192 clutches and power-stop control – Clutches – Axially engaging
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-09
2001-08-14
Lorence, Richard M. (Department: 3681)
192 clutches and power-stop control
Clutches
Axially engaging
C192S070270, C192S089230, C192S03000R
Reexamination Certificate
active
06273229
ABSTRACT:
The invention relates to improvements in friction clutches, particularly to improvements in friction clutches which can be utilized in the power trains of motor vehicles, for example, to transmit torque between a prime mover and a manual or automated change-speed transmission of the power train. Still more particularly, the invention relates to improvements in friction clutches of the type wherein a rotary pressure plate is biased by a clutch spring (such as a diaphragm spring which reacts against a rotary housing) to urge the friction linings of a rotary clutch disc or clutch plate against an engine-driven counterpressure plate (such as a flywheel) when the clutch is engaged to transmit torque from the counterpressure plate to the clutch disc and thence to the input element of a transmission. The clutch spring can constitute a diaphragm spring having elastic prongs which form part of the means for engaging and disengaging the friction clutch, i.e., to cause the clutch spring to urge the pressure plate against the friction linings of the clutch disc (and to thus urge the friction linings against the adjacent friction surface of the engine-driven counterpressure plate) or to permit a set of leaf springs or the like to move the pressure plate axially and away from the counterpressure plate and to thus permit the rotary parts of the clutch to rotate relative to the clutch disc and/or vice vwersa.
Friction clutches of the above outlined character are disclosed, for example, in commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 5,536,208 (granted Jul. 16, 1996 to Klaus-Dieter Krumm for APPARATUS FOR DAMPING VIBRATIONS IN POWER TRAINS OF MOTOR VEHICLES), in commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 5,450,934 (granted Sep. 19, 1995 to Paul Maucher for FRICTION CLUTCH), in U.S. Pat. No. 5,513,736 (granted May 7, 1996 to Hiroshi Mizukami for CLUTCH COVER ASSEMBLY HAVING A WEAR COMPENSATION DEVICE), in U.S. Pat. No. 5,513,735 (granted May 7, 1996 to Norihisa Uenohara for CLUTCH COVER ASSEMBLY HAVING A WEAR COMPENSATION DEVICE), in U.S. Pat. No. 5,377,803 (granted Jan. 3, 1995 to Achim Link et al. for PRESSURE PLATE ARRANGEMENT FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE FRICTION CLUTCH), in published German patent application Serial No. 42 39 289, and in published German patent application Serial No. 43 37 613.
Several of the above-enumerated publications disclose friction clutches wherein the pressure plate is automatically shifted toward the counterpressure plate (when necessary) to compensate for wear upon the friction linings of the clutch disc between the pressure plate and the counterpressure plate and, if necessary, for wear upon certain other constituents (such as the pressure plate and/or the clutch spring and/or the counterpressure plate) of the friction clutch. The compensation for wear can take place by moving the clutch spring and/or the pressure plate axially and away from the housing (i.e., toward the counterpressure plate) of the friction clutch, or by moving the pressure plate axially and away from the housing and clutch spring toward the counterpressure plate.
The disclosures of the aforementioned U.S. Patent and of the aforementioned published German patent applications (to the extent their matter is disclosed in allowed and/or patented United States patent applications) are incorporated herein by reference. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,536,208 to Krumm discloses the manner in which the housing, the pressure plate and the counterpressure plate of a friction clutch can be driven by the output element of an engine in the power train of a motor vehicle, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,450,934 to Maucher discloses a wear compensating mechanism which is fully automated so that it shifts the pressure plate toward the counterpressure plate whenever it becomes necessary to compensate for wear at least upon the friction linings of the clutch disc but preferably also upon one or more additional constituents or component parts of the patented friction clutch. Furthermore, Maucher discloses clutch discs wherein the friction linings flank resilient segments which are compressed during engagement of the friction clutch and are free to expand during disengagement of the clutch to thus permit smooth engagement and disengagement of such torque transmitting system.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
An object of the invention is to provide a friction clutch which is constructed and assembled and operates in such a way that it is less likely to generate noise during partial or full engagement and/or disengagement (as well as in the fully engaged or disengaged condition) of the clutch than heretofore known friction clutches.
Another object of the invention is to counteract or to eliminate certain stray movements of various component parts of a friction clutch.
A further object of the invention is to provide a friction clutch wherein the clutch spring and/or the pressure plate is mounted in such a way that it is prevented from carrying out any, or any excessive, axial stray movements during each and every stage of operation of the friction clutch or at least during those stages when certain stray movements and the resulting noise would be unpleasant and/or highly unpleasant to the operator and other occupant or occupants of a motor vehicle wherein the power train contains at least one friction clutch of the above outlined character.
An additional object of the invention is to provide a friction clutch wherein stray movements (such as radial and/or axial oscillatory movements) of one or more constituents of the friction clutch are either eliminated or reduced to an intensity and/or frequency which cannot entail untimely (i.e., unnecessary and undesirable) adjustments for (non-existent or negligible) wear upon the friction linings of the clutch disc and/or upon certain other component parts of the friction clutch.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a friction clutch which, when employed in the power train of a motor vehicle, can enhance the comfort to the operator and to other occupant(s) of the motor vehicle during certain stages or during each and every stage of operation or manipulation of the vehicle.
A further object of the invention is to provide a power train which embodies a friction clutch of the above outlined character.
Another object of the invention is to provide a motor vehicle which embodies one or more friction clutches of the above outlined character.
An additional object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved method of minimizing or eliminating undesirable stray movements of one or more component parts of a friction clutch, such as a friction clutch which is designed for use in the power train of a motor vehicle.
Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved damper for use in a friction clutch to minimize or to eliminate undesirable noise-generating stray movements of the pressure plate and/or of the clutch spring in a friction clutch which can be utilized with advantage, for example, between the engine and the transmission in the power train of a motor vehicle.
A further object of the invention is to provide a simple, compact and inexpensive but reliable damper for weakening or for complete elimination of stray movements of the clutch spring and/or pressure plate in a friction clutch.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention is embodied in an engageable and disengageable friction clutch which comprises a housing rotatable about a predetermined axis, a counterpressure plate (such as a flywheel) coaxial and rotatable with the housing, a pressure plate which is rotatable with the housing and has limited freedom of axial movement toward and away from the counterpressure plate, a clutch disc including a portion which is disposed between the pressure plate and the counterpressure plate, a clutch spring which reacts against the housing to urge the pressure plate against the aforementioned portion of the clutch disc and to thus urge such portion of the clutch disc against the counterpressure plate in the engaged condition of the clutch, means for engaging and disengaging the clutch, and a damper which operates
Darby & Darby
Lorence Richard M.
LuK Lamellen und Kupplungsbau GmbH
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