventive sealing sleeve in a one-part form;

(3) FIG. 2 is a longitudinal view of an inventive sealing sleeve in a two-part form; and,

(4) FIG. 3 is a detail view of a clip connection between a sleeve base body and a flange section.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(5) At the outset, it should be appreciated that like drawing numbers on different drawing views identify identical, or functionally similar, structural elements. It is to be understood that the claims are not limited to the disclosed aspects.

(6) Furthermore, it is understood that this disclosure is not limited to the particular methodology, materials and modifications described and as such may, of course, vary. It is also understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular aspects only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the claims.

(7) Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood to one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure pertains. It should be understood that any methods, devices or materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the example embodiments.

(8) The figures are shown only in schematic form and are intended solely for the purpose of a better understanding of the present disclosure. Identical elements are provided with the same reference numerals. The features of individual exemplary embodiments may be interchanged.

(9) An automatic transmission is one example of a possible application of sealing sleeve 1. Its use in transmissions, between two rotating shafts, or between shafts and clutch elements or between shafts and housings, or between clutch elements and housings is also conceivable, because sealing sleeve 1 can be used between all components that can be moved relative to each other and are to be supplied with hydraulic fluid.

(10) Sealing sleeve 1 is disposed, for example, in a transmission. This transmission has two torque transmitting devices, which rotate relative to each other. Shell surface 2 of sealing sleeve 1 extends in the axial direction. In contrast, flange section 3 extends in the radial direction. The surface of flange section 3 that points in the direction of shell surface 2 is running surface 4. The surface is suitable for disposing axial bearing 5 on it.

(11) The first torque transmitting device can be designed as a drive shaft. The drive shaft has a shaft shoulder, which is axially mounted relative to a housing by means of axial bearing 5. The housing may be the second torque transmitting device. A hub can be arranged radially outside of the shaft shoulder. Even this hub is a torque transmitting device. The hub can be connected in a torsion-proof manner to the shaft shoulder and, thus, also to the drive shaft, so that the hub and the drive shaft rotate relative to the housing. The housing defines a fluid chamber. The fluid chamber is provided for the purpose of supplying the hub, which can be provided with a multi-plate clutch, with hydraulic fluid. For this reason, sealing rings, such as O-rings, may be provided in two grooves. Shell surface 2 of sealing sleeve 1 provides the sealing rings with an abutment surface. This arrangement protects the fluid chamber in such a way that it is fluid tight.

(12) FIG. 1 is a sectional view of sealing sleeve 1. This figure shows shell surface 2 and flange section 3. Shell surface 2 is a part of sleeve base body 6. On the one hand, flange section 3, which is a part of bottom unit 7, extends perpendicular to the sleeve base body. Running surface 4 forms a rolling surface for rolling bodies 8 of axial bearing 5. Rolling bodies 8 are guided by cage 9. In order to enclose cage 9 in a positive locking manner and in order to be easily attachable to the shaft shoulder, bottom unit 7 of sealing sleeve 1 has rim 10. Rim 10 extends coaxially to shell surface 2 of piston base body 6. With respect to the length of rim 10, it is configured so as to be clearly shorter in the axial direction than shell surface 2.

(13) Furthermore, sealing sleeve 1 has hydraulic fluid passage openings 11. The hydraulic fluid passage openings 11 are formed, for example, as slots. They can be, for example, drilled/milled/punched.

(14) FIG. 2 shows an additional exemplary embodiment of sealing sleeve 1. In this case the section, around which a frame is drawn, is shown in greater detail in the following FIG. 3. The difference with respect to the previous embodiment consists of the fact that sleeve base body 6 represents a different component than bottom unit 7. With respect to other components, such as passage holes 11, axial bearing 5, rim 10, shell surface 2 and flange section 3, the embodiment in FIG. 2 is identical to the one shown in FIG. 1.

(15) FIG. 3 shows that hook section 12, such as nose 13, which is also a part of sleeve base body 6, makes it possible for bottom unit 7 to be inserted into sleeve body 6 by means of a clip connection. Furthermore, it holds true that rim 10 also has a hook, which is suitable for accommodating cage 9. Furthermore, FIG. 3 shows very clearly that rolling body 8 runs on running surface 4.

(16) It will be appreciated that various of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be desirably combined into many other different systems or applications. Various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations, or improvements therein may be subsequently made by those skilled in the art which are also intended to be encompassed by the following claims.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

(17) 1 sealing sleeve

(18) 2 shell surface

(19) 3 flange section

(20) 4 running surface

(21) 5 axial bearing

(22) 6 sleeve base body

(23) 7 bottom unit

(24) 8 rolling body

(25) 9 cage

(26) 10 rim

(27) 11 hydraulic fluid passage opening

(28) 12 hook section

(29) 13 nose