192 clutches and power-stop control – Clutches – Operators
Patent
1996-12-23
1999-03-30
Marmor, Charles A.
192 clutches and power-stop control
Clutches
Operators
192 8715, 192106F, F16D 2510
Patent
active
058876901
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The invention concerns a clutch arrangement according to the preamble of the first claim.
A clutch in disc design consists of one first cylinder having outer discs, one second cylinder having inner discs, one piston and one resetting member such as a plate spring. In the area of the discs, both cylinders are provided with axially extending grooves so that the discs are axially movable through the piston. The torque is transmitted from the cylinder to the disc in a form-locking manner, such as by a dovetail section. The clutch engages by the piston pressing the discs against an end stop. For example, the force for adjusting the piston is produced by a pressure medium. The clutch disengages when the force of the pressure medium is eliminated. The resetting member moves the piston back to its initial position. Thereby the frictional contact of the inner and outer discs is removed. A speed-dependent distribution of the pressure medium exists by virtue of centrifugal force resulting as a disturbance variable with an additional axial force component which is superimposed in the direction of force of the piston. Said disturbance variable becomes effective in the engaging and disengaging operations of the piston or of the clutch.
A publication Funktionsbeschreibung 5 HP 30, pages 2, of ZF Getriebe GmbH Saarbrucken, March 1993, has disclosed an automatic transmission having pressure-balanced clutches. The pressure balance acts as compensation for the disturbance variable produced by centrifugal force. The disturbance variable is compensated by loading a second chamber with pressure medium. The force resulting is equal in magnitude to the disturbance variable, with an opposed and directional force so that both forces neutralize themselves. Said second chamber comprises the piston, one disc stationary in an axial direction, and the resetting member. The publication also shows a clutch arrangement having two input clutches disposed in parallel. The second cylinder of the outer input clutch is radially disposed around a third clutch. A disadvantage is that the arrangement requires a large axial length.
An advantage of the present invention is based on providing a simpler practical solution.
According to the invention the problem is solved by having a first clutch radially disposed around a second clutch where a balancing chamber of the first clutch is formed by the piston of the first clutch and the first cylinder of the second clutch. By virtue of the multiple uses served by the parts, that is, the first cylinder of the second clutch is, at the same time, the disc of the first clutch, the advantage of a smaller and more compact construction is obtained. The result is a reduction in cost because the number of parts is reduced.
In one embodiment of the invention, it is proposed that the first cylinder of the first and second clutches are driven by the same shaft. The advantage obtained hereby is that the piston of the first clutch can be sealed relative to the first cylinder of the second clutch by a simple sealing member, such as an O-ring.
In another embodiment, it is proposed that a third clutch is situated radially around a fourth clutch so that the second cylinder of the fourth clutch is connected with the first cylinder of the first clutch and that the second cylinder of the third clutch, along with the first cylinder of the fourth clutch, make up a combined part.
In another embodiment of the invention it is proposed that the balancing chamber of the first clutch and the balancing chamber of the second clutch are connected with each other. The balancing chambers of both clutches are filled via a common aperture. When the gearshift state of the clutches reciprocally changes, this arrangement offers a special advantage. Reciprocally means that the first clutch disengages and at the same time the second clutch engages or vice versa. If the first clutch engages, for example, the volume of the balancing chamber become reduced. A volume of the pressure medium contained therein is thus transported to the balancing chambe
REFERENCES:
patent: 4732253 (1988-03-01), Hiramatsu et al.
patent: 4759432 (1988-07-01), Jurgens et al.
patent: 4957195 (1990-09-01), Kano et al.
patent: 5439088 (1995-08-01), Michioka et al.
patent: 5662198 (1997-09-01), Kojima et al.
Marmor Charles A.
Rodriguez Saul J.
ZF Friedrichshafen AG
LandOfFree
Clutch arrangement does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Clutch arrangement, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Clutch arrangement will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-1206630